Here is a list the wix devs sent me a while back, when I asked the same question:
• Improved standard UI library with much strong customization story • Wixlibs, binary wixlibs • Overridable sequencing • Standard UI support • Support for arbitrary binary columns • Support for all MSI 4.0 features (2.0 cannot support MsiPatchCertificate yet for example) • Simpler extension model for adding custom tables or other authoring constructs (both compiler and decompiler support) • Extension model for binding of files and cabinet creation (to allow for custom logic to find files and cache cabinets) • Wix variables (for creating variables that are resolved right before msm/msm files are created) • Better localization model (for localizing stuff ) • Much better support for merge module errors and warnings • Standard Nant and MSBuild tasks • ComponentGroups/FeatureGroups for creating collections of components and components/features/merges • Serialization/deserialization classes on top of the wix schema to allow for fast, type-safe creation of wix source files (used heavily by the decompiler) • Auto-generation of short file names (apparently this is a major improvement for lots of people) • Lots of smaller features which allow for the tweaking of specific compiler, linker, decompiler, etc.. behaviors (see usage info for each tool) • Lots and lots and lots of bug fixes • Heat – new tool for quickly capturing self-registration, typelib keys, assembly install info, websites, files, and directories into wix authoring • Smoke – new tool for running MSI validation • Built-in MSI validation when running light • Brand new version of Votive (soon) • Patch creation support (soon) • ClickThrough (soon to be vastly improved) • Re-written decompiler (dark) is now fully extensible for handling custom tables easily • Support localization of control sizes and positions • Multi-threaded cabinet creation (for greater performance building multi-cab setups on multi-proc machines) • DiskId optional for specifying files on Media 1 • Binary wixout files for allowing final MSI creation to occur delayed or on a different machine • Long filename support for all COM registration • Better error messages for missing references • Intellisense support for extension schemas via XsdStitch • Mutator for converting registry keys into strongly typed COM elements (great for catching COM authoring bugs) • Cleanup intermediate file formats to ensure support for future versions of Windows Installer (and prevent us from needing to touch the intermediate formats ever again) • Lots more in the works surrounding specific scenarios like making ActiveX, Office plugin, and isolated application installations a lot easier • There’s all of the new and sparkly features of Votive for v3 as well. That list is on my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/jrock/archive/2006/07/18/670149.aspx. Even if you don’t use Votive as the UI for your development, it’s still worth noting that the .wixproj file format is MSBuild compliant now in case your team uses MSBuild to build. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rob Mensching Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 6:39 PM To: 'Lorne Laliberte'; wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [WiX-users] New features in 3.0 vs. 2.0? Unfortunately, there isn't a list right now. There is actually a bug assigned to Derek saying he should document them but he "left the building" before doing so. I guess, we'll just have to piece it all back together ourselves. <smile/> -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lorne Laliberte Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 13:02 To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [WiX-users] New features in 3.0 vs. 2.0? Hello, Is there a list of the differences between 2.0 and 3.0 available anywhere? >From quickly comparing the .chm files and searching the list archive I've come up with these new features in 3.0. Am I correct? What features have I missed? :) - Auto-generation of short file and directory names - Auto-generate components from file trees (via Heat) - MSI Validation built into light.exe - Difxapp schema (Driver Install Frameworks for Applications) - Iis Schema (Internet Information Services Extension) - Sql Schema (SQL Server Extension) - Util Schema (Utility Extension) - "floating" Publish elements, so you can attach control events without changing the dialogs themselves I'm sure there are other features/differences though. :) (This kind of information would be helpful in evaluating whether to wait for a stable 3.0 release or to use 2.0.) ...Lorne Laliberte ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys -- and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys -- and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys -- and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
