Perhaps SourceForge is swallowing my messages again but here are links and notes I sent you yesterday.
----- Original Message ---- From: Christopher Painter <chr...@deploymentengineering.com> To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. <wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Sent: Mon, January 17, 2011 11:00:52 AM Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript - Emailfound in subject - Email found in subject - Email found in subject Take a look at http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix3/wix_xsd_filesearch.htm http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix3/check_the_version_number.htm Pay careful attention to: Important: When doing a locale-neutral search for a file, you must set the MinVersion property to one revision number lower than the actual version you want to search for. In this example, while we want to find file version 6.0.6001.1751, the MinVersion is set to 6.0.6001.1750. This is because of a quirk in how the Windows Installer matches file versions. More information is available in the Windows Installer documentation. Christopher Painter, Author of Deployment Engineering Blog Have a hot tip, know a secret or read a really good thread that deserves attention? E-Mail Me ----- Original Message ---- From: Shaun Hayward <shayw...@omnivex.com> To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. <wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Sent: Mon, January 17, 2011 9:44:53 AM Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript - Emailfound in subject - Email found in subject - Email found in subject > WiX doesn't do it, the Windows Installer does. WiX is just the language. True :-) So let me rephrase: I didn't realize that MSI had a way to retrieve the DLL's version and compare against it. But since it does, the awesome WiX will support it. Does anyone have a WiX sample of how to accomplish this? Thanks! - Shaun Shaun Hayward | Senior Software Developer | Omnivex | 905.761.6640 ext 429 | www.omnivex.com -----Original Message----- From: Rob Mensching [mailto:r...@robmensching.com] Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:12 PM To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript - Emailfound in subject - Email found in subject - Email found in subject WiX doesn't do it, the Windows Installer does. WiX is just the language. <smile/> Check out the FileSearch element. On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 6:17 PM, Shaun Hayward <shayw...@omnivex.com> wrote: > I didn't realize WiX had a way to actually retrieve a DLL's version and > compare against it. I was looking all over for that. > > Any chance you have a code sample up on your blog? > > And I'll be sure to check out the DTF articles on your blog. > > Thanks > - Shaun > > ________________________________________ > From: Christopher Painter [chr...@deploymentengineering.com] > Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 7:16 PM > To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript - > Emailfound in subject - Email found in subject > > Funny you say that, I was doing some work with KB976477 just today. Some > much > that I have that KB memorized. > > I don't use a CA to detect this hotfix. I just use the > AppSearch/DrLocator/Signature tables to search > [CommonFilesFolder]\Microsoft > Shared\Office12 for MSO.DLL version 12.0.6520.5000 or greater. > > Rob has made some comments lately about targetting CLR runtime > versions. Generally I write my custom actions to target .NET 2.0 and set up > the > DTF CA's to run against CLR 2.0 or 4.0. > > Either way I still find myself having to make sure .NET 3.5SP1 and .NET 4.0 > are > on my target machines. For example VSTO AddIns using .NET 4.0 targetting > Office > 2007 have to have both the 2.0 and 4.0 CLR loaded. Yeah, seriously. > > BTW, there are lot's of articles on DTF over at my blog. > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Shaun Hayward <shayw...@omnivex.com> > To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. > <wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net> > Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 5:56:44 PM > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript - Email > found in > subject > > Thanks, Chris! > > Funny it should be you that replies. I'm looking at deploying a VSTO add-in > and > I've read the related articles on your blog. The custom action is to check > for > the presence of KB976477. I think I've FINALLY found a fool-proof (yeah, > right) > way to determine if it (or a newer patch that includes 976477) is present. > (It's > FOSS, so anyone who is interested can have the code) > > So it sounds like C# is just fine. YAY! The DTF classes look REALLY sweet > in > comparison to what I'm dealing with in C++ - I just didn't know if I should > feel > free to use them at this point. > > Should the add-in be targeting a specific version of the framework? My > add-in > requires .NET Framework 4, and .NET 4 does not necessarily seems to include > full > compatibility with .NET 2 (so saith the QAs where I work). > > Good-bye, C++ Custom Action - hello, C# Custom Action. > > Thanks again - you made my week. > - Shaun > > PS: No flack on using InstallScript. Whatever works at the end of the day > and > makes your life easy, right? > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Christopher Painter [mailto:chr...@deploymentengineering.com] > Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 6:32 PM > To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript - Email > found in > subject > > > VB/JScript is still a no go. The managed blog was ( thankfully ) O.B.E. > when > WiX released managed custom action via DTF. > > Personally, if I had the C++ chops, had enough reusable libraries and was > typically shipping unmanaged apps.... then I probably would be an unmanaged > purist for CA's. WiX uses C++ in it's custom actions because customers > might > not need/want .NET and since the CA's are being used by a very wide > audience > it's good to spend the time and make them perfect. > > But alas, I've got C# chops, the base class libraries are very powerful and > I > ship nearly all managed apps. > > > For me, the choice is easy. For the rare occasion that I don't want a > dependency on .NET I either a) role an InstallScript custom action or b) > write > > it in DTF first and then borrow a resource from development to port it over > to > C++. > > PS- Don't anyone jump on my InstallScript comment unless you know what you > are > talking about. :-) Prior is IS 12 I'd agree with you 100%. > > Christopher Painter, Author of Deployment Engineering Blog > Have a hot tip, know a secret or read a really good thread that deserves > attention? E-Mail Me > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Shaun Hayward <shayw...@omnivex.com> > To: "WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net" <WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net> > Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 12:39:11 PM > Subject: [WiX-users] Custom Actions - C++ vs C# vs VBScript > > Hello, WiX Community > > I've been playing around with WiX for about a year now and took over my > company's installations (WiX-based) a few months ago. I'm really enjoying > it. > > I'm looking for some advice on the pros/cons of various ways of writing > Custom > Actions. I understand that an issue with the Custom Action can prevent your > installer from working at all. And obviously if a piece of functionality > already > > exists in WiX then one should not re-write it in a custom action. > > I'm mainly a C# dev and doing some rudimentary VC++. > > I found it very easy to do Custom Actions in VBScript but Rob Mensching > posted > an article (http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix2/robmen_20040520.htm) > that > outlines why VBScript "sucks" for custom actions. Lack of debugging and > conflict > > with Virus Scanners seem to be the biggies. I'm assuming these reasons > still > apply and VBScript (or Jscript) should be counted out. > > Most of the Custom Action examples I've found have been C# (my preferred > language) and even Nick Ramirez's excellent book on WiX only gives the C# > examples. However, I came across another Rob Mensching article > ( >http://robmensching.com/blog/posts/2007/4/19/Managed-Code-CustomActions-no-support-on-the-way-and-heres > >s > ) > > from 2007 that outlines why Managed Custom Actions wouldn't work. Are these > issues still a consideration? > > Of course, VC++ has very few dependencies and probably has the most > compatibility. Theoretically, you should be able to static link against the > VC++ > > Runtime and have no external dependencies at all. But C++ code is, for me, > a lot > > harder to write. The worst is trying to figure out which string is which. > > Does anyone have any incites or advice on the pros and cons of each? In > particular, what are the down-sides of writing custom actions in Managed > code > (C#/VB)? > > Thanks > - Shaun > > > > The information in this e-mail is intended solely for the addressee and > access > by anyone else is unauthorized. Omnivex accepts no liability for the > content of > > this e-mail, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of > the > information provided. Any views or opinions presented in this e-mail are > solely > those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. > Omnivex makes no warranties, express or implied and is not responsible for > errors or omissions. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks > Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand > malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you > can protect your company and customers by using code signing. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks > Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand > malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you > can protect your company and customers by using code signing. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks > Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand > malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you > can protect your company and customers by using code signing. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks > Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand > malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you > can protect your company and customers by using code signing. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks > Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand > malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you > can protect your company and customers by using code signing. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > -- virtually, Rob Mensching - http://RobMensching.com LLC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you can protect your company and customers by using code signing. http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you can protect your company and customers by using code signing. http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you can protect your company and customers by using code signing. http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
