I was duplicating the DLLs across both the web site and windows service previously. I guess this is probably the simplest option at the cost of disk space and duplicate components and files in the MSI.
My thought was that the reduced disk space and single set of components was worth the complexity of the custom action to add the NTFS junctions. I guess another downside I hadn't thought of is that I'm currently limited to NTFS. Thanks, Chris -----Original Message----- From: Rob Mensching [mailto:r...@robmensching.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 5:18 PM To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Installing multiple applications What about duplicating the files? I know that sounds a bit crazy but if you're okay taking a bit more size on disk when installed, the WiX toolset's smartcabbing will only carry the files once in the package. On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 3:47 PM, McKinnon, Chris <cmckin...@atb.com> wrote: > Hi, > > I'm updating my install process and I'd like to hear suggestions on > improving my install process. > > My apps normally consist of a web site and a windows service. The apps > and installers are for "in-house" use only. In the past, I've modified the > install UI to allow to separate install locations for the web site and > windows service. I think I did it this way because that's how we used to > manually install apps. > > Now, I'm re-visiting this decision and I'd like to fix two install related > "issues": > 1. Have one install location for the application. > 2. Move common files to a "Common" location. > > Addressing #1 is fairly simple. Use one install location and use > subfolders for the different components: > > [Install Directory] > [bin] <-- application DLLs > [Web Site] <-- Web Site files > [Windows Service] <-- Windows Service files > > Both the Web Site's and Windows Service's DLLs are in the "bin" folder. > This introduces a new problem: How do the .NET apps find the DLLs? I > used SysInternals "junction.exe" to create a junction to the bin folder in > both the "Web Site" and "Windows Services" folders. In the config files of > both apps, I use a "runtime->probing" specification to tell the apps to > look for the DLLs in a "bin" subfolder. So, I end up with: > > [Install Directory] > [bin] <-- application DLLs > [Web Site] <-- Web Site files > [bin] <-- Junction pointing back to top level "bin" folder > [Windows Service] <-- Windows Service files > [bin] <-- Junction pointing back to top level "bin" folder > > This seems to work nicely. I'm not particularly fond of calling > "junction.exe" at the end of my install but it works. I'd rather have a > DLL call. Since the DLL could be included as a binary. I've been > searching around for common solutions to this install problem but I haven't > seen it addressed. > > I'm wondering if there is a better solution? I looked at using "codebase" > but didn't like having to specify specific DLL information. And I think it > would be inappropriate to use the GAC as the DLLs are for a specific app > (rather than DLLs that could be used by any app). > > Thanks, > > Chris McKinnon > > > The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may contain > privileged information. It is intended only for the person or persons named > above. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail please be > advised that any distribution or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If > you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us by return e-mail > and delete all copies of the e-mail and any attachments. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! > The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers > is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, > Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > -- virtually, Rob Mensching - http://RobMensching.com LLC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended only for the person or persons named above. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail please be advised that any distribution or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us by return e-mail and delete all copies of the e-mail and any attachments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
