Customizing MSI Packages

You can customize MSI Packages with transforms; however these customi­zations can only be executed while installing the MSI Package and not afterwards. Therefore the creation of transforms is described in chapter Creating MSI Packages.

In addition, you can perform the following tasks for MSI-packages:

  • Changing the Installation Status
  • Additional Customizations for MSI Packages

Changing the Installation Status

Using the eScript command MSIConfigureFeature you can change the installation status of features in an MSI-based software that has already been installed. For example, if you want to make a feature that is not yet "released" available at a later time. In this case you can integrate the command into the MSI Package which also installs the MSI-based software or you can place it in a separate package.

Proceed as follows:

  1. Open the package in the Packaging Workbench.
  2. Select the command MSIConfigureFeature from the toolbox.
  3. Select the desired MSI-based software. If the MSI-based software is located in the package directory, enter the following: .\<package name>.MSI
    The MSI-based software is identified via the product code (the MSI GUID).

    The dialog displays the feature hierarchy as a tree structure:

    Whether or not and how you can change the installation status of a feature with this command depends on the MSI-based software.

    Changes you have made to the installation status are indicated by the following icons:

    4. Icon Explanation Effect on the client

    Leave installation status unchanged (default value)

    An additional blue arrow indicates features which take over the installation status of the parent object; the installation status of these features cannot be changed

    None

    New installation status:
    Locally installed

    Feature is installed

    New installation status:
    Install during first use

    Link is being installed

    New installation status:
    Start from network

    Feature is started from the network. Locally installed files are deleted

    New installation status:
    Not installed

    Feature is being uninstalled
  4. Configure the installation status as required.

Additional Customizations for MSI Packages

Using an eScript Package, you can make user-specific customizations (such as showing or hiding individual menu items) after installing an MSI-based software if it is supported by the software. The procedure is the same as for customizing a legacy eScript Package.