InstallAware

I am trying to convert some Wise install scripts to InstallAware. With our original installer we were able to install multiple copies of the software in multiple locations. For example, we installed to:

c:\\firstCopy
c:\\secondCopy

When a new version of our software came out you would simply install it on top of each copy you had installed. When you did, it saw the uninstall log file that Wise put in the directory and would uninstall the previous version and install the new version.

I am having a very hard time figuring out how to replicate this behavior in InstallAware (or any MSI tool). I used the Transform code from the samples so I can install to c:\\firstCopy and then the second time, install to c:\\secondCopy.

The problem is when we release a new version and I want to upgrade both of these. If I run the new version's installer it will upgrade the first installation I made (great!). But if I run it again it asks me if I want a new instance. If I say yes and pick the location of the second installation, it does not uninstall it first, it just copies over it and I end up with an extra entry in the "Add/Remove Programs" application.

Is there anyway using MSI and InstallAware to accomplish this? I really need to allow people to have multiple copies installed and be able to upgrade each of them individually.

Checkout the "multiple instances" sample.

Hallo.
To jimmo. Your answer is short and simple, but it doesn't solve the problem. With multiple instances sample I am able to install more instances, but I am able to reinstall or upgrade only first copy. Your example really don't show, how I can choose an other instance of my program.

Mikulas

I am also need solution for the same situation. So, If u find any solution pl. share with me also.

Thanks in Advance.

Regards,
Raj.

The multiple instances sample included with IA only shows the way to transform an instance so more than one instance of an application can be installed in the same system. However, the sample does not include a way to handle upgrades to multiple instances. What you need to do is customize the msi script to handle multiple instance upgrades. In the past I have suggested to keep track of all Product codes installed by a multiple instance installer, in a text file for example. When upgrading, you would need a loop to uninstall all instances with the (Un)Install MSI Setup command, and call the installer the number of times required to match the number of instances installed. It would be really time consuming to give you all the process. I am just giving you a way to do it. It is up to you how to implement it.