setup decompressor question

[stampy]

Ok, my setup needs to conditionally install some Microsoft 7.1 runtimes (it would be nice if InstallAware supported mfc 7.1 msvcrt 7.1 and msvcp 7.1 -- since we won’t be moving up to the 8.0 runtimes till a bit later ).

I believe I’ve located the MS recommended merge modules and from some information I’ve gathered from TS tips, I figured I would:
-create my own Light Mode Setup wrapper, basically a blank setup one or more of these MSM files added in “Support Files”. Then in my main setup, do my own condition checking, use Bundle Files to do the web install on the LMS wrapper EXE result, then use the “Run Light Mode Setup” on the EXE.
So far, so good?

I went to use the Setup Decompressor tool on the MS MSM file and noticed the “Recompress with InstallAware wrapper” option. I’m assuming this isn’t the equivalent of the Light Mode Setup? I’d use Run Program command on the exe? I’d imagine using a LMS setup (my own LMS wrapper) would be preferable – in order to better capture the progress (?). Suggestions?

BTW, I see some buggy behavior in my IDE. When using the “Run Light Mode Setup” command, the command dialog box drops my “Return Success State in Variable” variable. I’m running 5.2. Each time I place a variable in here and select “OK”, the variable disappears and is gone when I open up the dialog again. This seems to be just a problem with the UI. When I copy and paste the command I see my return variable “VC71”:
e.g. ~InstallAware Clipboard Data~
~Run Light Mode Setup~
~{7D1386C8-AAB8-413C-8FC1-883FFA4D3CB9}~
~$SUPPORTDIR$\\vc71\\VC_User_CRT71_RTL_X86_---repkg.exe~
~VC71~
~~
~TRUE~


Thanks!

[stampy]

Sorry. Actually, instead of

create my own Light Mode Setup wrapper, basically a blank setup one or more of these MSM files added in “Support Files”...

I meant to say:

create my own Light Mode Setup wrapper, basically a blank setup with one or more of these MSM files added as “Merge Modules"

...

[MichaelNesmith]

Hi Stampy!

You don't need to use the Setup Decompressor at all - as the MSMs will be decompressed for you when you add them to a setup. So indeed, you may add them to a setup, build that in Light Mode, and then include them in a master setup. This should take care of it for you.

Use the Setup Decompressor if you want to decompress third party setups (MSI/EXE) and add them to your setup (or make them available stand-alone). No need for MSMs...