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Modular Setup, using MSIs

Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 9:23 am
by WKleinschmit
Hello,

Consider the following use-case:

I have a main application which edits a specific file type.
There is also a Windows Explorer extension (Thumbnails and Preview) for that same file type which works and might be installed without the main application.

Since this is the case, I have created a separate (MSI) installer for the Explorer extension. I now want to use that msi inside the main application's installer by putting it into a FileBag and running it, using the "(Un) Install MSI" command.

Installation of the whole package works fine and, as expected, gives me two separate entries in the Control-Panel. I can also un-install either the main application or the Explorer extension separately.

If, however I try to install a newer version of the main application with an installer that also contains a newer version of the Explorer extension I get an error message saying that "Another installation is already running". My guess is that this happens, when the Explorer extension's MSI is trying to un-install the old version of itself.

Is there any way to get around this? The use-case itself does not seem to be that much out of the way to me.

Thanks for your help

Re: Modular Setup, using MSIs

Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 10:55 am
by FrancescoT
Dear WKleinschmit,

just a question, if you try to manually install the newer version of the separate (MSI) installer (Using MSIEXEC), over a previous installed version ... does it work fine?

Regards

Re: Modular Setup, using MSIs

Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 11:42 am
by WKleinschmit
Dear FrancescoT,
yes, that works. Also, installing a newer version of the main application, using an installer that doesn't contain the separate (MSI) installer works as expected.

Re: Modular Setup, using MSIs

Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 1:04 pm
by FrancescoT
Dear WKleinschmit,

....probably I see what happens.

Last try, could you please try to use Run Program command instead of "(Un) Install MSI" command?

I believe that if you use the "(Un) Install MSI", you must first verify if the package is already installed and then to execute the command conditionally.
If the package is already installed, you should first UnInstall it using "(Un) Install MSI" and then to install the new one.

...but it is much more simple to use Run Command probably.

Regards