InstallAware

I have 3 components that can be installed in any combination.

The clean installation is fine.

When I restart the installation, and modify it, the old components are deleted, and the new ones installed correctly.

The registry key I set reflects the correct combination, it's written to the registry correctly.

Up to now, it all works as expected.

Then I do a build, and I have unchecked the option set that says change revision code automatically upon rebuild.

Now, the installer goes into the modify screen, I can select a different set of options, my variable is set correctly, I execute the write registry function, but the registry never changes.

Also, the old components are not deleted from the system, only new ones added.

The revision code did not change, what is going on?

It's normal behavior.
As far as the revision code doesn't change, if a previous installed product is on the system with the same revision code, then nothing changes, because IA understands that the same product is installed.
If you increase the revision code, then IA will understand that a previous version of the product is installed on the target machine and act correctly.

Hi -

If IA only looks at the revision code, then something is wrong here.

There are 3 cases when I run the installer again -


1 - Same build same revision code -

NEEDSUPGRADE is not set

The old components are deleted.
The registry is written correctly.


2 - New build, same revision code

NEEDSUPGRADE is not set

The old components are NOT deleted.
The registry is written NOT correctly.


3 - new build, new revision code

NEEDSUPGRADE IS set

IA wants to delete the existing installation, not modify it.


Case 1 and 3, I understand, but If IA only looks at the revision code, then case 2 does not make sense.

Thanks

Gary

Hi Gary!

Case #2 is simply the way Windows Installer works. The revision code of a setup package lets Windows Installer uniquely identify it. Each package must have a unique revision code, and this is why the revision code is set to auto-change by default.

Now if you are disabling the auto-change feature, it is really your responsibility to manually change the revision code every time you change your setup - newer files, or newer logic. If you don't change the revision code, you are essentially breaking and confusing MSI. Which is why it leads to the results you have observed.

Ok, it sounds like if I use MSI, I really need 2 different installs with 2 different product codes. One for programs, and the other for data, as I don't want to delete all those data files when new programs get installed.

This just adds more complexity than I wanted.

Thanks for all the quick responses.

Gary

Hi Gary!

If the data files must not be deleted, you can mark them as permanent in Install Files.

Hi

That might work.

Another question, on a web deploy, when do the files get downloaded from the web?

Does it happen after apply install, and only if an Install Files command was executed for one of the files?

Thanks

Gary

Gary,

The files get downloaded when an installation command that needs access to source media executes. This does not wait for Apply Install to be called. Install Files would be a command that would trigger a media download. Write Registry would not - just two examples.

Well, this is still driving me crazy.

I have 3 components A,B,C - all of the install files are marked permanent

On a clean install, I install component A - it works fine.

Now I restart the installer, it goe into modify, I select A and B, I trace through the code, and the install files for A and B are both called.

Only the files for component A are actually installed - component B is not added.

I have unselected Component A, and selected B - still the A files are installed again, B is ignored.

I thought that permanent just means the the files are not uninstalled - and they are not, but it seems to mean that the original installation is permanent and can't be modified - at least that's how it's working.


Gary