MSI Installer Modification

[giovannip]

Hi,

Is it possible/recommended to modify a 3rd party MSI for installation/uninstallation? As part of the 3rd party's MSI, it installs the required .NET assemblies, performs registration of COM/ActiveX components, etc. It also installs documentation and text files that I do not require to be installed on my client's PC.

1. Can I easily "delete" these unnecessary files? If so, how?
2. If I am able to do this, does InstallAware 9 modify the 3rd party's (original) installation script to remove the references that install the unnecessary files and leave the needed files unmodified?
3. Can I remove the screens in the 3rd party's installation as they are not needed. Again, will the MSI install script be modified by InstallAware 9 to remove the requirement for the screens?

Giovanni

[MichaelNesmith]

Hi Giovanni,

You can use the Database Import Wizard to convert any MSI/MSM database into an InstallAware project. This would let you change everything.

If you want to use the (Un)Install MSI Setup command to directly install a third party MSI as part of a larger InstallAware installation, that too is possible. Your InstallAware setup will natively display third party MSI installation progress in your own custom setup progress dialogs, it can pass any custom parameters needed to the third party MSI, and it will not display any third party MSI windows so the experience is seamless.

Whichever way works best for you!