Static dependency scan

[Tommy]

Hello,

Is there a way to extract dependency (or pre-requisite) information from an MSI file before runtime ?

Regards,
Tommy

[FrancescoT]

Dear Tommy,

honestly, I'm not quite sure to follow your question.

can you try to describe it a little more?

Regards

[Tommy]

In which MSI table the prerequisites information is stored, after you select Application Runtimes ?

[FrancescoT]

Dear Tommy,

Application runtimes are not stored within the MSI database.
They are part of the setup package, but not part of the installed product.

Regards

[Tommy]

Hello,

I understand but where are stored the PRELIST or PREREQ for example ?

Regards,
Tommy

[FrancescoT]

Dear Tommy,

these are not stored anywhere ... the setup package executes the runtime scripts installation if required.

Regards

[Tommy]

Hello Francesco,

Anyway, somehow the package must be aware of what pre-requisite packages it needs, right ?

I just have a final clue remained that the logic - to decide what pre-requisites needs to be installed - resides in the bootstrapper.

If so, how can I examine a single bootstrapper to figure out what pre-requisites it needs ?

I have an additional question:
Is there a way in IA 18 to specify a propriatery MSI package as an Application Runtime to define it as a pre-requisite ?

I am asking this because under the "Software Requirements" section there is no way to define that. (merely OS, IE, IIS)

Regards,
Tommy

[FrancescoT]

Dear Tommy,

Application runtime installations are simply handled by your main script ... doesn't exist anything else.

If you create a new test project from scratch and then you add a runtime prerequisite to it, you will see that at least two new runtime scripts ( ... this depends on the selected runtime) will be automatically added to your project. Just switch to MSI view in IA IDE to very it.

These runtime scripts execute the effective runtime package verification (the check runtime script) and installation (setup runtime script) respectively.

I suggest you to have a look at the document "Extending the Application Runtimes View" ... where this mechanism is clearly described.
http://www.installaware.com/publications-whitepapers.htm

Hope this helps you.

Regards

[Tommy]

Hello Francesco,

Okay, I understand there is no data, just code.

Let's say, you create package A and B. Is there a way in IA 18 to define package B as a pre-requisite in package A project settings ?
I am asking this because under the Software Requirements section there is no way to define that. (merely OS, IE, IIS)

Regards,
Tommy

[Tommy]

Hello,

Okay, the appropriate RTM + MIA files should be created the following folder in order to be offered by IDE automatically.
<INSTALLDIR>\runtimes

This is a much different approach that an individual can imagine since the MSI schema offers no dependency data.

Can I just have one more question, would it be possible to forge this pre-requisite management without having a bootstrapper ?

Regards,
Tommy

[FrancescoT]

Dear Tommy,

if you want it is also possible to simply run a third party installer package by using the "Run Program" command and eventually, you can even create a custom script for that task (... and the script can be shared with your other project as well). Obviously with this approach, it will be not available within the IA IDE ... as instead is possible using the "Extending the Application Runtimes View" approach.

Can I just have one more question, would it be possible to forge this pre-requisite management without having a bootstrapper ?

I am not sure to follow your question ... probably you mean the possibility to run a third party installer package, as told you in first part of my reply and without the "Extending the Application Runtimes View" approach.

Regards

[Tommy]

Hello,

Thank you for your guidance.

yes the pre-requisite check code and even the pre-requisite installation logic is part of the setup exe

Regards,
Tommy

[Tommy]

Hello Francesco,

Is there a similar way like InstallShield provides that the author can edit directly the MSI database in design time ?

I would like to add custom tables to my MSI DB to specify necessary pre-requisite packages {GUID} and its version numbers, so that later I could figure out that particular package's own dependencies prior run time.


Regards,
Tommy

[FrancescoT]

Dear Tommy,

it is not possible and honestly I believe it is also unnecessary ( ... but probably we don't share the same opinion).

Regards

[Tommy]

Hello Francesco,

It could be you are right, I would not like to judge this from any perspective. Though, how can you store custom information into an MSI database ?

Regards,
Tommy