SQL Server Express Options and Feature setup...

[Steve]

I am installing your Application Runtime called 'Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005 with SP1'.
Specifically, I am looking to understand what Microsoft install packages you are installing when the following options are selected:

SQL Server Database Services
SQL Server Data Files
Replication

Client Components
Connectivity Components
Software Development Kit

Can you please tell me what if any of these options will install the 'SQL Server Management Studio Express'?

Also, it is my understanding that SQL Express has no 'Replication' capability other than being able to act as a subscriber to a licensed SQL Server 2005 installation. Should your label therefore be "Replication SUbscriber" instead of "Replication"? I ask because according to Microsoft:
"Replication for SQL Server Express originates with a publication created in SQL Server 2005. The computer that is running SQL Server 2005 is the Publisher. The computer that is running SQL Server Express can be a Subscriber and receive data from that SQL Server database. SQL Server Express functions only as a Subscriber."

Thanks for your help and clarification.
Steve

File Attached:

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[agencysoft]

Yeah, I ran into this too last week. You can't actually install management studio using the SQL options directly. You need to first add the SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi to you support file folder, then run the 'Install/Remove MSI Package' command as below.

Install/Remove MSI Package $SUPPORTDIR$\\SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi[ADDLOCAL=ALL] (get result into variable SQLSMI)

As far as replication, I can't help you there.


Mitch McInelly

[agencysoft]

Yeah, I ran into this too last week. You can't actually install management studio using the SQL options directly. You need to first add the SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi to you support file folder, then run the 'Install/Remove MSI Package' command as below.

Install/Remove MSI Package $SUPPORTDIR$\\SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi[ADDLOCAL=ALL] (get result into variable SQLSMI)

As far as replication, I can't help you there.


Mitch McInelly

[Steve]

Hi Mitch,
Thanks very much for your reply and I appologise in advance for this next question (being quite new to InstallAware)...

You said: "...add SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi to your support file folder, then run the 'Install/Remove MSI Package' command as below"

I am not sure that I understand what you mean by support folder?

Also I can't seem to determine how to run the "'Install/Remove MSI Package' command" within my InstallAware project.

Steve

[agencysoft]

Hi Steve,

1) Put your Installaware in MSICode view using the tab at the bottom left.

2) Find the 'Support Files' folder along the middle left hand side of the screen listed under all the folders

3) Right click on it and click on 'Add Files to Project'. Navigate on the SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi file (which you will download from Microsoft) You shold now see it listed under 'Support Files'

4) The Install/Remove command is actually listed as (Un)Install MSI Setup towards the bottom of the 'Drag/Drop Script commands' list on the right hand side, just under the break. If it's not there then you may need to upgrade your version of Installaware, I'm not sure.

Hope this helps.

Mitch

[Steve]

Thanks again Mitch,
I'll give that a try right now.

Man, I looked and looked for how to add an MSI to Support files but could find nothing. Of course now that you have pointed it out to me I wonder how I could have missed it!

Would you advise to 'repack' that MSI prior to including it in the project in order to reduce the msi size?
Is that advisable when adding an MSI to a project via Support Files?

[agencysoft]

I don't know anything about re-packing an MSI file. I'm only about 1 week ahead of you

Mitch

[Steve]

Only 1 week ahead of me? You sound like you know this stuff inside and out!!!

Unfortunately not being a programmer, I'm starting to think that I may be in over my head with this product. I've been looking at where to add the "Install/Remove MSI Package $SUPPORTDIR$\\SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi[ADDLOCAL=ALL] (get result into variable SQLSMI)" command you provided, but I'm really at a complete loss as to where in the script that the '(Un)Install MSI Setup' entry would get added.
Also do I just need to add the "Install/Remove MSI Package $SUPPORTDIR$\\SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi[ADDLOCAL=ALL] (get result into variable SQLSMI)" to the 'Action String' field or do I also need to declare the variable in the 'Result' tab as well?
I think if I could just get my head around this piece, I think the whole application would make a lot more sense to me.
Steve

[Gizm0]

First of all, Replication is the Term specified by Microsoft and indicates the procedure/functionality (replication) and it's not feature depend so, the term "Replication" as an option is fine.

The only package installed is the SQL Server setup.All the things you get as checkboxes are features of SQL Server and not different packages.

[agencysoft]

Hi Steve,

I added my (Un)Install/Remove MSI package command towards the end of the 'setupsql2005' script. I don't think it really matters where you put it, as long as SQL has been installed first. Just try inserting it right before the last 'end' statement. You can also put it right after the statement that installs your program files in the 'Perform first time or maintenece installation' region.

Don't type anything into the 'Action String' field. Click the 'Install' button below and it will fill out with ADDLOCAL=ALL. Click on the Package tab and click 'Use Package File' - then Enter '$SUPPORTDIR$\\SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi' in the box next to it. Don't check the 'Package is Installware...' box below.

That should do it.

[agencysoft]

Hi Steve,

I added my (Un)Install/Remove MSI package command towards the end of the 'setupsql2005' script. I don't think it really matters where you put it, as long as SQL has been installed first. Just try inserting it right before the last 'end' statement. You can also put it right after the statement that installs your program files in the 'Perform first time or maintenece installation' region.

Don't type anything into the 'Action String' field. Click the 'Install' button below and it will fill out with ADDLOCAL=ALL. Click on the Package tab and click 'Use Package File' - then Enter '$SUPPORTDIR$\\SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi' in the box next to it. Don't check the 'Package is Installware...' box below.

That should do it.

[MichaelNesmith]

Also, a note on using the repacker.

Yes, in general, its a great idea to process MSI files you use through the Setup Decompressor first. This way, they will compress smaller when built with InstallAware.

[Steve]

Hi Mitch,

That worked great!

Thanks for the detailed instructions. The whole InstallAware concept is starting to come together for me now that I have been able to follow your suggestions step by step through the script. Thanks again!

Michael,
Thanks for your comment about the benefits of using the setup decompressor. I just decompressed the original Microsoft msi using 'Setup Decompressor', then included the decompressed msi (of the same name) in my InstallAware setup.
Wow, what a difference in size....
The original Microsoft 'SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi' was almost 40mg in size. After letting InstallAware perform the decompression on this msi it ballooned up to 103meg. However once I included the decompressed msi (103mg) right within my setup, the new size was only 19mg after InstallAware completed the build. Less than half the original msi size!

[MichaelNesmith]

You bet! Help spread the word. Who wouldn't want to have 2x space savings?