Transcript Passing Parameters to Deferred Custom Actions

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Windows Installer
engine for installation, maintenance and removal of Windows software
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MSI File
a package containing installation information in OLE structured storage format
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Orca
a tool to view and edit MSI installers
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Wix
a toolset to author MSI installers
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Standard Actions
typical functions performed during an installation or maintenance
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Custom Actions
everything else
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Launch an installed executable
Call a function in a DLL
Call a VB/Java script
Defer execution of actions
Progress information
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50+ Types
Type 1: DLL file stored in a Binary stream
Type 2: EXE file stored in a Binary stream
Type 6: VBScript stored in a Binary stream
Type 18: EXE file installed with the product
Type 19: displays a message and aborts
Type 51: property set with formatted text
Type 39: concurrent installation support
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VBScript File
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Binary Stream
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Custom Action Declaration
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Custom Action Sequence
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C++ DLL with function EXPORT
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Binary Stream, Declaration and Sequence
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General Database
MsiSetProperty, MsiGetProperty
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Views
MsiViewFetch, MsiViewModify
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Records
MsiCreateRecord, MsiFormatRecord
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Summary
MsiGetSummaryInformation
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State
MsiGetMode
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Actions
MsiGetAction
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Location
MsiGetSourcePath
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UI
MsiEnableUIPreview
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Selection
MsiGetFeatureCost
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Immediate vs. Deferred Execution
Install/Uninstall
Immediate
Prepare Execution Script
Script
Execute
Commit
Deferred
Rollback
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Both UI and Execution sequences
Runs in service or client process
Always: 0
FirstSequence: 256
once on first sequence
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OncePerProcess: 512
once on client, once on server
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ClientRepeat: 768
only on client after UI
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No Properties
CustomActionData
Structured Data
Custom Tables
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Compiler Extensions
Libraries
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http://msiext.codeplex.com
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Extensions:
◦ System Tools
copying, moving, template files
◦ User Privileges
managing local groups and users
◦ Java Tools
managing java archives
◦ Database and Data
MSSQL, Access and generic ODBC
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Custom Actions:
◦ Strings, Security & Authentication, Cryptography, Xml, Tcp/IP
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Tools:
◦ DSN
◦ ODBQ
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Custom Actions
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa368066(VS.85).aspx