| Description |
1 online resource (viii, 330 pages) : color illustrations |
| Summary |
Annotation WiX is an open source project and a toolset that builds Windows installation packages from XML source code. WiX, which is used internally by Microsoft and by many companies around the World, simplifies many of the installation tasks that used to be shrouded in mystery. The tool set provides a command-line environment that you can integrate into your old-style build processes or you can use the newer technology from inside integrated development environments to build your setup packages. You'll find that you understand your installer better, can create it in less time, and save money in the process. No one really wants to devote a lifetime to understanding how to create a hassle-free installer for any software.<br /><br />This hands-on guide takes the mystery out of Windows Installer by showing how simple XML elements can be leveraged to create a sophisticated install package. By relying on Microsoft standards, you'll be able to use features like Property elements to customize your application's entry in Add/Remove Programs, the Shortcut element to create Start menu shortcuts, and other specialized elements for building upgrade and patch support and more.<br /><br />This book will show you the fundamental ingredients needed to build a professional-grade installer using Windows Installer XML. The initial chapters will introduce you to the set of required elements necessary to build a simple installer. We'll then explore those basic elements in more detail and see how best to use them in the real world. In the ensuing chapters, you'll move on to learn about adding conditions that alter what the user can install, then how to add actions to the install sequence and how to author a user interface. We'll move on to advanced topics such as editing data in the Windows Registry, installing a Windows service, and building your project from the command line. Finally, you'll learn to localize your package for different languages and detect older versions during upgrades. Each chapter uses to-the-point examples to illustrate the best way to use the language.<br /><br />Create a hassle-free installer for your Windows software using WiX. |
| Contents |
Cover; Copyright; Credits; About the Author; About the Reviewer; Table of Contents; Preface; Chapter 1: Getting Started; Introducing Windows Installer XML; What is WiX?; Is WiX for you?; Where can I get it?; Votive; A word about GUIDs; Your first WiX project; XML declaration and Wix element; Product element; Package element; Media element; Directories; Components; Files; Features; Start Menu shortcuts; Putting it all together; Adding a User Interface; Viewing the MSI database; Orca.exe; Turning logging on during installation; Other resources; Summary; Chapter 2: Creating Files and Directories |
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File elementDirectoryRef element; ComponentGroup element; Fragment element; Harvesting files with heat.exe; Copying and moving files; Copying files you install; Copying existing files; Moving existing files; Installing special-case files; Adding assembly files to the GAC; Installing a TrueType font; Creating an empty folder; Setting file permissions; Speeding up file installations; Summary; Chapter 3: Putting Properties and AppSearch to Work; Custom properties; Declaring and setting properties; Referencing properties; Property visibility and scope; Secure properties; Property datatypes |
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Predefined Windows Installer propertiesImplied properties; Cited properties; AppSearch; DirectorySearch; FileSearch; ComponentSearch; RegistrySearch; IniFileSearch; Summary; Chapter 4: Improving Control with Launch Conditions and Installed States; Conditions; Condition syntax; Launch conditions; Feature conditions; Component conditions; Action state; Installed state; Summary; Chapter 5: Understanding the Installation Sequence; InstallUISequence; UI standard actions; AppSearch; LaunchConditions; ValidateProductID; CostInitialize; FileCost; CostFinalize; ExecuteAction; InstallExecuteSequence |
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Execute standard actionsInstallValidate; InstallInitialize; ProcessComponents; UnpublishFeatures; RemoveRegistryValues; RemoveShortcuts; RemoveFiles; InstallFiles; CreateShortcuts; WriteRegistryValues; RegisterUser; RegisterProduct; PublishFeatures; PublishProduct; InstallFinalize; Immediate vs. deferred; Custom actions; Set a Windows Installer Property; Set the location of an Installed Directory; Run embedded VBScript or JScript; Call an external VBScript or JScript file; Call a function from a dynamic-link library; Trigger an executable; Send an error that stops the installation |
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Rollback custom actionsAccessing properties in a deferred action; Adding conditions to custom actions; Deployment Tools Foundation; Session object; Getting and setting properties; Logging; Showing a MessageBox; Accessing feature and component states; Querying the MSI database; Inserting rows into the MSI database; Summary; Chapter 6: Adding a User Interface; WiX standard dialog sets; WixUI_Advanced; WixUI_FeatureTree; WixUI_InstallDir; WixUI_Mondo; Customizing a standard dialog set; Creating your own dialogs; ICE20 errors; Adding dialog files; Scheduling dialogs; Dialog element |
| Subject |
Microsoft Windows (Computer file)
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Microsoft Windows (Computer file) |
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Microsoft Windows (Computer file) |
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Application software -- Development.
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Logiciels d'application -- Développement. |
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Application software -- Development |
| Other Form: |
Print version: Ramirez, Nick. WiX. Birmingham [U.K.] : Packt Pub., ©2010 9781849513722 (OCoLC)694147022 |
| ISBN |
9781849513739 (electronic bk.) |
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1849513732 (electronic bk.) |
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1849513724 |
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9781849513722 |
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