Is it possible to send parameters to InstallShield prerequistes?

Question

I am evaluating InstallShield 2010, and am trying to set some command line parameters to the SQL Server 2008 prerequisite at user run-time. It appears that the prerequisite is defined entirely in the .prq files (xml-stlye).

Wise for Windows used WiseScript to call the prerequisite installations. InstallAware seems to have something similar, with their own scripting. Does something similar exist for InstallShield?

Answer 1

Yes - by right clicking on the SQL Server prerequisite -> "Application to Run"' tab -> "Specify the command line for the application".

Answer 2

We use IS v12; I built a .prq file for the purpose (they don't supply a .prq for SQL 2008 for IS v12). First I went to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144259.aspx to get all possible cmd line args. Then I used the IS PRQ editor to create the basic .prq structure. Then I hand-edited the .prq (xml) file for (a) easy minor adjustments in the future and (b) to simplify version control diffs.

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<SetupPrereq>
    <conditions>
        <condition Type="16" Comparison="2" Path="[ProgramFilesFolder]Microsoft SQL Server\100\COM" FileName="sqlresld.dll" ReturnValue="2007.100.1600.22"/>
    </conditions>
    <files>
        <file LocalFile="&lt;ISProductFolder&gt;\SetupPrerequisites\Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools\SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe" CheckSum="BCC335711D44BAFC420B5165D2F04647" FileSize="0,229169680"/>
    </files>
    <execute file="SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe" requiresmsiengine="1"
        cmdline      ="/INSTANCEID=AV /INSTANCENAME=AV /ACTION=Install /FEATURES=SQLENGINE,SSMS /HELP=0 /ERRORREPORTING=0 /SQMREPORTING=0 /INDICATEPROGRESS=0 /QUIETSIMPLE=1 /FILESTREAMLEVEL=0 /ENABLERANU=1 /TCPENABLED=1 /NPENABLED=0 /ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN=1 /AGTSVCACCOUNT=&quot;NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE&quot; /AGTSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Manual /BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic /SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic /SQLSVCACCOUNT=&quot;NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE&quot; /RSSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic" 
        cmdlinesilent="/INSTANCEID=AV /INSTANCENAME=AV /ACTION=Install /FEATURES=SQLENGINE,SSMS /HELP=0 /ERRORREPORTING=0 /SQMREPORTING=0 /INDICATEPROGRESS=0 /QUIETSIMPLE=1 /FILESTREAMLEVEL=0 /ENABLERANU=1 /TCPENABLED=1 /NPENABLED=0 /ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN=1 /AGTSVCACCOUNT=&quot;NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE&quot; /AGTSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Manual /BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic /SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic /SQLSVCACCOUNT=&quot;NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE&quot; /RSSVCSTARTUPTYPE=Automatic"
    />
    <dependencies>
        <dependency File="&lt;ISProductFolder&gt;\SetupPrerequisites\Microsoft Installer 4.5 for XP.prq"/>
        <dependency File="&lt;ISProductFolder&gt;\SetupPrerequisites\Microsoft Installer 4.5 for Windows Server 2003 or 64 bit XP.prq"/>
        <dependency File="&lt;ISProductFolder&gt;\SetupPrerequisites\Power Shell 1.0 for Windows XP.prq"/>
        <dependency File="&lt;ISProductFolder&gt;\SetupPrerequisites\Power Shell 1.0 for Windows Server 2003.prq"/>
    </dependencies>
    <properties Id="Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools" Description="This installs Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition (SQL Server Express). The /qn switch suppresses all Setup dialog boxes and error messages. See http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144259.aspx for more information about the commad line options. The SQL setup logs to %programfiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\"/>
</SetupPrereq>