Can I reliably create a merge module from a regular MSI package like MySQL to merge it with my own installation? WiX has appropriate tools for that, but what pitfalls should I expect from such translation? What are alternatives for installing other MSI packages from my own package?
+1
A:
You could create a bootstrapper application. The application would install your installation package and then the 3rd party application(s).
If you have InstallShield, a popular way to do this is to create an InstallScript-based bootstrapper which calls the MSI files.
William Leara
2010-06-30 22:43:42
I try to keep my package chaining simpler then that. I'd usually wrap something like MySQL up as a setup prerequisite.
Christopher Painter
2010-06-30 22:54:59
+2
A:
The answer is "No". Merge Modules do not support all of the tables in MSI files. A perfect translation from Merge Module to MSI will not be possible (except maybe in carefully contrived situations :).
The answer William gave about using a bootstrapper/chainer instead is the correct way to handle this situation.
Rob Mensching
2010-07-11 01:00:29
I wish WiX had a bootstrapper. InstallShield Setup Prereqs, Feature Prereqs and built-in MSI chaining since InstallShield X is one of the few features that keeps me from moving to a pure WiX environment.
Christopher Painter
2010-07-11 01:03:32
WiX v3.6 will have a bootstrapper. It's called Burn (http://robmensching.com/blog/posts/2009/7/14/Lets-talk-about-Burn) and it will rock (when we finally get it working)! :)
Rob Mensching
2010-07-11 01:07:02