Software Deployment

Why not perform an admin install? That will extract all the files for you...

You could also try using msidb.exe (from the SDK) to extract the streamed Cabinet files.

ORIGINAL: AngelD

You could also try using msidb.exe (from the SDK) to extract the streamed Cabinet files.

Kim, I get the impression that it's not extracting the CABs which is the problem, but *extracting their content*.

Kent, The CAB format used by *native* InstallShield (i.e. not MSI-based InstallShield installers) is different to what WinZIP, WinRAR, PowerDesk, Windows Explorer et al are expecting. I seem to recall finding a CAB reader somewhere but for the life of me, I can't find it on my machine. If I come across it, I'll post the details. In the meantime, as I say, do an admin install.

Ian,
You're right, missed that one :D

I know I've used a tool called "InstallShield Cabinet File Viewer" but can't recall if it supported older IS version such as 6.x. This tool could open the cabinet and extract selected files of your choice.

Hi folks,
yes there is an "InstallShield Cabinet File Viewer", but it's part of the huge Installshield installation and there is no stand alone version.
But with some knowledge, it's easy to search the files together, which are needed to run it alone.
You could download the trial version of Installshield, it should contain the viewer.
Regards, Nick

Hi Nick,

Well, I was talking about iscab which can be found at http://ftp-os2.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=/pub/os2/win32os2

Nick: downloading a trial version of InstallShield was my first thought also. Unfortunately in the Tools the Cab Viewer is grayed out. Contrary to their web site claim it is not a fully operational version.

Angle: In the bottom of my tool directory I also had a copy of that viewer. It appears that in InstallShield 10 & 11 they changed the format of the cab files. Perhaps a reaction to the “Legacy Conversion” tool in Wise which used a similar algorithm to neatly extract the files and build a Windows Installer compliant MSI.

Thanks for your thoughts. As always very helpful.
Cheers
Kent

You might try out Universal Extractor - it appears there is some support for InstallShield CAB files (though whether it will handle the versions you are working on, I'm not sure .. worth a try though)

Details and download are at

http://legroom.net/software/uniextract

Regards,

Spartacus

Hi folks,
@Kent: The next thing you really should try, is an admin installation, like Ian suggested . Which app are we talking about here?

@Kim: http://ftp-os2.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=/pub/os2/win32os2
This is a cracked version of the "InstallShield Cabinet File Viewer". The files stem from IS v6. Don't know if we should encourage people to use tools like this... ;-). But its a good start, the CAB viewer of the actual IS version is made up of more or less the same files.

@Graham: Universal Extractor uses iscomp6 to do its job. Unfortunately, newer IS-cab-files have a slightly changed format and are not recognized by uni-extract.

Regards, Nick

ORIGINAL: nheim

@Kim: http://ftp-os2.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=/pub/os2/win32os2
This is a cracked version of the "InstallShield Cabinet File Viewer". The files stem from IS v6. Don't know if we should encourage people to use tools like this... ;-). But its a good start, the CAB viewer of the actual IS version is made up of more or less the same files.
You learn something new everyday. I've had this in my Tools repository for so long I can't recall when I found it and didn't know it was a cracked version, thought this was developed outside of IS for debugging, reverseenginering or what else we like to call it.
I'm not saying to use it, only it's there for educational usage [;)]