Software Deployment

ok

you have 3 msi's --- right

you will install the first msi (prereq)
then
the main msi
then another msi as a patch - right are you sure this not a patch .msp file

then after all this you need to add file , run command lines etc

if you don't need to do any configuration until after all the installations
then you can build a single config msi that will run your commands add files etc

so you will need to create mst's for all the msi's first adding properties ie rootdrive , reboot etc etc

install prereq msi + mst
install main msi + mst
install patch msi + mst NB - are you sure this is an msi and not a patch .msp

install your config msi - no mst

note if during the main installations you need to run commands, add files etc then you will need to add all that stuff to the mst for the main msi


NOTE THIS IS BASED ON WHAT I AM INTERPRETING

Nice!, you have interpreted well.
I'll try it in this way:
Edit each msi with ORCA: ROOTDRIVE, shortcut, etc
Build a single msi with new files, change registry entrys, run command lines...

But, on SDS (Software Deployment System) I can put just 1 msi file as prereq per application, therefore in this case I have to release every msi as a different application, and to do it, I have to create a registry key with an ID (it's look like a product code) on HKLM\Software\My company\launchex.

How may I do insert this reg key into each msi vendor??

If I could do that, I would have everything solved!

Hi Claudio,
what app are talking about here?
How is the patch packaged? As MSP?
Regards, Nick

Hi Nheim,
This application is called GSW. To do it works, it has like prereq a msi that install several CrystalReports dll, later there is other msi about main application, and finally there is other msi with patch/updates to install in the same folder.
Repackaging a msi, is bad idea, I know that. But I need to insert this Key in the registry to do the "release", and I don't know how to do it with ORCA o something else..
Can I insert this key trought a Transforms?

Thank you

Hi Claudio,
GSW doesn't mean anything to me...
Could you specify that a bit, please.
An update/patch as an MSI... Uh, bad practice.
Depends on what it does. Maybe it's doable to put its changes in a Transform with reasonable effort.
Could you upload this stuff to a free FTP service like senduit?
Regards, Nick

Hi,
It's an application that use a Oracle base to make reports through "CrystalReports", so the vendor package has sent me this 3 msi (prereq, main and updtate)
Normally, I receive a setup.exe to package but in this case I have received this 3 msi files, so I have to custimize every file to do the deployment. Then I have to build other msi with new files that have to be installed on the same folder, register some dlls, create new shortcut, etc.
The point is that I'm not sure if I can insert a reg key through a Transform...
The msi vendor's files has 50 mb aprox. each, do you really wants check them?

Hi Claudio,
just zip it and put it on senduit (50MB isn't a problem now a days, hopefully ;-))
Regards, Nick

Hi Nick!
I couldn't upload it on senduit, I don't know why, there was an error...
So I've uploaded it on FileFactory, here is the link
http://www.filefactory.com/file/b346e4e/n/GSW_zip

you have to unzip it and you'll find the 3 msi vendor files. Installation order is Pre-req, GSW and GSW.Sped.
I've already modified several things through Orca, Rootdrive, shortcut, etc. Just I have to insert a new reg key on each msi, then I have to build another msi with new files and shortcuts

Thank you for your help!

Claudio

Hi Claudio,
got a look at that stuff. It's really bad...
All of the tree MSI contain a bunch of Merge Module's. Unless you know how to handle MM's, i wouldn't advise you to repackage it.
Easiest way i see, is to use a script of some sort to start the MSI's and do the additional stuff you need afterward.
Or if you want to give it a try, use Installer 4.5 new chaining method. See: http://softwareinstall.blogspot.com/2008/06/fun-with-msiembeddedchainer.html
Regards, Nick

Thanks Nick! I'll try to do what I need through a transform...