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MSI creation help

witch

By witch
in Educational Software

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witch

witch

Posted
Posted

I have quite a few very old programs that the staff like to have on their laptops - eg the Interactive Resources series - and I think, now that the first rush of issues after the holidays has subsided, that I need to look into getting or creating msi's for them. I tend to install them all as and when but it would be easier to have them all deployed by group policy.

Is there a simple, and free way to do it? I have always been a bit scared to create msi's as I know there can be issues with silent install etc so any advice is very welcome :)

jinnantonnixx

jinnantonnixx

Posted
Posted (edited)

I use an ancient version of the full-blown InstallShield. I've written my own custom actions and scripting, but if you are simply dropping program files into the correct place, there are free tools which might be all you need.

 

There's a free version of Anvanced Installer which looks quite good. Worth evaluating at any rate.

Advanced Installer - Features

 

 

Instedit is free and allows custom actions and features, as well as transform files, but it requires a bit of investment of your time to understand it.

InstEd It! - InstEd - Make packaging more productive

Edited by jinnantonnixx
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SHimmer45

SHimmer45

Posted
Posted (edited)

i have used advanced installer in the past with success iirc the older versions UI is a bit better, and you can point it at installed programs and it will build an MSI from there so if you have lost some install media it can be used to recreate a package, to a certain extent

insted is something i use for editing existing MSI's as Jin said it does require a fair bit of time to get your head around it.

 

 

bear in mind with advanced installer is that its default install path if you dont change it will be program files\organisation name\application (well it was when i last used it)

Edited by SHimmer45
DanielRF

DanielRF

Posted
Posted

Some programs may have MSI files included within the executable installers. Before creating a new installer I normally try starting the installer then opening the temp directory (%temp%) to check for any MSI files that have been extracted. Another way to check is to use a program like 7zip to open the executable installer and look for an MSI file.

 

You don't always find a suitable MSI file within the executable installer, but sometimes you get lucky.

witch

witch

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've just had a look at the Advanced Installer and I couldn't understand it - even with the tutorial! :(

There are no MSI files in the executables that I can see, sadly

SHimmer45

SHimmer45

Posted
Posted

@witch

 

must have changed alot since i last used it :(

 

with the wizard you should be able to:

give the project a name

select the directory where the program is installed

it then builds a project file from which you can create the MSI to roll out.

good thing about the project file is that you can update and and then rebuild the msi with your changes

if it get a chance over lunch i could knock up a quick guide to get you going?

witch

witch

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It sounds so simple. But it wouldn't accept the directory I gave it - no matter what I did. I tried on my own computer and then on another thinking the 32/64 bit issue might be a problem but it still wouldn't play.

I would be so grateful for any help. I'm not back there till tomorrow now so no rush

sted

sted

Posted
Posted

for interactive resources i just install it from a batch file added as a starup script saves mucking round. Low tech but works

@echo OFF
REM --- Check for an existing installation of Software
if exist "c:\Program Files (x86)\interative Resources\teaching tools\main.exe" goto _End
REM --- Deploy to Windows 2000/XP/2003
xcopy "\\server\resources$\Programs\Interactive Resources" "c:\Program Files (x86)\Interactive Resources\" /c/e/h

xcopy "\\server\resources$\Laptop\Shortcuts\Interactive Resources x64" "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Interactive Resources\" /c/e/h
REM --- End of the script
:_End
rem pause

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witch

witch

Posted
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Posted

That's an idea, @sted

Sorry, I'm not brilliant at this stuff - I get the gist of what it is doing but not the detail - can you enlighten me - by PM if you want?

sted

sted

Posted
Posted

in a nutshell copy and paste the above code to notepad and adjust to point where your source files are mine are in \\server\resources$\Programs\Interactive Resources for the application and i created shortcuts for x64 based pcs and saved them \\server\resources$\Laptop\Shortcuts\Interactive Resources x64 to make it easier to sort the start menu out and save to your netlogon\software nsall folder on the server as a .bat file

 

then on an existing or new group policy object go to computer config policies windows settings scripts pick startp or shutdown your call i usually do startup then just add the script

 

just make sure that authenticated users has read access to the folder structure where the source files are stored

witch

witch

Posted
  • Author
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I have 11 programs like this

Problem is we have several startup scripts as it is - printers and the like - so I am concerned about slowing the network down a bit though.

sted

sted

Posted
Posted
I have 11 programs like this

Problem is we have several startup scripts as it is - printers and the like - so I am concerned about slowing the network down a bit though.

 

as long as it has some sort of error check it should go oh thats installed already and quit before youve really seen it do anything

witch

witch

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Thanks

I would really like to learn how to build msi's though - I've gone back to Advanced installer this morning and I still can't see how to do it - frankly I can't even see where to start. I must be missing something very obvious.

Edited by witch
sted

sted

Posted
Posted
fair enough in the longer run creating msi's is probabbly better but like you im in a school for x hours a week usually 3 so sometimes its a case of do is spend an entire visit trying to make/test an msi or just write a 30 second script. Ive used winstall le in the past but it does seem to create some lets say non optimal packages. if it helps iirc i looked at advanced installer a while back and thought the same
Wubbalubbadub

Wubbalubbadub

Posted
Posted
@witch offer still stands of sending a little guide to you or you can PM me if you like
\

 

Me to please!!

 

Most annoying process every trying to get MSI's! I just want a programme which says.. drag exe here and output msi there...

 

#wecanonlydream!

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