MSI Factory - Kicking off Another Installer

[mfeis]

Hi, we recently downloaded MSI Factory for evaluation.

Our application has two install modes, "Server" and "Workstation". The workstation mode proceeds as a typical installer (mostly copying files), but the server mode needs to kick off a few other installers, such as SQL Express.

We are using the "SetupType" dialogue to give the end-user a choice. However, we haven't found a way through the dialogue screens and "published events" to kick off another installer. It seems like the documented "File.Run" action (with command line arguments) would be what we need, but there doesn't seem to be a way to execute the action in the Dialog Editor.

Are we going about this the right way? Is there an action for this, or are we way off base?

Thanks, - Marshall

[mcaspari]

Hi Marshall,

I recommend you to use a bootstrapper in conjunction with a dependency module. The module will check if any additional setup is required or not (e.g. .NET-Framework, SQL Server, etc.).

But, a picture is worth a thousand words ... ;) (http://www.indigorose.com/msi-factory/video-tutorials-msi-factory/)

Regards,
Marc

[WillTinson]

Thanks for that Marc. I've been looking around this site for ages and have never seen those videos before. They've answered several problems I had. Also thanks indigorose team for creating the videos.

Will

[WillTinson]

Has the videos page been taken down? I just tried to visit the page but it wouldn't load. Maybe it's just me.

[plokolp]

Good post.

I've just spent the last few days re-doing our bootstrapper to install SQL Server 2008 express after the main install completes.

I made a new dialog especially for the SQL install. A checkbox says "Do you want to install SQL Server 2008". If it's checked, I write a file to disk with a "InstallSQL=1". In the bootstrapper LUA script, I check this text file, and then kick off the SQL.msi using a .bat file to install it silently with a defined set of install options.

If anyone needs help on this, please let me know. Glad to share the effort!

Best regards,
Rod