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The Features dialog allows you to add, edit and remove features as well as to organize your components and merge modules into features. You can even make features belong to other features.

During an installation that shows a user interface, features appear in a tree view that allows the user to select whether to install a feature, how to install it, and where to install it to. However, even if your user interface does not display features, or the installer is run in silent mode, the features still exist.

By expanding a feature you can see the components, merge modules and other features that belong to the feature. Note that components and merge modules can each belong to more than one feature.

Common Tasks

Adding a New Feature

To add a new root-level feature, make sure nothing else in the tree is selected (you can just click in some of the tree's "white space") and click the Add button. This will open the Feature Properties dialog.

Editing an Existing Feature

You can edit a feature's properties by doing any of the following:

- Select a feature and click the Edit button.

- Double-click on a feature.

- Right-click on a feature and select Edit from the context menu.

- Select a feature and press the space bar.

Removing a Feature

To remove a feature from your project:

- Select the item and click the Remove button.

- Select the item and press the Delete key.

- Right-click on the item and choose Remove from the context menu.

Removing a feature will remove the feature from your project, but it will not remove the contained components and merge modules from your project. However, note that once you remove a feature, you should add the components and merge modules that it contained to a new or different feature. If a component or merge module is not part of a feature, it will not get included in your installer.

Adding a New Feature to a Parent Feature

To add a new feature to an existing parent feature:

- Select the feature and click the Add button. This will open the Feature Properties dialog.

- Right-click on the feature and select Add from the context menu.

Changing the Hierarchy of Existing Features

You can change the hierarchy and order of features by:

- Selecting the feature that you want to move and then using the arrow keys to move the feature.

- Right-clicking on the feature that you want to move and then choosing the appropriate option from the context menu.

- Drag and drop a feature onto another feature.

Note: Features are limited to 16 levels of depth.

Adding Components to a Feature

To add a component to a feature:

- Expand the feature and select the "Components" folder. Click the Add button to open the Add Component to Feature dialog.

- Expand the feature right click on the "Components" folder. Select Add from the context menu to open the Add Component to Feature dialog.

When you add a component to a feature, you are actually just adding a reference to the existing component. You can add a component to more than one feature. If you want to add a new component to your project, use the Component Manager (Project > Components).

Note: There is a maximum limit of 1600 components per feature.

Adding Merge Modules to a Feature

To add a merge module to a feature:

- Expand the feature and select the "Merge Modules" folder. Click the Add button to open the Add Merge Module to Feature dialog.

- Expand the feature right click on the "Merge Modules" folder. Select Add from the context menu to open the Add Merge Module to Feature dialog.

When you add a merge module to a feature, you are actually just adding a reference to the existing merge module. You can add a merge module to more than one feature. If you want to add a new component to your project, use the Merge Modules dialog (Project > Merge Modules).

Moving Components and Merge Modules Between Features

You can drag and drop components and merge modules between features.

Removing Components and Merge Modules from Features

To remove a component or merge module from a feature:

- Select the component or merge module and click the Remove button.

- Right click on the component or merge module select the Remove option from the context menu.

- Select the component or merge module and press the Delete key.

When you remove a component or merge module from a feature, you are not removing it from your project. You are just removing it from belonging to the feature. However, note that unless a component or merge module belongs to at least one feature it will not be included in your installer.

More Information

MSDN Online: Components and Features

MSDN Online: Feature Table

MSDN Online: FeatureComponents Table

MSDN Online: Windows Installer Features

MSDN Online: Working with Features and Components

WiX Help File: Feature Element

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