Effective MSI Package Version Management

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Summary

Information on comparing the differences between installation packages using the MSI Diff tool.

Synopsis

One of the biggest concerns facing enterprises today is the complexities behind effective package version management. Understanding the contents of the package is only a small part of application management. It is the understanding of exactly how two different versions of the same package differ that provides substantial value to deployment teams that are managing multiple versions of applications in their end user environment.

The InstallShield MSI Diff tool enables you to quickly compare two .msi, .msm, .msp, or .pcp files. It lets you apply one or more .msp and .mst files to an .msi file and see the changes in the resulting .msi database. You can also use this tool to compare two InstallShield project files (.ism or .ise) that are saved in binary format. You can easily integrate it with most source code control systems.

This tool uses color coding to show additions, modifications, deletions, and schema differences. The color code in the lower-right corner of InstallShield MSI Diff shows the legend that identifies which colors indicate each type of difference.

Discussion

Determining the Changes that a Transform (.mst File) Makes
You can use InstallShield MSI Diff to see how an .msi package changes when a transform (.mst file) is applied to it. It helps you understand how the original package is going to be affected so that you can account for it in conflict analysis and in your application management processes.

To determine the changes that a transform makes:

1. Open InstallShield MSI Diff.
2. On the File menu, click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3. Select the .msi package, and then click Open. InstallShield MSI Diff opens the .msi database.
4. On the File menu, point to Transforms, and then click Apply Transform. The Open dialog box opens.
5. Select the .mst transform, and then click Open. InstallShield MSI Diff applies the transform to the .msi database that is open. 6. Examine the changes.

If you want to apply a series of transforms to an .msi package, you can repeat steps 4 and 5 for each transform.

Determining Whether a Patch Is Valid for an .msi Package
You can use InstallShield MSI Diff to determine whether a patch is valid for a specific .msi package. It helps you answer questions such as ?Am I using the right patch?? and ?Is this going to affect my workstations?? InstallShield MSI Diff analyzes the internal transforms that are contained within the patch.

To determine whether a patch is valid for an .msi package:

1. Open InstallShield MSI Diff.
2. On the File menu, click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3. Select the .msi package, and then click Open. InstallShield MSI Diff opens the .msi database.
4. On the File menu, point to Patches, and then click Apply Patch. The Open dialog box opens.
5. Select the patch (.msp file), and then click Open. If the patch applies to the selected .msi database, InstallShield MSI Diff applies the patch to the database that is open.

If the patch is not applicable, InstallShield MSI Diff displays a message box to inform you that the patch is not valid for the selected database.

Determining the Run-Time Effects of a Patch
You can use InstallShield MSI Diff to determine what Windows Installer will do with a given patch file and how that will affect the cached .msi package on a target system. It helps you proactively understand patch contents, which helps you maintain a high level of availability in your environment.

To determine the run-time effects of a patch:

1. Open InstallShield MSI Diff.
2. On the File menu, click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3. Select the .msi package, and then click Open. InstallShield MSI Diff opens the .msi database.
4. On the File menu, point to Patches, and then click Apply Patch. The Open dialog box opens.
5. Select the patch (.msp file), and then click Open. InstallShield MSI Diff applies the patch to the database that is open.
6. Examine the changes.

If you want to apply a series of patches to an .msi package, you can repeat steps 4 and 5 for each patch.

Determining the Differences Between Two .msi Packages
You can use InstallShield MSI Diff to determine the differences between two .msi packages. It helps you understand the different states of the packages in your environment. If something breaks, you can more easily pinpoint the last state of good health.

To determine the differences between two .msi packages:

1. Open InstallShield MSI Diff.
2. On the File menu, click Open. The Open dialog box opens.
3. Select the base .msi package, and then click Open. InstallShield MSI Diff opens the .msi database.
4. On the File menu, click Compare To. The Open dialog box opens.
5. Select the second .msi package, and then click Open.

InstallShield MSI Diff compares the data from the second .msi package with the data in the base .msi package, and displays the results.

Additional Information

Visit this helpnet article for more information on the MSI Diff Tool.

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Case id: 00001065