Create a .MST File

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h1234
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:19 pm

Create a .MST File

Postby h1234 » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:42 pm

I have looked at the white papers and I don't see one that covers .MST, unless I missed it. I saw these files.

InstallAware Software Corporation has published the following technical articles that present in-depth studies of unique InstallAware technologies:


MSIcode Scripting Technology for Windows Installer
WebAware Installation Technology (Partial Web Deployment)
Extending the Application Runtimes View
Using InstallAware to Deploy Microsoft .NET Framework Applications
Using InstallAware to Patch Software Products
Using InstallAware to Deliver Web Updates
Creating and registering new dialogs: Part of the CoffeeCup Series by Peter Hamilton-Scott
Using progress bars in dialogs: Part of the CoffeeCup Series by Peter Hamilton-Scott
Copy and paste internals in MSIcode: Part of the CoffeeCup Series by Peter Hamilton-Scott

Using IA how do I do the following.

Open a Vendor .MSI file
Create a .MST file for the vendor .MSI file
Save both the vendor .MSI and custom .MST as a IA package

Is that possible?


And other things I've tried..............

I have tried to open up a .MST file and IA does nothing. no error but it also does not open or import the .MST file. So how do you edit and apply a .MST file using your tool?

giaviv
Posts: 2039
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:39 pm

Re: Create a .MST File

Postby giaviv » Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:17 pm

Dear Matt,

Our solution for this is to use the (Un)Install MSI Setup plug-in with custom options passed to the MSI in the form of a command line, please see this URL for an example:
http://www.installaware.com/windows-ins ... setups.htm
With InstallAware setups there is never a need to manually create and apply MST files.
With non-InstallAware setups, if an MST file has to be created, unfortunately you cannot do that with InstallAware - you can use Orca for that (a free tool provided by Microsoft). You can then apply the MST file in the command line parameters using (Un)Install MSI Setup above.

Let me know if that helps!
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Support
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Software

White Papers (HowTos) - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... papers.htm
Product Guides - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... guides.htm
InstallAware Help -F1 anywhere in the InstallAware IDE

h1234
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:19 pm

Re: Create a .MST File

Postby h1234 » Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:50 am

Hi Aviv, thanks for the reply. If I understand you InstallAware is not designed to modify .MST files at all. Correct?

If we have a .MSI file that requires a serial number we can of course run msiexec /i "acme.msi" SERIALNUMBER=123.321.123 from a command line but users can then see that serial number if called from a .BAT file. But if the serial number is in a .MST file then they can't see it (without knowledge and know how). Also, in a .MST file you can do everything you can do in the .MSI. So if you need to script a lot of pre & post tweaks to the OS you can do all of that in the .MST and never have to touch the native .MSI.

Using IA how do you do Pre & post changes to the operating sytems?

And since I am very new to this tool I guess another question I have is what is IA actually designed for? It seems to me it's designed to create your own .MSI files from scratch.

Thank you.

giaviv
Posts: 2039
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:39 pm

Re: Create a .MST File

Postby giaviv » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:18 am

Dear Matt,

IA does not create or modify MST files. Instead of creating MST files, the recommended approach is to use the (Un)Install MSI Setup, and if necessary, pass the MST file using the command line parameters.
In addition, MST files can be created using the free Orca table editor.
With IA, there is never any need to call msiexec.exe. Our (Un)Install MSI Setup script command does the exact same thing, but with the added benefit of capturing and displaying native installation progress and errors, all within your own IA setup dialogs. In other words, when you use (Un)Install MSI Setup, the end-user would never even be aware a third party setup is running.
Also, you can safely and invisibly pass your serial number as a command line parameter to the MSI file in the (Un)Install MSI Setup command (passing command line parameters can be done in the Action tab of the (Un)Install MSI Setup dialog).
This illustrates the fact that in 99% of the cases, you do not need to create an MST file with IA.

Sincerely,
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Software

White Papers (HowTos) - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... papers.htm
Product Guides - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... guides.htm
InstallAware Help -F1 anywhere in the InstallAware IDE

h1234
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:19 pm

Re: Create a .MST File

Postby h1234 » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:30 am

Thanks. So if we need to create a .MST file we need to use Orca? That seems like a pretty big limitation of your tool. Wise and AdminStudio both allow you to create a .MST based off your .MSI file.

Once I create a .MST file with Orca I know I can call it with your (un)Msi command, but where do I place the .MST file? Do I go to the DESIGN tab and under FILES add it?

Thanks.

giaviv
Posts: 2039
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:39 pm

Re: Create a .MST File

Postby giaviv » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:48 am

Dear Matt,

Orca is a free and intuitive tool for creating MST files. You are correct, the best way to work with MST files is with the use of our (Un)Install MSI Setup plugin.
You could put your MST file in your SUPPORTDIR (in the MSIcode tab, on the left-hand side, right click on Support Files and press "Add Files to Project"). That file (if named 1.mst for example) will later be accessible like so: $SUPPORTDIR$\1.mst.

Thanks!
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Software

White Papers (HowTos) - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... papers.htm
Product Guides - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... guides.htm
InstallAware Help -F1 anywhere in the InstallAware IDE


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