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how to include external installer in the VS 2008 setup project

Hi,

Recently I created one windows form application and also created setup project using VS2008.

My application works with external software, which needs to be available on the PC.

I want to bundle this external application installer in my installer, so that I can check if it is already installed and if not then install it and then install my application.

I figured out how to work with pre-requisites that Setup project identifies such as .net framework, but I need some help on including external installer in my installer.

thanks

CodeMan2000 Thursday, October 01, 2009 4:45 AM

You have to roll it as a prerequisite and deploy it that way. An msi package an not install another msi package.

You can use the Bootstrapper Manifest Generator to add the external software to the prerequisite tab, assuming of course that you have a redistributable or some kind of install package.

BMG post from David Guyer
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winformssetup/thread/92d68fc3-3c00-4435-9d45-f781aad89ad1

Instructions on using it:
http://jcrawfor74.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/bootstrap-manifest-generator-how-to-custom-pre-requisites/

RobinDotNet

Click here to visit my ClickOnce blog!

RobinDotNet Thursday, October 01, 2009 7:59 AM

Thanks RobinDotNet for the information on BMG.

After posting my query on this forum I tried creating custom prerequisite as described here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa730839(VS.80).aspx

With this I was able to see my custom pre-requisite in the pre-requisite list, was able to select and build my app.

It installed the pre-requsite as expected. However whily playing around with it further I am stuck at following 2 issues,

1. If I am installing my APP, my installer will re-install the external app even if it was already present on my machine. How do I make sure it installs external app only if it is not there on PC.

2. Is there a way to un-install external app, when my app is being un-installed? currenlt it just removes my app and leaves the external app as is on PC.

Please let me know how to deal with these 2 issues.

thank you for your time.

CodeMan2000 Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:37 AM

For the second issue, there is no way to uninstall something installed as a prerequisite. For the first question, I'm not sure. THere's a way to do it, but I don't know personally. You might try bing-ing "bootstrapper manifest generator" and see what you find. If I find something, I'll post it back here.

RobinDotNet

Click here to visit my ClickOnce blog!
Microsoft MVP, Client App Dev

RobinDotNet Sunday, October 04, 2009 6:43 PM

After doing some search I found this post which helped me resolve issue #1.
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winformssetup/thread/ecbc359e-74d4-4373-96b0-1b8884ec3d74

However I am still working on finding a solution or a workaround for above issue no # 2.

Is anyone have any idea or solution for this?

(looks like there is something called sequencing custom actions. Not sure if that is what I need as I am not able to find enough information on this topic.)

thanks

CodeMan2000 Monday, October 05, 2009 9:23 AM

You can use google to search for other answers

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