Windows Installer Editor Reference
19
Introduction
To navigate between views, click the navigation tabs at the lower left of the main
window.
Additional Interfaces
z
The Tools menu contains powerful tools that perform specialized functions.
See
About Windows Installer Editor tools
on page 391.
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The Compile, Test, Debug, and Run buttons let you test and compile the installation.
See
Compiling An Installation
on page 97,
Testing and Running An Installation
on
page 98, and
About the Debugger
on page 487.
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You can use Windows Installer Editor from within Visual Studio.
See
About Visual Studio Integration
on page 19.
About Visual Studio Integration
You can use Windows Installer Editor from within Visual Studio. The Visual Studio
integrated editor lets you create all the same installation file types that you create in the
stand-alone Wise editor. The Wise editor and Visual Studio integrated editor are different
interfaces for the same product; they share the same preferences, recently-used file
lists, dialog box templates, themes, and installation templates. (The Visual Studio
integrated editor was formerly sold separately as Wise for Visual Studio .NET.)
There are several differences between the Wise editor and the Visual Studio integrated
editor that are inherent in the Visual Studio development environment.
Examples:
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In the Visual Studio integrated editor, you have different choices about how to start
a new project, and you can set source paths to update automatically according to
the Visual Studio build configuration.
MSI Script
MSI Script provides a powerful yet easy-to-use environment
for editing Windows Installer installation sequences. A
sequence is a set of actions that are performed during a
particular type of installation.
MSI Script is easy to work with even if you are not familiar
with the underlying Windows Installer technology. Just
double-click the custom action to add to your sequence or
start typing the action name, then fill out options for the
action. A new line based on the action and the options you
entered appears in the sequence at the location of the last
selected action. The resulting sequence is displayed in clear,
readable statements.
See
About MSI Script
on page 491
Setup Editor
Setup Editor is a powerful view of the installation, and using
its advanced features requires proficiency in the Windows
Installer development environment or in software
development. Setup Editor lets you create fully customized
interactive installations. Certain advanced tasks can be
performed only in Setup Editor.
See
About Setup Editor
on page 413.
