Windows Installer Editor Reference
552
Windows Installer and .NET Technologies
Requirements for Creating a .NET Installation
The ability to create .NET installations is supported only by Windows Installer 2.0 or
later. When you create a .NET installation, you should have the .NET Framework
installed on your computer. If the .NET Framework is installed on your organization’s
development computers, but not on the computer used to build installations, it is
possible to create a .NET installation. However, you must enter certain information
manually.
See
Creating a .NET Installation Without the .NET Framework
on page 265.
You can build .NET installations without having Windows XP or later on your computer.
However, in order to take advantage of side-by-side assembly sharing, the destination
computer must have Windows XP or later installed. To use the Global Assembly Cache,
the destination computer must have the .NET Framework installed.
Before you begin to create an installation for your .NET application, do the following:
To prepare to create a .NET installation
1. Gather all your assemblies, both Win32 and .NET, and their manifests into a
common location.
2. Determine the directories in which the assemblies are to be installed.
You can install assemblies into the Global Assembly Cache, the WinSxS directory, or
a private directory. For information on how each of these directories is used, see
Adding .NET Assemblies to the Installation
on page 137.
3. For assemblies that are to be installed into the Global Assembly Cache or WinSxS,
generate publicKeyTokens and sign the assemblies.
See also:
About Microsoft .NET Technology
on page 548
Frequently Asked Questions About Microsoft .NET
on page 549
Creating a .NET Installation When You Have the .NET Framework
on page 264
Creating a .NET Installation Without the .NET Framework
on page 265
For information on setting the required .NET Framework version, see
Setting a
Requirement on the System Requirements Page
on page 187