Windows Installer Editor Reference
316
Distributing an Installation
See also:
Package Distribution
on page 313
Copying an Installation to an FTP Server
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Not available in the Visual Studio integrated editor.
When you are ready to deploy an installation package to end users, you can use Package
Distribution to copy the compiled installation to an FTP server.
Package Distribution uses the FTP protocol to transfer the files to the server location you
specify. End users can download the files from the FTP server using an FTP client. If the
server is also configured to run a Web server, end users can download the files through
their Web browser (HTTP protocol) as well. Package Distribution does not support
passive FTP, which is required by some firewall and gateway configurations, and it
cannot FTP through a proxy server.
When you run package Distribution from a .WSI, it is compiled and the compiled
installation is distributed. If an .EXE is associated with the installation, the .EXE is
distributed.
To copy an installation to an FTP server
1. Select File menu > Distribute.
The Welcome page appears.
2. If you specified a .WSI that contains multiple releases, a drop-down list appears.
Select a release.
3. Mark FTP Server.
4. Click Next. If necessary, the installation file is saved and compiled.
The FTP Server page appears.
5. Complete the page:
FTP Server Address
The address of the FTP server to transfer the package files to. Example:
ftp.server.com.
FTP Logon Name
A valid logon name for this FTP server. The logon name must have write access
to the directory to transfer files to.
FTP Logon Password
A valid password.
FTP Upload Directory
The directory on the FTP server to copy the package to. The first character must
be a forward slash (/). Example: /published/installations.
6. Click Next.
The package is uploaded to the FTP server. A dialog box shows the status of the
upload.
7. Click Finish.