Windows Installer Editor Reference
365
Merge Modules and Transforms
z
Merge modules that you create.
See
Adding a Merge Module to an Installation
on page 381.
z
Predefined merge modules that install commonly-used software packages. You can
download these from the Wise Web site or from other vendors’ Web sites.
See
Downloading Redistributable Files
on page 34.
z
Configurable merge modules that you create.
See
Creating a Configurable Merge Module
on page 374.
Note
When you view MSI Script in a merge module, you’ll notice that you cannot select an
installation mode, that there are no actions in the right pane, and that there are no
sequence tabs at the bottom. This is because any custom action you add to a merge
module does not contain its own sequence tables and must be merged into the
CustomAction table and the sequence tables of the main installation.
See
All Custom Actions
on page 493 and
Using the Custom Action Location Tab for
Merge Modules
on page 540.
Configurable merge modules
Configurable merge modules contain certain values that the installation author can
configure to specify how the module behaves in an installation. Example: A configurable
merge module might let you set attributes on components, enable or disable isolated
components, specify a bitmap for a dialog box, or specify how a custom action is run.
When you add a configurable merge module to an installation, an additional dialog box
appears, on which you specify values for the configurable items. You also can create
configurable merge modules.
Configurable merge modules are supported only by Windows Installer 2.0 or later.
See Configurable Merge Modules in the Windows Installer SDK Help.
See also:
Available Tabs and Pages in Merge Modules
on page 365
Creating a Merge Module As a New Installation
on page 369
Creating a Merge Module Within a Solution
on page 371
Creating a Merge Module From Existing Components
on page 373
About the Merge Modules Page
on page 381
Editing Merge Module Details
on page 383
Available Tabs and Pages in Merge Modules
When you work in a merge module, you have access to a limited set of pages in
Installation Expert. Some of these pages are unique to merge modules.
You cannot add features to a merge module, therefore, the Features tab does not appear
in Setup Editor when you are in a merge module. Instead, the Module tab appears,
which contains information similar to that found on the Features tab. It lets you
manipulate the components, files, registry entries, and other items in the merge
module. Items you add to the merge module are listed under this tab.
See
Items you can add on the Features tab
on page 417.