Windows Installer Editor Reference
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Using MSI Script
You can also copy and paste actions to other locations in the installation sequence.
However, each time you copy and paste an action, an entirely new copy of the action is
stored in the installation. To avoid this duplication, see
Adding a Custom Action to
Multiple Sequences
on page 494.
See also:
Guidelines for Using Custom Actions
on page 504
Types of Actions in MSI Script Sequences
on page 496
Commenting Out Script Lines
While you are working in MSI Script, you can temporarily disable certain actions to help
you with your debug process. You do this by commenting out actions. Commented
actions remain in the sequence, but are skipped when the sequence is executed.
z
To comment out an action, select the line or lines in the sequence that you want to
disable and select Edit menu > Comment.
In Visual Studio: Edit menu > Advanced > Comment Selection.
The commented lines appear in green.
z
To reactivate commented lines, select them again and select Comment a second
time.
In Visual Studio: Edit menu > Advanced > Uncomment Selection.
Calling WiseScripts with Custom Actions
The Run WiseScript custom actions provide the ability to call WiseScripts. WiseScript™
technology provides many specialized functions that are not available in or are difficult
to do with Windows Installer technology. In a WiseScript, you can use special actions
that let you pass information between the main Windows Installer installation and the
WiseScript .EXE that is being called.
Note
If the main Windows Installer installation is run silently, a called WiseScript is called
silently.
About WiseScript Editor
WiseScript Editor is a WiseScript™ authoring environment that you can use to automate
administrative tasks. You also can use it to create .EXEs to use as custom actions in
Windows Installer installations. These custom actions can extend the capabilities of
Microsoft Windows Installer and simplify installation tasks (example: parsing and
arithmetic functions) that are difficult to accomplish with Windows Installer.
WiseScript Editor is embedded within Windows Installer Editor and appears when you
create a custom action that calls a WiseScript.
WiseScript Editor contains the same scripting interface as WiseScript Package Editor, but
it does not contain the Installation Expert interface or other installation development
tools.