Alex Shevchuk

Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done, and why. Then do it. - Lazarus Long

From MSI to WiX, Part 26 - Shortcut: To pin or not to pin?

As you may already know, Windows 7 supports setting properties on shortcuts and MSI 5.0 provides...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/13/2010

From MSI to WiX, Part 25 - Installable Items - Updating XML files using XmlFile

To use XmlFile element we need to: Add reference to WixUtilExtension extension. Add util namespace...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/27/2009

From MSI to WiX, Part 24 - DLL Custom Actions - Get property value and obtaining/changing session information

In previous post we looked at how to set propery's value. Getting property value is more involved...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/26/2009

Documentation on WiX API

I just want to let everybody know that I am working on documenting WiX API, namely - wcautil and...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/21/2009

From MSI to WiX, Part 23 - DLL Custom Actions - Logging and setting properties

Let's start with setting property value using MSI API MsiSetProperty. This function takes three...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/17/2009

From MSI to WiX, Part 22 - DLL Custom Actions - Introduction

Today I am starting a mini series on writing C++ custom actions. Let's start with wizard-generated...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/16/2009

Можно ли использовать данные, полученные при использовании RegistrySearch в RegistryValue

English version is here. Вопрос: Можно ли использовать данные, полученные при использовании...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/14/2009

Как сохранить значения свойств использовавшихся при начальной установке

English version is here. Один из наиболее часто задаваемых вопросов - как сохранить значение...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/14/2009

Вопросы и ответы

Здесь будут собраны ответы на вопросы, заданные на wix-users mailing list: Можно ли использовать...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/14/2009

Preserving properties used during install

Русская версия здесь. One of the most common questions is how to preserve the value of property used...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/13/2009

Is it possible to use RegistrySearch result in RegistryValue?

Русская версия здесь. This post is an answer to this question sent to wix-users mailing list: Is it...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/12/2009

Questions and Answers

Some questions asked on wix-users mailing list: Is it possible to use RegistrySearch result in...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 05/12/2009

From MSI to WiX, Part 20 - User Interface - Required Dialog Boxes

The main page for the series is here. Introduction We will start with exploring Required Dialog...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 10/17/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 4 - Features and Components

The main page for the series is here. Introduction When we install any msi what we are doing is we...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 08/23/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 19 - The Art of Custom Action, Part 1

The main page for the series is here. Code for this topic is attached. Introduction Today we will...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 07/02/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 17 - Windows Installer Automation Interface, Part 2

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Today we will explore the database of installed...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 07/01/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 11 - Windows Installer Automation Interface, Part 1

The main page for the series is here. Introduction This post starts a series on Windows Installer...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 06/30/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 16 - Installable Items - Handling Installation Media

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Before we start talking about installing files, I...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 04/04/2008

Англо-русский словарь терминологии по инсталляции программ

Этот словарь служит двум целям: Поможет мне с написанием русскоязычных статей; Объяснит терминологию...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 04/03/2008

От MSI к WiX, часть 2 - Поддержка "Установка и удаление программ"

Главная страница серии здесь. English version of this page is here. Добавление поддержки для...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 04/03/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 15 - Installable Items - Ini files

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Today's topic is how to create and modify Ini...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 04/03/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 14 - Installable Items - Registry keys and values

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Today's topic is how to create registry keys and...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 04/02/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 13 - Installable Items - Environment variable

The main page for the series is here. Introduction I am beginning a mini-series on installable...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/28/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 12 - Customizing installation using Transitive components

The main page for the series is here. Introduction This post is from the same group as Part 6 and 7....

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/27/2008

Property does not exist or empty when accessed from deferred custom action

Problem Property is created, but when deferred custom action tries to get its value - property...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/25/2008

Conditions for different types of installation

Content Detecting the installation state Detecting the type of the maintenace installation Detecting...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/09/2008

How to run an installer without installing the product

To run an installer without actually installing the product set the value of EXECUTEMODE property to...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/08/2008

Property created in UI sequence lost its value in Execute sequence

Problem You create a property in the UI sequence and set its value. When you try to use this...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/08/2008

Wix and MSI tips

Property created in UI sequence lost its value in Execute sequence Property does not exist or empty...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/08/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 9 - Patching

The main page for the series is here. Introduction I'll show a very simple sample of small update....

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 03/08/2008

How Windows Installer Engine installs the installation package?

Introduction This is a very high-level introduction on what is going on when we initiate an...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/21/2008

About MSI and WiX in general

Some random posts about MSI and WiX. How Windows Installer Engine installs the installation package?...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/21/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 5 - Custom actions: Introduction

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Although standard actions are sufficient to...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/21/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 10 - Shortcuts

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Microsoft Windows Installer supports four...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/20/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 8 - Major Upgrade

The main page for the series is here. Introduction A typical Major Upgrade removes a previous...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/15/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 7 - Customizing installation using Transforms

The main page for the series is here. Introduction In previous blog we were using custom tables to...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/15/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 6 - Customizing installation using Custom Tables

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Say, we need to change an xml config file based...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/14/2008

От MSI к WiX

English version is here. Словарь здесь. Это серия статей о том как создать инсталлер используя WiX....

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/11/2008

От MSI к WiX, часть 1 - Обязательные свойства

Главная страница серии здесь. English version of this page is here. Введение Это не дословный...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/11/2008

The main page for the series is here. Introduction Before we start with Launch Conditions and...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/10/2008

From MSI to WiX

Русская версия здесь. This is a series of articles on building installation packages using WiX. From...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/10/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 2 - ARP support

The main page for the series is here. Adding Add/Remove Program (ARP) support Subset of properties...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 02/09/2008

From MSI to WiX, Part 1 - Required properties

The main page for the series is here. Русская версия здесь. Introduction Today I will start a series...

Author: Alex Shevchuk Date: 01/25/2008