I am trying to create a tool using c# to get the properties generated from clicking through the dialogs of an msi(windows installer).
I can get the final msi properties by reading the _property table before the msi closes but this contains quite a number of properties that are not required e.g. directories etc.
What i would like to be able to do is just launch the dialogs and get the populated properties relating to those dialogs. Could someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks B
In the interest of helping, and since nobody else has answered, I will just write what I know, though it isn't really an answer in a technical sense.
There are several tools available that already do this - some even used to be free but the downloads were removed (Wise InstallTailor).
I don't know what your use-case really is. If you just want a solution for a specific task, or you are intending to code this yourself despite other solutions being available?
Wise Package Studio had one transform generator called InstallTailor. I don't think it is freely distributable as the product has been taken off the market and bought up (or we could have shared the EXE - it used to be freeware as far as I recall).
InstallAware has a feature called InstallAware Transformer: https://www.installaware.com/installtailor.htm
Advanced Installer has a feature to create a "Response Transform" which is essentially doing the same as InstallAware transformer with slight variations.
Installshield has a transform project type which offers pretty much exactly the same features as the other two products by the looks of it.
The above are all commercial products, but some of these features may work after the trial period has expired. I cannot guarantee it, but it looks like Advanced Installer allows a response transform to be generated freely.
So that is a non-technical answer for you. Perhaps you just need to get a tool to do the job?
