Msi

Native Windows Installer format.

Documentation

official
table reference	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/database-tables
examples	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/windows-installer-examples
msi docs	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/Msi/windows-installer-portal
windows installer SQL	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/sql-syntax
language ids	https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/windows-installer-language-ids
windows-installer docs	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/windows-installer-guide
error codes
windows installer	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/windows-installer-error-messages
CAB (FCICreate)	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/fci/nf-fci-fcicreate https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/fdi_fci_types/ns-fdi_fci_types-erf
msiexec	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/error-codes
books
The Definitive Guide to Windows Installer	https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Guide-Windows-Installer-Experts/dp/1590592972
Tools
win10 SDK (see ISO contents for orca.exe installer)	https://developer.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-10-sdk

Tutorials

adding files to msi

https://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/adding-external-file-existing-msi

Overview

An MSI file is composed of 2x parts:

• an SQL database (what you want to install -- let windows decide how to install)
• CAB files (compressed file archives with files to install, scripts to run)

Within the database, the msi Sequences Tables determine:

• what happens when the MSI is run (what gets installed? are UIs displayed? etc)
• the order of install (background-jobs, UIs, registry, copied files... everything)

Every install action has an entry in the msi component table (registry modifications, copied files, etc)
Components are grouped into msi Feature table entries.

Beyond that, simply look up the table that corresponds with the action you would like to take.

Tables

MSI files are composed of .cab files and sql tables.
Notes on Table Usage:

Core
Sequences	Schedule Actions for running during install process. (multiple tables). In UI sequence tables, this also determines the order that dialogs are presented to the user. (These tables are editable, but generally the defaults are fine)
Properties	global variables within msi
Directory	install-directories
Feature	features that can be chosen/installed (ex: maya, arnold, satellite, ...)
Component	master-index representing every item in installer
CustomAction	Run Scripts during installation, builtin or embedded. (also set properties).
Items
Environment	set environment variables
Registry	modifying windows registry
GUI
control	buttons, checkboxes, etc.
ControlEvent	define what happens when controls are clicked/checked/selected

Tools

General Purpose
python msilib	thin wrapper around microsoft's MSI API
orca.exe	Create MSI installers using GUI. (installed from Windows SDK iso image -- mount and look for installer)
wix	Create MSI installers using XML.
Language Specific
python setuptools	create simple installers using python setup.py bdist_msi

Troubleshooting

See msi troubleshooting