How to create Windows Installer (.msi) packages
Back after some time today I’m dealing with re-packaging. As you probably well know installation packages usually are distributed in two major formats; Executable (.exe) and Windows Installer (.msi). If you use Group Policy Objects, SCCM, SMS or other Microsoft based products, Windows Installer packages will probably made your day because are much more flexible than executable installation files. MSI packages can be installed silent easily, you can avoid restarting and can be integrated in most systems for massive deployment.
Due all Windows Installer package advantages, several 3rd-party applications are out there to help you create packages; and today I’m going to write some lines about AppDeploy Repackager from AppDeploy.com. As it is well described by them…
The AppDeploy Repackager is a simple freeware snapshot tool for the creation of Windows Installer (MSI) setup packages. Unlike other tools that try to take on the whole drag and drop creation of MSI setups (development tools), the AppDeploy Repackager is simply a snapshot tool that results in a sharable project file which may be used to generate an MSI setup with the click of a button.
I’ve needed to create a Windows Installer package to deploy massively a 3rd-party IM application that is distributed using an executable setup package and it has took me 3 clicks to transform it to the one I needed and deploy it through GPOs.
Note that AppDeploy Repackager is only available for 32-bits operative systems and is only compatible with Microsoft Windows XP (SP2), Vista (SP1) and 7.
How to use it?
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Register on AppDeploy.com.
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Download and execute it from here.
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Select one of the initial choices: Create MSI setup based on system changes or _Build packages based on existing recipe file.
_Recipe files are Extended Markup Language (.xml) files with information about previous created installation packaged. They can be modified anytime with this application.
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Select Create MSI setup based on system changes and fill the setup file location; Repackager will fill other field for you based on the information provided.
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Click Next and let Repackager scan your system to create the initial snapshot
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After taking the initial snapshot Repackager will run the installation setup file you provided on step 4. Click Next to proceed.
Complete the installation manually choosing the options that fit your needs.
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After completing the installation, Repackager will rescan your system to detect changes. This will be used later to create the Windows Installer instructions to re-deploy your application. Click Next to proceed.
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Review the detected changed files and registry keys and click Next to proceed.
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Choose the last options prior to build the MSI package, chose shortcuts to be created and click _Next.
Once you get your Windows Installer (.msi) package created, deploy it using the method you prefer.
For more information about AppDeploy Repackager visit AppDeploy.com. For information on how to create Windows Installer (.msi) packages with Windows 2000 tools visit the link below: