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Sudheer Kumar ASP.Net, C#, BizTalk, MSBuild, WPF, WCF, WF....
I was looking for some software to create MSI patches.
Install Shiled 12 has some support, but it seemed to be a little complex.
I came acrosss the MSI Patch Builder, which looked nice.
But thier product docuemntation is pathetic.
There are no examples and the link pointed to some MSI articles on MSDN.

If somebody is new to creating MSI and stuffs like that, it will take some time to understand what this product will do.
After understanding the patch creation process in Install Shiled a bit, I got what this product will do.
1. You have a base MSI. It could be created using what ever software. (Install Shield, Visual Studio Setup)
2. You create an incremental one, which was created after adding/modifying a set of files
3. Now give these 2 MSIs as inputs to the MSI Patch Builder and it gives the "MSI Diff" as the patch.
This can be used in the cases, where you want to distribute the incremental changes as patches.

Now there are complex cases, particularly when COM components are involved.
I could try it only a few times, after which it the trail version expired.
It should have been valid atleast for a few days, without which you cannot properly evaluate the product.
Also it does not look to be a well supported product
It costs only $49, looks like I need to pay even to evaluate.
Anybody knows about some better product to create patches? Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 12:52 AM Product Review | Back to top


Comments on this post: MSI Patch Builder

# re: MSI Patch Builder
Requesting Gravatar...
I actually paid for this product. Oops. It seems to work quite nicely, but you're right the documentation is awful, and I haven't had any response via support emails. Also he sent me someone else's license key, and never mine..!!! Oh well, it helped me learn about MSI patching, I guess!

In the end I think I'm going to use the Wix framework, and msimsp to create my patches.

Any other suggestions would be nice tho.. :)
Left by Kiwi on May 01, 2007 4:33 PM

# re: MSI Patch Builder
Requesting Gravatar...
Can the product of MSI Patch Build ("MSI Diff") be installed silently? Maybe a different way to ask this is "Are there options available within MSI Patch Build for making MSI Diff capable of silent installation?"
Left by Proverbs3:6 on Dec 03, 2008 10:38 PM

# re: MSI Patch Builder
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It's very interesting information!
Left by payroll services on Feb 14, 2011 8:30 AM

# re: MSI Patch Builder
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Who can advise something about oscommerce development? It is a new issue for me and I want to be in the know as soon as possible.
Left by oscommerce development on Mar 02, 2011 9:00 AM

# re: MSI Patch Builder
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So interesting information.
Left by led watch on Apr 01, 2011 3:08 AM

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