VMware THINAPP 4.6 - Building an MSI Database; Customizing MSI Files with Package.ini Parameters; Modify the Package.ini File to Create MSI Files

VMware, Inc. 43
Chapter 3 Deploying Applications
Building an MSI Database
IfyoudonotcreateMSIfilesduringthecaptureprocess,youcanstillcreatethesefilesafterbuildingan
application.AnMSIdatabaseisusefulfordeliveringcapturedapplicationsthroughtraditionaldesktop
managementsystemstoremotelocationsandautomaticallycreatingshortcutsandfiletypeassociations.
Basic ActiveDirectorygrouppoliciesprovide
waystodistributeandstartMSIpackages.
ThinAppcreatesanMSIdatabasethatcontainscapturedexecutablefiles,installerlogic,andthethinreg.exe
utility.
Customizing MSI Files with Package.ini Parameters
YoucancustomizethebehaviorofMSIfilesbymodifyingPackage.iniparametersandrebuildingthe
applicationpackage.
ThefollowingparameterscanaffectMSIconfiguration:
 TheMSIInstallDirectoryparametersetstheinstallationdirectoryforthepackage.
Forexample,includeMSIInstallDirectory=C:\Program Files\inthePackage.inifile.
 TheMSIDefaultInstallAllUsersparametersetstheinstallationofthepackageforindividualusers.
ThinAppinstallsthepackageinthe%AppData%userdirectory.
Forexample,includeMSIDefaultInstallAllUsers=0inthePackage.inifile.
Formoreinformationaboutthisparameter,see“SpecifyingaDatabaseInstallationforIndividualUsers
andMachines”onpage 44.
 TheMSIFileNameparameternamesthepackage.
Forexample,includeMSIFilename=Firefox30.msiinthePackage.inifile.
 TheMSIRequireElevatedPrivilegesparameterindicateswhetheraninstallerneedselevated
privilegesfordeploymentonMicrosoftVista.Installationsforindividualusersdonotusuallyneed
elevatedprivilegesbutper‐machineinstallationsrequiresuchprivileges.
Forexample,includeMSIRequireElevatedPrivileges=1inthePackage.inifile.
 TheMSIProductCodeparametermakesiteasiertoinstallanewversionoftheapplication.AnMSI
databasecontainsaproductcodeandanupgradecode.Whenyouupdateapackage,keeptheoriginal
valueoftheMSIUpgradeCodeparameter.
Iftheparametervalueofthenewversionisthesameasthe
valueoftheoldversion,theinstallation
promptsyoutoremovetheoldversion.Ifthevaluesfortheparameteraredifferent,theinstallation
uninstallstheoldversionandinstallsthenewversion.
VMwarerecommendsthatyouavoidspecifyinganMSIProductCodevalueandallowThinAppto
generateadifferentproductcode
foreachbuild.
Regardlessoftheparametervaluesspecifiedatbuildtime,youcanoverridethesettingsatdeploymenttime.
See“ForceMSIDeploymentsforEachUserorEachMachine”onpage 44.FormoreinformationaboutMSI
parameters,see“ConfiguringMSIFiles”onpage 96.
Modify the Package.ini File to Create MSI Files
FormoreinformationaboutMSIparameters,see“CustomizingMSIFileswithPackage.iniParameters”on
page 43and“ConfiguringMSIFiles”onpage 96.
BeforeyoucanmodifyMSIparameters,youmustaddanentryfortheMSIFilenameparametertogenerate
MSIfiles.