Book Image

WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML

Book Image

WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML

Overview of this book

The cryptic science of Windows Installer can seem far off from the practical task of simply getting something installed. Luckily, we have WiX to simplify the matter. WiX is an XML markup, distributed with an open-source compiler and linker, used to produce a Windows Installer package. It is used by Microsoft and by countless other companies around the world to simplify deployments. "WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML" promises a friendly welcome into the world of Windows Installer. Starting off with a simple, practical example and continuing on with increasingly advanced scenarios, the reader will have a well-rounded education by book's end. With the help of this book, you'll understand your installer better, create it in less time, and save money in the process. No one really wants to devote a lifetime to understanding how to create a hassle-free installer. Learn to build a sophisticated deployment solution targeting the Windows platform in no time with this hands-on practical guide. Here we speed you through the basics and zoom right into the advanced. You'll get comfortable with components, features, conditions and actions. By the end, you'll be boasting your latest deployment victories at the local pub. Once you've finished "WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML", you'll realize just how powerful and awesome an installer can really be.
Table of Contents (23 chapters)
WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Building a custom WiX extension


You've been exposed to several of the WiX extensions already. WixUIExtension adds a premade user interface. WixNetFxExtension gives you information about the version of .NET that's installed. WixUtilExtension provides a number of elements for jobs such as adding users, editing XML files, and setting Internet shortcuts.

There are also other extensions that we haven't covered, including WixSqlExtension that can set up an MSSQL database, WixIIsExtension for adding websites, app pools and virtual directories to IIS, and WixDifxAppExtension for installing Windows drivers. For more information about these extensions, check out the WiX documentation at http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix3/schema_index.htm. In this chapter, you will learn to make your own extension and bend WiX to your will for fortune and glory.

To get started, let's define what an extension is and what it would take to make one.

Setting the stage

A WiX extension is a .NET assembly that, when added...