MAKEMSI quickly and reliably creates MSI files in a non-programmatic way
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\->MAKEMSI Installs...->Installed Shortcuts and Options->Compare -> MAKEMSI Format

Compare -> MAKEMSI Format

This option invokes the "MsiDiff.VBS" tool to compare an MSI with another.

You can choose to compare against a configured default template (the default being "uisample.msi") or any MSI of your choice.

The "Dump -> MAKEMSI Format" option is similar but dumps the complete MSI.

This option is available on the right click explorer context menu for MSI files.

A text file is generated containing human readable output which can also be processed by "MAKEMSI".

Note that as this option is dumping differences generally only new records will show the values of all columns of any particular row (the whole record is not dumped - just the changed fields).

Choose Another Template

The default template is "uisample.msi", a better template would be one that has gone through your own standard manipulations while still being essentially "blank".

If you wish to use another MSI as a "before" image then you should set the "MAKEMSI_MSI_TEMPLATE.MSI" environment variable (should contain full MSI name).

Note that the following is the script I use to create my template:

#include "DENNIS.MMH"

That's it, one line! You would of course keep the associated version information as "neutral" as possible.


Microsoft awarded me an MVP (Most Valuable Professional award) in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 for the Windows SDK (Windows Installer) area.Please email me any feedback, additional information or corrections.
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Saturday May 28 2022 at 3:11pm
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Microsoft awarded me an MVP (Most Valuable Professional award) in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 for the Windows SDK (Windows Installer) area.