Active Directory/Documentation/Packaging Notes

Common Pitfalls

• Make sure to exclude files and registry entries that aren't a part of the software under packaging.
• Check the environment variables.
• Determine is environment variables should be set to replace.
• Set INI file properties to replace.

Upgrading Packages in Group Policy

• When upgrading a software package from another group policy, the new group policy must be ahead of the upgraded group policy in the link order (i.e. the new policy must have a higher precedence than the old policy).

Custom Actions

• For script based actions, I usually choose Stored in custom action.
• For most actions, it makes sense to sequence them in the Install Exec Sequence after all the other actions.
• MSI Custom Actions do not support the WScript object model (see the example below).
  
  Set WShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  
  instead of
  
  Set WShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  
  
• To only run action during installation, add the following condition:
  
  NOT Installed
  
  
• To only run action during uninstallation, add the following condition:
  
  Installed AND REMOVE="ALL"
  
  

Converting To Cabs

• Use WiMakCab.vbs script

cscript E:\Packages\Scripts\WiMakCab.vbs /C /U /S <msi> <cab name>

• Notes:

Word Count Summary = 2

File Table Attributes = 16384

cabarc -r N data.cab *

Query MSI Databse

• Use WiRunSQL.vbs

cscript E:\Packages\Scripts\WiRunSQL.vbs <msi> <sql>

• Change all INI entries to overwrite old entries.

cscript E:\Packages\Scripts\WiRunSQL.vbs <msi> "UPDATE `IniFile` SET `Action`=0 WHERE `Action`=1"