How to create msi installer supporting versioning and upgrading

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Can anyone guide me with the steps required for creating msi installer for C# desktop based projects? Which will be able to keep version tracking and will have option 'all user' or 'just me' and then also upgrade / fresh installlation.

Found some possible solution from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1858434/build-nsis-script-as-a-msi-package[^]

[Unfortunately, No.
NSIS lets you create scriptable, procedural installation packages. It's simple, easy to use and has a number of features not present in Windows Installer.
Windows Installer (MSI) creates database driven, transactional installation packages. When written properly a Windows Installer package is very robust, a file gets corrupted/deleted and it will be automatically reinstalled. Windows Installer is aware of UAC and only elevates when required, basically if you're creating software for the corporate market, you will need to provide an MSI.
Check out The Definitive Guide to Windows Installer for a good introduction to understanding MSI.]
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1590592972/?tag=stackoverfl08-20[^]

Posted 16-Dec-11 23:45pm

labshasanbd

Updated 17-Dec-11 19:52pm

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Philippe Mori · Answer 1 · 2011-12-17T02:37:00

MSI properly support upgrading provide you update the appropriate GUID code.

As far as I know, the option "All users" vs "Just Me" is available on a new installation. If you want to change it afterwards, you have to first uninstall existing application.

You don't really have the option to upgrade or dop a fresh installation. If you want the later, then you first uninstall the application.

If you want more than that, you might have to look at professional installers. The one that come with Visual Studio is mainly destined for "Standard" installations.