MSI Studio

Complete application software packaging solution

Overview

MSI Studio is a software packaging and application installer management solution optimized for use by system administrators. It has a complete set of features to capture, create and edit Windows Installer (MSI) files, perfect for handling legacy software installations or controlling the behavior of Windows Installer packages. In addition, the Pro and Configuration Manager editions allows you to test and validate packages without affecting production systems.

Repackage
Create custom MSIs and MSTs (answer file "transforms") for both legacy and existing installs

Edit
Modify MSIs using either a view of the most frequently-accessed properties or by direct access to MSI tables

Manage
Improve your MSIs with advanced conversion, merging, validation and extraction features

Build
Create MSI projects using cab files, compressed MSIs, bootstrapped MSIs and certificates

Zero-Touch Testing
Pro and Configuration Manager editions
MSI Studio Pro and MSI Studio for Configuration Manager lets you easily create a special MSI package which simulates the effect of the application installer on the target computer, but without actually making any changes. Now the administrator can identify which files and registry keys which will be over-written and changed without doing any damage!

Conflict Resolution
Pro and Configuration Manager editions
MSI Studio Pro and MSI Studio for Configuration Manager adds a repository for storing MSI packages, which allows for easy reporting on where each package might conflict with others. With MSI Studio Pro the administrator can find and resolve problems with conflicting application installers before they occur!

Integration with Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager 2007
Configuration Manager edition only
MSI Studio for Configuration Manager integrates seamlessly with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. When you have completed and tested an MSI package, MSI Studio can pass that package to Configuration Manager and automatically add package details to the management database. 
 

Walkthrough Demo

 

Screenshots

Features

Packaging

Legacy Application Support
Monitor changes from a legacy application installer and create a well structured MSI

Repackage on any machine
MSI Studio connects to a target computer to monitor the files and settings changed by a legacy application installer and capture them in an MSI. This target can be a physical or virtual machine.

Create Response Transforms
Configure existing MSI files by creating transform files (MSTs) by stepping through the UI of the existing installation and automatically supplying the answers needed to configure it for your environment Advanced Transform Management Create standalone transforms, merge transforms with MSI files, or create a transform from the difference of 2 MSI files. View and edit transforms with the color coded transform editor.

Compare MSI packages
View the difference between 2 MSI files by viewing the changes in the table view with color coded rows, or export the differences to a text file

Create MSP Windows Installer patches
Create a Windows Installer patch from two MSIs, so that existing installations can be upgraded without reinstalling the application

Import and Export WIX Packages
Export MSI packages to the Microsoft-developed, open source WIX format, or import WIX files and convert them easily to MSI packages.

Editing

Comprehensive MSI Editor
Intuitive graphical interface to change installation preferences; add, edit and remove files, registry entries, shortcuts, merge modules, ini files entries, ODBC data sources, drivers and translators, environment variables, services and service controls, components, features, permissions on files, directories and registry keys, file extensions, class, typelib, progid entries and custom actions.

Components and Features are displayed in a tree view allowing easy drag-and-drop of resource items between them.

Included MSI Table Editor
 Table Editor allows direct editing of MSI tables, contains drop down lists in child tables and allows navigation from parent rows to child rows (great for viewing files in a particular component for instance). It also contains a resizing tool and dialog editor. The split-table view lets you easily move between a list of all tables and the most common ones. Completely Customizable Projects The Custom Action wizard allows you to create any type of custom action and add them to your sequence. Easily set the processing type, execution and scheduling.

Easy modification of the event sequencing can be achieved by using arrows or adding and removing events.

Access to Deleted Project
Components A recycle bin allows you to reintroduce any deleted rows

Manage

Complete COM entry management
Convert registry table entries to COM table entries (AppId, Class, File Extension, ProgId, TypeLib).

Convert COM table entries back to the registry table.

Extract COM entries from the files in your project and add to the registry table.

Convert paths in the registry table to component and file paths ([$compkey], [#filekey]).

Modular design architecture
Create merge modules from files in your project. Once stored as modules, you can search for merge modules to add to new projects

Access to CAB contents
Easily extract cab files and their contents from within MSI files

Wizards Ease Common Tasks
Wizards walk the user through many of the most common MSI management tasks: capture installations, create transforms, Create Custom Actions, reorder and hide dialogs, add supporting files

Standalone Run Wizard The Run Wizard can now be installed on machines that do not have MSI Studio installed, to let other admins easily create the command-lines necessary to install MSI packages with the desired features.

Validation & Building

Multiple Validation Options
Projects can be validated (ICE or MCE) and errors are displayed in the output window.

Exclusive MCE validation
 Save time validating and fixing MSIs with MCE validation. MCE validation has been developed by ScriptLogic to emulate ICE validation with the benefits of being extremely fast and allowing direct access to problem components via the table editor

File Storage Options
Compress files either internally (inside the MSI file), externally in a cab file, or leave them uncompressed

Self-Extracting Options
Create a bootstrapping executable for your MSI with the ability to make it self-extracting. Check and install, if necessary, the windows installer runtimes from the bootstrapper.

Advanced Options

Zero-Touch Testing
MSI Studio Pro and MSI Studio for Configuration Manager lets you easily create a special MSI package which simulates the effect of the application installer on the target computer, but without actually making any changes. Now the administrator can identify which files and registry keys which will be over-written and changed without doing any damage!

Conflict Resolution
MSI Studio Pro and MSI Studio for Configuration Manager adds a repository for storing MSI packages, which allows for easy reporting on where each package might conflict with others. Now the administrator can find and resolve problems with conflicting application installers before they occur!

Export directly to System Center Configuration Manager 2007
 With MSI Studio for Configuration Manager, export completed MSIs directly into System Center Configuration Manager, with extensive options to specify the target distribution points, collections, schedule, priority and more

Version:	4.12
Date:	19/02/2009