CODEWITHSUNDEEP
wixwindows-installer
Marek R
Marek R

Reputation: 38112

How to extract MSVC rutime libraries from merged `Microsoft_VC141_CRT_x64.msm` during setup verification

Background

I have complex C++ application which is installed using msi installer (defined with wix). My application need MSVC run time libraries so Microsoft_VC141_CRT_x64.msm is merged to my installer.

        <DirectoryRef Id="APPDIR">
            <Merge Id="M.visualStudioRuntime" Language="0" SourceFile="$(var.DependenciesPath)/Microsoft_VC141_CRT_x64.msm"
             DiskId="1" />
        </DirectoryRef>
....
        <FeatureRef Id="F.SomeComponent">
            ....
            <MergeRef Id="M.visualStudioRuntime" />
        </FeatureRef>

Now during installation process some data on remote server have to be verified. For that task, I'm extracting my application dll to temporary folder, loading library and execute some function with required parameters. Depending on outcome installation setup is allowed to continue or not.

This dll depends on third party (ok not fully third party it comes from other team) C++ library which also uses MSVC run-time so static linking is not acceptable solution.

Problem

When I'm loading my application dll from temporary folder it needs those MSVC run time libraries. To do that I need exact those dlls to this temporary folder.

Problem is observed only on Windows 2012, other supported Windows versions have this run time preinstalled.

Question

What is best way to extract those MSVC runtime libraries to temporary folder?

Notes

I've inherited this installer and current implementation manually embeds those dll (as duplicates) in installer extract them based on predefined id. This is bad solution and I wish need to fix it properly.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 312

Answers (1)

Stein &#197;smul
Stein &#197;smul

Reputation: 42216

C++: Are you running a C++ custom action that needs those runtimes? Try to statically link as explained here - then there is no need for the VCRuntime files. If you are not running C++, please let us know.

Inlined Essence: Project settings => C/C++ => Code Generation => Change the runtime library setting to multithreaded instead of multithreaded dll.

Custom Action Tips: Here is an answer on common C++ custom action problems: Interrupt installation when custom action returns error.

Secondary Answer: To extract files from a merge module, the easier approach is to add it to a project, build an MSI and then run administrative installation on the MSI - which is a glorified file extraction from the MSI: What is the purpose of administrative installation initiated using msiexec /a?

Basic Command:

msiexec.exe /A MySetup.msi

Upvotes: 2

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