Configurable Merge Modules Page
Merge modules may be created to contain attributes that are configurable by the consumer of the merge module. This enables the merge module to be configured at the time the installation package and module are merged.
When creating a configurable merge module, the author adds information in the module database that specifies which items can be modified and how these items can be configured by the module user.
When merging the module into an installation package (.msi file), the end user of the module uses a merge tool. The merge tool calls Mergemod.dll to expose the configuration information in the module to a client configuration tool. The configuration tool may interact with the end user but is not required to expose all possible configuration options. If the user declines to provide a selection for a configurable item, the module may provide a default value. After the user gives the configuration tool his selections, the merge tool calls Mergemod.dll to perform the merge.
Setting a module item as configurable
Select the desired item (resource) and from the context menu choose the “Configurable” option. The submenu specifies which of the item's attributes can be made configurable. Selecting a submenu option will display Edit Substitution Parameter Dialog allowing you to configure that attribute.
If a module item is not configurable the “Configurable” option will not be present in its context menu or will be disabled.
For example, of how to configure a Custom Action, please visit our tutorial: Create MSM packages with configurable parameters for custom actions
Merge Modules configurable attributes
The following resources can be configured in a Merge Module Project. The left column represents the resources that can be configured from the "Configuration" context menu. The right column represents the list of attributes available for each type of resource.
Resources | Attributes |
---|---|
MSM Module Details | Property value |
Environment Variables | Name |
Value | |
Files | FileName |
Attributes | |
INI Files | Name |
Key | |
Value | |
Shortcuts | Name |
Description | |
ShowCmd | |
Icon_ | |
IconIndex | |
Folders | Directory_Parent |
DefaultDir | |
Registry | "Root" registry value |
Assemblies | File_Application |
Services | Name |
DisplayName | |
ServiceType | |
StartType | |
ErrorControl | |
LoadOrderGroup | |
Dependencies | |
StartName | |
Password | |
Description | |
Service Control Operations | Name |
Event | |
Arguments | |
Wait | |
Components | Attributes |
Conditions | |
File Searches | FileName |
MinVersion | |
MaxVersion | |
MinSize | |
MaxSize | |
MinDate | |
MaxDate | |
Languages | |
INI Search | FileName |
Section | |
Key | |
Field | |
Type | |
Folder Search | Depth |
Component Search | ComponentId |
Type | |
Registry | Root |
Key | |
Name | |
Type | |
Custom Actions | Source |
Target |
Topics
- Edit Substitution Parameter Dialog
Specify a substitution parameter.