Passing REINSTALLMODE to an MSI file

Question

I am using VisualStudio2005 and a vdproj to create a simple MSI file. I need to pass in the REINSTALLMODE property when I launch it.

I know this can be done via c

Answer 1

I found a more automated way to do this.

Create a script named add_reinstall_prop.vbs(example) with the folowing:

set objArgs = WScript.Arguments
set o_installer = CreateObject("WindowsInstaller.Installer")
set o_database = o_Installer.OpenDatabase(objArgs(0), 1)
s_SQL = "INSERT INTO Property (Property, Value) Values( 'REINSTALLMODE', 'amus')"
set o_MSIView = o_DataBase.OpenView( s_SQL)
o_MSIView.Execute
o_DataBase.Commit

Add a post-build event to your setup project calling the script with the following:

add_reinstall_prop.vbs $(BuiltOuputPath)

This will automatically add the desired entry to the built MSI. You can then check it with Orca to see the entry is now added automatically after build.