Merge module files into different locations

Question

I\'d like to parse merge module files into two different locations. Is it possible?

Answer 1

Merge modules are for installing common runtimes and genuinly shared files. Typically C and C++ runtimes and other, similar libraries that should be available in the latest version for all applications.

Your files look like they are part of your application folder, with the exception of msvcr110.dll which you should remove and allow to be loaded from the system folder.

If the remaining files have no per-machine registration (COM for example or COM Interop), you can duplicate them in several folders without interference, yes, but why not load them from a shared location inside your own application folder structure?

• %ProgramFiles%\My Company\My Shared Runtimes
• %ProgramFiles%\My Company\My Apps\My App 1\
• %ProgramFiles%\My Company\My Apps\My App 2\

These sample folders you "own" and you can deploy things here however you like. Not so for shared, system folders. You could make your own merge module for shared components between your applications into "My Shared Runtimes" and make your applications aware of the shared location "....\MySharedRuntimes\"