Using a Launch condition to check if another product is installed?

Is it possible to easily setup a launch condition that checks if another
product is installed on the system?
I am trying to create an installation that adds some additional files to a
folder based on if another application is installed on the system.

I have the productcode for the existing application and needs to setup a
launch condition for my new installation.
I first thought that I could create a custom action dll and search for the
application there but it seems like I'm doing it the wrong way.
I guess that this is kind of common to check for other products, and that it
would be much easier to use launch conditions instead.

I also have the component GUID to the EXE file for the main application.

Is it possible to fill a property with the complete path to a file in
another installation using the component GUID?

/Magnus

> It's common to use the Upgrade table to search for products by
> UpgradeCode, or use AppSearch to look for a component guid from a product.
> Using the result in a launch condition isn't very friendly because this
> will prevent your app from installing. Maybe that's your intent, but
> forcing an installation order arbitrarily isn't friendly. If you're a
> plug-in that needs the hosting app, fine, but I've seen situations where
> product A said no, you must install B first, then B has a bunch of
> prerequisites, then finally A said no, I don't support prerequsisite X
> that B required (it was an SP). If there's no need to enforce an insatall
> order, then don't.

Well, It's a plug-in installation I am trying to create, not an upgrade.
And the only thing it will install is some files (non-executable) into a
directory.
I have the GUID for the component that installs the host applications EXE
file, can I use that in some easy way to first do an AppSearch and then
setup a Launch condition based on that?

/Magnus

On Oct 30, 11:08*am, Magnus Flysjö <mag...@flysjo.com> wrote:
> Is it possible to easily setup a launch condition that checks if another
> product is installed on the system?
> I am trying to create an installation that adds some additional files to a
> folder based on if another application is installed on the system.
>
> I have the productcode for the existing application and needs to setup a
> launch condition for my new installation.
> I first thought that I could create a custom action dll and search for the
> application there but it seems like I'm doing it the wrong way.
> I guess that this is kind of common to check for other products, and thatit
> would be much easier to use launch conditions instead.
>
> I also have the component GUID to the EXE file for the main application.
>
> Is it possible to fill a property with the complete path to a file in
> another installation using the component GUID?
>
> /Magnus

If you know the other product's upgradecode and version, you can use
an UpgradePath entry to locate the other product. Use the "detect
only" attribute in the upgradepath. If found during setup, msi will
set a property be set which you can use in your Launch Condition to
stop setup.


Best regards,
Sebastian Brand

Instyler Software - http://www.instyler.com

It's common to use the Upgrade table to search for products by UpgradeCode,
or use AppSearch to look for a component guid from a product. Using the
result in a launch condition isn't very friendly because this will prevent
your app from installing. Maybe that's your intent, but forcing an
installation order arbitrarily isn't friendly. If you're a plug-in that
needs the hosting app, fine, but I've seen situations where product A said
no, you must install B first, then B has a bunch of prerequisites, then
finally A said no, I don't support prerequsisite X that B required (it was
an SP). If there's no need to enforce an insatall order, then don't.

--
Phil Wilson
Definitive Guide to Windows Installer
http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590592972


"Magnus Flysjö" <magnus@flysjo.com> wrote in message
news:u2pFmdnOJHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Is it possible to easily setup a launch condition that checks if another
> product is installed on the system?
> I am trying to create an installation that adds some additional files to a
> folder based on if another application is installed on the system.
>
> I have the productcode for the existing application and needs to setup a
> launch condition for my new installation.
> I first thought that I could create a custom action dll and search for the
> application there but it seems like I'm doing it the wrong way.
> I guess that this is kind of common to check for other products, and that
> it would be much easier to use launch conditions instead.
>
> I also have the component GUID to the EXE file for the main application.
>
> Is it possible to fill a property with the complete path to a file in
> another installation using the component GUID?
>
> /Magnus

Details depend on the tool, but you can do an AppSearch for a component
guid.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...01(VS.85).aspx
used with the AppSearch table.
That'll set a property if the component is installed, and you can use that
property in the LaunchConditions.

--
Phil Wilson
Definitive Guide to Windows Installer
http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590592972


"Magnus Flysjö" <magnus@flysjo.com> wrote in message
news:eatWtGtOJHA.1368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> It's common to use the Upgrade table to search for products by
>> UpgradeCode, or use AppSearch to look for a component guid from a
>> product. Using the result in a launch condition isn't very friendly
>> because this will prevent your app from installing. Maybe that's your
>> intent, but forcing an installation order arbitrarily isn't friendly. If
>> you're a plug-in that needs the hosting app, fine, but I've seen
>> situations where product A said no, you must install B first, then B has
>> a bunch of prerequisites, then finally A said no, I don't support
>> prerequsisite X that B required (it was an SP). If there's no need to
>> enforce an insatall order, then don't.
>
> Well, It's a plug-in installation I am trying to create, not an upgrade.
> And the only thing it will install is some files (non-executable) into a
> directory.
> I have the GUID for the component that installs the host applications EXE
> file, can I use that in some easy way to first do an AppSearch and then
> setup a Launch condition based on that?
>
> /Magnus
>