The Merge Modules page

Merge modules are simplified MSI packages that contain Windows Installer components and setup logic to be included into any number of MSI packages. They can't be installed alone but they can be merged with an already existing MSI package. You can merge a MSI package with as many modules as you want.

A merge module is merged with the project which contains it at build time. Therefore, after the package is built the merge module is not a separate element anymore.

Advanced Installer is using the Merge Modules support provided by the MergeMod COM server. This functionality comes with the Windows Installer SDK, in the mergemod.dll file.

If this file is not present on your machine, Advanced Installer will notify you with an exception at build time. For installing the MergeMod COM server follow the next steps:

1. Download and install latest Windows Installer SDK from Microsoft Platform SDK (at least October 2002 release).
2. Open a command prompt in folder "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDK\Bin".
3. Call from command line "regsvr32.exe mergemod.dll". The result must be "DllRegisterServer in mergemod.dll succeeded".

Adding a merge module

Use the [ Add Module... ] toolbar button, the "Add Module..." context menu item, or press the Insert key. An Open File dialog will appear where you can choose the module file to be merged into your package. Advanced Installer will extract and display some general information from the module.

Although Advanced Installer will show you the dependencies (if any) of a merge module, no check about this will be made at build time and the dependencies will not be added automatically. However, Advanced Installer will check for module exclusions. If you try to add two merge modules and one of them excludes the other, the former will be excluded from build.

Removing a merge module

Use the [ Delete ] toolbar button, the "Delete" list context menu item or press the Delete key.

Configuring the merge process

Use the "Configure" context menu item, or press the + key. The Configure Merge Module Dialog will be displayed and will allow you to configure the merge process.

You can create a merge module using a merge module project.