This page allows you to install multiple instances of your product on the target computer.
The existence of multiple instances is verified by the .EXE
setup file. This is why the corresponding option must be checked in the
Configuration Tab page.
Windows Installer permits only one instance of the ProductCode to be installed per machine and one instance to be installed per user. Starting with Windows Installer 3.x or later multiple instances can be installed by applying ProductCode transforms (called instance transforms) to the base .MSI package.
Installing Multiple Instances requires any of Windows 7,
Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP with Service Pack 1
(SP1), Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 (SP4) and Windows Installer 3.0
redistributable.
Advanced Installer create a transform for each defined instance with the same name as in the “Instance IDs” pane and streams it into the .MSI database. When the package runs the Multiple Instances selection dialog displayed by the .EXE allows the user to install new instance or maintain an already installed one.
The instances are uniquely distinguished by a new ProductCode and additionally by the InstanceId property. Other properties can be created in the Instance Properties page. When the first instance is created the InstanceId property is added to the project with "#0" as value for the selected build. You can change it in the Install Parameters page.
The "#0" value is reserved for the base package.
Advanced Installer uses the name of an instance from “Instance IDs” pane as the InstanceId property value for the corresponding instance.
Creating a new instance
Use the “New Instance” command from the context menu or press the Insert key while the “Instance IDs” panel is selected, in order to create a new instance.
Renaming an instance
Use the “Rename”command from the context menu or press the F2 key while an element is selected, in order to rename an instance.
Removing an instance
Use the “Delete” command from the context menu, or press the Delete key while an element is selected, in order to remove an instance.
Specifying the instances' installation order
Use the “Move Up” / “Move Down” context menu item or press the Shift+Up / Shift+Down keys while an instance is selected.
Topics
- Instance Properties Tab
In this tab you can set/overwrite properties for an instance. - Instance Components Tab
In this page you can overwrite components for an instance.