Multiple Actions in a Single Prerequisite

[rkgarimella9]

Hi,

Would like to know the best way possible, to perform more than one action in a given single prerequisite action. My requirement is the following

1) Download the bootstrap installer for SQL Server 2017 Express Edition (with Advanced Services) : Am using the "PREDEFINED PREREQUISITES" --> "SQL SERVER EXPRESS 2017 (Web Installer)" (SQLServer2017-SSEI-Expr.exe)

This by default, is showing a dialog box for user to chose the Installation Type. I used the command line to make it a silent installation to download the Media.

2) Upon executing, this bootstrap installer, generates a single .EXE file (SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe)

3) Find the location of this .EXE file, and execute this executable in silent mode (I found how to do this from the post here viewtopic.php?f=5&t=36136

This finally installs the Sql Express with Advanced Services. Is there a way to achieve all the above 3 steps under one prerequisite. If not, what is the best way to do this.

Thanks in advance,
Ravi

[Catalin]

Hello Ravi,

In my opinion, the best way to achieve this is to directly use the "SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU" EXE file within your project by adding it (the EXE) as a prerequisite. For more information about this, please have a look on the following "Install SQL Server 2017 Silently/with BasicUI" how-to thread in which I explained, step by step, how to achieve this.

Hope this helps.

All the best,
Catalin

[rkgarimella9]

Hello Catalin,

Thanks for the quick update.

The Main Reason as to why I was looking for an alternative, is to avoid reducing the traffic from our site whenever the users try to download our Application EXE File. Because of this "SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe" being added to our build, the overall final EXE SIZE is around 950MB (Since "SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe" is by itself 710 MB). So, we don't want to have this much of traffic from our site, and rather, let the users download this directly from the source.

Hence, I was looking for an alternative as to how can we achieve, in the best way possible.

Thanks,
Ravi

[Catalin]

Hello Ravi,

It seems that Microsoft direct download link for the "SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU" is the following:

https://download.microsoft.com/download ... 64_ENU.exe

You can use the above link in order to create a URL-based prerequisite. After doing so, you can create your own custom action which will search for the prerequisite and will launch it for installation.

https://www.advancedinstaller.com/user- ... files.html

Hope this helps.

All the best,
Catalin

[rkgarimella9]

Hello Ravi,

It seems that Microsoft direct download link for the "SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU" is the following:

https://download.microsoft.com/download ... 64_ENU.exe

Hi Catalin,

Thank you so much. This is what exactly I was looking for. How did you find this one I've been searching the internet for this link, but couldn't find it.
So, i basically used this download link and used the following Install Command to achieve my job.

/x:C:\ExtractionFolder /qs /ACTION=INSTALL /FEATURES=SQLEngine,FullText /INSTANCENAME=xxx /UpdateEnabled=False /SECURITYMODE=SQL /SAPWD= xxx /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS

Thanks,
Ravi

[Catalin]

You're always welcome, Ravi.

Glad I could help.

Also thank you for your followup on this (sharing your solution with us). I am sure this will be of help for other users facing a similar scenario.

All the best,
Catalin