Installshield: suite and MSI feature

Question

im kinda strugling with features associated in suite with msi features. I have suite project that has multiple MSI files. In one MSI i have features that i want optionally install.

In suite project i added this, to associate it with the checkbox in suite's feature list.

":MSIPackageFeatureName" next to

"Selection Name="NewFeature" DisplayName="ID_STRING" Install="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"

But the feature gets installed anyway, even if the checkbox isnt checked.

So my first question is, should i add some custom actions to change install level? Or how do i prevent the feature to be installed if the checkbox isnt checked.

+bonus. For some reason, if i check it. Some other files dont install, these files have nothing to do with the feature.

Answer 1

The InstallShield Suite can handle feature selection in one of its MSIs, but it has not been made easy. In general you'll probably find an easier time refactoring the MSI by splitting it into two (or more) along those feature lines and including those separate MSIs within the suite.

If you cannot refactor the composition of the MSIs (perhaps it's a third party MSI, or perhaps the refactor is worse that the alternative), you can follow the guidelines on Configuring Package Features from a Suite/Advanced UI or Advanced UI Installer. In particular, note the following subtle points:

• It is important to include a Selection element that references the entire package in the format <Selection ... Install="{guid}"/>
• In addition, you need multiple (preferably child) Selection elements that refer to the feature names in the format <Selection ... Install="{guid}:FeatureName"/>; note that once you list one {guid}:FeatureName, all features must be listed somewhere (and selected) or they will not be installed.

In your example, you have a null guid instead of the guid that the suite has assigned to the package, and you don't show child elements that specify the feature names. So it's possible that by listing one feature, but never listing another, that other feature is excluded from installation no matter what you select.

It's also not clear whether you mean you are using the InstallationFeatures page to show the check boxes, or if you are creating your own check box to toggle a single feature (the latter requires referencing the pseudo-property FEATURE[feature-name].actionState where feature-name is the name in your Selection element).