Upgradesync; Patch Creation; Upgrades - Symantec WINDOWS INSTALLER EDITOR 8.0 Reference

UpgradeSync

Patch Creation

Upgrades

Windows Installer Editor Reference
See UpgradeSync.
Using UpgradeSync is one of the steps in preparing software for updates.
See Preparing for Software Updates
UpgradeSync compares the current package with the previous version of the package,
and does the following to prepare the current package for a patch or upgrade:
Changes the PackageCode, ProductCode, and ProductVersion properties if
necessary.
Aligns component GUIDs. If GUIDs or key paths for the same component don't
match between the new and old .MSI, the component could inadvertently get
deleted because Windows Installer does not recognize the components as being the
same. Aligning component GUIDs for matching components prevents upgrades from
deleting necessary files in the newer version.
Detects errors that could cause problems with a patch or upgrade and, if possible,
fixes them.
See Using UpgradeSync in the Wise Package Studio Help.
Use Patch Creation to create a Windows Installer patch file (.MSP) that updates installed
versions of a Windows Installer-based application. A patch file can update one or several
previous versions. Unlike full installations, a patch installation contains only the
information necessary to update an installed version of the application.
See the following topics in the Wise Package Studio Help:
Creating a Patch File
Specifying Previous Versions for Patches
Advanced Upgrade Version Details
Adding a Digital Signature to a Patch
Specifying the Patch Sequence
Specifying Advanced Patch Settings
Specifying Patch Removal Settings
Use the Upgrades page to create an installation that upgrades previous versions of an
application. During an upgrade, the installation searches the destination computer for
applications that can be upgraded, and upon detection, retrieves its version information
from the registry. The installation uses this information along with the criteria on the
Upgrades page to determine whether the installed application should be upgraded. Then
the installation silently uninstalls the previous version and installs the new version.
Note
Upgrading is only supported in Windows Installer runtime v1.1 or later.
on page 302.
Upgrading Applications
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