Creating Transforms

InstallShield 2016

Project • This information applies to Transform projects.

A transform (.mst file) is a simplified Windows Installer database that contains the differences between two .msi databases. Transforms enable an administrator to apply modified settings to a database when deploying an installation package.

Customizing Installations

For example, a user may need to customize an installation in different ways for different departments in their company. The traditional office suite comes with a spreadsheet program, a word processor, and a presentation tool. The accounting department may need only the spreadsheet and the presentation programs, while the writing department may need the word processor and the spreadsheet. A third department may need the entire suite of applications.

Rather than manually setting up every person in the company, a user can take the original installation of the entire suite, customize it to the needs of each department, and then create a transform between the two packages. A transform needs to be created for each separate product configuration.

Creating Transforms

InstallShield makes the task of creating multiple configurations of your product as easy as stepping through a wizard. You can create a transform by using either of the two methods described below.

Creating a Transform by Comparing Two .msi Packages

In one method of creating a transform, a base .msi package serves as the starting point for all of your customization, and the target package contains all of the changes that you would like to be reflected in the installation. Once you have prepared the base .msi package and the target .msi package, you can use the Transform Wizard to create a transform. When you finish this wizard, InstallShield compares the two packages and creates a transform (.mst file) that contains the differences between the two packages.

Creating a Transform Based on a Single .msi Package

Another way to create a transform is to create a new transform project. When you create a new transform project, the Open Transform Wizard launches. Use the Open Transform Wizard to open an existing .msi package in Direct MST mode and edit the project as needed. InstallShield evaluates the differences between the base .msi package and the changes you make in Direct MST mode and creates a transform project (.mst file) that contains the differences.

This method of creating a transform enables you to specify additional transforms that should be incorporated into your transform project. It also lets you specify default user-interface responses for end users.

Applying Transforms

Once a transform has been created, it can be applied at run time, depending on whose machine the application is being installed. For example, you can check if the target machine is in the accounting department. If it is, the accounting transform is applied to the original installation, and only the spreadsheet and presentation programs are installed.

Creating Transforms

InstallShield 2016 Help Library

August 2016