Multiple Instances Tab for a Product Configuration
InstallShield 2020 » Releases View » Product Configuration
Project:The Multiple Instances tab for a product configuration is available in Basic MSI projects.
For information on multiple-instance support for InstallScript projects, see Running an InstallScript Installation Multiple Times.
Windows Installer allows only one instance of a product code to be installed in the machine context and only one instance to be installed in each user context. Windows Installer 3.x and later includes support for a product code–changing transform. This type of transform—called an instance transform—enables the same .msi package to be used to install multiple instances of the same product in the same context because it changes the product code for each instance.
To create an installation that lets end users install multiple instances of your product, use the Multiple Instances tab. This tab is where you define different instances of your product and configure the properties that are associated with each instance. At build time, InstallShield creates an instance transform for each instance and streams the instance transforms into the .msi package. At run time, the installation typically displays an instance selection dialog that lets end users specify whether they want to install a new instance or maintain an existing one.
Caution:Creating an installation that lets end users install multiple instances of a product on the same machine and in the same context requires sophisticated authoring and serious commitment on the part of the installation developer. This functionality is recommended for only advanced installation developers.
See Also
Installing Multiple Instances of Products
Run-Time Requirements for Multiple-Instance Support
Run-Time Behavior for Installing Multiple Instances of a Product
Special Considerations for Multiple-Instance Support
Updating the Product Code of One or More Instances
Setting Properties for an Instance