Configuring the Maximum Size for .cab Files
InstallShield 2019 Express Edition
Note • This information is applicable only if you are building a compressed SingleImage release in which all of the files are embedded in the single-file .msi package or the Setup.exe setup launcher.
The .cab file type has some limitations. For example, the maximum size of a single .cab file is 2 GB. In addition, some users have had trouble signing large .cab files and verifying the digital signature of large signed .cab files.
To work around these limitations, InstallShield enables you to specify on a machine-wide basis the maximum size for each .cab file that is built for a compressed SingleImage type of release. When InstallShield is creating the .cab files for your release and it reaches the .cab file threshold that you configured, it splits the data into two or more .cab files, creating multi-part .cab files. Note that if you do not want InstallShield to create multi-part .cab files, you can configure InstallShield to store the data in a single .cab file.
Caution • The following instructions require that you modify the Settings.xml file that is installed with InstallShield. This file contains critical data; if it is edited incorrectly, it can cause InstallShield to fail to work. Use extreme care when editing this file.
To specify whether InstallShield should create multi-part .cab files and—if appropriate—specify the maximum .cab file size:
|
2.
|
Find the Settings.xml file that is installed with InstallShield. Settings.xml is installed in one of the following locations, depending on which language version of InstallShield you are using: |
|
•
|
English—InstallShield Program Files Folder\Support\0409 |
|
•
|
Japanese—InstallShield Program Files Folder\Support\0411 |
|
3.
|
Create a back-up copy of the Settings.xml, in case you later need to revert to the original version. |
|
4.
|
Use a text editor or XML file editor to open the Settings.xml file. |
|
5.
|
Search for the <CompressedNetworkCABSize> element. It looks something like this: |
<CompressedNetworkCABSize default="600"/>
|
6.
|
Do one of the following: |
|
•
|
To specify the maximum size for .cab files, type the size in MB as the value of the default attribute. In the aforementioned example, the maximum size is 600. The value should be 2048 or less, since the maximum size of a .cab file is 2 GB (2048 MB). |
The default value is 600.
|
•
|
If you do not want InstallShield to create multi-part .cab files, set the value of the default attribute to -1. |
|
7.
|
Save the Settings.xml file. |
|
8.
|
Ensure that your XML code is well formed; if it is not well formed, you may have problems using InstallShield. In most cases, you can identify improperly formed XML code by opening the Settings.xml file in Internet Explorer. You should be able to expand and contract the major elements of the file; if you cannot, check the code for errors. |
Whenever you build a compressed SingleImage release for one of the applicable project types, InstallShield creates the .cab files according to the requirement that you configured in the Settings.xml file. Depending on the value that you specified in the Settings.xml file, the Media table of the .msi package lists one or more .cab files.
See Also
Configuring Advanced Settings for InstallShield
Open topic with navigation