How to create nested installation?

A nested installation is a type of Custom Action that installs or removes another .msi package (sometimes called the child MSI) from within a running installation (called the parent MSI).


Properties of Nested Installs:

• Nested installations do not display a user interface.
• A child product generally does not appear in the user's Add/Remove Programs panel, and is not automatically uninstalled when the parent product is uninstalled.

Creating a Nested Installation:

Below are the steps for adding custom action that installs the child msi within the parent msi:

• Goto MSI Script View->Execute Immediate.
• Under CostFinalize sequence add a custom action that installs the msi from installation. Browse the msi that needs to be installated with the current installation.

Below are the steps for adding custom action that uninstalls the child msi within the parent msi:

• Under InstallInitialize sequence add a custom action that installs the msi from destination. Enter the product code of the child msi.

Save and compile the Parent msi.

Media Options for Nested Installations:

• The child installation must not be compressed inside a Setup.exe installation launcher.

•If the child installation's files are not compressed inside the child .msi database, we must manually copy the child installation's files to the SourceDir folder of the parent installation.