How can i pass parameter to from exe file to msi?

Question

I have created an exe using bootstrapper. And now I want my installation be silent. I can install it in silent mode using msi file with the help of following command.

 msiexec /i Setup.msi /qn ADDLOCAL=freature

but I want to install mysetup.exe in silent mode. How can I pass the parameters to msi from bootstrapper so that installation would be in silent mode. I have goggled for hours but I couldn't figure out the way.

I didn't get your question please clear whether you want your mysetup.exe in silent mode or Setup.msi. or is it like both to be in silent mode????? — Nimish, Mar 14 '14 at 06:22
then why are you passing parameter to msi from bootstrapper??? Is it like you want command/flag for installing it in silent mode Same as you used for your msi (/qn)?? — Nimish, Mar 14 '14 at 08:57
yes i want to install my setup file in silent mode. but i dont know how to do it. — eeshwr, Mar 14 '14 at 09:01
what i think you want is installer command line switches for silent install. try (command prompt) mysetup.exe -s — Nimish, Mar 14 '14 at 09:04
i've tried that, but it raises an error "invalid parameter /s" — eeshwr, Mar 14 '14 at 09:19
What kind of executable are you talking about? Is it a windows installer executable? Or something else? — Isaiah4110, Mar 14 '14 at 11:10
Looks like the words in your question is also misleading. How to pass parameters from MSI to my exe? That's not what I understand from the comments going on here. Please edit it. — Isaiah4110, Mar 14 '14 at 11:17
possible duplicate of [Passing command line args to MSI from WiX bundle](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17729878/passing-command-line-args-to-msi-from-wix-bundle) — Tom Blodget, Mar 15 '14 at 19:14
ADDLOCAL is a public property; You can treat it as such even though it is a special one in that the standard Windows Installer actions read it. — Tom Blodget, Mar 15 '14 at 19:19

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 02 '14 at 18:31

What you need is to define a Variable within your Burn bootstrapper. Using your example, you need something like this:

<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi" xmlns:bal="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/BalExtension">
<Bundle Name="Setup" Version="1.0.0.0" UpgradeCode="YOUR-GUID">

    <Variable Name="ADDLOCAL" bal:Overridable="yes"/>

    <BootstrapperApplicationRef Id="WixStandardBootstrapperApplication.RtfLicense">
        <bal:WixStandardBootstrapperApplication />
    </BootstrapperApplicationRef>

    <Chain>
        <MsiPackage DisplayName="Setup" Name="Setup.msi" SourceFile="Setup.msi">
            <MsiProperty Name="ADDLOCAL" Value="[ADDLOCAL]" />
        </MsiPackage>
    </Chain>
</Bundle>
</Wix>

Now you can run Setup.exe -q ADDLOCAL=feature and the .msi will get that variable passed.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 14 '14 at 09:28

1

Wix standard bootstrapper supports only these standard package switches->
-q, -quiet, -s, -silent = silent install
-passive = progress bar only install
-norestart = suppress any restarts
-forcerestart = restart no matter what (I don't know why this is still around)
-promptrestart = prompt if a restart is required (default)
-layout = create a local image of the bootstrapper (i.e. download files so they can be burned to DVD)
-l, -log = log to a specific file (default is controled by bundle developer) -uninstall = uninstall
-repair = repair (or install if not installed)
-package,-update = install (default if no -uninstall or -repair)
Reference

answered Mar 14 '14 at 09:28

Nimish

709
3
16

Thanks, -q worked. but i couldnt install a particular feature from myexe – eeshwr Mar 14 '14 at 09:42
I can install specific feature through msi using command " msiexec /i Setup.msi /qn ADDLOCAL=feature1". I want same from my setupfile. for instance, mysetup.exe -q ADDLOCAL=feature1 Can i do that?? – eeshwr Mar 14 '14 at 09:51

How can i pass parameter to from exe file to msi?

2 Answers2