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We have a piece of software that's installed with Installshield, currently at version 5.0.1.

Between the version 4.9 and 5.0.0, a new Installshield Feature, REDIST, containing Redistribuables, was added to the Installshield project. The version 5.0 is delivered as a msi, which can be installed alone or upgrade an existing 4.9 installation. We're currently working on the version 5.0.1, which is delivered as a patch (.msp). The patch is a Minor Upgrade, since the Product Code is the same as in version 5.0.0. This patch can be installed at the time of the 5.0 installation, with the PATCH property on the command line.

When installing 5.0 and the 5.0.1 patch at the same time (msiexec /i "5.0.0.msi" PATCH="5.0.1.msp") on an existing 4.9, the Feature REDIST is not installed (in the install log: Feature: REDIST; Installed: Absent; Request: Null; Action: Null). The issue does not appear when the 5.0.0 and 5.0.1 are installed separately.

I don't have much experience with Installshield, so I think I'm missing something obvious here.

baudsp
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  • No time to look at this now, but maybe you need to use ADDLOCAL to add the new feature? You might need to list all features you want to install, I am not sure. I don't use patching much, and the PATCH property with the /I parameter I have never used at all. [Maybe have a look under "Upgrading Without Patching"](http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/msi/updates.htm). The REINSTALL / ADDLOCAL issue. I would try to list all features in ADDLOCAL first. – Stein Åsmul Oct 13 '18 at 02:33
  • And some thoughts on [minor upgrades in general](https://stackoverflow.com/a/51444047/129130). I would assume your team is all up to date on these issues. – Stein Åsmul Oct 13 '18 at 02:41
  • Minor upgrades and patching require Jedi like Windows Installer skills. I recommend starting with Major Upgrades. – Christopher Painter Oct 14 '18 at 13:23
  • @SteinÅsmul Thank you for your answer. I tried `ADDLOCAL=ALL,REDIST` and the REDIST Feature was still not installed. – baudsp Oct 15 '18 at 10:06
  • I would check what the log file says, and I am not sure you can combine ALL and a feature name. Maybe try to list all features that are to be installed or reinstalled? – Stein Åsmul Oct 15 '18 at 10:07
  • @SteinÅsmul Ok. But I don't know when I'll test this since it's low priority and my boss asked me to switch to the current critical bug. Thank you still. – baudsp Oct 15 '18 at 11:45
  • Word of advice with regards to patching: don't use it unless you absolutely have to, and if you have to then make the patch as simple as possible, preferably just a couple of files. Some comments on patching [here](https://stackoverflow.com/a/23450821/129130) and also [here](https://stackoverflow.com/a/12187180/129130). – Stein Åsmul Oct 15 '18 at 13:11

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