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I have a lot of wxi files for a Wix setup. All together works great as a setup but I think But it works good. But with changes and extensions it is extremely confusing.

Looks like:

Product.wxs
App.wxi
CustomAction.wxi
Firewall.wxi
Feature.wxi
en-us.wxl

Can I convert all these somehow to a Visual Studio Wix Project? And if yes how I can do it?

Antonio
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    WiX has the flexibility needed to make pretty much anything you need, [Visual Studio Installer Projects have many limitations](https://stackoverflow.com/a/47944893/129130) ([short list form](https://stackoverflow.com/a/2637666/129130)). I would not recommend going for a conversion - especially since this setup looks to be complicated enough to require WiX's flexibility. – Stein Åsmul Oct 19 '20 at 19:47
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    If you go [here](http://www.installdude.com) and click the *"WiX Samples"* entry there is a list of WiX resources in the grid. Also, have a look at ["WiX Quick Start" section here](https://stackoverflow.com/a/25005864/129130). – Stein Åsmul Oct 19 '20 at 20:15
  • Added one more link below, [alternative MSI tools](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/50225031/windows-service-not-shown-in-add-remove-programs-under-control-panel/50229840#50229840) - along with some comments to make the answer more "generic" (for others with similar questions). – Stein Åsmul Oct 20 '20 at 11:34

1 Answers1

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Short Version: Below is an attempted generic answer: 1) You can use another tool such as Advanced Installer or Installshield, 2) you can find help with WiX to continue to use it, and 3) you can even use dark.exe to convert other MSIs to WiX format (this can help you with WiX markup syntax - you can implement in another tool and covert to WiX - then the markup will work).

WiX is particularly good - I think - for corporate in-house use (large companies) where expertise is readily available and can be maintained over time. For a lone developer who does setups once a year it might be too much to handle with all the flexibility and syntax?

Alternative Tools: I forget my ad-hoc quick overview of MSI tools in the comments above. Both Advanced Installer (help portal) and Installshield have excellent features that makes you able to deliver setups quicker than with WiX.

Advanced Installer and Installshield should have features to import many project types. I have not tested lately, there could be changes.

Update: https://www.advancedinstaller.com/import.html

VS Installer Projects Limitations: WiX has the flexibility needed to make pretty much anything you need, Visual Studio Installer Projects have many limitations (short list form). I would not recommend going for a conversion - especially since this setup looks to be complicated enough to require WiX's flexibility.

WiX Quick Start Material: If you go here and click the "WiX Samples" entry there is a list of WiX resources in the grid. Also, have a look at "WiX Quick Start" section here.

Dark.exe: In fact, WiX has a tool called Dark.exe which can be used to decompile an MSI file to WiX markup. In other words it is generally easier to move to WiX than from it - although Advanced Installer and Installshield should be able to import WiX and other project files and also import MSI files.

Dark.exe, Sample Syntax:

dark.exe -x outputfolder MySetup.msi

An answer on MSI files and viewers: How can I compare the content of two (or more) MSI files?

Stein Åsmul
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