User Guide

Chapter 1

Welcome

Wise for Windows Installer is an installation development system for creating and

editing Windows® Installer (.MSI) installation packages. It is a complete and user-

friendly front end for generating Windows Installer database files, which are executed by

the Windows Installer engine. With Wise for Windows Installer, you can create

installations that are compliant with Microsoft’s Windows 2000 logo program. Use Wise

for Windows Installer to edit and refine installations that you’ve converted from other

formats, and use it to import development projects.

Through its Visual Studio integrated editor, Wise for Windows Installer offers a complete,

seamless integration of the entire installation authoring environment directly into the

Microsoft® Visual Studio® .NET development environment. This tight integration allows

for automatic synchronization of your development project with your installation, saving

you time and significantly improving the quality of your installations.

Microsoft® Windows® Installer is a Microsoft technology that provides a standard

installation engine that can be used for the installation of any 32-bit or 64-bit Windows

software product. It resides on the destination computer and performs the installation of

applications. Windows Installer technology provides developers with features not

currently available in traditional installation-building products.

Topics include:

! Documentation Roadmap.

! Getting Help and Product Support.

! How to Check Online Help.

! Getting Updates Over the Web.