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Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 10:09:24 AM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		Hello everyone...

Not a new guy but a newly registered one...Been a lurker on your site for a while but now a query prompts me to register with you guys, a query whose search yielded no results on your site...

I want to start by thanking the forum and site owners for creating this portal through which novices like myself can become more knowledgeable and hone our packaging prowess...Thanks...

I want to begin my entry into this forum with the following query...

OK, so let's say you made your changes to the package, embedded all the files you wanted to e.t.c....WPS creates your MST and your cab file.

Now, a little while later your manager sends you another file to be embedded in your package. You embed it and save it them Voila!, you have two cab files. You save that, add one more file to the package and boom!, now you have 3 .CAB files.

My question is, is there any way to incorporate as many changes as you want yet keep just one .CAB file?

What I mean is, you keep adding subsequent files to your package over time, editing your MSTs yet just end up keeping only one .CAB file, always, regardless of file additions.

Thanks in advance. And I guess you can see, I will be bothering you with many many questions in the days and years to come...

Regards...
Post #: 1
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 10:28:52 AM   
fuz_kitten

 

Posts: 135
Score: 5
Joined: 12/15/2005
From: London
Status: offline 		Convert your MSI in to a WSI with Wise and recompile. You should end up with one cab.

Ta

(in reply to Repackman)
Post #: 2
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 10:30:54 AM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		I will try it out right now...

Thanks kitten...

(in reply to fuz_kitten)
Post #: 3
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 10:32:56 AM   
MSIPackager


Posts: 724
Score: 43
Joined: 7/29/2004
From: UK
Status: offline 		Hello, welcome to the forum :-)

Not sure about AdminStudio but there is an option in Wise Package Studio (under Media) - Cab options.  If you are working from a WSI to create an MSI there is a One Cab option to keep it all in one.  If you are working with MSIs though you can only use the Quickest (new files and modules get cab file) option - which is were the multiple cabs come from.  Obviouslt this doesn't really apply if you are transforming vendor MSIs...

Generally speaking it would be much better for you to get to grips with makecab / cabarc tools to rebuild your own cabs when you add new files - you will also need to get aquainted with the media and file tables (attributes and sequence columns).  You'll get your head around it in no time...  Couple of points to remember:

1) The filenames in the cab relate to the File column in the file table (e.g. the internal MSI reference) - NOT the actual destination file name!
2) The cab needs to be built in the order of the files in the sequence column of the file table.

See how you get on and let us know if you get stuck...

Cheers,
Rob.

(in reply to Repackman)
Post #: 4
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 10:39:07 AM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		A truly professionally comprehensive response, MSIPackager... Thank you so much...

(in reply to MSIPackager)
Post #: 5
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 10:46:27 AM   
cygan

 

Posts: 450
Score: 11
Joined: 7/18/2004
From: UK
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Repackman

Hello everyone...

Not a new guy but a newly registered one...Been a lurker on your site for a while but now a query prompts me to register with you guys, a query whose search yielded no results on your site...

I want to start by thanking the forum and site owners for creating this portal through which novices like myself can become more knowledgeable and hone our packaging prowess...Thanks...



got yoursself in a twist here

not a new guy but a novice hmmmmm

anyway welcome to the forum and it is official

where are the cakes to celebrate your membership

(in reply to Repackman)
Post #: 6
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 11:08:47 AM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		There you go my friend...

[edit]

Tried to put an ascii cake in there, but the code messed up... But it was the thought that counted, right? :)


< Message edited by Repackman -- 3/10/2010 11:10:38 AM >

(in reply to cygan)
Post #: 7
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 11:24:52 AM   
VBScab


Posts: 6623
Score: 190
Joined: 9/5/2006
From: London, UK
Status: offline
quote:

Convert your MSI...
No, no good, since that new MSI will include all the files from the original MSI plus those from the MST and not necessarily (in fact, not very likely) in the same sequence. All that means is that it's easier and quicker to add files to the CAB using MAKECAB and adjusting the File table's sequence numbers accordingly.

The WPS option of selecting to only have one CAB is obviously an even quicker route.


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(in reply to fuz_kitten)
Post #: 8
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 11:36:41 AM   
MSIPackager


Posts: 724
Score: 43
Joined: 7/29/2004
From: UK
Status: offline
quote:

A truly professionally comprehensive response


That has a great ring to it - may make it my sig ;-)

Glad to be able to help - learning the internals of the MSI will beneficial in the long run... even if it means some pain to start with... it's like the old saying: no pain, no decent package.

(in reply to Repackman)
Post #: 9
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 11:55:21 AM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		Kitten,

I tried your method...Unfortunately it created a single MSI...No CAB and no MST...I want my MST just like I want my MTV...:)

OK, let me delve a little further...My WPS 7 is a modified standalone version...No SQL backend support and no repository...It's all local...

Now the package I have (an EXE) creates an MSI and an MST as well (I suppose the developers of the program were proactive to the needs of Packagers)...Now, what I am doing is modifying the MST that the EXE spit out...It's all well...I edit the MST with WPS, it creates a CAB file, awesome... Problem is, when I add more stuff to the package through the MST, it creates another CAB file, which I don't want...

What I want is that no matter how many times I add stuff, it keeps going into that one CAB file instead of it making more everytime I add stuff... It's either that or repackage the whole thing from scratch with the new files added so it creates only one CAB, which I know is not right, although proponents say it's fine... Some proponents actually say it's fine to have multiple CAB files for a project...Not for me...I am a one CAB guy...:)

Now I will try MSIPackagers advice and see how that goes...I have never tried the MAKECAB thingie, but a search on your forum will, I am sure, reveal some fertile results...

Regards...

(in reply to fuz_kitten)
Post #: 10
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/10/2010 11:56:49 AM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		I will make the royalty affordable...:)

(in reply to MSIPackager)
Post #: 11
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/11/2010 3:43:31 AM   
timmsie

 

Posts: 282
Score: 15
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline 		It'd be worth you downloading Insted

It's a great free tool which is like a jazzed up ORCA. you could edit your mst with this and it gives you the ability to right click on the cab file in the media table and rebuild the cab.

Thing is though you'll need to understand how to add a file to the msi via the msi tables without the pretty wise front end (I'm not saying you dont!)

Cheers
Rich

(in reply to Repackman)
Post #: 12
RE: Multiple Cab Files... - 3/16/2010 1:23:28 PM   
Repackman


Posts: 34
Score: 0
Joined: 3/10/2010
Status: offline 		The solution was very simple...

All that was needed was for me to edit the MST with the new files embedded...So while WPS is open, embed the new files, then go into the project folder, delete the old CAB file...Turn off 'Quick Compile' and resave the changes...

There would be just one CAB file with your new and old files...

Thanks to everyone for their contributions, especially EdT for this simple yet elusive solution...

(in reply to timmsie)
Post #: 13
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