The key tool for the creation of MSI packages, the repackaging wizard lets you either convert legacy project files or create new snapshots of legacy setups. If you have a InstallShield (.inc), WinInstall (.txt), ZENworks (.axt), SMS (.ipf) or Wise (.wse) project file, this wizard will help you use this information to generate a new MSI setup. However, when migrating to a new operating system you may well be better off recreating your packages fresh, which takes us to the Repackaging Wizard. This wizard allows you to gather the changes that take affect during the installation of a legacy setup in order to build a custom MSI package. Although you can run it locally, it is recommended that you run the wizard remotely from a mapped network share for best results.

You can either use the time-tested Snapshot method where your system is examined before and after the installation for changes, or you can choose the Installation Monitoring method. This option watches lower-level system activities and records related changes made to the system in order to determine what belongs in your repackaged installation. It is generally considered “safer” to use the snapshot method (selected by default) as it is possible for installation monitoring to miss things that could result in an incomplete package.

A particularly nice feature of the repackaging wizard is its ability to convert InstallScript installation logic into native MSI code. Installations driven by InstallScript often pose issues for administrators in their ability to be customized, detect conflicts, or to apply patches or upgrades. Further, because such MSI packages must be initiated by the supplied Setup.exe file, it poses further problems for deployment mechanisms such as assigning it to computers using Group Policy. To help alleviate these issues, AdminStudio provides InstallScript Scan which is a feature which may be used to convert an InstallScript MSI installation to a Basic MSI package with InstallScript support. InstallScript Scan preserves the original components and much of the InstallScript installation logic, architecture, and maintainability of the original installation package.

The repackaging wizard allows you to review the contents of your package as well, all but eliminating the need to move your package to the MSI editor for further cleanup.
 

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