Chapter 4 - Sequences and Actions

Download solutions at:

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-HY__fXMV7QFvCMsG-neQG4reSLLQ4jj/view?usp=sharing

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qGgxxM40IINgBvX4Jp74IxPjWlkTAtBp/view?usp=sharing

Excercise 4.1: The PauseCA

In this exercise you will use a simple VBScript Custom Action to set a break during the installation.

Open your blastermaster.msi with InstEd and add the following new record to the CustomAction table:

Next add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Finally add the following record to the ActionText table.

Excercise 4.2: The PauseCA Type 54

In this exercise you will modify the PauseCA Custom Action to a Type 54 Custom Action.

Therefore modify the record in the CustomAction table as follows:

Then add the following record to the Property table.

Excercise 4.3: A VBScript Custom Action for installing a service

In this exercise you will add a new VBScript Custom Action for installing a Windows Service.

However first remove the PauseCA CustomAction from the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Once this is done add the following new record to the Property table:

Next add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Next add the following record to the ActionText table.

Then add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Next add the following record to the Property table.

Finally add the following record to the LaunchCondition table.

The VBScript code for installing the service requires administrative privileges. Therefore when you want to install the blastermaster.msi you need to open a CMD with administrative privileges and execute msiexec.exe /i blastermaster.msi.

After uninstalling the package again, delete the service again manually calling sc delete BMService in a CMD running with administrative privileges.

Excercise 4.4: Executable Custom Actions

In this exercise you will add two Executable Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

First we add a custom action for uninstalling the Windows Service you installed before. Thus, add the following new record to the CustomAction table.

Next add the following record to the Property table.

Then schedule this Custom Action in the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Now we add another executable custom action to launch the BlasterMaster.exe once the installation has finished.

Thus, add the following new record to the CustomAction table.

Finally schedule this action in the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Excercise 4.5: DLL Custom Action

In this exercise you will add a DLL Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

First stream the file MyFirstDLLCA.CA.dll into the Binary table.

Then add the following new record to the CustomAction table.

Then schedule the Custom Action in the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Finally install the MSI package from an (administrative) cmd by calling

msiexec.exe /i blastermaster.msi /Lv mylog.txt

Excercise 4.6: Set Property Custom Action

In this exercise you will add a Set Property Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

First add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Then add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Excercise 4.7: Set Directory Custom Action

In this exercise you will add a Set Directory Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

First, add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Then add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Excercise 4.8: Error Custom Action

In this exercise you will add an Error Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

First add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Then add the following record to the InstallUISequence table.

Finally add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Excercise 4.9: Deferred Custom Action

In this exercise you will add a Deferred Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

First add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Then schedule the Custom Action in the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Next add the following record to the Property table.

Then add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Finally schedule this Custom Action also in the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Excercise 4.10: Rollback Custom Action

In this exercise you will add a Rollback Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

Thus, add the following record to the CustomAction table

Then add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Next modify the Deferred Custom Action from above in the CustomAction table to provocate an error:

Excercise 4.11: Commit Custom Action

In this exercise you will add a Commit Custom Actions to your blastermaster.msi package.

But first remove the following records from the CustomAction table: MyDeferredVBScriptCA, MyDeferredVBScriptCA.SetProperty

Then add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Then add the following record to the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Excercise 4.12: Deferred Execution in System Context

In this exercise you will make your deferred Custom Actions that creates the Service run in System Context.

First modify the file BMService.vbs as described in the book and stream it again into the Binary table.

Then modify the CreateBMServiceCA record in the CustomAction table as follows:

Then change the position for the CreateBMServiceCA record in the InstallExecuteSequence table so that it runs before InstallFinalize.

Next add the following record to the CustomAction table.

Then schedule the Custom Action in the InstallExecuteSequence table.

Finally remove the "Privileged" record from the LaunchCondition table.

You can now install the package by just double-clicking it. You don't need to run msiexec.exe in an administrative CMD anymore.

However uninstallation will fail as long as you don't make the service uninstallation action also deferred / no impersonation.

Thus, when you uninstall the package you have to call msiexec.exe /x blastermaster.msi in an administrative CMD.

Excercise 4.13: Return Processing of Custom Actions

In this exercise you will modify the Custom Action from the exercise above so that the installation continues also in the case that the Custom Action fails.

Therefore modify the CreateBMServiceCA in the CustomAction table as follows:

Excercise 4.14: Asynchronous Custom Actions

In this exercise you will modify the Custom Action from the exercise above so that it runs asynchronously.

Therefore modify the CreateBMServiceCA in the CustomAction table as follows:

Excercise 4.15: Clean up

Most of the examples were only for learning purposes and are not really required for installing Blaster Master. Thus, it is now time to clean up your package from these artificial examples. Hence, remove the following records from the CustomAction table:

PauseCA, MyFirstDLLCA, MyRollbackCA, MyCommitCA, MissingNETFRAMEWORK35ErrorCA, CreateBMServiceCA, CreateBMServiceCA.SetProperty,

SetPropertyProp_BMServicePath, UninstallBMServiceCA

Next remove the following records from the Property table:

Prop_BMServicePath, MyDeferredVBScriptCA, Prop_SrcCode_DemoCA, ScExePath