02_x86_x64_Installer

02_x86_x64_Installer

Making an x64 Installer

• x64 platform should be added to the project using Visual Studio's Configuration Manager
• when building the project using the new x64 configuration, Visual Studio will send the following arguments to candle.exe

-dPlatform=x64
-arch x64

Hypothetical installer requirements

• we want to have both an x86 and an x64 installer for our product
• some files are deployed by both installers (e.g. FileToInstall.txt)
• installers should have different UpgradeCodes (should be possible to upgrade them independently)
• MSI file name should end with either "(x64)" or "(x86)" based on the platform
• MSI entry in Windows "Programs and Features" should end with either "(x64)" or "(x86)" based the on platform
• x86 installer
  • deploys my_x86.dll
  • by default is installed in the 32-bit program files folder
  • writes registry keys in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node
• x64 installer
  • deploys my_x64.dll
  • by default is installed in the 64-bit program files folder
  • writes registry keys in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
• it should be possible to install both installers on the same machine at the same time

Implementation of requirements

• we get two installers by building one for the x86 platform and another by building for the x64 platform
• platform info (e.g. "(x64)") is appended to the name of the built installer by manually adding OutputName in the wixproj file

  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|x64' ">
    ...
    <OutputName>02_x86_x64_Installer (x64)</OutputName>
    ...
  </PropertyGroup>

• different UpgradeCodes, different entries in "Programs and Features" and installation to 32-bit/64-bit program files folder are achieved by using the include file where different values are defined based on the platform
• these values are then used as variables in the main wxs file
• preprocessor directives are used to determine which files will be deployed in which MSI (x86/x64)

  <?if $(var.Platform) = x64?>
    <File KeyPath="yes" Source="my_x64.dll" />
  <?else?>
    <File KeyPath="yes" Source="my_x86.dll" />
  <?endif?>

• registry entries will be automatically saved either to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE (x64) or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node (x86) based on platform