Included are some useful helper classes for working with MSI and MSP packages:

• InstallPackage - extends the Database class to provide powerful package-based operations such as:

  • direct extraction of files to uncompressed source path
  • updating files from uncompressed source path back into the compressed source for the package (including updating file metadata)
  • applying a patch directly to the package
  • consolidating a package with uncompressed source files or multiple msm-cabs into a package with a single compressed cabinet

• InstallPathMap, InstallPath - represent the directory structure of an installation package, including file, component, and directory source and target install paths. Accessible by file, component, or directory keys; searchable by filename.

• PatchPackage - allows convenient access to patch properties, and analysis and extraction of transforms

These classes are in the Microsoft.WindowsInstaller.Package.dll assembly.

See also:

The WiFile sample tool demonstrates some usage of the InstallPackage class.