Creating a transform MST file

A while back a customer had a deployment problem where he wanted to install specific packages from our software. The software is usually shipped in an MSI which contains several packages in it.  Since the customer deploys the software through GPO, it wasn't possible to select the applications he wanted installed because the process is unattended.

To solve the problem I offered the customer a Transform file(.MST) and instructions how to use it.

What is a Transform?

Assuming you don't want to install the default software installation, a transform file or MST allows you to install selected features which the MSI advertises.

How can I create a Transform?

Some of the tools you can use to create a transform file include:Wise for Windows Installer, InstallShield Admin Studio and Orca.

In our case we will use Orca which can be downloaded free online.  Here is Microsoft Knowledge base article that can help you install orca http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255905

1.     launch Orca, Click on the file menu and open the MSI file you want to Edit. My example here use Visual Studio.net  2003 setup.

2.     From the tables Select ‘Feature’. This will present you with all the advertised features of the application

3.     On the Features table select the features to install and change the level column from 4 to 3. Since you also need to install the Parent feature, make a similar change too.                                                                                 -->In my  image below I want to install the all language tools therefore am going to change the parent feature level to 3 and apply the same to the sub_features.

4.     To change the Installation directory , select the Directory Table, Change the DefaultDir column for TARGETDIR to you specified path ie C:\vs_2003\

How Do I use the MST?

This is beyold the scope of this post but am going to explain the basics with the MSIEXEC command line and Group Policy Object.

On the command line type : MSIEXEC /i MySoftware.msi TRANSFORMS=MyTransform.mst

In Group Policy Object

1. Create a new Software Installation Package in the Computer Settings node of Group Policy Object Editor.

2. Select the MSI file, and then click Advanced.

3. On the Modifications tab, click Add and select the MST file you created.