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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

1. Features of the application packaging?

ÿ Installation and management of assemblies

ÿ Configure Merge Modules
ÿ Isolation of program information
ÿ Enhancement of operating system features
ÿ Application compatibility infrastructure
ÿ Digital signature support
ÿ supports for Transforms and Patches from URL resources
ÿ Improved terminal server support
ÿ enhanced logging
ÿ Application compatibility

2. What is MSI? Advantages of MSI?

MSI => Microsoft Installer. It is an installation, in the form of a single file. It is actually a Databas e
that contains several tables (80+) each of this table contains instructions and set-up inform ation
ÿ Self Healing
ÿ Roll Back
ÿ Install on Demand
ÿ Advertisement
ÿ Source resiliency

3. What is component?

Collection of resources that are always installed or rem oved as a unit from a user system like files
and folders and regis tries

4. What are the component Rules?

∑ every component have unique GUI
∑ Every Component Should have a key path
∑ HKLM&HKCU registries are not present in the same component
∑ .exe, .dll, ocx files should not present in the same component
∑ Two components can't install in the same resource
∑ all resources of a component must install same directory

5. What is Key path?

A Res ource in the component which is used to identify whether the com ponent is installed or not

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

6. What are the Component attributes 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32?

0 => 0X0000
msidbComponent attributes local only

Component can't run from source.

Prevent the feature from being run from my computer.

2 => 0X0002
msidbComponent Attributes Optional

Run locally or from source.

4 => 0X0004\
msidbComponent Attributes Registry Key-path

Key-path column is us ed as a key-path into the registry table.

8 => 0X0008
msidbComponent Attributes SharedDLL Count

Installer increments the shared dll count in the shared dll regis try.
If it is not set the installer increments the reference count only, if the reference count is already
exist.

16 => 0X0010
msidbComponent Attributes Permanent

Installer doesn't remove the component during un-installation.

32 => 0X0020
msidbComponent Attributes ODBC Data source

This bit is set the value in the key-path colum n a key into the ODBC data source.

64 => 0X0040
msidbComponent Attributes Transitive

Re evaluates the value of the statem ent.

128 => 0X0080

msidbComponent Attributes Never Overwrite

Installer does not ins tall or reinstall the component if key-path file or key-path regis try entry of the
component already exists.

256 =>0X0100
,

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

MsidbComponent Attributes includes both 32-bit&64-bit

If the bit is not set , the component is regis tered as a32-bit component. If this is a 64-bit component
replacing 32-bit.

512 => 0X0200

MsidbComponent Attributes Disable Registry Reflection

Registry disable reflection key on each key being acces sed by the component
If is available with windows installer version 4.0. The bit is ignored on 32-bit system ignored on the
64-bit version of windows XP..

7. What are the ODBC Related tables

∑ ODBC Data Source Table
∑ ODBC Driver Table
∑ ODBC Translator Table
∑ ODBC Attribute Table
∑ ODBC Source Attribute Table

8. Phases of MSI installation?

v Acquisition: The Installer installs the feature and then progresses through the
action specified in the sequence tables of the installation database. This action query the
installation database and generates a script that gives a step by step procedure for
performing the installation .
v Execution: Install passes the information to process with elevated privileges and
run the script.
v Rollback: If an installation unsuccessful. The installer restores the original state of
the computer it generates the rollback script simultaneously to the script . installer saves
a copy of every file it deletes during the installation these files are kept in hidden system
directory.
Once installation is completed the rollback script and the saved files are deleted.

9. What is Config.msi folder?

Rollback script files are stored in the config.msi location.

After completion of installation this folder gets deleted.

10. How does ADDLOCAL Property works?

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

When we give feature name to ADDLOCAL property windows installer adds that feature.

11. Why more than one MSIEXEC run in the task manager while installing the MSI?

While a MSI getting ins talled, We see 3-4 MSIEXEC running in tas k manager, they are MSI server,
Client and Services and the 4th one will be seen when a cus tom action is getting installed

12. What are the Red Components? Why it is appear?

Red Components is an error component, When components is not satis fied the com ponent rules
then we got red component.

13. How to resolve the Red components?

when component satisfies the component rules then only we resolve red com ponents .

14. What is per user installation ?

It gives permission per single us er only property is ALLUSERS=0.

15. What is Per machine installation ?

It gives permission per all users property is ALLUSERS=1.

16. What is preferred ALLUSERS=0 or 1 or 2?

ALLUSERS=1, For best practice.

17. What are the Merge Modules? Extension of Merge modules?

Allows companies to prepackage and share standard components definitions, Merge modules are
used to deliver shared code, files, res ources, registry entries us ed setup logic to application as a
single com pound file.
Extens ion of merge modules is .msm.

18. What are the Merge module tables?

Module Signature, Module Com ponent, Module Dependency, Module Exclusion, Module Admin UI
Sequence, Module Ignore, Module Sub Situation, Module Configuration.

19. What is location of Shared DLL Registry?

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\"Shared Dll with the path of file "

20. What is a Shared DLL Component?

,

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

Shared DLL component is a DLL file have common to the similar component/product is known as
shared DLL.

21. What is permanent component?

If we set component as permanent none of the component data are removed from the target, When
we un-install the component features .
22. Can a component have sub-component?

No. We can't create sub-component.

23. How to suppress reboot of a MSI ?

From Administration tab we can suppress reboot.

24. What is Source list property?

Sem i colum n-decimated lis t of network or URL source paths to the applications installation package.
This lis t is appended to the end of each us ers existing source lis t for the applications .
per user installation: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Ins taller\Products\Source Lis t.

Per Machine Installation: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\Source List.

25. Can you Create merge modules?

Yes, We can create merge module through Wise package studio and Installed studio.

26. Where the merge modules stored on your computer?

C:\ Wise share point\Merge modules\

27. Difference between MSI and MSM?

MSI: Include multiple application allowing you to ins tall a suite of applications in a single step.
in this case , the installer should include merge modules for all components used any of the
included application
MSM: Snap Shot of a particular version of component .

28. What is .ini file and its format?

.ini file is a text file that contains configuration information.

ini ---> Ins tallation.
Syntax: [Section]
key name = value

29. What is launch condition?

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

Used to check system requirements on the des tination computer.

Launching Condition: Feature level <= install level

30. What is Environment variable? Where environment variables stored in MSI tables?

Environment variables are the variables that are set by the Operating System and application
∑ User Variables(Available for that particular user)

∑ System Variables (Available for all users)

Environm ent tables following columns environment name, environment value, environment
component.

31. What is Upgrade? Explain different type of upgrades?

Create Higher vers ion of the current (exis ting) version of a product
Types of upgrades:
Update(Small): Just we can add patches or Hot fix or Quick Fixes engineering. add
a few files possibly add some new content. But there is a limitation for the change that
can made to the feature component structure for the package. Only the package code has
been changed.

Minor Update: There is limitation for Changes, that change can be made to the
feature-component structure for the package. The package code and product version is
changed
It is also called as "service pack".

Major Update: There is no limitation for changes, That change can be made
feature-component structure for the package
The product code, product version and package code also changed.

32. What is structure of a MSI?

∑ Product (Collection of Features)

∑ features (Collections of Components)
,

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

∑ components (Collection of files and Registries)

Products:

Product is an application.

Single ins talled program (or program s), The product can identified by unique GUID. A product is not
sam e as package.

Features

Windows installer configuration command operates only on features(ins talling, uninstalling and
advertising), self healing, ins tall-on-demand and user profile fix-up operate at the feature level.

Components

Collection of resources that are always installed or rem oved as a unit from a user system like files
and folders and regis tries , Every Component as signed a unique com ponent GUID.

33. How to change Non-Advertised shortcut to Advertised shortcut?

Change the target filed in shortcut table from file path.

34. Where System Variables and User Variables are stored in the registries?

System Variables: HKLM\System\Current Control Set\Control\Session Manger\Environment

User Variables: HKCU\Environm ent

35. What are Services & its types?

Windows services are a background process which is loaded by the control manager of the OS.

Win32Services: Which is running by executable file ins talled by the application?

Kernel Services: Which are used by the OS to com municate to the hardware devices

36. What is ODBC and DSN and its type?

ODBC --> Open Data Base Connectivity.

Allow the user to access data from any application.

The layer between the application and DBMS is called as DSN.

o User DSN( Specified User).
o System DSN(For all Users).

37. What is property and Types of properties explain them?

,

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

Properties are global variables, Microsoft windows ins taller us es during an installation.

Public: Ins taller can be us e internally and externally (can be changed during Runtime als o)
Ex: INSTALL LEVEL

Private: Ins taller can be us e only internally(Can't change in runtime)

Ex: Product Code, Product Vers ion, Manufacture, Version, Name.

Restricted Public: Installer can't be us ed internally and externally for security purpos e.
Ex: ALL USERS, REMOVE, REBOOT, REINSTALL MODE....

38. How to give the permission to files and folders?

Through perm ission table or Secedit.exe or Subinacl.exe or through VB Script Using the CACLS,
XCACLS commands

Command: "cacls c:\My file.txt /E/G <username> : f"

/T --> Specifies files in the current directory and sub directory.

/E --> Edit ACL instead of replacing it.
/C --> Continue(Ignore) acces s denied errors
/G --> User: permissions for read , write full control
/R --> User: perm Revoke specified users acces s right(only availed with /E)
/P --> User: Perm Replace Specified user acces s rights permission can be NRCF(None Read,
Change, Full control)
/D --> User Denny Specified Us er access.

39. What are the types Setup Capture in wise package studio/ Install shield?

In wise we have three types of setup captures

Virtual capture: Creates clean virtual OS on your Com puter, and the installation is redirected in
the clean Virtual OS.
Smart Monitor: Watches the installation and records the changes the installations performs
Snap Shot : Scan the computer before and after the installations and records the difference
between the first scan and second scan.

In Install Shield there are two types

Installation Monitor: Repackages watches lower level system activities and records related
changes made to the system by the setups program s.
Snap Shot: Scan the computer before and after the installations and records the difference
between the first scan and second scan.

40. What is transform?

A transform is a windows installer file with extension(.MST). It should be used along with a MSI to
custom ize or Change the ins tallation package without modifying the MSI. The installer can only apply
,

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

transform s during installation

Syntax: msiexec /i "path of the MSI" transforms="Path of the MST" /Switches.

41. How many transforms we can create for a single MSI?

Any num ber of

42. What is wrapper MSI?

It means that the Application(MSI) is packaged by calling the exe(executable file ) inside the MSI

43. What is Patch?

Patch is Streaming process for updating earlier vers ions of a windows installer setup package i.e
when you update only files that already exist in your ins tallation package. Only the Package Code is
changed.

44. What is product code?

The Product Code us a GUID identifying a particular Application or Product.

45. What is Package Code?

The Package Code is a GUID identifying a particular Microsoft windows installer package. It
associates an .MSI file

46. What is app Search?

App search action is used to search for exis ting version of products(files, regis try, ini..)

47. What is use of MSI Assembly tables?

It is used for the registration of .Net Assembly files.

48. What is File Association?

The windows Operating System recognizes file types and as sociates them with programs bas ed on
their files extens ion. A file that carries no extension or no associated program is called Orphaned.

49. What is Shortcuts & types?

Shortcuts are the entry points to the application installed on the system which is normally points to a
file
∑ Advertised : File Should be installed by the application

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APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

∑ Non - Advertised : File that is not part of installation. It is called command line
shortcuts.

50. What is Custom action?

The Microsoft Windows Ins taller provides many built- in actions for performing the ins tallation
process. For som e cases the developer writes an action to execute his own installation is called
Custom Actions

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