LabVIEW Merge Modules for Installshield

[JRC_Tinker]

I'm trying to create a robust installer using Installshield and was hoping to use merge modules to create a seamless installation. I have seen several references to the location of merge modules for previous versions of LabVIEW but the only merge module I can find for LabVIEW 8.2.1 is the 'niMetaUtils.msm' file. Are these installation packages no longer provided or am I missing something?

Thanks,
~jc

LabVIEW 8.2.1
Installshield 12

[Karunya_R]

Hi JC,

You can use creater an installer from LabVIEW and that is the recommended way to create installers.

Are you getting a message saying that the merge modules are missing when you run the installer?

[JRC_Tinker]

Thanks for your reply Karunya.

While the LabVIEW Application Builder has been effective for building my initial installers, it offers very limited installer actions. I'm trying to create a single installer that can be used to install different packages at different locations. This requires a number of special features to be added to the installer including custom dialog boxes and changing of configuration files and registry settings depending on user selections. Using the merge modules would allow me to create a single installation package that customizes the application to the user.

In regard to the question about missing merge modules...are you talking about the installer for the LabVIEW Application? And if so, are the merge modules supposed to be present on my hard drive? Or are you talking about an installer built with the application builder for my project?

Thanks again,

~jc 

[Karunya_R]

Hi Jc,

I meant InstallSheild when I said installer. Are you getting an error message with that?

[JRC_Tinker]

Sorry for the delay Karunya...I've been out for a week since having my tonsils removed.  =(

As for the Installshield error, if I build an Installshield MSI installer and placed only the executable and associated files into the install project then it will install those items to the desired location with no errors. However, if you tried to run the program after that you would be missing the LabVIEW Run-time Environment (and several other add-ons in my case).

Since Installshield doesn't know where to look for the merge modules, they aren't listed as redistributables. I would need to navigate to a .msm file (MergeModule) before Installshield would even know that they exist and should be added to the project. So no errors appear at this time since they aren't actually added to the project.

Appreciate the help,

~jc 

[Karunya_R]

Hi JC,

I hope your tonsils are feeling better now. It sounds semi-painful to get them removed. I looked for the location of the .msm file in any version after 7.1 and I was unable to locate it. The only mergemodule available is the niMetaUtils.msm at this location: C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\MDF\Bin

Is that what you are looking for? Are you looking for the individual .msm files themselves?

[JRC_Tinker]

Thanks again Karunya and sorry for all my delays, but I am feeling much better now. I was able to locate the niMetaUtils.msm merge module, but I'm not really sure what is included with that installation. And yes, I was hoping that I could find an .msm file for each of the add-ons required for my application (NI Datasocket, NI Variable Engine, NI VISA, etc.) This would make installation as clean and neat as possible. I was able to find what appeared to be .msi files for each of the add-ons, but this would require me to create an installer using chained MSIs...and that would necessitate a later version of the Windows Installer. So in a sense I have a possibility for a work around, but I'm still hoping for the cleaner merge module installer using individual .msm files.

~jc 

[Karunya_R]

Hi JC,

I am glad to hear that you are feeling better!

I am going to do a little research and see what I can find about about niMetaUtlis.msm. I will get back to you as soon as I have something. 

Thanks!

[Karunya_R]

Update:

Unfortunately, NI has stopped created .msm files to create installers with separate add-ons. I am sorry!

[JRC_Tinker]

Thanks Karunya. At least I know what I need to do now.

~jc