Merge Modules

How does it work?

When a merge module is merged into the .msi file of an application, all the information and resources required to install the components delivered by the merge module are incorporated into the application's .msi file. The merge module is then no longer required to install these components and the merge module does not need to be accessible to a user. Because all the information needed to install the components is delivered as a single file, the use of merge modules can eliminate many instances of version conflicts, missing registry entries, and improperly installed files.

To add a merge module

1.       Select Installation Expert > Merge Modules page.

2. From Current Feature, select a feature or condition. (Because any item you add must be assigned to a specific feature, you cannot add an item when All Features is selected.)

Items that you add to a feature are installed on the destination computer only if the feature is installed. Items that you add to a condition are installed only if the feature is installed and the condition is true.

3. Click Add at the right of the Merge Modules page.

The Select Merge Module dialog box appears and lists available merge modules in the directories specified in Wise Options.

Click Download to add merge modules from the Wise Web site, other vendors' Web sites, or from the product CD. If you download the merge modules to a directory that is specified in Wise Options, they are added to the list of available merge modules.

4. If the merge module you want is not in the list, do one of the following:

To add directories to search for merge modules, click Directories and the Merge Modules tab from Wise Options appears. Click Add to add the directory that contains the merge module. The merge modules in this directory are added to the list of available merge modules

5. Select one or more merge modules from the list by marking the corresponding check boxes.

6. Click Next.

The Merge Module File Directory dialog box appears.

7. To change the destination for a merge module, select one or more merge modules and click Change.

The Select Merge Module Destination Directory dialog box appears.

8. Select a directory and click ok.

Select the destination directory for files in the merge module that are not installed to a predefined directory. If there are no files in the merge module's Application directory and you want to leave this blank, select <none>.

9. If the installation contains only one feature and the merge module is not configurable, the Merge Module File Directory dialog box contains a Finish button. Click Finish to complete this process.