Comprehensive list of command line flags/options for Burn/bootstrapper in WiX

Question

I can't seem to find a comprehensive list of commands, flags, and things I can do from the command line.

Sugar

As a person in the top 10% of answerers for the WiX tag, I agree that this is not something easily found via google search unless you are already familiar with WiX/MSI terminology. – Fletafletch

Answer 1

WiX installers will take the standard Windows Installer commandline switches, as documented in Command-Line Options.

Any additional parameters that are added to the commandline will be passed on to your installer if you're using a custom Burn installer.

This was confirmed by the primary WiX maintainer on the WiX mailing list: http://windows-installer-xml-wix-toolset.687559.n2.nabble.com/Running-Burn-driven-installer-in-quiet-mode-command-line-parameters-tp5913001p5913628.html

1. Yes, absolutely. Burn supports parsing the "standard package switches" and will pass extra switches on the Bootstrapper Application so it can apply additional behavior.

2. The complete list is dependent on the Bootstrapper Application you pick. The wixstdba supports only the "standard package switches":

 -q, -quiet, -s, -silent = silent install
 -passive = progress bar only install
 -norestart = suppress any restarts
 -forcerestart = restart no matter what (I don't know why this is still  around)
 -promptrestart = prompt if a restart is required (default)
 -layout = create a local image of the bootstrapper (i.e. download files so  they can be burned to DVD)
 -l, -log = log to a specific file (default is controled by bundle developer)
 -uninstall = uninstall
 -repair = repair (or install if not installed)
 -package,-update = install (default if no -uninstall or -repair)

3. Yes, as noted above extra command-line parameters are passed to the > BootstrapperApplication and it can set Variables to flow into Chained Packages (ExePackage XxxCommand attributes or MsiPackage/MsiProperty element).

You may want to also be familiar with the standard installer command line parameters: Microsoft Standard Installer Command-Line Options

Fletafletch

@bob, if this answered your question, please don't forget to mark it as the answer. If it didn't, let me know what's missing. – Fletafletch

Sorry I didn't get back to you -- yes, this is exactly what I needed! – Sugar

How to display a custom message for the user action, based on these command-line parameters - for a pending restart? Can It be done in the middle of the installation? Or will it be only accounted for at the end of installation (using custom BA)? – Harberd

@Harberd that's not something done with commandline parameters. If you want customized behavior, that would need to be added as part of building the installer, – Fletafletch

@JohnM.Wright : I have some idea doing that...was reading your blog too. I know this isn't the appropriate way of asking, but if possible, please redirect me to any link/guide to achieve this... – Harberd

The second link is broken - "Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site. We can’t connect to the server at windows-installer-xml-wix-toolset.687559.n2.nabble.com." – Symbolics