APPLICATION PACKAGING Interview Questions and Answers

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1 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 1 of Features of the application packaging? Installation and management of assemblies Configure Merge Modules Isolation of program information Enhancement of operating system features Application compatibility infrastructure Digital signature support supports for Transforms and Patches from URL resources Improved terminal server support enhanced logging 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 Database that contains several tables (80+) each of this table contains instructions and set-up information Self Healing Roll Back Install on Demand Advertisement Source resiliency 3. What is component? Collection of resources that are always installed or removed as a unit from a user system like files and folders and registries 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 Resource in the component which is used to identify whether the component is installed or not 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

2 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 2 of What are the Component attributes ? 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 used as a key-path into the registry table. 8 => 0X0008 msidbcomponent Attributes SharedDLL Count Installer increments the shared dll count in the shared dll registry. 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 column a key into the ODBC data source. 64 => 0X0040 msidbcomponent Attributes Transitive Re evaluates the value of the statement. 128 => 0X0080 msidbcomponent Attributes Never Overwrite Installer does not install or reinstall the component if key-path file or key-path registry entry of the component already exists. 256 =>0X0100 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

3 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 3 of 10 MsidbComponent Attributes includes both 32-bit&64-bit If the bit is not set the component is registered 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 accessed 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? 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

4 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 4 of 10 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 installed We see 3-4 MSIEXEC running in task manager they are MSI server Client and Services and the 4th one will be seen when a custom action is getting installed 12. What are the Red Components? Why it is appear? Red Components is an error component When components is not satisfied the component rules then we got red component. 13. How to resolve the Red components? when component satisfies the component rules then only we resolve red components. 14. What is per user installation? It gives permission per single user only property is ALLUSERS= What is Per machine installation? It gives permission per all users property is ALLUSERS= 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 resources registry entries used setup logic to application as a single compound file. Extension of merge modules is.msm. 18. What are the Merge module tables? Module Signature Module Component Module Dependency Module Exclusion Module Sequence Module Ignore Module Sub Situation Module Configuration. Admin UI 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? 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

5 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 5 of 10 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? Semi column-decimated list of network or URL source paths to the applications installation package. This list is appended to the end of each users existing source list for the applications. per user installation: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\Source List. 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 install 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 ---> Installation. Syntax: [Section] key name = value 29. What is launch condition? 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

6 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 6 of 10 Used to check system requirements on the destination 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) Environment tables following columns environment name environment value environment component. 31. What is Upgrade? Explain different type of upgrades? Create Higher version of the current (existing) 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) 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

7 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 7 of 10 components (Collection of files and Registries) Products: Product is an application. Features Single installed program (or programs) The product can identified by unique GUID. A product is not same as package. Windows installer configuration command operates only on features(installing uninstalling and advertising) self healing install-on-demand and user profile fix-up operate at the feature level. Components Collection of resources that are always installed or removed as a unit from a user system like files and folders and registries Every Component assigned a unique component 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\Environment 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 installed by the application? Kernel Services: Which are used by the OS to communicate 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? 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

8 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 8 of 10 Properties are global variables Microsoft windows installer uses during an installation. Public: Installer can be use internally and externally (can be changed during Runtime also) Ex: INSTALL LEVEL Private: Installer can be use only internally(can't change in runtime) Ex: Product Code Product Version Manufacture Version Name. Restricted Public: Installer can't be used internally and externally for security purpose. Ex: ALL USERS REMOVE REBOOT REINSTALL MODE How to give the permission to files and folders? Through permission 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) access denied errors /G --> User: permissions for read write full control /R --> User: perm Revoke specified users access right(only availed with /E) /P --> User: Perm Replace Specified user access rights permission can be NRCF(None Read Change Full control) /D --> User Denny Specified User 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 Computer 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 programs. 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 customize or Change the installation package without modifying the MSI. The installer can only apply 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

9 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 9 of 10 transforms 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 number 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 versions of a windows installer setup package i.e when you update only files that already exist in your installation 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 existing version of products(files registry 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 associates them with programs based on their files extension. 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 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit

10 Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out Page 10 of 10 Non - Advertised : File that is not part of installation. It is called command line shortcuts. 50. What is Custom action? The Microsoft Windows Installer provides many built- in actions for performing the installation process. For some cases the developer writes an action to execute his own installation is called Custom Actions 4th MainTulasi Theater RoadMarthalliBangalore visit