Easily Create MSI Packages and Convert EXE to MSI

Application management often is the most routine and time-consuming task for system administrators. Going to every PC in the building and following the same installation sequence time and again is time consuming and expensive. Nevertheless, it's important to keep applications updated and under a centralized control, otherwise they quickly become unmanageable. It doesn't matter how many PCs you have - 10 or 10,000; the only chance to manage installations effectively is to rely on an automated systems.  

Building MSI Packages: Effortless Approach

How can  MSI Package Builder help you? Let's identify week points of remote deployment first. One of the widely used means of remote installation is the domain's Group Policy. It's pretty powerful, but if you consider using it, you have to be aware of its requirements:

• Group Policy only enables deployment of those applications that are ready for silent unattended installation. The automatic process nature leaves no place for options selection and interaction with the user, hence the setup file design should account for this.  
• A Windows Installer package (MSI file) is needed for installation through Group Policy. Deployment of EXE files is not supported directly, so you need to repackage EXE to MSI.

Obviously, there are many installations that do not meet these requirements. Is it possible to deploy them remotely? Certainly! This is a task for  MSI Package Builder to produce new or convert existing installations into a format suitable for silent unattended installation.

Innovative Technology: Automatic Installation Repackaging

How can you create an MSI or customize an existing installation? With MSI Package Builder you can follow a traditional way and enter the set of files and registry keys for installation manually in the visual editor. Or you can save a lot of effort by trying the automatic build approach benefiting from the 'Live Monitoring' technology. In this case, the process is very easy and consists of just a few steps:

• Start monitoring by pressing the button in the application. This action activates collecting information about changes on the file system and registry.
• Start the activity to be monitored. It can be an original setup file, which you need to execute to then follow the installation process as usual by selecting options and entering data. Or it can be a set of actions required for a new installation, for example, files copying. All changes undertaken on the file system and the registry are automatically tracked.
• Stop monitoring by pressing the button when the monitored activity has finished. All monitored actions are displayed in the visual editor and can be changed if required.
• Build MSI automatically using the monitoring results.

This approach significantly simplifies producing of customized MSI packages for any existing installation. You just need to monitor the installation process where you can select required options. The generated package performs exactly the same actions as those taken during the manual deployment and is ready for a remote deployment. 

Key Features

Why  MSI Package Builder?

 MSI Package Builder helps you create MSI packages, thus it can be used every time you need to create an installation. You can rely on it even when other deployment tools fail, namely:

• When you need to create a setup file but don't know how to do it. Don't worry - you don't need to undergo any special training. Using the intuitive visual interface, you will be able to create your first installation within a couple of minutes.
• When you want to make a mass application deployment on remote computers. You just need to monitor the manual installation process using the 'Live Monitoring' technology, and MSI can be automatically created from the monitoring results. The generated package can be installed remotely by means of Group Policy or  Remote Installer.
• When you have to convert EXE to MSI. This can be done automatically using the 'Live Monitoring' technology. Moreover, you can select different options in the course of the original installation process, and your selection will be reflected in the produced MSI.
• When you need to uninstall an unwanted application from remote computers. For this, monitor the application deinstallation and create MSI from the monitoring results. This package can be executed on remote computers by means of Group Policy or  Remote Installer to uninstall an application.

Select Edition

  MSI Package Builder is available as Starter, Professional and Enterprise editions with different features and at different prices. Below you can see a high-level feature comparison of these editions. Pricing options are presented on the Buy It Now page.