How Can I Register COM DLLs in MSI Installers Without Using Custom Actions or Batch Files?

Registering COM DLLs Without Custom Actions or Batch Files

Introduction

COM DLLs should not be self-registered during installation due to reliability issues. Instead, COM registration information should be extracted and compiled into the MSI database. This process is facilitated by WiX's heat.exe tool.

Heat.exe Usage

To extract COM registry data from your DLL, run heat.exe with the following command:

heat.exe file YourFileName.ocx -o YourFileName.wxs

This will generate a WiX source file containing the necessary registry data.

Incorporating Heat.exe Output into WiX

The registry data extracted by heat.exe can be included in your main WiX source file. You can find instructions on how to do this in the article linked below:

• [How to Reference a Heat Output(wxs) in Wix (Command Line)](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1685282/how-to-reference-a-heat-outputwxs-in-wix-command-line)

Missing Dependencies

Missing dependencies can prevent COM registration from succeeding. Use Dependency Walker or the newer Dependencies tool to identify any missing dependencies. Ensure that these dependencies are available during installation, either locally or in the path.

64-bit Binaries (Optional)

Heat.exe currently does not correctly process 64-bit COM binaries. If you are working with a 64-bit component, you may need to use the WiX Expansion Pack (not free) or attempt self-registration as described here.

Summary

COM registration should be done through WiX rather than custom actions or batch files. By using heat.exe to extract COM registry data and incorporating it into your WiX source, you can ensure reliable and efficient COM registration during installation.

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