What is the Structure of msi

Question

Accepted Answer

The structure of an MSI (Microsoft Installer) file consists of a relational database, containing tables, rows, and columns.

An MSI file is composed of a header, summary information, and a database.
The header contains information about the file, such as the version and platform.
The summary information includes details like the product name, manufacturer, and installation instructions.
The database is the core of the MSI file, containing tables that store information about components, features, files, registry entries, and more.
Each table consists of rows and columns, where rows represent individual records and columns define the attributes or properties of those records.
The tables are interconnected through relationships, allowing for efficient retrieval and manipulation of data during installation or uninstallation.
For example, the Component table links components to files, while the Feature table defines the features to be installed.
The structure also includes streams, which store the actual binary data of files and resources.
Transforms can be applied to modify the structure and behavior of an MSI file without altering the original package.
Custom actions can be included to perform additional tasks during installation or uninstallation.

Accepted Answer

Products (collection of features)
Features (collection of components)
Components( collection of files and registries)

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