35.1. "msilib" — Read and write Microsoft Installer files
*********************************************************

New in version 2.5.

The "msilib" supports the creation of Microsoft Installer (".msi")
files. Because these files often contain an embedded “cabinet” file
(".cab"), it also exposes an API to create CAB files. Support for
reading ".cab" files is currently not implemented; read support for
the ".msi" database is possible.

This package aims to provide complete access to all tables in an
".msi" file, therefore, it is a fairly low-level API. Two primary
applications of this package are the "distutils" command "bdist_msi",
and the creation of Python installer package itself (although that
currently uses a different version of "msilib").

The package contents can be roughly split into four parts: low-level
CAB routines, low-level MSI routines, higher-level MSI routines, and
standard table structures.

msilib.FCICreate(cabname, files)

   Create a new CAB file named *cabname*. *files* must be a list of
   tuples, each containing the name of the file on disk, and the name
   of the file inside the CAB file.

   The files are added to the CAB file in the order they appear in the
   list. All files are added into a single CAB file, using the MSZIP
   compression algorithm.

   Callbacks to Python for the various steps of MSI creation are
   currently not exposed.

msilib.UuidCreate()

   Return the string representation of a new unique identifier. This
   wraps the Windows API functions "UuidCreate()" and
   "UuidToString()".

msilib.OpenDatabase(path, persist)

   Return a new database object by calling MsiOpenDatabase.   *path*
   is the file name of the MSI file; *persist* can be one of the
   constants "MSIDBOPEN_CREATEDIRECT", "MSIDBOPEN_CREATE",
   "MSIDBOPEN_DIRECT", "MSIDBOPEN_READONLY", or "MSIDBOPEN_TRANSACT",
   and may include the flag "MSIDBOPEN_PATCHFILE". See the Microsoft
   documentation for the meaning of these flags; depending on the
   flags, an existing database is opened, or a new one created.

msilib.CreateRecord(count)

   Return a new record object by calling "MSICreateRecord()". *count*
   is the number of fields of the record.

msilib.init_database(name, schema, ProductName, ProductCode, ProductVersion, Manufacturer)

   Create and return a new database *name*, initialize it with
   *schema*, and set the properties *ProductName*, *ProductCode*,
   *ProductVersion*, and *Manufacturer*.

   *schema* must be a module object containing "tables" and
   "_Validation_records" attributes; typically, "msilib.schema" should
   be used.

   The database will contain just the schema and the validation
   records when this function returns.

msilib.add_data(database, table, records)

   Add all *records* to the table named *table* in *database*.

   The *table* argument must be one of the predefined tables in the
   MSI schema, e.g. "'Feature'", "'File'", "'Component'", "'Dialog'",
   "'Control'", etc.

   *records* should be a list of tuples, each one containing all
   fields of a record according to the schema of the table.  For
   optional fields, "None" can be passed.

   Field values can be int or long numbers, strings, or instances of
   the Binary class.

class msilib.Binary(filename)

   Represents entries in the Binary table; inserting such an object
   using "add_data()" reads the file named *filename* into the table.

msilib.add_tables(database, module)

   Add all table content from *module* to *database*. *module* must
   contain an attribute *tables* listing all tables for which content
   should be added, and one attribute per table that has the actual
   content.

   This is typically used to install the sequence tables.

msilib.add_stream(database, name, path)

   Add the file *path* into the "_Stream" table of *database*, with
   the stream name *name*.

msilib.gen_uuid()

   Return a new UUID, in the format that MSI typically requires (i.e.
   in curly braces, and with all hexdigits in upper-case).

See also: FCICreateFile UuidCreate UuidToString


35.1.1. Database Objects
========================

Database.OpenView(sql)

   Return a view object, by calling "MSIDatabaseOpenView()". *sql* is
   the SQL statement to execute.

Database.Commit()

   Commit the changes pending in the current transaction, by calling
   "MSIDatabaseCommit()".

Database.GetSummaryInformation(count)

   Return a new summary information object, by calling
   "MsiGetSummaryInformation()".  *count* is the maximum number of
   updated values.

See also:

  MSIDatabaseOpenView MSIDatabaseCommit MSIGetSummaryInformation


35.1.2. View Objects
====================

View.Execute(params)

   Execute the SQL query of the view, through "MSIViewExecute()". If
   *params* is not "None", it is a record describing actual values of
   the parameter tokens in the query.

View.GetColumnInfo(kind)

   Return a record describing the columns of the view, through calling
   "MsiViewGetColumnInfo()". *kind* can be either "MSICOLINFO_NAMES"
   or "MSICOLINFO_TYPES".

View.Fetch()

   Return a result record of the query, through calling
   "MsiViewFetch()".

View.Modify(kind, data)

   Modify the view, by calling "MsiViewModify()". *kind* can be one of
   "MSIMODIFY_SEEK", "MSIMODIFY_REFRESH", "MSIMODIFY_INSERT",
   "MSIMODIFY_UPDATE", "MSIMODIFY_ASSIGN", "MSIMODIFY_REPLACE",
   "MSIMODIFY_MERGE", "MSIMODIFY_DELETE",
   "MSIMODIFY_INSERT_TEMPORARY", "MSIMODIFY_VALIDATE",
   "MSIMODIFY_VALIDATE_NEW", "MSIMODIFY_VALIDATE_FIELD", or
   "MSIMODIFY_VALIDATE_DELETE".

   *data* must be a record describing the new data.

View.Close()

   Close the view, through "MsiViewClose()".

See also:

  MsiViewExecute MSIViewGetColumnInfo MsiViewFetch MsiViewModify
  MsiViewClose


35.1.3. Summary Information Objects
===================================

SummaryInformation.GetProperty(field)

   Return a property of the summary, through
   "MsiSummaryInfoGetProperty()". *field* is the name of the property,
   and can be one of the constants "PID_CODEPAGE", "PID_TITLE",
   "PID_SUBJECT", "PID_AUTHOR", "PID_KEYWORDS", "PID_COMMENTS",
   "PID_TEMPLATE", "PID_LASTAUTHOR", "PID_REVNUMBER",
   "PID_LASTPRINTED", "PID_CREATE_DTM", "PID_LASTSAVE_DTM",
   "PID_PAGECOUNT", "PID_WORDCOUNT", "PID_CHARCOUNT", "PID_APPNAME",
   or "PID_SECURITY".

SummaryInformation.GetPropertyCount()

   Return the number of summary properties, through
   "MsiSummaryInfoGetPropertyCount()".

SummaryInformation.SetProperty(field, value)

   Set a property through "MsiSummaryInfoSetProperty()". *field* can
   have the same values as in "GetProperty()", *value* is the new
   value of the property. Possible value types are integer and string.

SummaryInformation.Persist()

   Write the modified properties to the summary information stream,
   using "MsiSummaryInfoPersist()".

See also:

  MsiSummaryInfoGetProperty MsiSummaryInfoGetPropertyCount
  MsiSummaryInfoSetProperty MsiSummaryInfoPersist


35.1.4. Record Objects
======================

Record.GetFieldCount()

   Return the number of fields of the record, through
   "MsiRecordGetFieldCount()".

Record.GetInteger(field)

   Return the value of *field* as an integer where possible.  *field*
   must be an integer.

Record.GetString(field)

   Return the value of *field* as a string where possible.  *field*
   must be an integer.

Record.SetString(field, value)

   Set *field* to *value* through "MsiRecordSetString()". *field* must
   be an integer; *value* a string.

Record.SetStream(field, value)

   Set *field* to the contents of the file named *value*, through
   "MsiRecordSetStream()". *field* must be an integer; *value* a
   string.

Record.SetInteger(field, value)

   Set *field* to *value* through "MsiRecordSetInteger()". Both
   *field* and *value* must be an integer.

Record.ClearData()

   Set all fields of the record to 0, through "MsiRecordClearData()".

See also:

  MsiRecordGetFieldCount MsiRecordSetString MsiRecordSetStream
  MsiRecordSetInteger MsiRecordClear


35.1.5. Errors
==============

All wrappers around MSI functions raise "MSIError"; the string inside
the exception will contain more detail.


35.1.6. CAB Objects
===================

class msilib.CAB(name)

   The class "CAB" represents a CAB file. During MSI construction,
   files will be added simultaneously to the "Files" table, and to a
   CAB file. Then, when all files have been added, the CAB file can be
   written, then added to the MSI file.

   *name* is the name of the CAB file in the MSI file.

   append(full, file, logical)

      Add the file with the pathname *full* to the CAB file, under the
      name *logical*.  If there is already a file named *logical*, a
      new file name is created.

      Return the index of the file in the CAB file, and the new name
      of the file inside the CAB file.

   commit(database)

      Generate a CAB file, add it as a stream to the MSI file, put it
      into the "Media" table, and remove the generated file from the
      disk.


35.1.7. Directory Objects
=========================

class msilib.Directory(database, cab, basedir, physical, logical, default[, componentflags])

   Create a new directory in the Directory table. There is a current
   component at each point in time for the directory, which is either
   explicitly created through "start_component()", or implicitly when
   files are added for the first time. Files are added into the
   current component, and into the cab file.  To create a directory, a
   base directory object needs to be specified (can be "None"), the
   path to the physical directory, and a logical directory name.
   *default* specifies the DefaultDir slot in the directory table.
   *componentflags* specifies the default flags that new components
   get.

   start_component([component[, feature[, flags[, keyfile[, uuid]]]]])

      Add an entry to the Component table, and make this component the
      current component for this directory. If no component name is
      given, the directory name is used. If no *feature* is given, the
      current feature is used. If no *flags* are given, the
      directory’s default flags are used. If no *keyfile* is given,
      the KeyPath is left null in the Component table.

   add_file(file[, src[, version[, language]]])

      Add a file to the current component of the directory, starting a
      new one if there is no current component. By default, the file
      name in the source and the file table will be identical. If the
      *src* file is specified, it is interpreted relative to the
      current directory. Optionally, a *version* and a *language* can
      be specified for the entry in the File table.

   glob(pattern[, exclude])

      Add a list of files to the current component as specified in the
      glob pattern.  Individual files can be excluded in the *exclude*
      list.

   remove_pyc()

      Remove ".pyc"/".pyo" files on uninstall.

See also:

  Directory Table File Table Component Table FeatureComponents Table


35.1.8. Features
================

class msilib.Feature(database, id, title, desc, display[, level=1[, parent[, directory[, attributes=0]]]])

   Add a new record to the "Feature" table, using the values *id*,
   *parent.id*, *title*, *desc*, *display*, *level*, *directory*, and
   *attributes*. The resulting feature object can be passed to the
   "start_component()" method of "Directory".

   set_current()

      Make this feature the current feature of "msilib". New
      components are automatically added to the default feature,
      unless a feature is explicitly specified.

See also: Feature Table


35.1.9. GUI classes
===================

"msilib" provides several classes that wrap the GUI tables in an MSI
database. However, no standard user interface is provided; use
"bdist_msi" to create MSI files with a user-interface for installing
Python packages.

class msilib.Control(dlg, name)

   Base class of the dialog controls. *dlg* is the dialog object the
   control belongs to, and *name* is the control’s name.

   event(event, argument[, condition=1[, ordering]])

      Make an entry into the "ControlEvent" table for this control.

   mapping(event, attribute)

      Make an entry into the "EventMapping" table for this control.

   condition(action, condition)

      Make an entry into the "ControlCondition" table for this
      control.

class msilib.RadioButtonGroup(dlg, name, property)

   Create a radio button control named *name*. *property* is the
   installer property that gets set when a radio button is selected.

   add(name, x, y, width, height, text[, value])

      Add a radio button named *name* to the group, at the coordinates
      *x*, *y*, *width*, *height*, and with the label *text*. If
      *value* is omitted, it defaults to *name*.

class msilib.Dialog(db, name, x, y, w, h, attr, title, first, default, cancel)

   Return a new "Dialog" object. An entry in the "Dialog" table is
   made, with the specified coordinates, dialog attributes, title,
   name of the first, default, and cancel controls.

   control(name, type, x, y, width, height, attributes, property, text, control_next, help)

      Return a new "Control" object. An entry in the "Control" table
      is made with the specified parameters.

      This is a generic method; for specific types, specialized
      methods are provided.

   text(name, x, y, width, height, attributes, text)

      Add and return a "Text" control.

   bitmap(name, x, y, width, height, text)

      Add and return a "Bitmap" control.

   line(name, x, y, width, height)

      Add and return a "Line" control.

   pushbutton(name, x, y, width, height, attributes, text, next_control)

      Add and return a "PushButton" control.

   radiogroup(name, x, y, width, height, attributes, property, text, next_control)

      Add and return a "RadioButtonGroup" control.

   checkbox(name, x, y, width, height, attributes, property, text, next_control)

      Add and return a "CheckBox" control.

See also:

  Dialog Table Control Table Control Types ControlCondition Table
  ControlEvent Table EventMapping Table RadioButton Table


35.1.10. Precomputed tables
===========================

"msilib" provides a few subpackages that contain only schema and table
definitions. Currently, these definitions are based on MSI version
2.0.

msilib.schema

   This is the standard MSI schema for MSI 2.0, with the *tables*
   variable providing a list of table definitions, and
   *_Validation_records* providing the data for MSI validation.

msilib.sequence

   This module contains table contents for the standard sequence
   tables: *AdminExecuteSequence*, *AdminUISequence*,
   *AdvtExecuteSequence*, *InstallExecuteSequence*, and
   *InstallUISequence*.

msilib.text

   This module contains definitions for the UIText and ActionText
   tables, for the standard installer actions.
