Working with Transforms

AdminStudio 2023 | 25.0 | Tuner

The Microsoft-designated term transform refers to a specific file type used to customize a Windows Installer-based installation. A transform contains all modification information, such as whether features are installed, how they are installed, which files, shortcuts, and registry entries are included, and Windows 2000 and XP Add/Remove Programs information. Transform files use an .mst extension.

For example, you may need to customize an installation for different departments in your company. Typical business productivity suites come with a spreadsheet program, a word processor, and a presentation tool. Your accounting department may only need the spreadsheet and the presentation programs. On the other hand, the writing department may need only the word processor and the spreadsheet. A third department may need the entire suite of applications. Instead of manually setting up every person in the company, you can take the original setup of the entire suite, and create a customization project in the form of a transform to meet the needs of each department. A transform would need to be created for every configuration that you plan to use.

Once you have created a transform, you can apply it at runtime, depending on whose machine the application is being installed on. For example, in the accounting department, the transform limits the installation to include only the spreadsheet and presentation programs.

In some cases, it may be necessary to have multiple transform files for an installation. For example, a vendor may use a transform file for language-specific information. When you want to customize that MSI file, you need to include the preexisting transform so your modifications affect the entire existing package.