How do I embed a File Version in an MSI file with Visual Studio?

StackOverflow https://stackoverflow.com/questions/151250

Question

I have a setup project for my C# program, and this setup project has a Version in its properties. I'd like for the MSI file that is generated to have this Version embedded in it, so I can mouse over it in explorer and see what version the file is.

I'm using VS2008. How can I do this?

Was it helpful?

Solution

If you simply add the "Version: 1.5.0" text into the Description property of the Setup Project, the version number also shows on the MSI file like so:

http://screencast.com/t/A499i6jS

OTHER TIPS

That's a good question but I don't know any setup tool that could do that. Moreover I never encountered an MSI file with file version resource embedded in it, so it's not a common practice. Usually if I want to find out version of an MSI file I have to open it in Orca and check ProductVersion property there (in Property table).

As far as I know MSI file will never show version. Simple reason is that MSI files are not PE files, they are sort-of database. Msiexec.exe then interprets this database to do the actual installation. The version property you mention is used by MSI engine internally for upgrades, uninstalls etc and is never displayed.

Open up the associated .vdproj file in a text editor. Look for the "Product" section, then modify the "ProductVersion", and the "Manufacturer" fields.

 "Product"
    {
    "Name" = "8:Microsoft Visual Studio"
    "ProductName" = "8:tidAxCleanupScript"
    "ProductCode" = "8:{0949AAAD-2C29-415E-851C-825C74C9CA81}"
    "PackageCode" = "8:{8F012EF1-D5D0-43DC-BBFD-761A639DDB07}"
    "UpgradeCode" = "8:{38DE1949-0782-4EF3-BDC2-080EB5B73EF8}"
    "RestartWWWService" = "11:FALSE"
    "RemovePreviousVersions" = "11:TRUE"
    "DetectNewerInstalledVersion" = "11:TRUE"
    "InstallAllUsers" = "11:FALSE"
    "ProductVersion" = "8:**1.5.0**"
    "Manufacturer" = "8:**Default Company Name**"
    "ARPHELPTELEPHONE" = "8:"

I might be wrong, but doesn't the msi version follow the version in the AssemblyInfo file of your startup project?

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