How Can I Reliably Register a COM DLL in an MSI Installer Using WiX?

Registering a COM DLL in MSI Using Wix Msi Installer

Why Batch Files and Custom Actions Should be Avoided

Batch file and custom action methods for COM registration are unreliable. To ensure successful registration, it's essential to use the heat.exe tool from the WiX toolkit. This tool extracts COM registration information for inclusion in the MSI database during compilation.

Extracting COM Registration Information Using heat.exe

Run heat.exe on the COM file (for example, "heat.exe file Abc.dll -o Abc.wxs") to generate the corresponding WiX XML with the required registry data. Incorporate this XML into your main WiX source using a reference or embedding technique.

Ensuring Dependency Resolution

Missing dependencies can prevent COM registration. Use Dependency Walker or Dependencies.exe to identify missing DLLs. Place these DLLs alongside the COM file or ensure they are accessible in the installation path.

Considerations for 64-bit Binaries

Currently, heat.exe has limitations in handling 64-bit COM binaries. The WiX Expansion Pack offers support for 64-bit components if necessary. Alternatively, you may consider self-registration as a temporary solution, but it's not recommended as it can introduce challenges during installation.

Additional Tips

• Always run COM registration from an elevated command prompt.
• Heat.exe does not extract any custom .NET assemblies (such as RegAsm.exe generates) for COM registration.
• The SourceDir path generated by heat.exe may contain placeholder paths. Adjust them as needed to accurately reflect the installation directory.

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