Wix Bootstrapper without License UI

Question

I need some help to create a WiX Bootstrapper without the license UI. I have a WiX MSI setup which has all screens like: Welcome, License, Destination Folder and Progress UI.

This MSI should run through Bootstrap.exe using WiX Bundle. When I run this, I can see two license screens - one is Bootstrapper and another is my MSI screen. So how can I eliminate / hide bootstrapper license UI.

Is there a way to run install directly without clicking install button in Bootstrapper UI?

Possible duplicate of How to create a bootstrapper application without a license agreement step — Tom Blodget

Stein Åsmul Stein Åsmul · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-08T18:13:21

UPDATE: Simpler approach then Custom Bootstrapper Application (described below).

Blank Hyperlink URL: It seems there is a simple workaround whilst still using the Standard Bootstrapper Application. You can specify a blank URL for the license:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi"
     xmlns:bal="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/BalExtension">

  <Bundle Name="MyTestApp" Version="1.0.0.0"
          Manufacturer="Someone" UpgradeCode="PUT-GUID-HERE">

    <BootstrapperApplicationRef Id="WixStandardBootstrapperApplication.HyperlinkLicense">
      <bal:WixStandardBootstrapperApplication LicenseUrl="" /> <!--Blank URL-->
    </BootstrapperApplicationRef>

    <Chain>
      <MsiPackage SourceFile="Installer.msi" DisplayInternalUI="yes" />
    </Chain>

  </Bundle>

</Wix>

Direct Install: I do not know of a way to invoke the install directly without clicking the install button, short of running the whole bundle silently without a GUI at all.

Prerequisites?: Do you need the bootstrapper to install prerequisites, or do you just want to wrap your MSI in a setup.exe? You can create setup.exe files using some other tools as well (Zip tools, VS Installer Projects, etc...).

Rationale: I am not aware of a way to hide the bootstrapper license dialog when you use the standard bootstrapper application. I believe the idea is that all MSI's are supposed to run in silent mode kicked off by the bootstrapper, and hence the license dialogs of each setup is hidden.

Custom Bootstrapper Application: I haven't really tried this, but you can create your own bootstrapper application - the application that runs the setup.exe GUI - and then you can hide the license dialog. The only sample I can think of right now is Rainer Stropek's sample here. Not much to go on, but the best I got at the moment. This is a simple sample with very basic GUI.

Wix Bootstrapper without License UI

1 Answers