Creating an Installer Project for a Localized Installer Package (.msi) File or Merge Module (.msm File)

See Also

You can create localized installer package (.msi) files or merge modules (.msm files) for localized operating systems. When you create an installer project on an operating system or in a Microsoft development environment based on a language other than English, Microsoft^® Visual Studio^® Installer will prompt you to select localization options for the installer or merge module.

Specifically, if you are working in Visual Studio Installer on a non-English language operating system, you can create either:

• A language-neutral (that is, English-language) installer.

  –or–

• An installer that installs localized resources but displays English language installation dialogs.

If you are working in a localized version of Visual Studio Installer, you also have the option to create a localized installer that presents localized installation dialogs.

To create an installer project for an international installer or merge module

Creating an installer project for a localized project is similar to creating any other installer project, with the additional critical final step of selecting a code page.

1. Click the File menu, and then select New Project.
   
   
2. Click the Visual Studio Installer Projects folder in the Visual Studio folder.
   
   
3. Choose the type of installer project you want to create.
   • To create an empty installer project, double-click the Empty Installer icon.
     
     
   • To create an empty merge module, double-click the Empty Merge Module icon.
     
     
   • To create a Microsoft^® Visual Basic^® installer project, double-click the Visual Basic Installer icon. Then, finish the Visual Basic Setup Wizard Dialog Box.
4. Select a Setup Wizard Code Page radio button to specify the international language settings for the code page and installation dialogs of your product. For detailed information about the options available in the Setup Wizard Code Page, see Setup Wizard Code Page Dialog Box.

   Caution   If you choose to create a neutral installer, do not add language-specific resource names (such as file names and registry entries) to it. This can cause a loss of data.

   Visual Studio Installer creates your installer project with the international language specifications you have selected. The Project Explorer window displays your installer project hierarchy.