The TRANSFORMS property is a list of the transforms that the installer applies when installing the package. The installer applies the transforms in the same order as they are listed in the property. Transforms can be specified by their filename or full path. To specify multiple transforms, separate each file name or full path with a semicolon (;). For example, to apply three transforms to a package, set TRANSFORMS to a list of file names or to a list of full paths.

TRANSFORMS=transform1.mst;transform2.mst;transform3.mst
TRANSFORMS=\\server\share\path\transform1.mst;\\server2\share2\path2\transform2.mst;\\server3\share3\path3\transform3.mst

You can indicate that a transform file is embedded in a storage of the .msi file, rather than as a stand-alone file, by prefixing the filename with a colon (:). For example, the following example indicates that transform1.mst and transform2.mst are embedded inside the .msi file and that transform3.mst is a stand-alone file.

TRANSFORMS=:transform1.mst;:transform2.mst;transform3.mst

The installer requires the transforms listed in TRANSFORMS at every installation, advertisement, installation-on-demand, or maintenance installation of the package. The TransformsSecure policy policy, the TRANSFORMS property, and the first character of the TRANSFORMS string informs the installer how to handle the source resiliency of stand-alone transform files. Windows Installer treats setting TransformsAtSource policy or TRANSFORMSATSOURCE the same as TransformsSecure policy and TRANSFORMSSECURE. Note that transforms embedded in the .msi file are not cached and are always obtained from the package.

|\\server\share\path\transform1.mst;\\server2\share2\path2\transform2.mst

\\server\share\path\transform1.mst;\\server2\share2\path2\transform2.mst.

You cannot use filenames and paths together in the same TRANSFORMS list. You cannot specify secure and profile transforms together in the same list. You may include transforms embedded in the package in a list with other transforms.

@transform1.mst;:transform2.mst 
|\\server\share\path\transform1.mst;:transform2.mst

Note that because the list delimiter for transforms is the semicolon character, semicolons must not be used in a transform filename or path.

Remarks

In cases where the TransformsSecure policy or the TRANSFORMSSECURE property has been set with Windows Installer, it is not necessary to pass the @ or | symbol when setting TRANSFORMS using the command line. The installer assumes Secure-At-Source or Secure-Full-Path if the list consists entirely of file names located at the source or consists entirely of full paths. You still cannot mix the two types of transform sources.

Note that the installer uses a different search order for unsecured transforms applied during first time and maintenance installations. For more information, see Unsecured Transforms.

Requirements

See Also

Properties

Database Transforms

Merges and Transforms

Source Resiliency

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Build date: 8/13/2009