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per-user-wix-msi-packaging

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Package a WPF app as a per-user MSI with WiX.

Software Engineering#packaging#installer#wpf#windows#per-user#wix#msi
AuthorBSchafer01
Version1.0.0
Installs0

System Documentation

What problem does it solve?

Package Windows desktop apps as per-user MSI installers using WiX SDK to enable per-user deployments without requiring admin elevation.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Add a dedicated WiX SDK project to the repo and wire it into the solution so MSI generation is a first-class build path.
  • Keep packaging self-contained in the installer project: build any web assets, publish the desktop project to a staging folder, and harvest that staged payload for the MSI.
  • For WPF/WebView2 apps, ensure the published WebApp folder is replaced with the real dist output before packaging so installed bits are up to date.
  • Set the WiX package scope to perUser and install under a user-writable path like %LocalAppData%\Programs{Product}.
  • Add only user-scoped shell integration (e.g., Start Menu shortcuts backed by HKCU keys) so the installer remains per-user.
  • Document and suppress non-critical ICEs when harvesting per-user payloads to avoid an admin-wide install.

Quick Start

Create a per-user WiX-based installer project, wire it into the solution, publish the desktop app to a staging folder, and build the MSI.

Dependency Matrix

Required Modules

None required

Components

Standard package

💻 Claude Code Installation

Recommended: Let Claude install automatically. Simply copy and paste the text below to Claude Code.

Please help me install this Skill:
Name: per-user-wix-msi-packaging
Download link: https://github.com/BSchafer01/PanelNester/archive/main.zip#per-user-wix-msi-packaging

Please download this .zip file, extract it, and install it in the .claude/skills/ directory.
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