Microsoft Installer Database Reader

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Introduction

There are many tools, such as Orca, for tampering with the Microsoft Installer Database .msi files. This sample shows how to build a MSI database file reader. Though it does not allow to modify it, it will be helpful to those who want to get some insights in to the structure of an MSI.

Using the code

Create the project

1. File -> New -> New project

   Create a new MsiDbReader Visual Basic Windows Application.

Add the Windows components

1. Click View -> Toolbox (Ctrl+Alt+X).

2. Drag an OpenFileDialog, an ImageList, and a MainMenu into the form.

3. Right click the OpenFileDialog1 in the form designer -> Properties. Set the Filter property to "Microsoft Installer DB (*.msi)|*.msi|All files (*.*)|*.*".

4. Right click the ImageList1 in the form designer -> Properties.

5. Click the button next to the Image Collection property. Add an icon image.

6. Right click MainMenu1 -> Edit menu. Type &Open.

7. From the Toolbox, drag a ListView into the form.

8. Right click the ListView1 -> Properties. Set the Dock property to Left. Set SmallImageList and StateImageList properties to ImageList1. Set MultiSelect property to False. Set View property to SmallIcon.

9. From the Toolbox, drag a Splitter into the form.

10. From the Toolbox, drag a DataGrid into the form.

11. From the Toolbox Data tab, drag a DataView into the form.

12. Right click DataGrid1 -> Properties. Set Dock property to Fill. Set DataSource property to DataView1.

Add the code:

Right click Form1 -> View Code. Add the following variable declarations to the Form1 class:

Dim Installer
Dim Database
Dim View
Dim Record

Add the following MenuItem1_Click event method:

Private Sub MenuItem1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MenuItem1.Click

    If OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog() = DialogResult.OK Then

        ListView1.Clear()

        Installer = CreateObject("WindowsInstaller.Installer")

        Database = Installer.OpenDatabase(OpenFileDialog1.FileName, 0)
        ' 0 = read only; 1 = read/write

        ' _Tables stores all database table names 
        View = Database.OpenView("SELECT 'Name' FROM '_Tables'")
        View.Execute(Record)

        Record = View.Fetch()
        While Not Record Is Nothing

            ListView1.Items.Add(Record.StringData(1), 0)

            Record = View.Fetch()

        End While

    End If
End Sub

Add the following ListView1_SelectedIndexChanged event method:s

Private Sub ListView1_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As _
        System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
        Handles ListView1.SelectedIndexChanged

    If ListView1.SelectedItems.Count = 0 Then
        Exit Sub
    End If

    Installer = CreateObject("WindowsInstaller.Installer")

    ' _Columns stores all database table Column names.
    View = Database.OpenView("SELECT 'Name' FROM '_Columns'" & _ 
           " WHERE 'Table' = '" & _
           ListView1.SelectedItems(0).Text & "' ")

    View.Execute(Record)

    '
    Dim DbColumns As String = ""
    Record = View.Fetch()
    While Not Record Is Nothing
        DbColumns = DbColumns & "'" & Record.StringData(1) & "'"
        Record = View.Fetch()
        If Not Record Is Nothing Then
            DbColumns = DbColumns & ", "
        End If
    End While

    '
    View = Database.OpenView("SELECT " & DbColumns & _
           " FROM '" & ListView1.SelectedItems(0).Text & "' ")
    View.Execute(Record)

    Dim ColumnsAR() As String = Split(DbColumns, "', '")

    ColumnsAR(0) = ColumnsAR(0).TrimStart("'")

    ColumnsAR(ColumnsAR.Length - 1) = _
       ColumnsAR((ColumnsAR.Length - 1)).TrimEnd("'"c)

    DataView1.Table = New DataTable(ListView1.SelectedItems(0).Text)

    For Each TableColumn As String In ColumnsAR

        DataView1.Table.Columns.Add(TableColumn, _
                  Type.GetType("System.String"))

    Next TableColumn

    Dim NewRow As DataRow

    Record = View.Fetch()
    While Not Record Is Nothing

        NewRow = DataView1.Table.NewRow()
        For I As Integer = 0 To ColumnsAR.Length - 1
            Try
                NewRow(ColumnsAR(I)) = Record.StringData(I + 1)
            Catch ex As Exception
                NewRow(ColumnsAR(I)) = "(Binary)"
            End Try
        Next

        DataView1.Table.Rows.Add(NewRow)

        Record = View.Fetch()

    End While

End Sub

Build and run the application.

History

• 21 Nov. 2006 - Intial release.