InstEd

InstEd is a lightweight software application whose purpose is to help you create and edit MSI (Microsoft Installation) files.

The tool adopts a clean and intuitive layout that gives you the possibility to work with multiple tabs at the same time.

The main window is divided into three smart panels that allow you to easily browse throughout the content of an MSI file (tables, dialogs, components and features), check out detailed information about each component included in the package, such as directory, attributes, condition, key path, property and signature, as well as view log details.

What’s more, you can opt for importing data from MSI files from your computer and edit their content, as well as export the final package to MSI, WSI or MSM file format. The search feature may prove to be quite handy in case you want to easily identify a certain component.

InstEd allows you to generate a new MSI file by selecting the type of item that you can create, namely package (you need to provide the MSI file) or merge module (the MSM file is needed for completing the process).

You are allowed to add a custom or predefined table, import/export table data from/to IDT file format, delete tables, view a summary with info about the installer (e.g. title, author, subject, comments, keywords, platform, package code, creation date, languages, schema, security), view the current code package, validate files, merge modules, as well as edit table column details.

The application lets you configure several settings that help you view bit flag fields as hexadecimal or decimal value, highlight long strings, enable descriptive tooltips for fields, activate row reference tracking on load, as well as tweak some saving options.

Last but not least, you can cut, copy, or paste rows, delete or add new rows, show errors, reveal validation messages for the active window only, as well as hide or display empty tables.

InstEd comes with a handy suite of features for helping you build up and alter MSI files and is suitable for all types of users, regardless of their experience level. On the downside, it hasn’t been updated for a while so it may cause compatibility issues on newer operating systems.