List of Tools

Name Description

Candle

Preprocesses and compiles WiX source files into object files (.wixobj).

Light

Links and binds one or more .wixobj files and creates a Windows Installer database (.msi or .msm). When necessary, Light will also create cabinets and embed streams into the Windows Installer database it creates. 

Lit

Combines multiple .wixobj files into libraries that can be consumed by Light.

Dark

Converts an .msi or .msm file into a set of WiX source files.

Heat

Generates WiX authoring from various input formats.

Melt

Converts an .msm into a component group in a WiX source file.

Torch

Performs a diff to generate a transform (.wixmst or .mst) for XML outputs (.wixout or .wixpdb) or .msi files.

Smoke

Runs validation checks on .msi or .msm files.

Pyro

Takes an XML output patch file (.wixmsp) and one or more XML transform files (.wixmst) and produces an .msp file.

WixCop

Enforces standards on WiX source files. WixCop can also be used to assist in converting a set of WiX source files created using an older version of WiX to the latest version of WiX.