In the context of the , a feature is a specific part of an application's total functionality that a user can recognize and choose to install independently. For example, in a productivity suite, a feature might be a spell-checker, a thesaurus, or a collection of clip art. Key Characteristics of Windows Installer Features
: Installing certain features only if specific launch conditions (like a specific OS version) are met.
: Features are designed from the user's perspective. Users can select which features they want to install via the installer's SelectionTree Control . Windows Installer
For managing built-in (like Hyper-V or WSL) rather than application features, administrators typically use tools like DISM or PowerShell cmdlets like Install-WindowsFeature . Windows Installer Features - Win32 apps - Microsoft Learn
: Reinstalling or repairing specific features rather than the entire application if files become corrupt. In the context of the , a feature
: Letting users skip unnecessary tools to save disk space.
: Features can have a parent-child relationship. If a child feature is selected for installation, its parent feature is automatically included. : Features are designed from the user's perspective
When authoring an installation package , developers define features in the Feature Table of the MSI database. This allows for: