Orca

Orca is a handy tool for working with MSI files, which are basically packages used in Windows Installer. Right now, it’s part of the Windows SDK Components for Windows Installer Developers. But don’t worry! You can still grab the last standalone version from Softpedia.

What is Windows Installer?

The Windows Installer helps you install, remove, and maintain your software. It handles MSI packages that store information like a database. This means you can even edit them if you know what you're doing!

Why Use Orca?

You might think of Orca as the Microsoft Access for those MSI files. It doesn’t just work with basic databases; it also deals with merge modules (MSM), patches (MSP), transforms (MST), validation modules (CUB), and patch creation (PCP). Pretty cool, right?

Edit Like a Pro

While Orca can be used to create packages, it's mostly loved for its editing features. Just keep in mind that you need some database knowledge because it lets you change tables directly. Messing this up could lead to broken installers!

User-Friendly Interface

The interface is clean and professional-looking, making it easy to get things done. You can access all tables and data streams of your loaded database and make changes right there. Plus, you can import or export tables and even adjust schemas as needed.

Transform Management

This app comes packed with great tools for managing transforms, validating data, or merging modules. You have full control over every part of your package – files, directories, registry keys – everything! You can create transforms to change the data structure while keeping an eye on the database's integrity.

A Word of Caution

Just remember that these packages are super delicate! Even small changes can mess things up beyond repair. So always be careful when editing.

Your Go-To Tool for MSI Editing

If you're into data manipulation and want to dive into MSI authoring, Orca is definitely the toolbox you need!