MSI file format: standard actions

The sequence tables (InstallExecuteSequence, InstallUISequence, AdminExecuteSequence, AdminUISequence, AdvtExecuteSequence) list actions by name. A name is either one of the standard actions below, built into Windows Installer, or a row of the CustomAction table. The upper-case names are top-level actions.

Standard actions

Action	What it does
`ADMIN`	Top-level action for an administrative installation.
`ADVERTISE`	Top-level action to install or remove advertised components.
`AllocateRegistrySpace`	Checks that the free registry space given by `AVAILABLEFREEREG` exists.
`AppSearch`	Searches for previous versions of products.
`BindImage`	Binds executables to the DLLs they import.
`CCPSearch`	Uses file signatures to check that qualifying products are installed before an upgrade.
`CostFinalize`	Ends the costing begun by CostInitialize.
`CostInitialize`	Starts costing (working out disk space).
`CreateFolders`	Creates empty folders for components.
`CreateShortcuts`	Creates shortcuts.
`DeleteServices`	Removes system services.
`DisableRollback`	Turns off rollback for the rest of the installation.
`DuplicateFiles`	Duplicates files installed by InstallFiles.
`ExecuteAction`	Reads `EXECUTEACTION` to choose the top-level action that starts the execution sequence, and runs it.
`FileCost`	Starts disk cost calculation; final at CostFinalize.
`FindRelatedProducts`	Matches the `Upgrade` table against installed products.
`ForceReboot`	Asks the user to restart during the installation.
`INSTALL`	Top-level action to install or remove components.
`InstallAdminPackage`	Copies the database to the administrative installation point.
`InstallExecute`	Runs the script of operations so far without ending the transaction.
`InstallFiles`	Copies files from the source to the destination.
`InstallFinalize`	Runs the script of operations so far and ends the transaction.
`InstallInitialize`	Starts a transaction.
`InstallODBC`	Installs ODBC drivers, translators and data sources.
`InstallServices`	Registers a service.
`InstallSFPCatalogFile`	Installs the catalogs used by Windows Me for Windows File Protection.
`InstallValidate`	Checks every volume has enough space.
`IsolateComponents`	Processes the `IsolatedComponent` table.
`LaunchConditions`	Checks every condition in `LaunchCondition` is true.
`MigrateFeatureStates`	Carries current feature states into the pending installation.
`MoveFiles`	Moves or copies existing files.
`MsiConfigureServices`	Configures a service (Windows Installer 5.0 and later).
`MsiPublishAssemblies`	Advertises assemblies being installed.
`MsiUnpublishAssemblies`	Unadvertises assemblies being removed.
`PatchFiles`	Applies byte-level patches from the `Patch` table.
`ProcessComponents`	Registers components, their key paths and clients.
`PublishComponents`	Advertises components from `PublishComponent`.
`PublishFeatures`	Writes each feature’s state to the registry.
`PublishProduct`	Publishes product information.
`RegisterClassInfo`	Registers COM classes.
`RegisterComPlus`	Registers COM+ applications.
`RegisterExtensionInfo`	Registers extension information.
`RegisterFonts`	Registers installed fonts.
`RegisterMIMEInfo`	Registers MIME information.
`RegisterProduct`	Registers the product and keeps the database on the computer.
`RegisterProgIdInfo`	Registers OLE ProgIds.
`RegisterTypeLibraries`	Registers type libraries.
`RegisterUser`	Registers the user of the product.
`RemoveDuplicateFiles`	Deletes files made by DuplicateFiles.
`RemoveEnvironmentStrings`	Changes environment variables.
`RemoveExistingProducts`	Removes installed versions of a product.
`RemoveFiles`	Removes files installed by InstallFiles.
`RemoveFolders`	Removes empty folders of components being removed.
`RemoveIniValues`	Deletes `.ini` values from the `IniFile` table.
`RemoveODBC`	Removes ODBC data sources, translators and drivers.
`RemoveRegistryValues`	Removes registry keys created from the `Registry` table.
`RemoveShortcuts`	Removes advertised shortcuts of features being removed.
`ResolveSource`	Finds the source and sets `SourceDir`.
`RMCCPSearch`	Uses file signatures to check that qualifying products are installed before an upgrade.
`ScheduleReboot`	Asks for a restart at the end of the installation.
`SelfRegModules`	Registers modules from `SelfReg`.
`SelfUnregModules`	Unregisters modules from `SelfReg` being removed.
`SEQUENCE`	Runs the actions of the table named by the `SEQUENCE` property.
`SetODBCFolders`	Checks for existing ODBC drivers and sets the folder for new ones.
`StartServices`	Starts services.
`StopServices`	Stops services.
`UnpublishComponents`	Unadvertises components from `PublishComponent`.
`UnpublishFeatures`	Removes feature state and feature–component information from the registry.
`UnregisterClassInfo`	Removes COM classes from the registry.
`UnregisterComPlus`	Removes COM+ applications from the registry.
`UnregisterExtensionInfo`	Removes extension information.
`UnregisterFonts`	Removes font registrations.
`UnregisterMIMEInfo`	Removes MIME information.
`UnregisterProgIdInfo`	Removes OLE ProgIds.
`UnregisterTypeLibraries`	Unregisters type libraries.
`ValidateProductID`	Sets `ProductID` to the full product identifier.
`WriteEnvironmentStrings`	Changes environment variables.
`WriteIniValues`	Writes `.ini` values.
`WriteRegistryValues`	Writes registry values.

Sources

Microsoft Learn, Windows Installer: “Standard Actions Reference” and “Database Tables” (the sequence tables).

.MSI File Format – Standard actions

Standard actions

Sources