MSI file format: table columns

The columns of the tables listed on the tables page, in the order Microsoft’s documentation gives them. Key is Y for columns of the primary key; Null is Y where the column may be empty. The type is the Windows Installer column data type (see database). What each column holds is described on the table’s own Learn page, linked in each heading, and is not copied here. The page for AdvtUISequence gives no column table, because the table is not used.

Tables A to C

`ActionText`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Description`	Text	N	Y
`Template`	Template	N	Y

`AdminExecuteSequence`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`Sequence`	Integer	N	Y

`AdminUISequence`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`Sequence`	Integer	N	Y

`AdvtExecuteSequence`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`Sequence`	Integer	N	Y

`AppId`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`AppId`	GUID	Y	N
`RemoteServerName`	Formatted	N	Y
`LocalService`	Text	N	Y
`ServiceParameters`	Text	N	Y
`DllSurrogate`	Text	N	Y
`ActivateAtStorage`	Integer	N	Y
`RunAsInteractiveUser`	Integer	N	Y

`AppSearch`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Signature_`	Identifier	Y	N

`BBControl`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Billboard_`	Identifier	Y	N
`BBControl`	Identifier	Y	N
`Type`	Identifier	N	N
`X`	Integer	N	N
`Y`	Integer	N	N
`Width`	Integer	N	N
`Height`	Integer	N	N
`Attributes`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`Text`	Text	N	Y

`Billboard`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Billboard`	Identifier	Y	N
`Feature_`	Identifier	N	N
`Action`	Identifier	N	Y
`Ordering`	Integer	N	Y

`Binary`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Name`	Identifier	Y	N
`Data`	Binary	N	N

`BindImage`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Path`	Paths	N	Y

`CCPSearch`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Signature_`	Identifier	Y	N

`CheckBox`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	Y

`Class`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`CLSID`	GUID	Y	N
`Context`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`ProgId_Default`	Text	N	Y
`Description`	Text	N	Y
`AppId_`	GUID	N	Y
`FileTypeMask`	Text	N	Y
`Icon_`	Identifier	N	Y
`IconIndex`	Integer	N	Y
`DefInprocHandler`	Filename	N	Y
`Argument`	Formatted	N	Y
`Feature_`	Identifier	N	N
`Attributes`	Integer	N	Y

`ComboBox`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Order`	Integer	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	N
`Text`	Text	N	Y

`CompLocator`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Signature_`	Identifier	Y	N
`ComponentId`	GUID	N	N
`Type`	Integer	N	Y

`Complus`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`ExpType`	Integer	N	Y

`Component`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Component`	Identifier	Y	N
`ComponentId`	GUID	N	Y
`Directory_`	Identifier	N	N
`Attributes`	Integer	N	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`KeyPath`	Identifier	N	Y

`Condition`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Feature_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Level`	Integer	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y

`Control`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Dialog_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Control`	Identifier	Y	N
`Type`	Identifier	N	N
`X`	Integer	N	N
`Y`	Integer	N	N
`Width`	Integer	N	N
`Height`	Integer	N	N
`Attributes`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`Property`	Identifier	N	Y
`Text`	Formatted	N	Y
`Control_Next`	Identifier	N	Y
`Help`	Text	N	Y

`ControlCondition`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Dialog_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Control_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Action`	Text	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	Y	N

`ControlEvent`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Dialog_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Control_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Event`	Formatted	Y	N
`Argument`	Formatted	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	Y	Y
`Ordering`	Integer	N	Y

`CreateFolder`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Directory_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N

`CustomAction`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Type`	Integer	N	N
`Source`	CustomSource	N	Y
`Target`	Formatted	N	Y
`ExtendedType`	DoubleInteger	N	Y

Tables D to L

`Dialog`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Dialog`	Identifier	Y	N
`HCentering`	Integer	N	N
`VCentering`	Integer	N	N
`Width`	Integer	N	N
`Height`	Integer	N	N
`Attributes`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`Title`	Formatted	N	Y
`Control_First`	Identifier	N	N
`Control_Default`	Identifier	N	Y
`Control_Cancel`	Identifier	N	Y

`Directory`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Directory`	Identifier	Y	N
`Directory_Parent`	Identifier	N	Y
`DefaultDir`	DefaultDir	N	N

`DrLocator`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Signature_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Parent`	Identifier	Y	Y
`Path`	AnyPath	Y	Y
`Depth`	Integer	N	Y

`DuplicateFile`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`FileKey`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`File_`	Identifier	N	N
`DestName`	Filename	N	Y
`DestFolder`	Identifier	N	Y

`Environment`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Environment`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Text	N	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`Error`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Error`	Integer	Y	N
`Message`	Template	N	Y

`EventMapping`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Dialog_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Control_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Event`	Identifier	Y	N
`Attribute`	Identifier	N	N

`Extension`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Extension`	Text	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`ProgId_`	Text	N	Y
`MIME_`	Text	N	Y
`Feature_`	Identifier	N	N

`Feature`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Feature`	Identifier	Y	N
`Feature_Parent`	Identifier	N	Y
`Title`	Text	N	Y
`Description`	Text	N	Y
`Display`	Integer	N	Y
`Level`	Integer	N	N
`Directory_`	Identifier	N	Y
`Attributes`	Integer	N	N

`FeatureComponents`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Feature_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N

`File`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`FileName`	Filename	N	N
`FileSize`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`Version`	Version	N	Y
`Language`	Language	N	Y
`Attributes`	Integer	N	Y
`Sequence`	Integer	N	N

`FileSFPCatalog`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`SFPCatalog_`	Filename	Y	N

`Font`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`FontTitle`	Text	N	Y

`Icon`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Name`	Identifier	Y	N
`Data`	Binary	N	N

`IniFile`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`IniFile`	Identifier	Y	N
`FileName`	FileName	N	N
`DirProperty`	Identifier	N	Y
`Section`	Formatted	N	N
`Key`	Formatted	N	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	N
`Action`	Integer	N	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`IniLocator`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Signature_`	Identifier	Y	N
`FileName`	FileName	N	N
`Section`	Text	N	N
`Key`	Text	N	N
`Field`	Integer	N	Y
`Type`	Integer	N	Y

`InstallExecuteSequence`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`Sequence`	Integer	N	Y

`InstallUISequence`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Action`	Identifier	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`Sequence`	Integer	N	Y

`IsolatedComponent`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Component_Shared`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_Application`	Identifier	Y	N

`LaunchCondition`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Condition`	Condition	Y	N
`Description`	Formatted	N	N

`ListBox`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Order`	Integer	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	N
`Text`	Formatted	N	Y

`ListView`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Order`	Integer	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	N
`Text`	Formatted	N	Y
`Binary_`	Identifier	N	Y

`LockPermissions`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`LockObject`	Identifier	Y	N
`Table`	Text	Y	N
`Domain`	Formatted	Y	Y
`User`	Formatted	Y	N
`Permission`	DoubleInteger	N	Y

Tables M

`Media`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`DiskId`	Integer	Y	N
`LastSequence`	Integer	N	N
`DiskPrompt`	Text	N	Y
`Cabinet`	Cabinet	N	Y
`VolumeLabel`	Text	N	Y
`Source`	Property	N	Y

`MIME`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`ContentType`	Text	Y	N
`Extension_`	Text	N	N
`CLSID`	GUID	N	Y

`MoveFile`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`FileKey`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`SourceName`	Text	N	Y
`DestName`	Filename	N	Y
`SourceFolder`	Identifier	N	Y
`DestFolder`	Identifier	N	N
`Options`	Integer	N	N

`MsiAssembly`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Feature_`	Identifier	N	N
`File_Manifest`	Identifier	N	Y
`File_Application`	Identifier	N	Y
`Attributes`	Integer	N	Y

`MsiAssemblyName`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Text	Y	N
`Value`	Text	N	N

`MsiDigitalCertificate`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`DigitalCertificate`	Identifier	Y	N
`CertData`	Binary	N	N

`MsiDigitalSignature`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Table`	Identifier	Y	N
`SignObject`	Text	Y	N
`DigitalCertificate_`	Identifier	N	N
`Hash`	Binary	N	Y

`MsiEmbeddedChainer`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`MsiEmbeddedChainer`	Identifier	Y	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y
`CommandLine`	Formatted	N	Y
`Source`	CustomSource	N	N
`Type`	Integer	N	N

`MsiEmbeddedUI`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`MsiEmbeddedUI`	Identifier	Y	N
`FileName`	Text	N	N
`Attributes`	Integer	N	N
`MessageFilter`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`Data`	Binary	N	N

`MsiFileHash`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Options`	Integer	N	N
`HashPart1`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`HashPart2`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`HashPart3`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`Hashpart4`	DoubleInteger	N	N

`MsiLockPermissionsEx`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`MsiLockPermissionsEx`	Text	Y	N
`LockObject`	Identifier	N	N
`Table`	Text	N	N
`SDDLText`	FormattedSDDLText	N	N
`Condition`	Condition	N	Y

`MsiPackageCertificate`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`PackageCertificate`	Identifier	Y	N
`DigitalCertificate_`	Identifier	N	N

`MsiPatchCertificate`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`PatchCertificate`	Identifier	Y	N
`DigitalCertificate_`	Identifier	N	N

`MsiPatchHeaders`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`StreamRef`	Identifier	Y	N
`Header`	Binary	N	N

`MsiPatchMetadata`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Company`	Identifier	Y	Y
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Value`	Text	N	N

`MsiPatchOldAssemblyName`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Assembly`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Text	Y	N
`Value`	Text	N	N

`MsiPatchOldAssemblyFile`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Assembly_`	Identifier	Y	N

`MsiPatchSequence`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`PatchFamily`	Identifier	Y	N
`ProductCode`	GUID	Y	Y
`Sequence`	Version	N	N
`Attributes`	Integer	N	Y

`MsiServiceConfig`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`MsiServiceConfig`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	N
`Event`	Integer	N	N
`ConfigType`	Integer	N	N
`Argument`	Formatted	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`MsiServiceConfigFailureActions`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`MsiServiceConfigFailureActions`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	N
`Event`	Integer	N	N
`ResetPeriod`	Integer	N	Y
`RebootMessage`	Formatted	N	Y
`Command`	Formatted	N	Y
`Actions`	Text	N	Y
`DelayActions`	Text	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`MsiSFCBypass`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N

Tables O to Z

`ODBCAttribute`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Driver_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Attribute`	Text	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	Y

`ODBCDataSource`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`DataSource`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`Description`	Text	N	N
`DriverDescription`	Text	N	N
`Registration`	Integer	N	N

`ODBCDriver`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Driver`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`Description`	Text	N	N
`File_`	Identifier	N	N
`File_Setup`	Identifier	N	Y

`ODBCSourceAttribute`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`DataSource_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Attribute`	Text	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	Y

`ODBCTranslator`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Translator`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`Description`	Text	N	N
`File_`	Identifier	N	N
`File_Setup`	Identifier	N	Y

`Patch`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Sequence`	Integer	Y	N
`PatchSize`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`Attributes`	Integer	N	N
`Header`	Binary	N	Y
`StreamRef_`	Identifier	N	Y

`PatchPackage`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`PatchId`	GUID	Y	N
`Media_`	Integer	N	N

`ProgId`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`ProgId`	Text	Y	N
`ProgId_Parent`	Text	N	Y
`Class_`	GUID	N	Y
`Description`	Text	N	Y
`Icon_`	Identifier	N	Y
`IconIndex`	Integer	N	Y

`Property`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Value`	Text	N	N

`PublishComponent`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`ComponentId`	GUID	Y	N
`Qualifier`	Text	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`AppData`	Text	N	Y
`Feature_`	Identifier	N	N

`RadioButton`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Property`	Identifier	Y	N
`Order`	Integer	Y	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	N
`X`	Integer	N	N
`Y`	Integer	N	N
`Width`	Integer	N	N
`Height`	Integer	N	N
`Text`	Formatted	N	Y
`Help`	Text	N	Y

`Registry`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Registry`	Identifier	Y	N
`Root`	Integer	N	N
`Key`	RegPath	N	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	Y
`Value`	Formatted	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`RegLocator`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Signature_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Root`	Integer	N	N
`Key`	RegPath	N	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	Y
`Type`	Integer	N	Y

`RemoveFile`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`FileKey`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`FileName`	WildCardFilename	N	Y
`DirProperty`	Identifier	N	N
`InstallMode`	Integer	N	N

`RemoveIniFile`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`RemoveIniFile`	Identifier	Y	N
`FileName`	FileName	N	N
`DirProperty`	Identifier	N	Y
`Section`	Formatted	N	N
`Key`	Formatted	N	N
`Value`	Formatted	N	Y
`Action`	Integer	N	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`RemoveRegistry`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`RemoveRegistry`	Identifier	Y	N
`Root`	Integer	N	N
`Key`	RegPath	N	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`ReserveCost`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`ReserveKey`	Identifier	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`ReserveFolder`	Identifier	N	Y
`ReserveLocal`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`ReserveSource`	DoubleInteger	N	N

`SelfReg`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`File_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Cost`	Integer	N	Y

`ServiceControl`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`ServiceControl`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	N
`Event`	Integer	N	N
`Arguments`	Formatted	N	Y
`Wait`	Integer	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N

`ServiceInstall`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`ServiceInstall`	Identifier	Y	N
`Name`	Formatted	N	N
`DisplayName`	Formatted	N	Y
`ServiceType`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`StartType`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`ErrorControl`	DoubleInteger	N	N
`LoadOrderGroup`	Formatted	N	Y
`Dependencies`	Formatted	N	Y
`StartName`	Formatted	N	Y
`Password`	Formatted	N	Y
`Arguments`	Formatted	N	Y
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`Description`	Formatted	N	Y

`SFPCatalog`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`SFPCatalog`	Filename	Y	N
`Catalog`	Binary	N	N
`Dependency`	Formatted	N	Y

`Shortcut`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Shortcut`	Identifier	Y	N
`Directory_`	Identifier	N	N
`Name`	Filename	N	N
`Component_`	Identifier	N	N
`Target`	Shortcut	N	N
`Arguments`	Formatted	N	Y
`Description`	Text	N	Y
`Hotkey`	Integer	N	Y
`Icon_`	Identifier	N	Y
`IconIndex`	Integer	N	Y
`ShowCmd`	Integer	N	Y
`WkDir`	Identifier	N	Y
`DisplayResourceDLL`	Formatted	N	Y
`DisplayResourceId`	Integer	N	Y
`DescriptionResourceDLL`	Formatted	N	Y
`DescriptionResourceId`	Integer	N	Y

`Signature`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Signature`	Identifier	Y	N
`FileName`	Text	N	N
`MinVersion`	Text	N	Y
`MaxVersion`	Text	N	Y
`MinSize`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`MaxSize`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`MinDate`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`MaxDate`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`Languages`	Text	N	Y

`TextStyle`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`TextStyle`	Identifier	Y	N
`FaceName`	Text	N	N
`Size`	Integer	N	N
`Color`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`StyleBits`	Integer	N	Y

`TypeLib`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`LibID`	GUID	Y	N
`Language`	Integer	Y	N
`Component_`	Identifier	Y	N
`Version`	DoubleInteger	N	Y
`Description`	Text	N	Y
`Directory_`	Identifier	N	Y
`Feature_`	Identifier	N	N
`Cost`	DoubleInteger	N	Y

`UIText`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Key`	Identifier	Y	N
`Text`	Text	N	Y

`Upgrade`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`UpgradeCode`	GUID	Y	N
`VersionMin`	Text	Y	Y
`VersionMax`	Text	Y	Y
`Language`	Text	Y	Y
`Attributes`	Integer	Y	N
`Remove`	Formatted	N	Y
`ActionProperty`	Identifier	N	N

`Verb`

Column	Type	Key	Null
`Extension_`	Text	Y	N
`Verb`	Text	Y	N
`Sequence`	Integer	N	Y
`Command`	Formatted	N	Y
`Argument`	Formatted	N	Y

Sources

One Microsoft Learn page per table (learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/<name>-table), read on 13 November 2026: the “Column / Type / Key / Nullable” table of each. The tables page lists 96 tables by name; all have a page with a column table except AdvtUISequence. The tables that the Learn pages describe in prose only, and the meaning of each column, are not copied.

.MSI File Format – Table columns

Tables A to C

Tables D to L

Tables M

Tables O to Z

Sources