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msi2xml is a lightweight Windows Installer database converter published by Daniel Gehriger that provides bi-directional transformation between binary .msi packages and human-readable XML. The utility is designed for IT administrators, repackaging engineers, and developers who need to inspect, modify, or version-control the contents of Windows Installer databases without using proprietary authoring tools. By running the command-line program msi2xml, an entire .msi file is decompiled into a set of plain-text XML documents that expose every table, row, and stream contained in the database, making it possible to search, diff, or edit installation logic with any text editor or standard XML toolchain. After changes are made, the companion xml2msi tool reassembles the modified XML files back into a valid, ready-to-deploy .msi package, preserving digital signatures and file hashes where possible. Typical use cases include localizing installer strings in bulk, patching component GUIDs across product families, migrating legacy setups to new build systems, and storing installer sources in version-control repositories for audit or compliance purposes. Because the conversion is lossless and deterministic, teams can treat the XML representation as the canonical source and regenerate the binary on demand. The current release, version 2.2.1.957, is the first generally available build and focuses on stable, repeatable round-trip conversion for databases created by Windows Installer 5.x and earlier. The software is available for free on get.nero.com, with downloads provided via trusted Windows package sources such as winget, always delivering the latest version, and supporting batch installation of multiple applications.
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