Installshield Product Code =link=

Once a Product Code is used in a released build, it is . Do not reuse it, even for a different product. Windows Installer caches product information in the registry at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData . Reusing a code will cause conflicts.

Maintain a simple text file in your source control: installshield product code

The is a GUID (e.g., AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A94000000001 ) that uniquely identifies a specific version of an application. In the Windows Installer (MSI) architecture, the operating system uses this code to recognize the product on a machine. Once a Product Code is used in a released build, it is

. While the "Product Name" might be "MyGreatApp," the Windows Installer engine doesn't care about the name; it looks specifically for this GUID to track whether the software is already installed. Why It Matters Reusing a code will cause conflicts

When a user runs the new MSI, Windows Installer sees: "Upgrade Code matches an existing product, but Product Code is different." It then uninstalls the old product (using its old Product Code) and installs the new product.

When you create a new project, InstallShield automatically generates a random Product Code for you. Many developers mistakenly assume that InstallShield will manage this code forever. It will not. You are responsible for updating it when required.