Orca.exe - Win32 Apps

Overview

Orca.exe is a database table editor used for creating and editing Windows Installer packages and merge modules.
Features a graphical interface for validation and highlights entries with validation errors or warnings.

Available in the Windows SDK Components for Windows Installer Developers.
Provided as an MSI installation file located in a sub-directory under bin in Windows Kits.
The installer name may be localized (e.g., Orca-x86_en-us.msi).
To install, double-click the MSI file after installing the Windows SDK Components.

General Options: Case-insensitive, slash delimiter can replace dash.
- -q: Quiet mode
- -s <_database_>: Specify schema database (default is "orca.dat")
- -?: Display help dialog
Merge Module Options: Required options include -f, -m, and <sourcefile>.
- -c: Commit merge to database if no errors.
- -!: Commit merge even if errors exist.
- -m <_module_>: Specify merge module to be merged.
- -f Feature[:Feature2]: Connect features to merge module.
- -r <_directory id_>: Directory entry for module root redirection.
- -x <_directory_>: Extract files to an image under the directory.
- -g <_language_>: Language to open a module.
- -l <_log file_>: Specify log file, append if exists.
- -i <_directory_>: Extract files to the source image directory.
- -cab <_filename_>: Extract MSM cabinet to file.
- -lfn: Use long file names during extraction.
- -configure <_filename_>: Configure the module using data from a file.

If encountering the error "The validation engine could not start" with event ID 1044, check Event Logging (Windows Installer) for more details.