Shared Component, Different Merge modules, Same MSI

[liorafar]

Hi,
I have the following scenario which resulting with NOT increasing a shared dll reference count int the registry. Any thoughts why?

Same MSI with two different features: Say A and B
Feature A uses Merge Module A which contains Component C which holds one dll file
Feature B uses Merge Module B which uses same shared Component C(even with the same component code)

Installing Feature A and then Feature B resulting with only 1 reference count in the registry while there's suppose to be 2...

Can anyone please explain to me this odd behavior...Why ref count is not 2?

Thanks,
Lior

[MichaelU]

A single MSI can only install a component once. So while either feature A or B (or both) will result in the component being installed, it will only net one reference count from this MSI.