title: How to write a program that takes in an EXE installer and arguments and ouputs an MSI?
body: <p>I need to write a small program, preferably in C# and .NET, that will take as an input an installer file (.exe) along with the arguments to run with it and output a .MSI.</p>
  
  <p>Here is the reasoning and my restrictions:
  I work in a program that will not allow open source (and most closed source) application in the system. Long story why that is, but that's the boundary.</p>
  
  <p>I can, however, use the .NET framework or windows API calls to create applications as needed.</p>
  
  <p>The reason for the .MSI option is to run the MSI in the Windows Server 2008 GPO to install updates across the network. This is the <em>only</em> option for doing the updates --- I realize there are other alternatives to .MSI but (related to reason above) we are a closed system and only use GPO.</p>
  
  <p>So with my reasons out of the way, does anyone have an idea which .NET function, API calls, or anything can get this done? I imagine with the right function calls, this would be a very simple application to write but all my Google and MSDN searches are coming up completely dry, or come up with random freeware exe2msi programs.</p>