How to use a file in a custom action without installing it in the InstallUISequence phase?

Question

I would like to run an executable file with a quiet execution custom action during the InstallUISequence phase.
This executable has a text file as a parameter. I don't want that text file to be installed and I can't put it on the directory/file part as it is intented to use during the UI sequence.
How can I do that?
Here is a sample code to explain what I want:

<CustomAction Id="RunIsql_cmd" Property="RunIsql" Value="&quot;[MYEXE]&quot; -U [PARAM1] -i **myFileFromThePackage.txt** Execute="immediate"/>
<CustomAction Id="RunIsql" BinaryKey="WixCA" DllEntry="CAQuietExec" Execute="immediate" Return="check" Impersonate="no"/>

How can I define myFileFromThePackage.txt ?
I've tried to define the file like this:

<Binary Id="DummyFileForInstallOnly" SourceFile="myFile.txt" />

But I can't associate the id to the CA..

Cosmin · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-27 18:09:05Z

3

Adding it in Binary table is a good approach, but you also need to extract it during install in order to use it. This can be done through a custom action which uses the Windows Installer database API.

You will also need a custom action to delete the extracted file after it has been used.

answered Oct 27, 2011 at 18:09

Cosmin

21.5k5 gold badges47 silver badges61 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

Steph Ragazzi Over a year ago

Great... Is there any method more simple than creating my own CA?

Cosmin Over a year ago

Yes. Use a different setup authoring which offers direct support for temporary files. This way you don't have to handle them yourself.

Steph Ragazzi Over a year ago

Finally I have created my own custom action to do the job

herzbube Over a year ago

This answer was a good starting point, but it sent me on a wild goose chase how to call the API functions via P/Invoke. For installer newbies like me it's important to realize that you don't really have to make P/Invoke calls to the native API functions. The custom action can access the Binary table relatively simply via the MSI session object that gets passed to the custom action entry method. This SO answer shows the principle.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to use a file in a custom action without installing it in the InstallUISequence phase?

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related