How can I add a README note (from a .txt file) to a Wix installer before the Finish button?

Question

I'm creating a Wix installer and I want to show a README note (stored in a .txt file) before the user clicks the Finish button.

I tried using the WIXUI_EXITDIALOGOPTIONALCHECKBOXTEXT property to allow users to open the README file after installation by checking a box, but even when I check the box, the file doesn't open.

Here’s what I’ve added to my Wix project:

<!-- Custom Action to launch readme.txt with Notepad -->
<CustomAction Id="LaunchReadme" Directory="x64Folder" ExeCommand="notepad.exe readme.txt" Return="asyncNoWait" Execute="deferred" Impersonate="yes" />

<!-- Trigger the custom action if checkbox is checked -->
<Custom Action="LaunchReadme" Before="InstallFinalize" Condition="WIXUI_EXITDIALOGOPTIONALCHECKBOX = 1 AND NOT Installed" />

I also set this property to show the checkbox on the exit dialog:

<Property Id="WIXUI_EXITDIALOGOPTIONALCHECKBOXTEXT" Value="View README file" />

Even with this setup, checking the box doesn't launch the file. Am I missing something in the sequence or configuration?

GrandMasterFlush · Accepted Answer · 2025-04-22 16:55:33Z

0

Do you have the readme file included in the project.wms file?

 <Fragment>
   <ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
      <Component Id="README.txt">
        <File Source="README.txt" Id="README.txt" />
      </Component>
   </ComponentGroup>
 <Fragment>

I also used WixShellExecTarget to open the file, that means the user will have it open in whatever text editor they have as default.

answered Apr 22 at 16:55

GrandMasterFlush

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