Creating custom dialog using C# in MSI installer

Question

We(my project team) have an existing MSI installer for a VS 2010 windows application. There is a license file we are using to validate the windows installation. We are using the standard VS setup project to do the installation.

Currently, we are using a test box in the MSI installation to get the license file path, so the user has to manually copy and paste the license file path. I want to change this by adding a 'Browse file' button that shows browse file dialog to select license file and auto populates the textbox on selecting the file.

I have used the Orca tool to modify the UI for a adding a button next to the existing textbox in the installation UI.

My question is: Is it possible to write some C# managed code to show, say the Open file dialog to select the license file and then populate the text box. I understand this is possible by writing C/C++ code. I see a lot of people using WIX toolset for creating setup files. Right now, I cannot create a new setup installer project because it involves learning WIX and I do not have the time for that now.

Michael Urman · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-07 14:04:00Z

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This is possible (see tools like DTF which can wrap .NET code in an unmanaged DLL), but for the level of complexity of a custom action which calls GetOpenFileName and MsiSetProperty, I would suggest avoiding the extra dependency on the .NET framework.

answered Nov 7, 2011 at 14:04

Michael Urman

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Svarog · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-07 10:22:13Z

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I don't believe it is possible.
The out-of-the-box MSI does not support managed code, and therefore you will not be able to write a managed dialog.
You can, however, write a bootstrapper to attach a custom graphic interface to your installer. It is quite complicated, though.

I know you wrote you can not convert to WIX in this stage, but I can reassure you that if you know the MSI structure well, learning it will be quite easy.
And than, you can use SharpSetup to create a C# GUI to your installer.

answered Nov 7, 2011 at 10:22

Svarog

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2 Comments

Eriawan Kusumawardhono Over a year ago

Thanks for the recommendation of the SharpSetup. Unfortunately, all of the download link on their page is broken since yesterday.

Svarog Over a year ago

Yes, their project is not active for some time. There is WixSharp instead that does the same and much more.

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