WIX Updater doesn't using setup params from previous version - wix

I have the wix project installer.
I want to use the update new version of my product.
It works fine, but still shows me all dialogs and I need to enter params.(such as install path, user credential and other).
How can I skip all dialogs and using all of these params from older (prev) installer version.
<Product Id="*" Name="$(var.ProductName) $(var.ProductVersion)" Language="1033" Version="$(var.ProductVersion)" Manufacturer="$(var.Manufacturer)" UpgradeCode="$(var.UpgradeCode)">
<Package InstallerVersion="301" Compressed="yes" InstallScope="perMachine" Platform="x64" />
<MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." AllowSameVersionUpgrades="yes" />
<MediaTemplate EmbedCab="yes" />
<Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="COMPANY.Product.Installers.Server" Level="1">
<ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
<ComponentGroupRef Id="ServerInstallerFiles" />
</Feature>
<Property Id="WIXUI_INSTALLDIR" Value="INSTALLFOLDER" ></Property>
<UIRef Id="WixUI_MinimalCustom"/>
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="DoAfterInstallJobParams" Before="DoAfterInstallJob">Not Installed or REINSTALL</Custom>
<Custom Action="DoAfterInstallJob" After="InstallFiles">Not Installed or REINSTALL</Custom>
<Custom Action="DoBeforeUnstallJob" After="InstallInitialize">REMOVE="ALL"</Custom>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
</Product>
<Fragment>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="ProgramFiles64Folder">
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="COMPANY" />
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Fragment>
<Fragment>
<Property Id="DoBeforeUninstallJob" Value="[INSTALLFOLDER]" />
<Binary Id="CustomActionBinary" SourceFile="$(var.SolutionDir)Output\Installers\Actions\COMPANY.Product.Installers.Server.Actions.CA.dll" />
<CustomAction Id="DoAfterInstallJob" BinaryKey="CustomActionBinary" DllEntry="AfterInstall" Execute="deferred" Return="check" Impersonate="no" />
<CustomAction Id="DoAfterInstallJobParams" Property="DoAfterInstallJob" Value="HOSTING_URL=[HOSTING_URL];DB_CONNECTION=[DB_CONNECTION];INSTALLPATH=[INSTALLFOLDER];LOGIN=[LOGIN];PASSWORD=[PASSWORD]" />
<CustomAction Id="DoBeforeUnstallJob" BinaryKey="CustomActionBinary" DllEntry="BeforeUninstall" Execute="deferred" Return="check" Impersonate="no" />
</Fragment>
<Fragment>
<ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
<ComponentRef Id="cmpServerHost"/>
</ComponentGroup>
</Fragment>
<Fragment>
<DirectoryRef Id="INSTALLFOLDER">
<Directory Id="ServerHost" Name="ServerHost">
<Component Win64="yes" Id="cmpServerHost" Guid="a4a81104-1e30-463d-87e1-e8a79b4c6829">
<File Id="ServerLog4netConfig" Source="$(var.SolutionDir)..\Logging\log4net.config" />
<RegistryValue Root="HKLM" Key="Software\[Manufacturer]\$(var.ProductName)" Type="string" Value="[INSTALLFOLDER]" KeyPath="yes" Name="COMPANYInstallPath"/>
<File Id="AppVersion" Source="$(var.SolutionDir)Output\Installers\Actions\COMPANY.Product.Installers.Server.Actions.CA.dll" />
</Component>
</Directory>
</DirectoryRef>
</Fragment>

Windows Installer does not persist properties. You have to do it yourself. Here is an example.
http://robmensching.com/blog/posts/2010/5/2/the-wix-toolsets-remember-property-pattern/

Remember Properties: Persisting properties allows you to read back the settings from the first version.
Dialog Control & Order: In order to skip dialogs you need to detect whether a major upgrade is taking place, if you use major
upgrades (which you do based on that source file), and then control
the dialog flow accordingly using conditioning and property values. This requires quite a bit of work and
testing. I would avoid it if you can.
Easy Mode: Just disabling (write protect) or hiding the dialogs fields that contain settings written in the first setup might be
preferable (rather than changing the dialog sequence). You can use conditions and conditioning for both purposes.
Maintenance GUI: For minor upgrades, repair and uninstall the dialog set will be different from the original installation. You will get a "maintenance dialog set" presented rather than the "installation dialog set".
Major Upgrade: A pecularity occurs when you install upgrades via Windows Installer's major upgrade mechanism. Because of how this works technically you get the installation dialog set for the new version as well. This is because it is technically a fresh install of that new product code. The fact that the older version gets uninstalled as part of the process is besides the point. You are not installing a new minor version, you are uninstalling and reinstalling effectively.
WIX_UPGRADE_DETECTED: There is a property that is set in a standard WiX package. It is WIX_UPGRADE_DETECTED. It can be used to detect when a major upgrade is taking place and hence used in conditions to adjust the dialog order of a major upgrade installation. Here are more details on this property, along with description of UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE - which is another property that is set in the setup being uninstalled (not in the new one being installed).
Here is a quick list of different ways to change WiX GUI.
Wix, custom dialog when previous version exists (customize dialogs when previous version exists).
Ran out of time. Persisting this, will update later.
Some Links:
Removing Default dialogs from MSI

Related

Wix create silent uninstall file

my idea is make an uninstall file with .msi install file. I read some information about creating uninstaller shortcut here: http://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/howtos/files_and_registry/create_uninstall_shortcut.html , But i cant found information about make uninstall file after msi build , maybe whom know it's possible ? and if possible how i can do it ? or maybe it possible to do with cmd script? Just write script for automatically uninstall my program from mashine. My code is :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi" xmlns:util="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/UtilExtension"><?define WpfApp1_TargetDir=$(var.WpfApp1.TargetDir)?>
<Product Id="*" Name="SetupProject2" Language="1033" Version="1.0.0.0" Manufacturer="Andrejka" UpgradeCode="PUT-GUID-HERE">
<Package InstallerVersion="200" Compressed="yes" InstallScope="perMachine" />
<Property Id="WIXUI_INSTALLDIR" Value="TESTFILEPRODUCTDIR" />
<Property Id="WixShellExecTarget" Value="[#WpfApp1.exe]" />
<CustomAction Id="LaunchApplication" BinaryKey="WixCA" DllEntry="WixShellExec" Impersonate="yes" />
<Property Id="LAUNCH_APP_ON_EXIT" Value="1" />
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action='LaunchApplication' After='InstallFiles'/>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
<Property Id="WIXUI_EXITDIALOGOPTIONALCHECKBOX" Value="1" />
<MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
<MediaTemplate EmbedCab="yes"/>
<Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="SetupProject2" Level="1">
<ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
</Feature>
</Product>
<Fragment>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="TESTFILEPRODUCTDIR" Name="SetupProject2">
<Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="SetupProject2" />
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Fragment>
<Fragment>
<ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
<!-- TODO: Remove the comments around this Component element and the ComponentRef below in order to add resources to this installer. -->
<!-- <Component Id="ProductComponent"> -->
<!-- TODO: Insert files, registry keys, and other resources here. -->
<!-- </Component> -->
<Component Id="WpfApp1.exe" Guid="*">
<File Id="WpfApp1.exe" Name="WpfApp1.exe" Source="$(var.WpfApp1_TargetDir)WpfApp1.exe" />
</Component>
<Component Id="WpfApp1.exe.config" Guid="*">
<File Id="WpfApp1.exe.config" Name="WpfApp1.exe.config" Source="$(var.WpfApp1_TargetDir)WpfApp1.exe.config" />
</Component>
<Component Id="aws_sdk_net_core_support.dll" Guid="*">
<File Id="aws_sdk_net_core_support.dll" Name="aws-sdk-net-core-support.dll" Source="$(var.WpfApp1_TargetDir)aws-sdk-net-core-support.dll" />
</Component>
<Component Id="AWSSDK.Core.dll" Guid="*">
<File Id="AWSSDK.Core.dll" Name="AWSSDK.Core.dll" Source="$(var.WpfApp1_TargetDir)AWSSDK.Core.dll" />
</Component>
<Component Id="AWSSDK.SimpleNotificationService.dll" Guid="*">
<File Id="AWSSDK.SimpleNotificationService.dll" Name="AWSSDK.SimpleNotificationService.dll" Source="$(var.WpfApp1_TargetDir)AWSSDK.SimpleNotificationService.dll" />
</Component>
<Component Id="MimeSharp.dll" Guid="*">
<File Id="MimeSharp.dll" Name="MimeSharp.dll" Source="$(var.WpfApp1_TargetDir)MimeSharp.dll" />
</Component>
</ComponentGroup>
</Fragment>
</Wix>
In general you are not supposed to put uninstall shortcuts in the start menu, it is in fact a violation of Microsoft's logo requirements for Windows applications I believe. Rather you should let people uninstall your product the normal way via the add/remove programs applet.
UPDATE: I found this answer with some more information on this topic: Shortcuts with name "Uninstall <Program Name>" are not displayed in Windows 8/8.1/10
Also, just so it is clear, uninstall, is a built-in feature of MSI files - it is always automatically available unless actively blocked (such as some applications hiding themselves from display in add/remove programs). There is nothing extra you have to do in your WiX sources to support uninstall properly. Just follow Windows Installer guidelines and it comes "for free".
If what you are asking is for a way to create an uninstall batch file, then you can find a plethora of ways to uninstall your MSI file in this "uninstall reference": Uninstalling an MSI file from the command line without using msiexec.
In short, just run the command line below to uninstall your MSI if you have the MSI's product code (you can find your product code by querying your system as described here: How can I find the product GUID of an installed MSI setup? - you might need to look it up since you auto-generate your product code):
msiexec.exe /x {your-product-guid}
or just uninstall by referring to your original MSI installation file like this:
msiexec.exe /x "c:\filename.msi
See the linked answer above (the uninstall reference) for a lot more information about this.

WIX Toolset - uninstalling .exe file

I wrote Wix Setup program, that wraps PyTangoArchiving-7.3.2.win-amd64.exe file into into PyTangoArchivingInstaller.msi package.
The installation procces is correct I think, in control pannel -> Programs I can see two additional programs installed:
PyTangoArchiving-7.3.2.win-amd64.exe - the program I wanted to install and
my wrapper - PyTangoArchivingInstaller.
But when I try to uninstall the application, only wrapper is being uninstalled and whole program (PyTangoArchiving-7.3.2.win-amd64.exe ) is still there, I have to uninstall it manually from Control Panel.
Can sb help me with this?
Here is my code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">
<Product Id="*" Name="PyTangoArchivingInstaller" Language="1033" Version="1.0.0.0" Manufacturer="test" UpgradeCode="PUT-GUID-HERE">
<Package InstallerVersion="200" Compressed="yes" InstallScope="perMachine" />
<WixVariable Id="WixUILicenseRtf" Value="$(var.ProjectDir)\License.rtf"/>
<Property Id="WIXUI_INSTALLDIR" Value="INSTALLLOCATION"/>
<MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
<MediaTemplate EmbedCab="yes"/>
<UIRef Id="WixUI_InstallDir"/>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id='TempFolder'>
<Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="MyApp" >
<Component Id='MyComponent' Guid='*'>
<File Id="mysetup_exe" Source="PyTangoArchiving-7.3.2.win-amd64.exe" />
</Component>
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Directory>
<Feature Id="MainApplication" Title="Main Application" Level="1">
<ComponentRef Id="MyComponent" />
</Feature>
<CustomAction Id="run_setup" FileKey="mysetup_exe" ExeCommand="/SP- /SILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /LANG=English
/NOCANCEL /DIR="[INSTALLLOCATION]""
Execute="deferred" Impersonate="no"
Return="check" />
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="run_setup" Sequence='5401'>NOT Installed</Custom>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
</Product>
</Wix>
As a general comment, you shouldn't usually be running another exe from inside your MSI, especially if it is an install that shows up in add/remove programs. You should instead use a bootstrapper to chain together multiple installs and this is the preferred way to do what you are trying to do.
Since you run your setup_exe from a custom action, you also need a corresponding custom action to uninstall it.
It would basically be the same format as the one you use to install except with the uninstall command line arguments, whatever they may be.
You will need to schedule your uninstall custom action before the "RemoveFiles" standard action so that the setup exe still exists when you try to run the custom action. You should also condition this custom action with REMOVE~="ALL" AND NOT UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE.
This approach will run into problems when you try to support upgrades with/without upgrades to the packaged exe install. It is highly suggested you use either the wix burn bootstrapper (bit of a learning curve) or one of the other available bootstrappers for multiple install installations. These would more robustly and correctly support two installs along with upgrades and uninstalls.

wix 3.8 silent install - ui level 2

I want to create a WIX Installer (3.8) that only installs silently.
I'm using the Wix file attached to demonstrate my issue.
At
UILevel=2
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<FindRelatedProducts Before="LaunchConditions">UILevel=2</FindRelatedProducts>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
I'm setting the UI level to 2
According to:
msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa372096%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
then it's:
"
INSTALLUILEVEL_NONE 2 Completely silent installation.
"
So far so good. I can install the "product" which is nothing but an empty directory.
When I set the product's version to: Version="1.1.0.0" and want to do a major upgrade everything also works fine.
When I look at the program an feature "tool" from Microsoft
as shown here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uninstall-change-program#uninstall-change-program=windows-7
I see both versions (version 1.0.0.0 and 1.1.0.0) which is not what I expected the Wix installer should do.
When I remove
<InstallUISequence>
<FindRelatedProducts Before="LaunchConditions">UILevel=2</FindRelatedProducts>
</InstallUISequence>
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<FindRelatedProducts Before="LaunchConditions">UILevel=2</FindRelatedProducts>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
from the Wix script, install Version 1.0.0.0 and later after changing the wix script to 1.1.0.0
and major upgrading again,
I only see 1 version (1.1.0.0) at the program an feature "tool" from Microsoft
( windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uninstall-change-program#uninstall-change-program=windows-7 )
which is what I expect the windows installer should do.
So my question would be:
What is missing or wrong at the script
( that the program an feature "tool" from Microsoft shows 2 Versions after a major upgrade )
Wix script:
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">
<Product Id="*" Name="SetupProject1" Language="1033" Version="1.1.0.0" Manufacturer="asdf" UpgradeCode="BE170BF6-0C06-4A50-B81B-CDF6609FAD5A">
<Package InstallerVersion="200" Compressed="yes" InstallScope="perUser" InstallPrivileges="limited" />
<MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." Schedule="afterInstallInitialize" />
<MediaTemplate />
<InstallUISequence>
<FindRelatedProducts Before="LaunchConditions">UILevel=2</FindRelatedProducts>
</InstallUISequence>
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<FindRelatedProducts Before="LaunchConditions">UILevel=2</FindRelatedProducts>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
<Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="SetupProject1" Level="1">
<ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
</Feature>
</Product>
<Fragment>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="LocalAppDataFolder">
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="SetupProject1" />
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Fragment>
<Fragment>
<ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
<Component Id="test" Guid="D6527568-4C76-493B-AF1F-9E973723E773"
SharedDllRefCount="no" KeyPath="no" NeverOverwrite="no" Permanent="no" Transitive="no"
Win64="no" Location="either">
<CreateFolder/>
<RemoveFolder Id="ProductComponents" On="uninstall"/>
<RegistryValue Root="HKCU" Key="Software\MyFantasyCompany\MyApplicationName" Name="installed" Type="integer" Value="1" KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
</ComponentGroup>
</Fragment>
</Wix>
First, there's no such thing as WiX script. WiX is not a imperative programming language, it's a declarative language.
Your major upgrade is failing because the condition on FindRelatedProducts is evaluating to false which means it can never detect the ProductCode of the previous MSI and remove it as part of the upgrade.
If you really want a silent install only, why not just omit a UI from the installer? Personally I have no idea why you are trying to do this and it doesn't follow established best practices.

WiX Installer InstallPrivelges="elevated" not working

When I run my installer I get the following issue.
I'm doing some custom actions which require to access the registry and I can only think that its because the WiX configuration doesn't make it request admin priveleges. I've looked at some posts on SO and tried to use.
InstallPriveleges="elevated"
within the package element however this does not make the installer have the admin shield nor request it therefore still producing the error.
Extra information about test project.
The name of my application is :WindowsFormsApplication33, the name of the custom action project is CustomAction1 and name of the Setup project is SetupProject1.
This is my current wix xml file.
<Package InstallerVersion="200" Compressed="yes" InstallPrivileges="elevated" InstallScope="perUser" />
<Binary Id="CustomAction1.CA.dll" SourceFile ="..\CustomAction1\bin\$(var.Configuration)\CustomAction1.CA.dll" />
<CustomAction Id="disableTaskManager"
Return="check"
Execute="immediate"
BinaryKey="CustomAction1.CA.dll"
DllEntry="disableTaskManager" />
<CustomAction Id="enableTaskManager"
Return="check"
Execute="immediate"
BinaryKey="CustomAction1.CA.dll"
DllEntry="enableTaskManager" />
<MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
<MediaTemplate />
<Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="SetupProject1" Level="1">
<ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
</Feature>
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="disableTaskManager" Before="InstallFinalize" />
<Custom Action="enableTaskManager" After="InstallInitialize"><![CDATA[(NOT UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE)]]></Custom>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
</Product>
<Fragment>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="Form Test Application" />
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Fragment>
<Fragment>
<ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
<Component Guid="{EDA315F6-A115-4348-8607-981C252EA317}">
<File Source="$(var.WindowsFormsApplication33.TargetPath)" KeyPath ="yes" />
</Component>
<Component Guid="{E3182F61-F563-4C13-82B5-8CC39D9DB380}">
<File Source="$(var.CustomAction1.TargetPath)" KeyPath ="yes" />
</Component>
<Component Guid="{E4AF325E-B244-47F5-855A-5B40DBC425D2}">
<File Source="..\WindowsFormsApplication33\bin\Release\WindowsFormsApplication33.exe.config" KeyPath="yes" />
</Component>
</ComponentGroup>
</Fragment>
Update : changing the InstallScope value from perUser to "perMachine" does make a UAC prompt however the DLL error still exists..
Your custom action is immediate, that means it will not run with elevation. It must be deferred to run with elevation. It's got nothing to do with WiX particularly, it's just that immediate custom actions run as the user but limited.
I struggled to get rid of the dll error however an alternative I found was to NOT use Custom Action and use the XML in the wix file to create the registry and then delete the key when uninstalling via the use of :
ForceDeleteOnUninstall="yes"
You have to use this in the
Example :
<!-- Register windows autostart registry -->
<Component Id="RegistryEntries" Guid="45C7AC46-1101-4301-83E1-D24392283A60">
<RegistryValue Type="string"
Name="FooStartup"
Value="[#FooMainApp]"
Root="HKLM"
Key="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
Action="write"/>
</Component>
As found on : Registry change upon installing application C#
I really hope this helps someone new to WiX as it did to me.
Use these three attributes inside custom action tag.
<CustomAction ....
Execute="deferred"
Impersonate="no"
Return="ignore" />
These fields will make the custom action to run with admin priveleges.

Changing the TARGETDIR in WiX

I am having problems setting the TARGETDIR path. I used dark.exe to reverse engineer a working MSI file and read any posts I could find on this subject, but I seem to be unable to set the TARGETDIR to point to the path ProgramFiles\Manufacturer\Product. Below is a distilation of my WXS file which results in my application being installed to the root of my D-drive for some reason:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">
<Product Id="*"
Name="FBL - Some App"
Language="1033"
Version="1.0.0.0"
Manufacturer="Foo & Bar Limited"
UpgradeCode="780286c6-e064-4402-80d8-dd2c68b56c04">
<Package InstallerVersion="200"
Compressed="yes"
InstallScope="perMachine"
Comments="Performs some operation that is important" />
<MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
<Media Id="1" Cabinet="App.1.0.0.cab" EmbedCab="yes" />
<CustomAction Id="setTARGETDIR"
Property="TARGETDIR"
Value="[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\[ProductName]"
Execute="firstSequence"
Return="check" />
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Component Id="C__App.exe"
Guid="{074586E9-A675-2734-A4CD-1CE520922A41}">
<File Id="F__App.exe"
Name="App.exe"
KeyPath="yes"
Assembly=".net"
AssemblyManifest="F__App.exe"
AssemblyApplication="F__App.exe"
DiskId="1"
Source="D:\SomePath\bin\Debug\App.exe" />
</Component>
</Directory>
<Feature Id="DefaultFeature" ConfigurableDirectory="TARGETDIR" Level="1">
<ComponentRef Id="C__App.exe" Primary="yes" />
</Feature>
<Icon Id="favicon.ico" SourceFile="d:\SomePath\favicon.ico" />
<Property Id="ARPPRODUCTICON" Value="favicon.ico" />
<UI />
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="setTARGETDIR" Before="CostFinalize" />
</InstallExecuteSequence>
</Product>
</Wix>
I'm sure I am missing something simple, but I cannot find any further information on what to do from here.
The following modifications were needed:
<CustomAction Id="SetTARGETDIR"
Directory="TARGETDIR"
Value="[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\[ProductName]"
Return="check" />
and
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="SetTARGETDIR" After="InstallValidate" />
</InstallExecuteSequence>
Explanation: Use the Directory attribute instead of a property (it's a type 35 custom action) and schedule this action after InstallValidate in the execute sequence - that's when directories are checked for write access and truly set.
(Thanks to Narina Chandra Sekhar, from the WiX user group for the answer on this.)
This is strange...I had the same issue but your answer didn't work for me. All I needed was this:
<Product>
<SetProperty Id='TARGETDIR' Value='[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\[ProductName]\' Before='FindRelatedProducts' />
...
</Product>
But then again I think something else in my installer may have been setting the TARGETDIR directory from the property; I was working with some legacy stuff.
Edit: Actually, that was a bad idea. A lot of times, some of these custom actions that are built in can be called at different parts of the installation process, so its just better to add a custom action to set the property.
Here is what worked for me:
<Product>
<CustomAction Id='SetTARGETDIR' Property='TARGETDIR' Value='[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\[ProductName]\'/>
...
</Product>
<InstallUISequence>
<Custom Action='SetTARGETDIR' Sequence='1'/>
...
</InstallUISequence>
<AdminUISequence>
<Custom Action='SetTARGETDIR' Sequence='1'/>
...
</AdminUISequence>
Nothing worked for me so what I did is to run the msi with a command line setting the property of the installation directory. By default my program would be installed to drive C but sometimes I wanted it to be installed to D drive so here is what I did:
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
<Directory Id="APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY" Name="XServer">
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Directory>
Here is the command line:
XServer.msi /L*v log.log APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY="D:\Program Files (x86)\XServer"
This actually worked for me. The CostFinalize action is where TARGETDIR Directory is defined.
<SetProperty Id="TARGETDIR" Value="[ROOTDRIVE]MyCompany" Sequence="first" Before="CostFinalize">NOT Installed AND NOT TARGETDIR</SetProperty>
I tried changing the installation dir via custom action (cause I needed code to figure out the path with code - long story), and what solved it for me what the timing - I had to schedule the custom action to:
After="CostInitialize"