Changing the TARGETDIR in WiX - wix

Question

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.

Answer 1

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.)

Answer 2

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>

Answer 3

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"

Answer 4

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>

Answer 5

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"