That's an interesting idea, I assumed that the windows installer more or less kept track of an original install for repairs, uninstalls, patches, and upgrades which may have been the error in my approach. My installer does not contain a registry key for an installation path. Although I can easily add a registry key to do this I'm not sure how I would make use of it for uninstalls, repairs, and patches though, chiefly how to make them look for that registry key and update their working directory based on it. Do you have any idea how this might be done or perhaps a link to some online resources. I've been searching google to see about how to do this and haven't had much luck so far.
Thomas Svare wrote: > > Hello, > > Sorry about that just meant any install operation after the initial > install. It sounds like WIX_INSTALLDIR is not being updated to the user > select install directory during patches/repair/uninstall. If the > install directory is being saved in the registry or .ini file you can > use the RegistrySearch or IniFileSearch element to set a property. Then > you could use that property to set WIX_INSTALLDIR based on whether or > not your product is installed. > > There's also a ComponentSearch element that may be helpful as well. > > Thanks, > Tom > > -----Original Message----- > From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] > Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 11:59 AM > To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate directories > > > Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term "maintenance mode" and all that it > encompasses. I can tell you that the WIX_INSTALLDIR is being defined in > the > actual code. When running the installer it has a default location which > is > preset and shows up in the dialog. When the user changes it they do it > while running the installer by modifying the text which should reset the > WIX_INSTALLDIR property during the installation. If this could be > defined > as being set/defined in maintenance mode, than yes it is for user-chosen > directories. > > > Thomas Svare wrote: >> >> Hello, >> >> Is WIXUI_INSTALLDIR being set/defined in maintenance mode? >> >> Thanks, >> Tom >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >> Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 10:28 AM >> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate directories >> >> >> Hey Tom, >> >> I have the option for users to choose the installation directory from > a >> custom InstallDirDlg.wxs file, basically just copied with a different >> name, >> call it MyInstallDirDlg.wxs. The user can either click a button and >> browse >> or type the location manually into an edit field. The value gets set > to >> a >> property defined in my main installer .wxs file as WIXUI_INSTALLDIR. >> Then >> in a custom MyWixUI_InstallDir.wxs, I have it publish the > SetTargetPath >> event to value [WIXUI_INSTALLDIR]. >> >> By default the directory structure is put in as follows: >> >> <Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder"> >> <Directory Id='ProductFolder' Name='Product'> >> <Directory Id="PRODUCTVERSIONFOLDER" Name="Version"> >> <RegistryKey Root="HKCU" >> Key="Software\IWARS\ResearchAndDevelopment\Uninstall"> >> <RegistryValue Value="0" Type="string" KeyPath="yes" /> >> </RegistryKey> >> ... components below ... >> </Directory> >> </Directory> >> </Directory> >> >> >> Thomas Svare wrote: >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> How does the directory for the binaries and docs get set when the > user >>> chooses a non-default install directory? It sounds like this isn't >>> happening in any maintenance operations. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Tom >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>> Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 8:07 AM >>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate directories >>> >>> >>> Hey Tom, >>> >>> I managed to get a verbose log of a good and bad uninstall (seemed > the >>> easiest place to start.) INSTALLDIR was set properly in both logs. >> The >>> issue with the uninstall prevents itself with only the data files > used >>> by >>> our application being removed. This holds true for the other issues >> as >>> well, the data files don't seem to be causing a problem. The binary >>> files >>> and documentation for our product remain behind. In both logs their >>> directory data is also the same, which naturally means it works fine >>> when >>> installed to the default directory. >>> >>> There isn't really any key difference between the binary files being >>> installed and the data files. One difference being that all the >> binary >>> files are being installed under a single component (which I know is a >>> rule >>> violation but the ruling to do it this way is happening above me). I >>> also >>> don't see how it could be contributing to this particular problem. >>> >>> >>> Thomas Svare wrote: >>>> >>>> Hello, >>>> >>>> Try looking at the property dump section of a verbose log and > compare >>>> the directory table entry values between a good default install and > a >>>> bad patch/repair/uninstall. INSTALLDIR is has been an issue for me >> in >>>> the past. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Tom >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>>> Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:50 PM >>>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate > directories >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks for the tip Tom, I'm looking into at least one discrepency >> that >>> I >>>> saw >>>> come up after the Orca/patch transform. I'm not sure if it's > causing >>>> this >>>> error or not but chances are it would have caused problems down the >>>> road. >>>> >>>> The second issue you mentioned I was curious about as well. Do you >>> know >>>> of >>>> anything that could cause a property to be set by the UI and not by >>>> repair >>>> and uninstall? I could see this happening with registry key entries >>>> which >>>> shouldn't be the case in my installer, but could you help me to >>>> understand >>>> what to look for with troublesome UI properties as well? >>>> >>>> >>>> Thomas Svare wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hello, >>>>> >>>>> You just open the msi with Orca then choose Transform->View Patch >> and >>>>> navigate to the msp and select OK and you'll see the changes in >> Orca. >>>>> >>>>> Since repairs and uninstalls are showing the problem it sounds like >>>> some >>>>> property is getting set by the UI that isn't being re-set during >>>>> patch/repair/uninstall. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Tom >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:59 PM >>>>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate >> directories >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I definitely reviewed the tables for both my installer msi as well >> as >>>> my >>>>> patch msp while trying to figure out this problem. I've never > heard >>>> of >>>>> applying a patch using orca before though, I took at look but > didn't >>>> see >>>>> an >>>>> obvious way of doing this. Could you let me know how to use orca > to >>>>> apply >>>>> the patch? Also the issue extends beyond patching to include >> repairs >>>>> and >>>>> uninstalls so I think the problem runs deeper than just how the >> patch >>>> is >>>>> applied. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thomas Svare wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hello, >>>>>> >>>>>> You may have already tried this but sometimes opening the msi and >>>>>> applying the patch with Orca can point out things that are buried >> in >>>> a >>>>>> verbose log like removing a component from a feature during a > patch >>>>> etc. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>> Tom >>>>>> >>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:00 PM >>>>>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate >>> directories >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> All of the components are listed as: >>>>>> >>>>>> Installed: Local; Request: Local; Action: Local. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Blair-2 wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> What does the log say about the component statuses? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:27 AM >>>>>>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate >>>> directories >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hey Blair-2, I'd be happy to share a log of the installation but >>>>>>> unfortunately I'm doing this for a company and I'm not allowed to >>>>> post >>>>>> the >>>>>>> information for a log. I've studied the logs myself during >>> patching >>>>>> and >>>>>>> it >>>>>>> looks like it doesn't recognize that the install path is > different >>>>>> from >>>>>>> C:\Program Files\Appname\etc. What it ends up outputting is a >> list >>>>> of >>>>>> the >>>>>>> files being installed by the patch but each one specifies To be >>>>>> installed; >>>>>>> Won't patch; No existing file. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you're interested in a particular portion of the log file I >>> might >>>>>> be >>>>>>> able >>>>>>> to show you by replacing the product and path information with >>>>>> fictional >>>>>>> data so you could see what might be the problem without my >>> violating >>>>>> my >>>>>>> company's policies. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thank for all your help so far! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Blair-2 wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The location that the components you are patching are already >>>>>> installed. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Could you share a log that shows it not working in that >>>>> circumstance? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 1:55 PM >>>>>>>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate >>>>> directories >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> When you refer to the "currently installed location", are you >>>>>> referring >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> the location that my product installs to by default or the >>> location >>>>>>>> selected >>>>>>>> by the user. If the latter, then the patch should be installing >>> to >>>>>> that >>>>>>>> location. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Blair-2 wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Are your patches MSP files performing either small updates or >>>> minor >>>>>>>>> upgrades? If so, the patch application won't let you patch >>>> anywhere >>>>>>>>> other >>>>>>>>> than the currently installed location since the keypath of the >>>>>>>>> components >>>>>>>>> can't be changed without a major upgrade. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>>> From: XorPtr [mailto:reaper4...@gmail.com] >>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 1:12 PM >>>>>>>>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>>>> Subject: [WiX-users] Patching problems with alternate >> directories >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I've been having an issue with my WiX patch which I haven't > been >>>>>> able to >>>>>>>>> find >>>>>>>>> any information for. The company I work for wants to give > users >>>>> the >>>>>>>>> freedom >>>>>>>>> to install our product in a directory of their choice. We've >>>> given >>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> installer a default directory which can be changed at install >>> time >>>>>> by >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> user. This has worked fine up until attempting to patch the >>>>>> package. I >>>>>>>>> successfully made a patch which patches the package without >>>> problem >>>>>> if >>>>>>>>> it's >>>>>>>>> installed to the default location, however if users choose to >>>>>> install >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> product in an alternate location and then patch the patch fails >>>>>> because >>>>>>>>> it's >>>>>>>>> still trying to change files on the default location. Any > ideas >>>> on >>>>>> how >>>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>>> can dynamically set up the patch install location based on > where >>>>> the >>>>>>>>> user >>>>>>>>> installs our product? Thanks in advance. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Big Jim. >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> View this message in context: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>>>>> 386p >>>>>>>>> 4102386.html >>>>>>>>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ---- >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> Join us December 9, 2009 for the Red Hat Virtual Experience, >>>>>>>>> a free event focused on virtualization and cloud computing. >>>>>>>>> Attend in-depth sessions from your desk. Your couch. Anywhere. >>>>>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/redhat-sfdev2dev >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ---- >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> Join us December 9, 2009 for the Red Hat Virtual Experience, >>>>>>>>> a free event focused on virtualization and cloud computing. >>>>>>>>> Attend in-depth sessions from your desk. Your couch. Anywhere. >>>>>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/redhat-sfdev2dev >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> View this message in context: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>>>>> 386p >>>>>>>> 4142265.html >>>>>>>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ---- >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> Return on Information: >>>>>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>>>>> Get the facts. >>>>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ---- >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> Return on Information: >>>>>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>>>>> Get the facts. >>>>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> View this message in context: >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>>>>> 386p >>>>>>> 4145621.html >>>>>>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ---- >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Return on Information: >>>>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>>>> Get the facts. >>>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ------ >>>>>>> Return on Information: >>>>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>>>> Get the facts. >>>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> View this message in context: >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>>>>> 386p4146422.html >>>>>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> ------ >>>>>> Return on Information: >>>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>>> Get the facts. >>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> ------ >>>>>> Return on Information: >>>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>>> Get the facts. >>>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> View this message in context: >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>>>> 386p4146811.html >>>>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> ------ >>>>> Return on Information: >>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>> Get the facts. >>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>> ------ >>>>> Return on Information: >>>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>>> Get the facts. >>>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> View this message in context: >>>> >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>>> 386p4147717.html >>>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>> ------ >>>> Return on Information: >>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>> Get the facts. >>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>> >>>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> ------ >>>> Return on Information: >>>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>>> Get the facts. >>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WiX-users mailing list >>>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> View this message in context: >>> >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >>> 386p4151154.html >>> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> ------ >>> Return on Information: >>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>> Get the facts. >>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> ------ >>> Return on Information: >>> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >>> Get the facts. >>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >> >> -- >> View this message in context: >> > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 >> 386p4164725.html >> Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> ------ >> Return on Information: >> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >> Get the facts. >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >> _______________________________________________ >> WiX-users mailing list >> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ------ >> Return on Information: >> Google Enterprise Search pays you back >> Get the facts. >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev >> _______________________________________________ >> WiX-users mailing list >> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >> >> > > -- > View this message in context: > http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102 > 386p4165352.html > Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ------ > Return on Information: > Google Enterprise Search pays you back > Get the facts. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Return on Information: > Google Enterprise Search pays you back > Get the facts. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Patching-problems-with-alternate-directories-tp4102386p4176374.html Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Verizon Developer Community Take advantage of Verizon's best-in-class app development support A streamlined, 14 day to market process makes app distribution fast and easy Join now and get one step closer to millions of Verizon customers http://p.sf.net/sfu/verizon-dev2dev _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
