If you can have the end-user customize the config file *before* installing, you can create an MSI transform and install the modified config file. Our customers need to customize a default config before deploying across the network (desktop software) and so we use the method I've described over at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/319894/simplest-solution-to-replace-a-tiny-file-inside-an-msi
If you wanted to automate it then I'm sure you could put together some bootstrap process that prompts the user for their choices, writes a modified config file, wraps that up into an MST and CAB file and then launches the MSI. As a side note, setup *must* be considered part of the development cycle. As soon as you have a working build, start on setup. That way issues and problems like these are highlighted early and can be fixed when there is still time. (Unfortunately it's easier said than done and took nearly two major release cycles for the mindset to catch on here) Sascha On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 9:08 PM, Viv Coco <vcotirl...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi, > > > Can you install a default configuration file and then copy that to > the "user" configuration if it doesn't exist? > > Well, I could do so, already thought about that, but unfortunately the > application is already in Q&A so we are not allowed to change anything > to it anymore so everything "that is left" has to be done through the > installer. I know, bad decision, but unfortunately it's not my decision :( > > So my application needs a conf file to run correctly (MyApp.cfg) where > the user has to set some entries (it's per machine, not per user). I was > thinking to do like this: when installing the application I also put in > the binary directory the MyApp.cfg.template so that the user has it for > later reference and the same one put also under the name MyApp.cfg and > at the end of installation through the msi to open the MyApp.conf file > so that the user can right away set it as he needs. When he closes the > modified conf file, installation is finished and application will run > correctly. Is there a way to do this without getting into those > headaches you were saying? > > > Then just use RemoveFile to delete the config when your application > is uninstalled. > > How can I do that? I mean how can I remove a file only when an real > uninstall is done and not a major upgrade which also includes an > uninstall before the new install? > > Thx, > Viv > > > On 3/29/2010 6:51 AM, Sascha Beaumont wrote: >> Letting the user modify "installed" files will cause significant >> headaches. Best solution, until you understand why, just don't do it. >> >> Can you install a default configuration file and then copy that to the >> "user" configuration if it doesn't exist? That way Windows Installer >> doesn't 'know' about the configuration file (except for the default >> one which shouldn't be modified) and so won't try to replace it on >> repair. Then just use RemoveFile to delete the config when your >> application is uninstalled. >> >> >> On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 8:08 PM, Viv coco<vcotirl...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> >>> >>> I read the WiX Tutorial from http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/ and there are >>> some things I didn't understand or couldn't find and as I read that this is >>> the best place for questions, I'll write them here, but for an easier >>> followup I will write each question into a separat email. I appreciate your >>> answers/help. >>> >>> When I install my application, along with the binaries, in the same >>> directory a conf file is placed that the user can change as he needs. >>> I would like for this conf file to not be deleted (or overwritten) when we >>> do a major upgrade, but only when we remove the application completely from >>> the computer, b/c otherwise the user needs to do the right settings in the >>> conf file every time after an upgrade. >>> In other words, for this conf file, I would like to have the following >>> behaviour: when the product is upgraded (major upgrade which means first >>> uninstall old version meaning deleting all installed files and then install >>> a new version) the conf file should NOT be deleted or overwritten. But if >>> the user uninstalls our product, for instance from add/remove program, then >>> b/c I want to clean everything I would like that conf file to be deleted. >>> How could I have this behaviour? >>> >>> >>> >>> TIA, >>> Viv >>> >>> >>> _________________________________________________________________ >>> Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. >>> https://signup.live.com/signup.aspx?id=60969 >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval >>> Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs >>> proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. >>> See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. >>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval >> Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs >> proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. >> See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev >> _______________________________________________ >> WiX-users mailing list >> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >> >> >> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval > Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs > proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. > See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
