Another solution could be to call a custom action that then runs a process to do that work, passing an explicit PATH environment varable to the process. The CreateProcess API will let you fire off a process with an explicit environment block (in lpEnvironment) containing the path variables you need. Then you're not fiddling with the system path either. Yes, right now you're inheriting the calling process's environment picked up when it started.
Phil Wilson -----Original Message----- From: Castro, Edwin G. (Hillsboro) [mailto:edwin.cas...@fiserv.com] Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 12:10 PM To: Brown Boiler; General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Need foolproof way to change system path in WIX The process executing the custom action needs to be restarted after the environment variable is modified and before the custom action executes for the new environment variable value to be visible to that process. What process is executing the custom action? My gut says it's either the client side or server side Windows Installer process and they are both busy installing your MSI package. Sounds like such a change would need require a pre-install "installer" to modify the environment variable... Perhaps a better solution would be to statically link the code to the custom action so that you don't need to load the library? Edwin G. Castro Software Developer - Staff Digital Channels Fiserv Office: 503-746-0643 Fax: 503-617-0291 www.fiserv.com Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail > -----Original Message----- > From: Brown Boiler [mailto:brown_boi...@yahoo.com] > Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 11:54 AM > To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Subject: [WiX-users] Need foolproof way to change system path in WIX > > I am using Wix 4.5 and installing on Windows 7 64 Bit and Windows Server > 2008 R2 64 bit. > > > I am trying to do a LoadLibrary and lineAddProvider from a custom action that > initiates a C++ method. Everything works correctly as long as I manually add > two directories to the system path environment variable and reboot before > running my MSI. I manually update the system path using the Environment > Variables dialog in System...Advanced System Settings. Obviously this is an > unacceptable solution for deployment, so I tried to find a way to have WIX > update the system path for me. > > > I have tried numerous ways to get my installer to change the system path so > that the LoadLibrary and lineAddProvider are successful, but I have not had > success. I have tried unsuccessfully in the following ways: > - Using <Environment Id="EnvAppendToPath1" Action="set" > Permanent="no" Name="Path" Part="last" System="yes" > Value="[INSTALLDIR64];[INSTALLDIR]"/> > - Using a custom routine we have that modifies the path in the registry > - Using CAQuietExec (running a setx command to modify the path) > > Using the first two methods, I see that the system path indeed was updated > in the Environment Variable Dialog, but the LoadLibrary still fails. I even > created a new feature in my install in which I had the installer update the > system path, rebooted, and then did a change install on the correct feature > to try to do the LoadLibrary and lineAddProvider, but I still get the errors. > > So basically I need to find a foolproof way to permanently change the system > path in an install, even if it requires a reboot in the system. Anyone have > any > ideas? > > Thanks. > > Adam > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > BlackBerry® DevCon Americas, Oct. 18-20, San Francisco, CA The must- > attend event for mobile developers. Connect with experts. > Get tools for creating Super Apps. See the latest technologies. > Sessions, hands-on labs, demos & much more. 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