Thanks for the reply, David. It sounds pretty much like what I've been doing. Only difference is that I've been using CMD scripts for my custom actions. Basically, I've been passing in the [INSTALLDIR] as an argument to to the CA, and in the CMD I would use that to append to the PATH.
I guess it's pretty much the only way to go, from what I can see. That Windows Installer does not update environment during its execution is consistent with the advice that the MSI should not be doing configuration, that configuration should be left to an app run after the MSI is complete. Still, if the MSI can't simply launch that configurator app and ensure that the app has the updated environment, then I believe this makes for a rather odd installation experience from an end-user point of view (ie the installer completes, but the end-user then must run another exe before the installed application can be started up.) Thanks again. -----Original Message----- From: David Watson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 12:08 PM To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. Subject: Re: [WiX-users] When is the target machine's environment updated? Hi, I had this problem when I was running tools from my chainer, my MSI updated the environment then a later tool could not see the changes to the path. I solved this by adding a collector (an assembly that the chainer uses for dialogues etc) that updates the environment variable temporarily for the current process using SetEnvironmentVariable Function (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms686206(VS.85).aspx). You could set the enviroment variable temporarily in your CA before you spawn your sub processes if that is possible in the way you are working. Dave W. -----Original Message----- From: Tanikella, Rajanikanth (SCR US) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 09 October 2008 18:20 To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. Subject: [WiX-users] When is the target machine's environment updated? Hello All, I've a number of custom actions (CMD scripts) that run EXE files that the MSI installs. These EXEs, in turn, require that a certain directory (also installed by this MSI) is included in the PATH environment variable. These CAs never run successfully, and I think I know why: Although the MSI includes an <Environment> element to append the needed directories to the PATH, the target machine is not aware of this change until after the MSI completes. (According to the Environment table description at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa368369(VS.85).aspx, "On Windows 2000, this information is stored in the registry and a message notifies the system of changes when the installation completes.") I've tried using the WixShellExec as described in the "How To: Run the Installed Application After Setup" article in the WiX help, and even this does not do the trick. Clearly, the installed EXEs do not see the updates the MSI has made to the path. Am I missing something? Is there no point before clicking 'finish' on the final dialog that I can insert a call to my custom action and guarantee that it is running with all the environment changes the MSI has made? Or is the only way truly to install a CMD file that sets its own PATH and runs these EXEs? So far tha tis the only way I've managed to get them to work. Raj SDL PLC confidential, all rights reserved. If you are not the intended recipient of this mail SDL requests and requires that you delete it without acting upon or copying any of its contents, and we further request that you advise us. SDL PLC is a public limited company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02675207. Registered address: Globe House, Clivemont Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7DY, UK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ - This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
