Hi all, I found the source of the problem, and it has nothing to do with WiX at all.
The xml snippet I posted was copied from Internet Explorer (aka "XML Editor"). I did not consider, that relying on what this tool displays might be misleading, since it does not actually display the contents of the xml byte by byte, but display an already interpreted representation of the xml. Looking into the xml file directly using an hex editor revealed, that the actual xml contents was: ExeCommand="/Path:&quot;[MyDataPath]&quot;" If you look at this xml through XML editor it looks exactly like the sample code I intended to use .-) I corrected it, and the custom action worked like a charm. Many thanks to those who looked into my post, Armin. 2009/9/18 David Watson <dwat...@sdl.com> > hi, > Did you try > > <CustomAction Id="Rebuild" FileKey="_Update.exe" > ExeCommand='/Path:"[MyDataPath]"' Return="asyncWait">NOT > Installed</CustomAction> > > I think xml lets you get away with ' or " for attributes. > > Dave > > -----Original Message----- > From: Armin Linder [mailto:mirram...@googlemail.com] > Sent: 18 September 2009 11:26 > To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Subject: [WiX-users] Quote-in-quotes problem in ExeCommand, a WiX bug,or > am I missing something? > > Hi WiX experts, > > before I wave the "bug" flag, being relatively new to WiX, I am asking > you to review this problem, and probably give me advice how to > circumvent the following weirdness: > > my xml is: > > <CustomAction Id="Rebuild" FileKey="_Update.exe" > ExeCommand="/Path:"[MyDataPath]"" Return="asyncWait">NOT > Installed</CustomAction> <InstallExecuteSequence> > <Custom Action="Rebuild" After="InstallFinalize">NOT > Installed</Custom> </InstallExecuteSequence> > > Since [MyDataPath] does most likely point to a "documents and > settings\...." > subfolder, I enclosed the command line parameter in double quotes by > adding ". > > The installation runs through, but when my program "update.exe" gets > executed, it complains about a non-existing path passed via tha /Path > parameter: > > "Unable to find directory: "C:\documents" > > It's obvious, that the msi did not pass the path enclosed in "..." like > I intended, but instead passed " literally to the called program, > messing up its command line parser. This is somehow strange, because > there are lots of samples around showing ExeCommand attributes with > enclosed " expressions. Either nobody ever actually tried this, or > there is something really weird going on in my machine ... but I cannot > see any obvious reason, the source code above is, in my opinion, > correct, and the symptoms are clear. > > Candle.exe and Light.exe are both 3.0.5419.0. > > Any hints? > > Thanks, > > AL. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ------ > Come build with us! The BlackBerry® Developer Conference in SF, CA > is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your > developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and > stay ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9-12, 2009. Register > now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > 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. > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Come build with us! The BlackBerry® Developer Conference in SF, CA > is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your > developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay > ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9-12, 2009. Register now! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Come build with us! The BlackBerry® Developer Conference in SF, CA is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9-12, 2009. Register now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
