CODEWITHSUNDEEP
wixinstallation
Jan Swart
Jan Swart

Reputation: 7231

Adding software setup to installer

I'm writing an installer for an application. Most of the installer is done and working, but I have on more step outstanding. I need some way to add a setup window to the installer, that will take user input like server address and port, etc. and write these to the relevant files for system start-up. This preferably done through a GUI of sorts inside the installer. I've tried creating an executable file that runs after installation, but this does not always execute on different systems.

Is there a way to add a GUI to the installer itself that executes after the directory structures and files have been put into place?

Thanks in advance.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 60

Answers (2)

PhilDW
PhilDW

Reputation: 20790

In general you should seriously consider doing this as a standalone app that runs when the app first runs and needs configuring. Then it's a program that runs in a user context and can be tested and debugged in the normal way. At least consider what the user is going to do if they want to change the server address or the port - will they need to uninstall your app and reinstall it just to change the server details or the port?

The GUI may not run correctly when started from the install for a number of reasons. It may be initiated with the system account if it's a deferred CA. It wasn't started from the interactive user shell, so it probably won't have any idea of a working directory. It's being run from an msiexec.exe process running in the system directory and maybe with a system account - that's not really the place to be doing your GUI configuration.

Upvotes: 2

Daniel Morritt
Daniel Morritt

Reputation: 1817

I assume you're using WiX, it doesn't say so in your question but it's tagged with WiX.

I would have a read of http://wix.tramontana.co.hu/tutorial/user-interface-revisited (or http://www.dizzymonkeydesign.com/blog/misc/adding-and-customizing-dlgs-in-wix-3/ has a relatively easy to read example), you can add or edit any of the dialogue boxes in the installer, you'll need to download the source to get at the built in dialog, and it does require some "play" to get everything quite right but worth it to get a professional looking installer.

Upvotes: 0

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