CODEWITHSUNDEEP
wix
andyopayne
andyopayne

Reputation: 1368

WiX Heat Pre-build Error

I have a WiX installer that was working fine, but it's been a few months since I worked on it... so, I am not attempting to build the installer (on a reconfigured machine) and now it fails to build every time. I've tried to simplify everything to isolate where it's failing, but I still can't seem to figure out why. Essentially, it looks like it's failing at the pre-build process. I had a length Pre-build Event command, but I've simplified it to the bare essentials. Here's my command:

call “$(WIX)bin\heat.exe” dir "$(SolutionDir)MyProj\bin\Release" -out “$(ProjectDir)MyFiles.wxs”

The error I'm getting is:

call “C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.10\bin\heat.exe” dir "C:\Users\MyName\Documents\GitHub\MyProj\bin\Release" -out “C:\Users\MyName\Documents\GitHub\MyProj\Installer\MyFiles.wxs”
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

The code appears to exit with code 1, which seems to suggest that it's failing to locate a filename or path... however, I've checked the paths that are printed in the output log and the heat.exe application does exists under the C:\Program Files (x86) directory. The directory (dir) it's trying to harvest is properly defined and the output location is as well. So, does anyone know why this is failing?

Update

What's incredibly strange is that the pre-build event command seems to fail even when I simplify the command to try to simply call the heat.exe application (with no other parameters). I tried changing my pre-build event to the following:

call “C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.10\bin\heat.exe”

As you can see from the attached image, the heat.exe application is indeed located in the directory specified in the build command. Yet, I still get an error saying that the MSBuild failed and exited with code 1. If I check the output log, it says that the, "filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect". However, I can say that this installer was working properly a few months ago with no changes to the build events... so I really don't know why it wouldn't work now, except that I had to reconfigure my machine and reinstall Windows 10 recently. I downloaded and installed the latest WiX toolset, and would assume that would be everything that is needed. But, this error persists. Any ideas?

enter image description here

Upvotes: 2

Views: 6706

Answers (2)

Brian Sutherland
Brian Sutherland

Reputation: 4798

This is really dumb but I believe you need to put a \ at the end of your dir IIRC. I think I ran into the same issue at one point. The error is not particularly helpful.

call "$(WIX)bin\heat.exe" dir "$(SolutionDir)MyProj\bin\Release\" -out "$(ProjectDir)MyFiles.wxs"

(I think I was remembering backwards and you need to NOT have the trailing \ in the dir.. sorry)

Just in case you can't get the pre-build event to work, you can also call heat like this (requires editing the wixproj file)

<Target Name="BeforeBuild">
    <Exec Command="&quot;$(WIX)bin\heat.exe&quot; dir &quot;$(SolutionDir)MyProj\bin\Release&quot; -out &quot;$(ProjectDir)MyFiles.wxs&quot;"/>
</Target>

This is how I call heat in some of the installers I've authored. If this also doesn't work I'm out of ideas for why this doesn't work for you.

Upvotes: 4

R. Bilyi
R. Bilyi

Reputation: 21

I know its a little old question but I've faced the issue and spent hours to notice different qoutes here: “$(WIX)bin\heat.exe”. Replace with straight ones "$(WIX)bin\heat.exe" and enjoy.

Upvotes: 2

Related Questions