Detect install path during the installation

[ZedZipDev]

Detect install path during the installation

[ZedZipDev]

I am developing WxiSharp installer for SSMS 21 extension. The install path is detecting during the installation. In other words: the installer is detecting if the SSMS 21 installed and retrieve its location. This path shold be used as the installation path for the extension like <SSMS 21 path>\Common7\IDE\Extension

How to use the dynamically detected install path during the installation?

The Custom action function detected the path and set it to the Session EXTENSION_FOLDER But I cannot retrieve it and use in the MSI build. How to ? Here is my main function:

`

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    // Dynamically resolve payload path
    string payloadPath = Path.GetFullPath(@"..\DbExtension\bin\Release");

    var project = new ManagedProject("DbExtension");

   // Add Dir after EXTENSION_FOLDER is set
   project.Dirs = new[]
   {
         new Dir(@"[EXTENSION_FOLDER]",
             new Files(Path.Combine(payloadPath, "*.*"))
         )
   };

    project.BeforeInstall += (SetupEventArgs e) =>
    {
        e.Session.Log($"📁 Setting AutoAssignedInstallDirPath to: {e.Session["EXTENSION_FOLDER"]}");
    };


    project.Actions = new[]
    {
        new ManagedAction(CustomActions.DetectPath, Return.check, When.Before, Step.LaunchConditions, Condition.NOT_Installed),
    };

    project.GUID = new Guid("79DEF6F1-43EF-44ED-B4E2-CFA9D5E98166");
    project.Version = new Version("1.0.0.0");
    project.InstallPrivileges = InstallPrivileges.elevated;
    project.InstallScope = InstallScope.perMachine;
    project.ControlPanelInfo.Manufacturer = "Manufacturer";
    
    Compiler.BuildMsi(project, @"bin\Release\DbExtension.msi");
}

`

[oleg-shilo]

Ironically, I just finished today the extension to the feature that you are trying to use. The extension will be available in the very next release in a few days.
Though you can use the feature in its current form right away. The example is in the samples library InstallDir_DynamicPath.csproj.

Note, I highly recommend using runtime events instead of raw CAs. Events are nothing else but CAs as well, but they are designed to be used as any normal .NET concept, not WiX/MSI exotic paradign.
Also, I recommend avoiding changing the ID of the install dir (INSTALLDIR). This is to ensure that you do not accidentally break the UI integration.

Anyway, in a nutshell:

var project =
    new ManagedProject("MyProduct",
        new Dir(new Id("INSTALLDIR"), "dummy", new File("setup.cs")),
            ...);

project.UI = WUI.WixUI_InstallDir;
// project.ManagedUI = ManagedUI.Default;

project.Load += e =>
{
    if (e.Session.IsInstalling())
    {
        // CommonDocuments is an example of detecting the target system install dir at runtime and setting it fro the session.
        e.Session["INSTALLDIR"] = Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonDocuments.ToPath(); 
    };
};

project.BeforeInstall += e =>
{
    MessageBox.Show("e.InstallDir: " + e.InstallDir, "BeforeInstall");
};

project.BuildMsi();

If you use setup UI, I will need some more guidance. This is about the feature extension that is yet to be released.

[ZedZipDev]

oh, great!
Дякую!

[ZedZipDev]

By the way: how can I write to log from the Main? There is no 'session' but sometimes need to output

[oleg-shilo]

I assume you mean from the event handler that you define in the Main of the build script.
If it is the case, then it is as simple as:

project.Load += e =>
{
    e.Session.Log("hello");
};

Радий допомогти 😄 🇺🇦 🇦🇺

[oleg-shilo]

I just finished the preparation for the release (last PR merged), so within a few days, it will be available.

[oleg-shilo]

The latest release v2.12, has a change that allows all UI scenarios to be handled transparently.
No further code change required from your side. The solution that I shared in #1866 (comment) will work regardless if you are using UI or not.

[ZedZipDev]

The great news. Finally I have done the WPF UI Setup app.

PS. Я писав декілька років тому , про щось питав тут.
Дякую!
Слава Україні!

[oleg-shilo]

Нашим Героям Слава, друже!

[ZedZipDev]

yet another question:
Here I am trying to detect the installation path

 project.Load += e =>
 {
     if (e.Session.IsInstalling())
     {
         var ret = DetectSSMS();
         var spath = ret.Item2;
         if(ret.Item1 == 0)
         {
             e.Session.Log($"The SSMS 21 Installation path could not be found.");
             throw new Exception(ret.Item2);
         }
         e.Session["INSTALLDIR"] = spath;
         e.Session.Log($"*** Load: INSTALLDIR = {spath}");
     }
     ;
 };

If it is found the WPF Setup app works fine. OK.

I am testing for cases if it is installing on machine where SSMS is not installed. In this case the WPF Setup cannot install the product and should provide the error message and exit.

1st of all I have added the exception. But how can I catch it in the WPF Setup app?

I do this:

  public void StartInstall()
  {
      try
      {
          base.StartInstall("CUSTOM_UI=true");
      }
      catch(Exception ex)
      {
          OnMessage("Installation failed: " + ex.Message, 1);
          throw;
      }
  }

and this

  private void Install_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
  {
      try
      {
          Setup.StartInstall();
      }
      catch (Exception ex)
      {
          MessageBox.Show("Installation failed: " + ex.Message, "Installation Error", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
      }
  }

But there is something wrong. No MessageBox during the installation but only rows in the log file

WixSharp aborted the session because of the error:
System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.Exception: ❌ SSMS 21 not found in registry.
at SSMSDbExtensionInstaller.Program.<>c.

b__0_0(SetupEventArgs e)

How to catch it and show message box or line in the WPF UI?

Thank you.

[oleg-shilo]

Unfortunately, it's not possible to access the log content from CA. It's just not available. WixSharp managed UI does it via a UI trick. With the EmbeddedUI, you can subscribe to the MSI session events, including log messages. With is what WixSharp managed UI does, and it simply accumulates the log messages and can show them from the Exit dialog. But if you have no UI.... then nothing you can do about it. At least I do not know any way.

Though, something tells me that you are using external UI, not the embedded UI. If indeed it is the case then have full access to the log file. Your Setup object.

In fact, the WpfSetup sample has the "Show Log" clickable UI element that accesses the log file. You can borrow your code from there.