I require a MSI Custom action that copies a file from the MSI source directory

Question

I'm creating a installer for a c# windows project using VS 2008. I'm trying to write a custom action that copies a settings file from the source directory of the MSI file stored on a file server (e.g. \server\fileshare\myappinstaller\mysetting.xml) to the target directory on the computer on which my application is been installed (e.g. C:\Program Files\My App).

The settings file can't be added in to the installer as it will contain settings with will be unique to the customer installing the app.

Does anyone have code (preferably C# or VB.NET) for such a custom action? Alternately does anyone know how to get the MSI source location (e.g. \server\fileshare\myappinstaller) within a custom action.

Many thanks

Answer 1

I have solved this by adding

/InstallerPath="[OriginalDatabase]"

to the CustomActionData of the Custom Action (in the Tab Custom Actions of the Setup Project) and reading the value with this code in the Custom Action:

    Public Overrides Sub Commit(ByVal savedState As System.Collections.IDictionary)
        MyBase.Commit(savedState)

        Dim directoryOfMSI As String = IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(Context.Parameters("InstallerPath"))

        'Do your work here
        '...

    End Sub

Ciao! Stefan