Changing the TARGETDIR in WiX

Question

I am having problems setting the TARGETDIR path. I used dark.exe to reverse engineer a working MSI file and read any posts I could find on this subject, but I seem to be unable to set the TARGETDIR to point to the path ProgramFiles\Manufacturer\Product. Below is a distilation of my WXS file which results in my application being installed to the root of my D-drive for some reason:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">
    <Product Id="*"
             Name="FBL - Some App"
             Language="1033"
             Version="1.0.0.0"
             Manufacturer="Foo &amp; Bar Limited"
             UpgradeCode="780286c6-e064-4402-80d8-dd2c68b56c04">
        <Package InstallerVersion="200"
                 Compressed="yes"
                 InstallScope="perMachine"
                 Comments="Performs some operation that is important" />

        <MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
        <Media Id="1" Cabinet="App.1.0.0.cab" EmbedCab="yes" />
        <CustomAction Id="setTARGETDIR"
                      Property="TARGETDIR"
                      Value="[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\[ProductName]"
                      Execute="firstSequence"
                      Return="check" />

        <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
            <Component Id="C__App.exe"
                       Guid="{074586E9-A675-2734-A4CD-1CE520922A41}">
                <File Id="F__App.exe"
                      Name="App.exe"
                      KeyPath="yes"
                      Assembly=".net"
                     AssemblyManifest="F__App.exe"
                      AssemblyApplication="F__App.exe"
                      DiskId="1"
                      Source="D:\SomePath\bin\Debug\App.exe" />
            </Component>
        </Directory>
        <Feature Id="DefaultFeature" ConfigurableDirectory="TARGETDIR" Level="1">
            <ComponentRef Id="C__App.exe" Primary="yes" />
        </Feature>
        <Icon Id="favicon.ico" SourceFile="d:\SomePath\favicon.ico" />
        <Property Id="ARPPRODUCTICON" Value="favicon.ico" />
        <UI />
        <InstallExecuteSequence>
            <Custom Action="setTARGETDIR" Before="CostFinalize" />
        </InstallExecuteSequence>
    </Product>
</Wix>

I'm sure I am missing something simple, but I cannot find any further information on what to do from here.

Answer 1

The following modifications were needed:

<CustomAction Id="SetTARGETDIR"
              Directory="TARGETDIR"
              Value="[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\[ProductName]"
              Return="check" />

and

<InstallExecuteSequence>
    <Custom Action="SetTARGETDIR" After="InstallValidate" />
</InstallExecuteSequence>

Explanation: Use the Directory attribute instead of a property (it's a type 35 custom action) and schedule this action after InstallValidate in the execute sequence - that's when directories are checked for write access and truly set.

(Thanks to Narina Chandra Sekhar, from the WiX user group for the answer on this.)