Installing files from a merge module based on the per-user or per-machine context

[aditya_c]

I have files in a merge module that I need to install in either a per-user or per-machine installation context.

What is the best way to do this?

In my main BASIC MSI project, I have included this merge module. But the question is how to specify its destination folder when the installation is running. I want to be able to set its destination folder to either CSIDL_PERSONAL (for per-user) or CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS (for per-machine).

I can easily retrieve the values of the CSIDL folder paths but where and how do I set the destination folder for the files in the merge module when the installation is running.

HELP HELP HELP

[Alpesh]

Hi Aditya,

First of all, when you are creating the merge module, make sure that the component destination is set to TARGETDIR. And then when you include that merge module in a Basic MSI project, you can right click the merge module and set its destination to match the MSI project's destination.

I hope this helps.

Thanks!

[aditya_c]

Hi Alpesh,

What you described is during the design-time process. However, I would like to do the assignment of the destination folder of the merge module during the installation process. In other words, when the installation is running, I would like to set the destination based on whether the installation is chosen to be per-user or per-machine.

[Alpesh]

Try using custom actions to set the directory value. Use the ALLUSERS property value to check if it is a per-machine or per-user install.

[DataAnalyzer]

I would also like help with this. I can get the user's selection from that Dialog which is great, but I don't understand what happens after that.

I need to adjust the root location of the registry (LOCAL_MACHINE vs. CURRENT_USER) and the location of the files (ALLUSERsPROFILE or USERPROFILE) based on the selection.

Is there an example of custom actions that could be used for this? Thanks.