Run Custom Action IF Feature is uninstalled.

[johannboehme]

Hi there,

i just cant get the correct condition together to run a custom action only if a feature is uninstalled.

I have two Custom Actions. One installs a Service needed by the feature "SCREENrec", the other one deletes it.

My Condition for the installation is:
NOT !SCREENrec=3 AND &SCREENrec=3

Which means: IF the Feature IS NOT installed AND WILL BE installed.
Works fine and dandy, will also install the service correctly if the feature is added via "modify".

For uninstallation i reversed the condition:
!SCREENrec=3 AND NOT &SCREENrec=3

Which should mean: IF the feature IS installed and WILL NOT BE installed.

However, the problem is that, if i install the feature on first time install. It will correctly install the service.
Then i open the modify function and add another feature, (not touching the SCREENrec), it will trigger the uninstall action!
WHY?

Could someone please give me a condition to execute if a specific feature will be installed or will be uninstalled?
Google wasn't quite helpfull..

Thanks in advance,
Johann

[MichaelU]

The canonical source of reference information here is the help topic Conditional Statement Syntax, or its related Examples of Conditional Statement Syntax. I believe the problem with your attempted uninstallation condition is that it will only be false when a feature is present and being reinstalled. You probably want to condition on an installed feature being removed (action set to absent: 2).

[johannboehme]

Thanks!
The second Link had exactly the example i needed!

(&FeatureName=2) AND (!FeatureName=3)

But i fully agree with the comment section below this MSDN Article. It should be documented way better.. 😉