How to access INSTALLDIR property with PowerShell and VBS CustomAction

Summary:

Symptoms:

This article explains how to use a powershell and Vbs custom action to access an INSTALLDIR property using custom action. This information applies to the following InstallShield project types:

Basic MSI
InstallScript MSI

Solution:

For Powershell CustomAction

Create Basic MSI Project
Go to CustomAction view
Add a set property CustomAction and rename it "SetPropertyCA"
Property Name SETCUSTOMINSTALLDIR and value set to [INSTALLDIR]
Set InstallExec to After AppSearch
Create a Powershell Customaction with stored in Binary table
Browse and add the .ps1 file (save below code as Test.ps1)
$Path = get-property -name SETCUSTOMINSTALLDIR
$wshell = New-Object -ComObject Wscript.Shell
New-Item $Path -ItemType "Directory"
$a = new-object -comobject wscript.shell
$b = $a.popup("INSTALLDIR: $Path",0,"Test Message Box",1)
#[System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show('Would you like to Install the Setup?','Setup input','YesNoCancel','Error')
#$msgBoxInput = [System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show($Path,'Game input','YesNoCancel','Error')
Start-Process -FilePath $Path\Notepad2.exe
Set InstallExec to After SetPropertyCA
Save the project
Build and Run the project.

Vbs CustomAction:

Create Basic MSI Project
Go to CustomAction view
Add a Vbs Custom Action with stored in binary table option
Browse and add your .vbs file (save below vbs file as installdir.vbs)
Function InstallDIRTest()
Dim INSTALLDIR, SRCDIR

' first, path to the msi file
INSTALLDIR = Session.Property("INSTALLDIR")

'MsgBox Session.Property("INSTALLDIR")

MsgBox "The value of INSTALLDIR is now " & session.Property("INSTALLDIR")

End Function ' InstallMySQL
Set InstallExec to After InstallInitialize
Set "use 64 bit scripting" option to YES.
Save the project
Build and Run the project.