Set a Directory Table Entry at Run Time

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Summary

This article describes how to create a Directory table entry and set it through InstallScript in an MSI Project.

Synopsis

This article describes how to create a Directory table entry and set it through InstallScript in an MSI Project.

Discussion

The following steps can be used to create a Directory table entry, and set it to a desired path via InstallScript.

1. Open the Directory Table via the Direct Editor.
2. Create the following row in the Directory table:

   Directory	Directory_Parent	DefaultDir	IsDescription	IsAttributes
   MYDIR	TARGETDIR	.

3. Navigate to the InstallScript view and create a new script file.
4. On the right side, you will fine a default function called MyFunction. Modify the function so that it looks like the following:

   function MyFunction(hMSI)
   STRING svString;
   
   begin
     svString = "C:\\TestFolder";
     //Two slashes are needed in order to define subdirectories in InstallScript.
     //Note: for the purposes of this script, the path has been hardcoded.
     //You must have an accessible C drive to run this script.
     //If you do not have a C drive then change the path to point to an accessible drive.
     MsiSetTargetPath(hMSI, "MYDIR", svString);
   end;

5. Compile the script.
6. Right-click Custom Actions in the Sequences/Action view.
7. Select Custom Action Wizard from the context menu.
8. Proceed through the wizard, and give the custom action a unique name.
9. Select Run InstallScript code for the custom action type, and in the next panel, select MyFunction (or the new name of the entry-point function) for the source.
10. Select Next, accepting the default selections until the wizard creates the custom action.
11. Right-click the CostFinalize action in the User Interface or Execute sequence, and choose Insert.
12. Select Custom Actions from the drop-down box provided, and choose your custom action.
13. Put a condition of Not Installed on the custom action.
14. Build a release and run the setup.

Additional Information

For more information on the functions discussed, see the Windows Installer Help Library topics MsiSetTargetPath and CostFinalize.