Adding a custom dialog to and Installshield Basic MSI project

I needed to add a new custom dialogue to a MSI basic project that captures a new path for the data folder for a project. The dialog should take the INSTALLPATH add DATADIR, then allow the user to change the path. On install the DATADIR path will be inserted into an app.config xml file so the application knows where to look

Create a new Basic MSI Project

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Application Information

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Installation Interview

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Installation Designer

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Create new component

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Rename to DATAFOLDER

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Click on the three dots Buttons next to Destination

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Click on the three dots Buttons next to Destination

 

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New Component Files

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New Component Files

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Configure XML Changes

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import the XML file

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Choose only the elements you need to change

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Take out the xpath information that searches for specific elements in the config file, we just want it to match on runtime element, not the dataFolder orenviromentId

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Change the dataFolder Parameter to [DATAFOLDER]

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Delete the environmentID since we are not changing that

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Navigate to Dialogs

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right click Clone

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Rename the dialog

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Select the Location Control

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Create new string for the control you are changing by clicking on the three dots

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Click New

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Enter Value: [DATAFOLDER]

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Select DlgTitle Control

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Select the three dots the text

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Select New

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Enter  DataFolder

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Select LocLabel

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Click three dots next to Text

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Click New

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Enter “Choose Data Directory for [ProductName]:”

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Select Bahavior

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Select ChangeFolder

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Change INSTALLDIR to DATAFOLDER

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Select Destination Folder

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Select Next

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Change NewDialog to DataFolder

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Select DataFolder

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Select Back

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Change New Dialog to Destination Folder

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Goto ReadyToInstall

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Go to Back

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Change DestinationFolder to DataFolder

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To DataFolder

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Now do a build, and you install, you should see

Screen Shot 2014-08-22 at 3.41.32 PM

And when you check your XML file you should see the changes reflected there.

2 thoughts on “Adding a custom dialog to and Installshield Basic MSI project

  1. Bhavik Patel

    Hello Nice documentation.
    I’m following all the steps but I’m getting below error

    Can You please help me on this ?

    Error 1 -5002: Product Configuration ‘Default Configuration’ is not found in the specified project. Verify that the Product Configuration name is correct. ISDEV : error : -5002: Product Configuration ‘Default Configuration’ is not found in the specified project. Verify that the Product Configuration name is correct.

    Reply
    1. Ian Macdonald Post author

      Installshield errors are always hard, it sounds like you have a haven’t built a release project yet or deleted the default one, try following the steps in http://www.iwasdot.com/create-a-basic-msi-project/ to create a basic project, specifically I am thinking about the “Choose Build Installation” Step down to and including clicking on the “Build Installations” button. If my guess about your error is correct then if you expand Releases there wont be a Release configuration called “Default Configuration”

      Reply

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