[wix-users] Extensibility

[Rob Mensching]

You do *not* need to create a private build of WiX to create an extension. We do so at FireGiant.

_____________________________________________________________
 Short replies here. Complete answers over there: http://www.firegiant.com/


-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users [mailto:wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org] On Behalf Of Phill Hogland
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2015 11:54 AM
To: WiX Toolset Users Mailing List <wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org>
Subject: Re: [wix-users] Extensibility

I also wanted to add my own attribute to an existing WiX element, so I studied the BalExtension particularly the behavior of bal:Overridable and similar attributes.  I may not recall exactly why I decided against this approach, but I think I concluded that even with a compiler extension, I would also have to create a private Release build of the Wix toolset.
You could use a Custom Table to add data to the BootstrapperApplicationData.xml
    <CustomTable Id="CustomData" BootstrapperApplicationData="yes">
      <Column Id="MyData" Type="string" Category="Identifier" PrimaryKey="yes"/>
      <Row>
        <Data Column="Tag">$(var.someData)</Data>
      </Row>
    </CustomTable>
Or use a compiler extension to add a child to a Features element.  Look at any of the wix extensions source code for something similar to this.

-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users [mailto:wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org] On Behalf Of Szentpáli, János
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 1:26 PM
To: wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org
Subject: [wix-users] Extensibility

Hello,

I would like to be able to define/use a custom attribute of the Feature element; e.g.

<Feature
    atr1="Some data"
...

As far as I could figure out, you need to create an extension to enable this.
I have seen/studied guides/tutorials on the net, but those talk about adding custom elements, not extending predefined ones.
I don't need this attribute to influence the resulting MSI in any way, its purpose wold be purely administrative.
Is this possible?
Any pointers as to how to achieve it?

Regards,
János