[wix-users] How to include a file as a binary and use it in a WixCA command line

[sampat magi]

To add up to the Edwin's second point,

If you write managed (C# DTF) CA then no need to do extra work.

Once you create the DTF project, you can add the script item to the project
itself as an item. So that, during the execution context of the DLL CA file
will automatically get extracted to the random folder in user %temp% folder
and u can consume it inside the CA.

I think, i have one vbs code to just extract the binary files to temp
location (This is similar to InstallShield's SUPPORTDIR concept).

Sampat

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 11:36 PM, Edwin Castro <egcastr at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Gary,
>
> Unfortunately, the Windows Installer doesn't support a way to
> temporarily extract a binary from the Binary table. The WiX toolset
> does not yet provide a mechanism to do this either although it is
> often requested. My guess is that there's a management element here
> that is difficult to schedule properly. Since the extraction should be
> temporary, then the file should be cleaned up toward the end of the
> installation.
>
> Basically, you have two options:
>
> 1. Install the binary and use it on a custom action command line
> (which I understand you do not want to do)
> 2. Write your own binary custom action (native or managed) to extract
> the temporary file out of the Binary table, write the file to disk,
> use it as part of your command line, and finally delete the temporary
> file.
>
> In the first case you avoid explicit clean up because the file is
> installed and will be uninstalled when the product is uninstalled.
>
> The second option is more work.
>
> --
>
> On Tue, May 3, 2016 at 2:07 PM, Gary M <garym at oedata.com> wrote:
> > Thanks for the reply Walter
> >
> > The WixCA uses a different construct. The command line is formed in a
> > unique customaction. The executing customaction uses the Property
> attribute
> >  to link the command line to to the WixCA dll.  I would need a reference
> to
> > accessible to replace string: [INSTALLER_SCRIPTS_DIR]install-smtp.ps1
> >
> >
> >     <CustomAction Id="installSMTPCmdLine"
> >                   Property="installSMTPExec"
> >
> >
> Value=""C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe"
> > -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoLogo -NonInteractive -NoProfile -InputFormat
> > None -File [INSTALLER_SCRIPTS_DIR]install-smtp.ps1"
> >                   Execute="immediate" />
> >
> >     <CustomAction Id="installSMTPExec"
> >                   BinaryKey="WixCA"
> >                   DllEntry="CAQuietExec64"
> >                   Execute="deferred"
> >                   Return="check"
> >                   Impersonate="no" />
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, May 3, 2016 at 10:51 AM, Walter Dexter <wfdexter at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Try this. I think it's right.
> >>
> >> <Binary Id="CreateHostsEXE"
> >> SourceFile="../../scripts/generateHostsFile.exe" />
> >> <CustomAction Id="OurAction"
> >>               FileKey="CreateHostsEXE"
> >>               ExeCommand="our command line args"
> >>               Execute="deferred"
> >>               Return="check" />
> >>
> >>
> >> On Tue, May 3, 2016 at 6:09 AM, Gary M <garym at oedata.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Hi,
> >> >
> >> > I have a few script files used with WixCA  command line. I would like
> to
> >> > access the file without having them installed. I'm looking to define
> the
> >> > scripts treated as  <binary>,  but don't know how to address them ie
> push
> >> > them into a command line.
> >> >
> >> > Help is appreciated
> >> >
> >> > ____________________________________________________________________
> >> > WiX Toolset Users Mailing List provided by FireGiant
> >> > http://www.firegiant.com/
> >> >
> >>
> >> ____________________________________________________________________
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> >> http://www.firegiant.com/
> >>
> >
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> http://www.firegiant.com/
>
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