[wix-users] Can anyone give me a nice simple example of returning values from a Custom Action?

[Joseph L. Casale]

-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users [mailto:wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org] On Behalf
Of Paul Mumford via wix-users
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 3:16 AM
To: wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org
Cc: Paul Mumford <paul.mumford at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [wix-users] Can anyone give me a nice simple example of
returning values from a Custom Action?

> With regards to costing:
> a) I only vaguely know what that means, i think its the sequence of the UI
> bit that determines the presents size of the install right? I dont know if
> its related but we decided to use the '"WixUI_Minimal" instead of the
> Mondo
> one (we just dont need the extra bits for this application). The custom UI
> runs straight after the user ticks the accept license and presses install
> which is fine and what we want.
> 
> I think you are onto something with the scheduling though, what would you
> recommend for our requirements there? The various types are listed but I
> dont really know what any of them mean. 'InstallValidate' makes sense in my
> head but i suppose the point im after is directly after user presses
> install button and before the actual MSI actions if that makes sense.

There are two sequences of events that matter for this case, InstallUISequence
and InstallExecuteSequence. In a normal interactive installation, both are run
however in an unattended installation only the InstallExecuteSequence events
are run.

In both cases, the CostInitialize event is where component state starts to
get addressed. The FileCost and CostFinalize sequences ultimately produce
the cost of the installation so if you are changing a component state after
that, it won't have an effect.

Reschedule it before CostInitialize.

See https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa372404(VS.85).aspx and
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa368050(v=vs.85).aspx for some info.

> PS.
> Could someone tell me the etiquette of replying to the mailing list, im
> new. Should I reply to the group in general or just individuals or both?
> Cheers P.

Just reply as you are, to the list.

Good luck,
jlc