[wix-users] "Setting version variable.." last entry in log before BA crashes. Following WiX upgrade 3.6 to 3.11

[andy smith]

I have upgraded WiX from 3.6 to 3.11 (and using VS 2019 rather than 2017).
Since then the project builds but the bootstrapper.exe burn output fails
immediately, with only the following output in the logfile below:


[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i001: Burn v3.11.2.4516, Windows v10.0
(Build 19042: Service Pack 0), path:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\{AF64B619-B3D3-4801-AB2D-84F528BB2AF2}\.cr\Bootstrapper.exe
[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i009: Command Line:
'-burn.clean.room=C:\SiteWork\Sales\Setup\Bootstrapper\bin\Release\Bootstrapper.exe
-burn.filehandle.attached=604 -burn.filehandle.self=608'
[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i000: Setting string variable
'WixBundleOriginalSource' to value
'C:\SiteWork\Sales\Setup\Bootstrapper\bin\Release\Bootstrapper.exe'
[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i000: Setting string variable
'WixBundleOriginalSourceFolder' to value
'C:\SiteWork\Sales\Setup\Bootstrapper\bin\Release\'
[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i000: Setting string variable
'WixBundleLog' to value
'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\Installer_20210325144804.log'
[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i000: Setting string variable
'WixBundleName' to value 'Installer'
[4568:5744][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i000: Setting string variable
'WixBundleManufacturer' to value 'Company name'
[4568:5F54][2021-03-25T14:48:04]i000: Setting version variable '聥' to
value '1176.15752.0.0'



The "Setting version variable '聥'" bit is something that has appeared since
the wix (& vs2019) upgrade. Interestingly it changes each time you run the
(same) bootstrapper. What it is I have no idea... (" Setting version
variable " didn't appear at all in previous logs) e.g.


[4144:5C74][2021-03-26T15:27:02]i000: Setting version variable '聥' to
value '848.15752.0.0'
[64C4:63A8][2021-03-26T15:27:40]i000: Setting version variable '聥' to
value '776.15752.0.0'



Are there any steps required in the upgrade from 3.6 to 3.11

I'm at a loss as to what to look for (as far as I can see there is no
verbose switch for a BA like there is with a single .msi file.)

Many thanks