[wix-users] Controlling Updates of unversioned files
Todd Hoatson
todd.hoatson at gmail.com
Tue Mar 9 11:04:10 PST 2021
Nir Bar,
thanks for the suggestion to use your extension. Is there more
documentation for the various elements?
Specifically, I'm unsure what version to set, since we are dealing with
an unversioned file. If the version is not specified, as in your example,
does that somehow tell the Windows installer to copy the file without
regard to version or date/time stamp?
thanks,
Todd
On Tue, Mar 9, 2021 at 6:53 AM Nir Bar via wix-users <
wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org> wrote:
> You can use my WiX extension
> https://www.nuget.org/packages/PanelSwWixExtension/
>
> <File ...>
> <panelsw:ForceVersion/>
> </File>
>
> --
>
> Nir Bar
>
> WiX Expert
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---- On Mon, 08 Mar 2021 22:50:57 +0200 Edwin Castro via wix-users <mailto:
> wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org> wrote ----
>
>
> Alternatively, install BYZ.p8z in a component that uses a different
> versioned file as the KeyPath. In this case, BYZ.p8z will be updated
> whenever the versioned file is updated, even if BYZ.p8z has changed.
>
> --
> Edwin G. Castro
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 8, 2021 at 10:51 AM Rob Mensching via wix-users <
> mailto:wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org> wrote:
>
> > Maybe: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/reinstallmode
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Short replies here. Complete answers here:
> > https://www.firegiant.com/services/
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: wix-users <mailto:wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org> On
> Behalf Of
> > Todd Hoatson via wix-users
> > Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 8:41 AM
> > To: WiX Toolset Users Mailing List <mailto:
> wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org>
> > Cc: Todd Hoatson <mailto:todd.hoatson at gmail.com>
> > Subject: [wix-users] Controlling Updates of unversioned files
> >
> > jhg7We have run into a problem with some files that have been updated,
> but
> > they don't get installed on some users' systems.
> >
> > The files in question are not versioned. We have some text files that we
> > install, as well as some zip files. Our current problem is with the
> latter.
> >
> > One oddity with the Windows file system is seen when I copy a file
> > manually: One copy of the BYZ.p8z file has a Created date of 1/8/2019
> and
> > a Modified date of 7/24/2020. When I copy it to a new folder, the
> Modified
> > date of the copy is the same, but the Created date is 3/5/2021 even
> though
> > this does not match the Created date of the original file, nor is it
> > today's date.
> >
> > This makes it difficult to control my test scenario...
> >
> > So, with this file (BYZ.p8z) copied to the install location on my system,
> > I attempt to install a new version of the product. This installation
> > successuflly updates the BYZ.p8z file to have Created date 3/5/2021 and
> > Modified date is the same.
> >
> > I start over, copying the BYZ.p8z file to the installation location.
> This
> > time the file after copying has a Created date of 1/8/2019 and a Modified
> > date of 7/24/2020. (This is to reproduce the situation on some users'
> > systems where the file has a Modified date later than the Created date.
> > It's not yet clear how this situation came about.)
> >
> > Using the Windows Apps and Features tool, I choose to Modify the
> > installation in order to update the back-level file I just copied. When
> > the installer starts, I click on Repair. But the back-level file is not
> > updated! Only if I delete the BYZ.p8z file from the install location
> will
> > repair copy the correct file.
> >
> > After a bit of research, we found the information on File Versioning
> Rules
> > - Win32 apps | Microsoft Docs
> > <
> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/file-versioning-rules
> > >,
> > where I read:
> >
> > "Nonversioned Files are User Data—If the Modified date is later than the
> > Create date for the file on the computer, do not install the file because
> > user customizations would be deleted. If the Modified and Create dates
> are
> > the same, install the file. If the Create date is later than the Modified
> > date, the file is considered unmodified, install the file."
> >
> > It seems to be a faulty assumption that Nonversioned Files are User Data,
> > as this severely limits the kinds of files that can be used for app data.
> > But this is the situation with the Windows installer, which we have to
> > live with.
> >
> > I tried to change/override this behavior by setting the KeyPath attribute
> > for the file to 'no'. Since we use heat to harvest the files for the
> > installation, I did this by using an xslt transform, containing the
> > following lines:
> >
> > <!-- Specifically, special handling for BYZ.p8z File element -
> > <xsl:template match="wix:File[contains(@Source, 'BYZ.p8z')]">
> > <!-- Just copy the tag itself -->
> > <xsl:copy>
> > <!-- Generally, copy all attributes -->
> > <xsl:apply-templates select="@*" />
> >
> > <!-- Modify the KeyPath attribute to 'No' to turn off version
> > checking -->
> > <xsl:attribute name="KeyPath">no</xsl:attribute>
> >
> > <!-- Now take the rest of the inner tag -->
> > <xsl:apply-templates select="node()" />
> > </xsl:copy>
> > </xsl:template>
> >
> > I checked the .wxs file output by heat and confirmed that the BYZ.p8z
> file
> > has KeyPath="no" and Permanent="yes". Yet when I look at the log file
> > produced when the installer failed to update the file, I see:
> >
> >
> >
> FileCopy(SourceName=BYZ.p8z,SourceCabKey=BYZ.p8z,DestName=BYZ.p8z,Attributes=512,FileSize=3643291,PerTick=65536,,VerifyMedia=1,,,,,CheckCRC=0,,,InstallMode=58982400,HashOptions=0,HashPart1=-1495337071,HashPart2=-1750950674,HashPart3=1121107855,HashPart4=-1691272291,,)
> > MSI (s) (B4:90) [15:53:41:311]: File: C:\My Paratext 9
> > Projects\_Resources\BYZ.p8z; Won't Overwrite; Won't patch; Existing file
> is
> > unversioned but modified
> >
> > Is there any way for us to override this behavior?
> >
> > thanks,
> > Todd Hoatson
> > Mobile: 763-291-3312
> > Email: mailto:todd.hoatson at gmail.com
> > http://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhoatson
> >
> > ____________________________________________________________________
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> > http://www.firegiant.com/
> >
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>
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--
Todd Hoatson
Mobile: 763-291-3312
Email: todd.hoatson at gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/toddhoatson
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