Custom Action - Error 1001: Could not find file myApp.InstallState

Question

I have tried to create a custom action for a Visual Studio Installer project to modify the permissions for a config file.

The Installer.cs is as follows:

public override void Commit(IDictionary savedState)
{
    base.Commit(savedState);

    // Get path of our installation (e.g. TARGETDIR)
    //string configPath = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(Context.Parameters["AssemblyPath"]) + @"\config.xml";
    string configPath = @"C:\Program Files\Blueberry\Serial Number Reservation\config.xml";

    // Get a FileSecurity object that represents the current security settings.
    FileSecurity fSecurity = File.GetAccessControl(configPath);

    //Get SID for 'Everyone' - WellKnownSidType works in non-english systems
    SecurityIdentifier everyone = new SecurityIdentifier(WellKnownSidType.WorldSid, null);

    // Add the FileSystemAccessRule to the security settings.
    fSecurity.AddAccessRule(new FileSystemAccessRule(everyone, FileSystemRights.Modify | FileSystemRights.Synchronize, InheritanceFlags.ContainerInherit | InheritanceFlags.ObjectInherit, PropagationFlags.None, AccessControlType.Allow));

    // Set the new access settings.
    File.SetAccessControl(configPath, fSecurity);

}

public override void Install(IDictionary stateSaver)
{
    base.Install(stateSaver);
}

public override void Rollback(IDictionary savedState)
{
    base.Rollback(savedState);
}

public override void Uninstall(IDictionary savedState)
{
    base.Uninstall(savedState);
}

Then I add the Primary Output (Installer class = true) into the Commit section of the setup project's Custom Actions.

When I run the installer, I get the following error:

Error 1001: Could not find file 'c:\mypath\myapp.InstallState'

Scouring the web I've found a few examples of similar experiences, but none of the solutions offered have worked for me.

Any ideas?

HoGo HoGo · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-15T17:37:17

You can find a solution here

To quote:

The problem is that the MSI infrastructure is looking for the installation state file which is usually created during the Install phase. If the custom action does not participate in the Install phase, no file is created.

The solution is to add the custom action to both the Install and the Commit phases, although it does nothing during the install phase.

Custom Action - Error 1001: Could not find file myApp.InstallState

9 Answers