Change the default installation folder programmatically for setup

Question

In a standard Setup project for a WinForms app I would like to programmatically change the default installation folder (i.e. do this when the installation happens).

Is there a way to do this? I thought using a custom Installer class might hep me with this but it seems by the time it gets to any custom actions in that class, the install folder has already been selected.

Yes what custom installer are you using.. have you looked into Creating .MSI project for your C# winForms application.. — MethodMan
Yes--I have created an MSI project. I want to customize the default installation location programmatically at the time the installer is running. — Fernando
I created a subclass of System.Configuration.Install.Installer — Fernando
are there some Actions that you can add to this If I am not mistaken you can change the default to be what ever it is you want and or be overridden via a config file. I have done this before but it was about a year ago and I don't have the code here with me ..it's at home.. — MethodMan

Seffix Seffix · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-04T15:55:37

I had the same problem. Here Is my solution. I created an additional project, which called Win msi intaller, and add the TARGETDIR property's value as an argument.

    static void Main()
    {
            Process setupProcess = new Process();
            string msiFilePath = @"c:\path to msi package";
            string targetDir = @"target dir path";
            setupProcess.StartInfo.FileName = @"msiexec.exe /i " + msiFilePath + " TARGETDIR=\"" + targetDir + "\"";
            setupProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;    
            setupProcess.Start();
   }

Then you should run this program to install your msi package.

Change the default installation folder programmatically for setup

1 Answers