Software Deployment

The only way I can think of doing it is to create a ram disk, use the MSI SDK to extract the binary to the ram disk.

Why can't you use the HD?

I have to launch a HTA from the CustomAction. If i place my HTA with my MSI file and i will launch the installation from an UNC path, the end-user will get a warning for opening the file on a network share. If my HTA is in the Binary table, it is already at a trusted location, as the user have accepted to launch the MSI from a network path once.

I hope you understand what i mean? :)

Hello,

Are you using InstallShield as your packaging toolset? If so, you might consider adding your HTA file as a 'Support File' using the Support Files option in the InstallShield project.

Support Files are extracted early in the installation sequence to a temporary folder which can be referenced at any stage in the installation sequence through the SUPPORTDIR property.

So all your custom action would need to do would be to run the executable mshta.exe and supply [SUPPORTDIR]\myhtafile.hta as a command line parameter.

I don't know whether there is a WISE equivalent of the Support Files functionality, but I'm sure someone else in the forum might know (?)

Regards,

Spartacus

Hmmm.....i'm not sure Wise does have an equivalent, but here is some code that AngelD provided on another forum which extracts a file from the binary table. I've not tested it myself, but it looks like it could help you out.....obviously your CA sequencing will be important.

Function SetRegACLSupport()
Dim SetACLPath : SetACLPath = ReturnTempFile()
Call ExtractBinary("SetACL.exe", SetACLPath)
Call DeleteFile(SetACLPath)
End Function

Function ExtractBinary(BinaryName, OutputFile)
Const msiReadStreamAnsi = 2
Dim Database : Set Database = Session.Database
Dim View : Set View = Database.OpenView("SELECT * FROM Binary WHERE Name = '" & BinaryName & "'")
View.Execute
Dim Record : Set Record = View.Fetch
Dim BinaryData : BinaryData = Record.ReadStream(2, Record.DataSize(2), msiReadStreamAnsi)
Dim FSO : Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim Stream : Set Stream = FSO.CreateTextFile(OutputFile, True)
Stream.Write BinaryData
Stream.Close
End Function

Function ReturnTempFile()
Const TemporaryFolder = 2
Dim FSO : Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim TempFolder : Set TempFolder = FSO.GetSpecialFolder(TemporaryFolder)
Dim Tempfile : Tempfile = FSO.GetTempName
ReturnTempFile = TempFolder.Path & "\" & Tempfile
End Function

Function DeleteFile(FilePath)
On Error Resume Next
Dim FSO : Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Call FSO.DeleteFile(FilePath, True)
End Function

Thanks spartacus, I'm using InstallShield and will try your advice with the support file. I was not aware of the SUPPORTDIR property.

/Henrik

Why are you using an HTA? Surely the only reason to, over and above using VBS, is that you can create a UI? In which case, why not simply create a new dialog? Your package can then get the information it needs from the properties "behind" the various controls.