MAKEMSI quickly and reliably creates MSI files in a non-programmatic way\Source CodeCommandsExeCa

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The "ExeCa" Command

This command is used to define an EXE based custom action. It also sets up the "Action Text" which gets displayed in the progress bar. You may need to read the "Hide the DOS Command Window" section of this manual.

EXE based custom actions have many issues (see the blog "Integration Hurdles for EXE Custom Actions"), for this reason you'd never write one, however sometimes you have to use what is available! If you were starting from scratch then you'd probably write a "DLL" based one instead (perhaps using the "DllCa-C" command).

As batch files are executed via the operating system command processor, this command can also execute them, please see the "Batch File Custom Actions" section for more information.

This command takes these parameters:

• Binary (optional)
  This indicates whether or not the EXE should be run from the "Binary" table or from the filesystem (the default).

  A non-blank value indicates the EXE runs from the "Binary" table. A value of "?" means allow this command to choose the key into the "Binary" table, any other value is the key itself.

  To refer to an existing "Binary" key you should pass the key name in this parameter and the "EXE" parameter should be blank (as a non-blank "EXE" parameter means add the binary to the table).

• EXE (required)
  This formatted value is the name of the EXE file (do not supply quotes!). If the "BINARY" parameter is:

  1. Not Blank
     Then this parameter is the name of the EXE file at build time and it is added to the "Binary" table. If it is already in the binary table then pass "" (the binary key should be passed in the "BINARY" parameter).

  2. Blank
     Then this parameter is the name of the file at install time (for example "[INSTALLDIR]msgbox.exe" or "[IEXPLORE_EXE]").

     This could be an already installed file or one you install yourself as part of this package (this will of course affect sequencing).

  Depending on how the executable was built a windows command prompt window may appear "behind" your program, if this happens you may want to try invoking the command processor and letting it start your program (you may see a minor "flash").

  Note that "MSIEXEC.EXE" (version 4+, in Vista) is build with the "NXCOMPAT" option, this will be an issue if any of your code (or the libraries it uses) is not NX compliant. See "KB929710" for more information.

• Args (optional)
  This formatted value holds the parameters to be passed to the EXE (defaults to "").

• WorkDir (optional)
  This parameter should not be supplied if you are running the executable via the binary table.

  It is used to supply the working (or "current") directory for the executable. The value supplied can be a directory key (see the "Directory" table) or you can supply the directory name.

  The default for this parameter can be set via the DEFAULT_EXECA_WORKDIR macro. The initial value for this is "SystemFolder".

• Seq (required)
  Actions are executed in sequence number order and some actions (or types of) are only allowed at certain "locations". This parameter allows you to specify when this action should be executed in relation to others. The fact that MAKEMSI successfully sequences your action at a particular location should not be assumed to mean that it is valid for it to be there.

  There will typically be a lot of standard actions at known fixed locations (which may however differ in sequence number or even order relative to one another with different templates). Click here for the default "InstallExecuteSequence" and "InstallUISequence" sequencing details.

  Normally you try not to duplicate sequence numbers but it is probably OK to do so as long as you don't care which one executes first! One possible exception would be deferred custom actions where the custom action data needs to be setup before execution. You should get a validation message to indicate a duplicated number (note that validation can't know whether custom action conditions are mutually exclusive etc).

  The sequencing information (see some default sequencing) can be supplied in a number of formats:

  • An Integer
    If you supply a number such as "1001" then this is a literal numeric value which generally should not duplicate any other in the same table. I suggest you only use this format as a last resort!

  • A VBSCRIPT Expression
    If the value you supply starts with "@" then what follows is the name of a VBSCRIPT variable or expression which will evaluate to a sequence number.

  • A MAKEMSI Expression
    MAKEMSI has its own syntax which describes the characteristics of the desired sequence number but leaves the actual value up to MAKEMSI to determine.

    Basically you describe a range of valid values and whether you prefer the value to be chosen from the lower (default) or higher end.

    The range should be specified in the format "lower - higher". Either value can be omitted, be specified as an integer such as "1000" or the name of an action such as "InstallFiles". The default value for the lower end is "1" and for the higher "32767" and leading and trailing spaces for each are stripped. The minimum and maximum values can be returned as the range is inclusive.

    By default MAKEMSI will choose a number as close as possible to the lower end, if you wish it to be as high as possible then begin the specification string with "<".

    Some Examples:

    • InstallFiles-
    • -InstallFiles
    • <-InstallFiles
    • < 1000 - 2000
    • AppSearch - CostFinalize

    You should of course be aware of what your script does, for example if it moves a custom action that you have already sequenced other actions relative to then that would probably be "bad"!

• Key (optional)
  This is the key for the custom action. If not supplied a default is chosen, however if you wish to have the same action occur more than once within a table you need to define a unique key. You would also define the KEY if you were setting up "CustomActionData".

• SeqTable (optional)
  This is the sequence table or tables you wish to use ("InstallExecuteSequence" table by default). The most common other table you might wish to use would be "InstallUISequence" table). Use space as a delimiter if more than one table.

  Note that you can supply an empty list (no tables) if you just want to define the custom action but not sequence it, however you must confirm this by supplying a sequence number of 0 (zero) on the "SEQ" parameter can you should also supply "" for the "CONDITION" parameter (value ignored).

• Description (optional)
  This will appear in any MSI log as well as progress bar line #1 (when deferred).

• Condition (required)
  This identifies the conditions under which the code should be executed. Any properties you set should be available before the "CostFinalize"" action.

  I have captured a large number of "sample properties" which could be used in any conditions. Note that the values of some properties may not be available at all times and in some cases are modified during processing.

  You can also use any of the following predefined conditions:

  #define? CONDITION_ALREADY_INSTALLED Installed                          ;;Repair, uninstall etc.
  #define? CONDITION_INSTALL_ONLY      not Installed                      ;;Doesn't include a repair, uninstall etc!
  #define? CONDITION_UNINSTALL_ONLY    Installed and REMOVE~="ALL"        ;;Complete uninstall  - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED at you read the "REMOVE" properties MAKEMSI doco!
  #define? CONDITION_EXCEPT_UNINSTALL  not (<$CONDITION_UNINSTALL_ONLY>)  ;;Install, Repair etc (all but complete uninstall)
  #define? CONDITION_IS_WIN2000        VersionNT = "500"                  ;;Is OS WIN2000?
  #define? CONDITION_IS_WINXP          VersionNT = "501"                  ;;Is OS WINXP?
  #define? CONDITION_IS_VISTA          VersionNT = "600"                  ;;Is OS WINDOWS Vista?
  #define? CONDITION_IS_WINDOWS_7      VersionNT = "601"                  ;;Is OS WINDOWS Windows7
  #define? CONDITION_UI_NONE           UILevel = 2                        ;;Silent Install
  #define? CONDITION_UI_BASIC          UILevel = 3
  #define? CONDITION_UI_REDUCED        UILevel = 4
  #define? CONDITION_UI_FULL           UILevel = 5                        ;;"Normal"
  #define? CONDITION_UI_NO_DIALOGS     UILevel <> 5                       ;;Don't bother user with popup dialogs, opening readme files etc.
  #define  CONDITION_PER_MACHINE       Version9X or (ALLUSERS = 1)        ;;True if per-machine install.
  #define  CONDITION_PER_USER          not (<$CONDITION_PER_MACHINE>)     ;;True if per-user (not per-machine) install.

• Type (optional)
  This parameter may not be required for all custom action types, it provides a mechanism to override, update or undo any options that MAKEMSI may have decided to use.

  This parameter accepts one or more space separated attributes which are processed in left to right order. Available attributes are (not all may apply):

  1. Deferred
     This indicates that the custom action should be run deferred (not immediately). The opposite to the "Immediate" attribute and the default for most custom action types. If its deferred the "Description" will be displayed in the progress bar (line 1).

     A deferred (in-script) custom action must be sequenced between the "InstallInitialize" and "InstallFinalize" actions (or you will get a 2762 error) and data is passed via the "CustomActionData" property. If it uses or runs files installed by this MSI then the custom action must be run deferred and sequenced after the file installation!

     All deferred actions are executed in a single pass by the server "MSIEXEC.EXE" service (a separate process) after being combined in a "script".

  2. Immediate
     The "immediate" attribute is the opposite of "deferred".

     All immediate custom actions scheduled between the "InstallInitialize" and "InstallFinalize" actions (regardless of their sequence number) are executed before deferred ones.

  3. Sync
     This indicates that Windows Installer should wait for the custom action to complete. The opposite to the "ASYNC" attribute and this is the default.

  4. ASync
     The opposite to the "SYNC" attribute..

  5. Rc0
     This indicates that the EXE indicates success by returning a return code of 0. The opposite to the "AnyRc" attribute.

  6. AnyRc
     The opposite to the "Rc0" attribute. The return code should be ignored.

     This should only be used as a last resort when executing some poorly written piece of "cr*p" (or perhaps if it's success is not critical to the install). Note that even batch files can be made to return decent return codes.

  7. Commit
     This indicates that the custom action is a "commit" custom action.

  8. Rollback
     This indicates that the custom action is a "rollback" custom action. It should be sequenced before the custom action being rolled back and have the same condition.

     Rollback custom actions (and so also the "worker" custom action) must be "deferred" and sequenced between "InstallInitialize" and "InstallFinalize".

  9. Impersonate
     The custom action should be run under user-level privileges. This is the default. The opposite to the "System" attribute.

     There are circumstances where a custom action may still run with system privileges.

  10. System
      The custom action should be run under the system account (elevated). The opposite to the "Impersonate" attribute.

      Lack of this attribute on deferred custom actions is a common reason for failures on Vista.

  11. FirstSequence
      No effect in UI sequence. If the "UI sequence" did run and this action is in the "Execute sequence" then it won't run (whether or not your custom action is sequenced in the UI)

  12. OncePerProcess
      Execute once per process if in both sequence tables. Skips action in execute sequence if UI sequence has been run in same process, for example both run in the client process. Used to prevent actions that modify the session state, such as property and database data, from running twice

  13. ClientRepeat
      Execute only if running on client after UI sequence has run. The action runs only if the execute sequence is run on the client following UI sequence. May be used to provide either/or logic, or to suppress the UI related processing if already done for client session.

  14. 64BitScript
      This is a 64-bit script based custom action. Form more information see the "64 Bit Installs" section.

  15. HideTarget
      The installer is prevented from writing the value in the Target column of the CustomAction table into the log file.

      The CustomActionData property is also not logged when the installer executes the custom action.

      Because the installer sets the value of CustomActionData from a property with the same name as the custom action, that property must be listed in the "MsiHiddenProperties" property to prevent its value from appearing in the log.

  16. TSAware
      Not sure, Microsoft don't document it (good one). If you have any issues with MSIs under terminal services then I'd guess this would be a good flag to try!

  17. PatchUninstall [4.5+]
      Used to define a custom action that only runs during the uninstallation of a patch.

  18. +[0x]Number
      A value beginning with "+" indicates that you wish to set (add) attribute(s)/bit(s).

      If the number begins with "0x" (case insensitive) then the number is being supplied as a hexadecimal value otherwise its interpreted as being in decimal.

      You may need to supply a numeric value such as "+0x0001" if I haven't provided a suitable alias above...

  19. -[0x]Number
      A value beginning with "-" indicates that you wish to reset (remove) bit(s).

  20. =[0x]Number
      A value beginning with "=" indicates that you wish to set the custom action type to a specific value. This will completely override any other attributes that may have been previously specified internally by the MAKEMSI command or by you. This should rarely if ever be required

EXAMPLE - Execute Installed File at End of Install

This example executes a program installed by this package. If you wish to execute an already installed executable file you would use "FileFind" to find it first.

;--- Load MAKEMSI (via my personal branding and configuration file) --------
#include "ME.MMH"

;--- Define installation directory and install file to this location --------
<$DirectoryTree Key="INSTALLDIR" Dir="[ProgramFilesFolder]\MyTestDir" CHANGE="\" PrimaryFolder="Y">
<$Component "Simple" Directory_="INSTALLDIR">
    <$File Source="D:\DBAREIS\tools\MsgBox.exe" RowKey="MsgBox.EXE" KeyPath="Y">
<$/Component>

;--- Invoke the install executable ------------------------------------------
#(
    ;--- Run after install, ignore return code and don't wait for completion ---
    <$ExeCa
             EXE="[INSTALLDIR]MsgBox.exe" Args=^"MsgBox Title" "MsgBox text..."^
            ;EXE="[SystemFolder]notepad.exe" Args="c:\tmp\1.x"
         WorkDir="INSTALLDIR"
             SEQ="InstallFinalize-"   Type="immediate ASync AnyRc"
       Condition="<$CONDITION_INSTALL_ONLY>"
    >
#)

EXAMPLE - Execute Program in Binary Table (not installed)

The following adds "msgbox.exe" to the "Binary" table and executes it during install:

#(
   <$ExeCa
          Binary="MSGBOX.EXE"
             EXE="D:\DBAREIS\tools\msgbox.exe"
            Args=^"ExeCa Test Title" "From BINARY table"^
       CONDITION=^<$VBSCA_CONDITION_INSTALL_ONLY>^
             Rc0="N"                        ;;Can't trust the return code of this program (so can't check if worked)
             Seq="InstallFiles-"
   >
#)

EXAMPLE - Regression Test for "ExeCa"

;----------------------------------------------------------------------------
;    MODULE NAME:   RegressionTests-ExeCa.MMH
;
;        $Author:   USER "Dennis"  $
;      $Revision:   1.0  $
;          $Date:   07 Oct 2004 18:09:02  $
;       $Logfile:   C:/DBAREIS/Projects.PVCS/Win32/MakeMsi/RegressionTests-ExeCa.mm.pvcs  $
;      COPYRIGHT:   (C)opyright Dennis Bareis, Australia, 2003
;                   All rights reserved.
;
;  Note that I had to pick a "EXE" that already existed for this demo...
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------

;----------------------------------------------------------------------------
;--- Include common "regression test" logic and MAKEMSI support -------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------
#include "RegressionTests.MMH"


;--- During Build Create some files -----------------------------------------
#( ''
    #define BuildFile
    #define SRC_{$ID} <$MAKEMSI_OTHER_DIR>\{$ID}.TXT
    <$FileMake "<$SRC_{$ID}>">
        ;--- Generate contents ----------------------------------------------
        {$ShowUser}
    <$/FileMake>
#)
<$BuildFile ID="CostFinalize"    ShowUser=^ExeCa: Early in INSTALL: After 'CostFinalize' action<?NewLine>No files from MSI installed yet.<?NewLine>Install paused until program completes (notepad exited).^>
<$BuildFile ID="InstallFiles"    ShowUser=^ExeCa: After 'InstallFiles' action<?NewLine>Any MSI files are now installed.<?NewLine>Install paused until program completes (notepad exited).^>
<$BuildFile ID="InstallFinalize" ShowUser=^ExeCa: late in INSTALL: Just before 'InstallFinalize' action<?NewLine>Any MSI files are installed.<?NewLine>Install continues (does not wait for program to exit).^>


;--- Install some files -----------------------------------------------------
<$Files "<$SRC_CostFinalize>;<$SRC_InstallFiles>;<$SRC_InstallFinalize>" DESTDIR="INSTALLDIR">


;--- Pretty Early (install waits) -------------------------------------------
#(
   <$ExeCa
             EXE="[SystemFolder]notepad.exe"
            Args=^"<$SRC_CostFinalize>"^               ;;Files not yet installed so can only access previously installed files (source)
       CONDITION=^<$VBSCA_CONDITION_INSTALL_ONLY>^
             Seq="CostFinalize-"
            Type="AnyRc Immediate"                     ;;Ignore return code. Deferred (the default) custom actions can't be sequenced here!
   >
#)


;--- After files installed (install waits) ----------------------------------
#(
   <$ExeCa
             EXE="notepad.exe"                          ;;Its in the path so "[SystemFolder]" not required.
            Args=^"[INSTALLDIR]InstallFiles.TXT"^       ;;This is NOT the source file but the installed file
       CONDITION=^<$VBSCA_CONDITION_INSTALL_ONLY>^
            Type="AnyRc"
             Seq="InstallFiles-"
   >
#)


;--- Run program neart end of install, don't wait! --------------------------
#(
   <$ExeCa
             EXE="[SystemFolder]notepad.exe"
            Args=^"[INSTALLDIR]InstallFinalize"^       ;;This is NOT the source file but the installed file
       CONDITION=^<$VBSCA_CONDITION_INSTALL_ONLY>^
             Seq="<-InstallFinalize"
            Type="AnyRc Async"                         ;;Async = don't wait (also requires AnyRc!)
   >
#)

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