I think the fact that the file is edited after it is laid down on the computer means the install considers the file to be "customer data" because its Modify date is later than the Create date. That follows the file versioning rules for unversioned files.
One way around that problem is to specify a versioned "companion file" parent in the component you created for the unversioned file. The unversioned file will be installed based on whether or not the verisioned file is installed. In Wix it looks something like this: (Unversioned file component) <Component Id="unversionedfilename" Guid="957B0968-D272-4A02-A0AE-F14ED5AAF239"> <File Name="UnVersionedFileName" ReadOnly="no" CompanionFile="VersionedFile.dll" Source="../../../../../xml/UnVersionedFile.xml" Id="UnVersionedFile.xml" DiskId="1" /> </Component> Note that the unversioned file has no keypath defined and the CompanionFile attribute takes the File Id of the companion parent (the versioned file). The versioned file's component needs no special modifications. Companion files are explained more here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa367997(v=vs.85).aspx How companion files are used by the file versioning rules is explained here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa368599(v=vs.85).aspx Note that if a higher version of the versioned file exists on the machine, neither file will be installed. So adding a version number in the file table for the unversioned file is definitely a better way to be sure the file is always overwriten. But the companion file method will work if you're sure that the versioned file will always be installed. Hope this helps...good luck. -- View this message in context: http://windows-installer-xml-wix-toolset.687559.n2.nabble.com/Replace-component-on-reinstall-tp6695913p6722440.html Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EMC VNX: the world's simplest storage, starting under $10K The only unified storage solution that offers unified management Up to 160% more powerful than alternatives and 25% more efficient. Guaranteed. http://p.sf.net/sfu/emc-vnx-dev2dev _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
