Keep in mind that some of us aren't targeting general purpose computers. Paul has kiosks, and I have cash registers and time clocks.
My company will ultimately deploy 14,000 identical (in terms of directory layout at least) time clocks, and presently has roughly 70,000 identical registers. So hard coding paths does make sense sometimes On Feb 21, 2014 6:53 PM, "Pavan Konduru" <pavan.kond...@accelrys.com> wrote: > Sorry Rob . > I wasn't sure the solution to create a directory level structure as > mentioned below could solve the issue as the directory structure is > different for every OS. > > > <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir"> > > <Directory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME"> > > <Directory Id="UsersDir" Name="Users"> > > <Directory Id="User1Dir" Name=user1"> > > <Directory Id="AppdataDir" Name="Appdata"> > > <Directory Id="RoamingDir" Name="Roaming"> > > <Directory Id="MicrosoftDir" Name="Microsoft"> > > <Directory Id="WindowsDir" Name="Windows"> > > <Directory Id="StartmenuDir" Name="Start Menu"> > > <Directory Id="ProgramsDir" Name="Programs"> > > <Directory Id="StartupDir" Name="Startup"> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rob Mensching [mailto:r...@robmensching.com] > Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 2:04 PM > To: General discussion about the WiX toolset. > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Adding Application Shortcut to Specific User's > Startup Folder. > > That is very much not a good design. The Windows Installer an create > shortcuts just fine. And uninstall them and roll them back and handle all > the other scenarios you need to think about when putting a file (like a > shortcut) on disk. This is a very bad suggestion below. > > All you need is to set the directory for the shortcut correctly. That may > (but doesn't seem like it should) a custom action to find the path... but > once the directory is set, let the Windows Installer do the heavy lifting > of actually creating the shortcut. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Pavan Konduru [mailto:pavan.kond...@accelrys.com] > Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 12:59 PM > To: General discussion about the WiX toolset. > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Adding Application Shortcut to Specific User's > Startup Folder. > > You can use a Custom action to set a shortcut in the user directory. I am > assuming your installer is per machine, hence all shortcuts are in the > general start menu but you just need one shortcut that must be created in > the user profile? > I see that you got the directory structure(that is for Wind 7 ) but isn't > the start menu different for different windows OS flavors?Win 2003 server > has this structure: > > C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Start Menu\Programs > > I did something like this and it worked (but you would have to handle the > deletion manually during uninstall) > > WshShell shell = new WshShell(); > > string shrtcutLnk = "App.lnk"; > > IWshShortcut MyShortcut; > pathString= Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.StartMenu); > > MyShortcut = (IWshShortcut)shell.CreateShortcut(pathString + > shrtcutLnk); > > MyShortcut.TargetPath = ""; > MyShortcut.Arguments = " "; > > MyShortcut.WorkingDirectory = ""; > MyShortcut.Description = "Launch blah blah"; > > MyShortcut.IconLocation = "MyIco.ico"; > > MyShortcut.Save(); > > > This line of code returns the current users startmenu folder, which in > mycase was: > pathString= Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.StartMenu); > > "C:\\Users\\pavan.konduru\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start > Menu" > > > --Pavan > > -----Original Message----- > From: Walter Dexter [mailto:wfdex...@gmail.com] > Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 9:56 AM > To: General discussion about the WiX toolset. > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Adding Application Shortcut to Specific User's > Startup Folder. > > I'll have to look into <SetDirectory ..../>. That looks cleaner than my > custom action route. > > > On Fri, Feb 21, 2014 at 5:06 AM, <paul.chor...@stfc.ac.uk> wrote: > > > Walt, > > All working for install & uninstall now thanks to your prompting & > > explanation of the directory attribute. > > > > For future reference:- > > > > I also tried using the WindowsVolume supplied property to get to the > > root of things in a drive letter independent way. This resulted in an > > error. I then saw this link by Ravikumar Gopinath:- > > > > > > http://windows-installer-xml-wix-toolset.687559.n2.nabble.com/Error-us > > ing-WindowsVolume-predefined-folder-td3313078.html > > > > So using this seems to provide a drive letter independent solution:- > > > > <SetDirectory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME" Value="[WindowsVolume]"/> > > > > <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir"> > > <Directory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME"> > > <Directory Id="UsersDir" Name="Users"> > > <Directory Id="User1Dir" Name=user1"> > > <Directory Id="AppdataDir" Name="Appdata"> > > <Directory Id="RoamingDir" Name="Roaming"> > > <Directory Id="MicrosoftDir" Name="Microsoft"> > > <Directory Id="WindowsDir" Name="Windows"> > > <Directory Id="StartmenuDir" Name="Start Menu"> > > <Directory Id="ProgramsDir" Name="Programs"> > > <Directory Id="StartupDir" Name="Startup"> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > </Directory> > > > > <DirectoryRef Id ="StartupDir"> > > <Component Id="CMP_MyAppStartupShortcut" Guid="GUID Here" > > KeyPath="yes"> > > > > <Shortcut Id=" MyAppStartupShortcut " Name="MyApp" > > Description="Launch MyApp" > > Target="[ProgramDir]MyApp.exe" WorkingDirectory="ProgramDir" > > Icon="icon.ico"/> > > > > </Component> > > </DirectoryRef> > > > > Cheers, > > Paul > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Walter Dexter [mailto:wfdex...@gmail.com] > > Sent: 20 February 2014 16:16 > > To: General discussion about the WiX toolset. > > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Adding Application Shortcut to Specific > > User's Startup Folder. > > > > I was just coming in to correct the path... > > > > The problem you're having is that the Directory attribute is supposed > > to be the ID of a directory, not the path to a directory. > > > > Here's how I'm dealing with absolute paths. My standard disclaimer > > with WiX advice is that I first used WiX in November and I still don't > > feel like I know what I'm doing, so there may be a much easier way to do > anything. > > > > > > <CustomAction Id="CA_SetCDrive" Directory="C_DRIVE" Value="c:\" /> > > > > <InstallExecuteSequence> > > <Custom Action="CA_SetCDrive" After="CostFinalize" /> > > </InstallExecuteSequence> > > > > <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir"> > > <Directory Id="C_DRIVE" Name="CDrive"> <Directory > Id="DIR_PROGRAMDATA" > > Name="ProgramData" > > > <Directory Id="DIR_MICROSOFT" Name="Microsoft" > <Directory > > Id="DIR_POINTOFSERVICE" Name="Point of Service" > > > <Directory Id="DIR_CONFIGURATION" Name="Configuration" /> > > </Directory> </Directory> </Directory> </Directory> </Directory> > > > > Then, assuming you got all the rest of your values right, you would have: > > > > <Shortcut Id="MYShortcut" Name="MyApp" > > Description="Launch MyApp" > > Target="[ProgramDir]MYApp.exe" WorkingDirectory="ProgramDir" > > Icon="icon.ico" Directory="DIR_CONFIGURATION"/> > > > > and your shortcut would land in c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Point of > > Service\Configuration. (Not a sensible place to put a shortcut, of > > course, but it's the snippet I could steal easily.) > > > > I assume that you have an <icon .... /> element with Id="icon.ico" > > because I think that's an ID as well. I've never done a shortcut or > > icon in WiX, though. We don't even have the explorer shell running. We > > have a custom shell that has it's own way of doing Startup and RunOnce. > > > > Good luck- > > > > Walt > > > > > > > > On Thu, Feb 20, 2014 at 8:47 AM, <paul.chor...@stfc.ac.uk> wrote: > > > > > Hello Ilir, > > > > > > Thanks for your response, how do I add a shortcut to that path in > > > WIX (C:\Users\<TheUser>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start > > > Menu\Programs\Startup)? > > > > > > Cheers, > > > Paul > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Ilir Bekteshi [mailto:ilir...@gmail.com] > > > Sent: 20 February 2014 13:22 > > > To: General discussion about the WiX toolset. > > > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Adding Application Shortcut to Specific > > > User's Startup Folder. > > > > > > If you want your Shortcut to appear in Startup folder for everyone > > > then put it in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start > > > Menu\Programs\Startup > > > > > > For a specific user then > > > C:\Users\<TheUser>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start > > > Menu\Programs\Startup > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thu, Feb 20, 2014 at 1:06 PM, <paul.chor...@stfc.ac.uk> wrote: > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > > > > > I have a kiosk type PC system, that on boot up, automatically logs > > > > on a special restricted user account with a preconfigured password. > > > > My application then launches automatically using a shortcut > > > > present in only that special users Startup folder. The > > > > installation scope is per machine as other users may need to run > > > > the application from time to time for diagnostic purposes. The > > > > application installation is always done using an admin account. > > > > > > > > In the past using VS2010:- > > > > > > > > 1. The solution MS "Setup Project" installed all of the common > > > > features successfully. > > > > > > > > 2. I utilized the MS "Installer Class" which through some c# > code > > > > created an application shortcut in the special user's startup > > > > folder during installation and removed it during uninstallation. > > > > > > > > With the demise of the above VS2010 features in later VS versions > > > > I have just over the last two weeks looked at WIX as an alternative. > > > > So far the WIX project will successfully install & uninstall the > > > > common features successfully, that is DLL, EXE files and some > > > > simple all user application shortcuts on the desktop and start menu. > > > > > > > > After searching for ages, I cannot determine how to set a startup > > > > shortcut in just the special user account. From my searches this > > > > does not appear to possible just using the basic WIX. > > > > > > > > I would really appreciate some directional guidance. Maybe a "C# > > > > custom action project" should be used? Or a batch file? > > > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > Paul > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Scanned by iCritical. > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > -- > > > > -- > > > > -------- Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take > > > > advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > > > > Read the Whitepaper. > > > > > > > > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg. > > > > clktrk _______________________________________________ > > > > WiX-users mailing list > > > > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > > > -------- Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take > > > advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > > > Read the Whitepaper. > > > > > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg. > > > clktrk _______________________________________________ > > > WiX-users mailing list > > > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > -- > > > Scanned by iCritical. > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > > > -------- Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take > > > advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > > > Read the Whitepaper. > > > > > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg. > > > clktrk _______________________________________________ > > > WiX-users mailing list > > > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -------- Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take > > advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > > Read the Whitepaper. > > > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg. > > clktrk _______________________________________________ > > WiX-users mailing list > > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > -- > > Scanned by iCritical. > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -------- Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take > > advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > > Read the Whitepaper. > > > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg. > > clktrk _______________________________________________ > > WiX-users mailing list > > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take advantage of > what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > Read the Whitepaper. > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take advantage of > what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > Read the Whitepaper. > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take advantage of > what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > Read the Whitepaper. > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications > Take advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > Read the Whitepaper. > > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. Read the Whitepaper. http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121054471&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
