How to install application in custom folder using wix installer,other than Program Files folder

Question

I have created an installer using wix. By default the application gets installed under Program Files folder.I need to create a folder for my application under c: directory and install my application inside there.

<Fragment>
      <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
  <Directory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME" >
    <Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="WIXDemoApp">
    </Directory>
  </Directory>
</Directory>

<SetDirectory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME" Value="c"/>

<Fragment>
    <ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">

        <!-- TODO: Remove the comments around this Component element and the ComponentRef below in order to add resources to this installer. -->
         <Component Id="MyApplication.exe">
     <File Source="$(var.MyApplication.TargetPath)" Name="MyApp.exe" Id="MYAPPEXE" KeyPath="yes"  />
            <!-- TODO: Insert files, registry keys, and other resources here. -->
         </Component> 
    </ComponentGroup>
</Fragment>

I am getting the following error "error LGHT0094: Unresolved reference to symbol 'Directory:INSTALLFOLDER' in section 'Fragment:'".

Update:

<Fragment>
          <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
      <Directory Id="WindowsVolume" >
        <Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="WIXDemoApp">
        </Directory>
      </Directory>
    </Directory>

    <SetDirectory Id="WindowsVolume" Value="c"/>
  </Fragment>

    <Fragment>
        <ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLLOCATION">

            <!-- TODO: Remove the comments around this Component element and the ComponentRef below in order to add resources to this installer. -->
             <Component Id="MyApplication.exe">
         <File Source="$(var.MyApplication.TargetPath)" Name="MyApp.exe" Id="MYAPPEXE" KeyPath="yes"  />
                <!-- TODO: Insert files, registry keys, and other resources here. -->
             </Component> 
        </ComponentGroup>
    </Fragment>

This is giving me another error "error LGHT0204: ICE99: The directory name: WindowsVolume is the same as one of the MSI Public Properties and can cause unforeseen side effects.".Googled and refereed this and this to fix this.But not working for me,still i am getting the same error as "error LGHT0204: ICE99: The directory name: WindowsVolume is the same as one of the MSI Public Properties and can cause unforeseen side effects.".Any idea what would be the problem.

Answer 1

Windows Installer is case-sensitive so WINDOWSVOLUME won't work. You can do something like this:

<Fragment>
  <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
    <Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
      <Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="SetupProject1" />
    </Directory>
  </Directory>

  <SetDirectory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Value="[WindowsVolume]SetupProject1" />
</Fragment>

For your second error, you're mixing two different ids: INSTALLFOLDER and INSTALLLOCATION. Pick one and use it in both places.

Answer 2

I found this tip on kentie.net - Wix Tips & Tricks. Tips said to use the WINDOWSVOLUME id.

TARGETDIR and the system partition

When trying to install to a subdirectory of the system drive root (e.g. 'C:\application'), it might sense to assume that in something like

<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
    <Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="SetupProject1">
    </Directory>
</Directory>

TARGETDIR refers to the system partition, as ProgramFilesFolder is always given as a child of TARGETDIR. This is not the case; TARGETDIR is the partition with the most free disk space. It can even be a partition on an external hard drive. To set it to the true system partition, use the below approach:

<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
    <Directory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME" >
        <Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="SetupProject1">
        </Directory>
    </Directory>
 </Directory>

<SetDirectory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME" Value="[WindowsVolume]"/> 

The SetDirectory element is required as trying to use WindowsVolume directly results in

error LGHT0204: ICE99: The directory name: WindowsVolume is the same as one of the MSI Public Properties and can cause unforeseen side effects. Signing MSIs