wix 3 installer: Unresolved bind-time variable !(bind.fileVersion.Name.exe)

Question

I'm trying to use the binding "bind.fileVersion" from Wix3. (ie: 3.11.1)

For some me reason, I get the following error message:

Unresolved bind-time variable !(bind.fileVersion.TestWix3.exe).

My goal is to fill the 'Product Id' line. Especially the Version="$(var.VERSION)" information.

Here's the content of my "Product.wxs" file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<?define LongName = "Test wix 3" ?>    
<?define Manufacturer = "Test" ?>
<?define ProductUpgradeCode = "5fc3e435-fad3-4c1d-997f-3483beffe0a4" ?>

<?define MAINEXE=$(var.TestWix3.TargetFileName)?>
<?define VERSION="!(bind.fileVersion.$(var.MAINEXE))"?>

<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">

  <Product Id="*" Name="$(var.LongName)" Language="1036" Codepage="1252" Version="$(var.VERSION)" Manufacturer="$(var.Manufacturer)" UpgradeCode="$(var.ProductUpgradeCode)">
        <Package InstallerVersion="200" Compressed="yes" InstallScope="perMachine" />

        <MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
        <MediaTemplate />

        <Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="Wix3Installer" Level="1">
            <ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
        </Feature>
    </Product>

    <Fragment>
        <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
            <Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
                <Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="Wix3Installer" />
            </Directory>
        </Directory>
    </Fragment>

    <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="ProductComponent"> -->
                <!-- TODO: Insert files, registry keys, and other resources here. -->
            <!-- </Component> -->     
        </ComponentGroup>
    </Fragment>
</Wix>

Here is the screenshot of my solution in VS2017 Community.

Here is the error:

Any idea why the binding of (bind.fileVersion) does not work ?

Answer 1

The FileId part of the bind variable is representing the <File Id="..."> Id. ie:

!(bind.fileVersion.TestWix3.exe)

...

<Component Id="MainProduct">
    <File Id="TestWix3.exe" KeyPath="yes" Source="$(var.TestWix3.TargetPath)"/>
    ... other stuff maybe ...
</Component>

Currently your component and file definitions are TODO so you can't use this type of bind variable yet.