WIX: Using a temporary file during install

Question

I am writing a WIX installer and I have a following requirement:
During installation, I need to pass an absolute path to a file (lets call it A) included in my installer to a COM component, which already exists on the hard drive and is a part of another program. I have already written an appropriate Custom Action which expects a path to the file A. I don't want to include A as a file installed in the Program Files folder and removed during the uninstallation process. Instead, I would like to put A only temporary on the hard drive, call my Custom Action which will cause the COM component to use the content of A, and then remove A from disk. Is there an easy way to accomplish this goal?

I have tried to utilize the Binary Table and store A there, however I don't know how to reference A using absolute path. I know I could put A outside of MSI file but I would like to keep every file installer needs in a single MSI.

Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Deleting a file that MSI installed means that MSI will consider it "broken" and try to auto-repair it if called on to do so. That happens automatically in several cases (e.g., advertised shortcuts and COM registration) so I'd recommend against it. Leave the file there instead -- it's done its job and there's no harm in leaving it there.