WIX Variables

January 20, 2009 · 1 min read

Anytime you go beyond a very simple Installer script, you will need to pass in variables into WIX (e.g. selecting assemblies from the \Release\ or \Debug\ folders, or retitling the MSI for a "Debug" build installer).

Your WIX Script (WixVarDemo.wxs) might Include a few variables like this:

    <File Source='..\Solutions\bin\$(var.DLLFOLDER)\Image.png' ... />

  ...

 

You would compile the script (and pass the variables like this).

> candle.exe -dDLLFOLDER=Debug -dFOLDERNAME=" (Demo)" -dEMPTYVAR="" WixVarDemo.wxs

Note: We can also pass empty variables (for a shortcut to read "MonsterApp" or "MonsterApp (Debug Build)".  The empty quotes ("") are not needed, but are clearer and safer (especially when passing in variables from MSBuild).

This article is part of the GWB Archives. Original Author: Howard Ricketts

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