WiX - trying to figure out install sequences

Question

I\'m installing a large app, and part of it is a custom written tool called \"DbUpdateManager\" to mass execute SQL scripts against our target database.

Right now, the W

Answer 1

It appears that your CustomAction depends on the 'DbUpdateManagerFile' being installed. That means that your CustomAction needs to be scheduled after InstallFiles executes. Remember there are two passes to the InstallExecuteSequence. First, the "immediate" (or "scheduled" or "script generation") actions are executed to build the transaction log (aka: "install script"). Second, the "deferred" actions in the transaction log are executed.

Right now your CustomAction is "immediate" (the default) so it is trying to run before the files are actually copied to the machine. The InstallFiles action is in the script before your CustomAction but it hasn't been executed yet.

So, you need to mark your CustomAction "deferred" to get it to run after your files are installed.

Note: you are not probably not able to show UI from a deferred CA. I wasn't sure if this tool of yours was expected to show UI.

PS: sorry if I didn't explain that well, it's been a long day.