Wix: How to set permissions for folder and all sub folders

Question

I know how to set the permissions for a folder:

Answer 1

<DirectoryRef Id="INSTALLFOLDER">
        <Component Id="INSTALLFOLDER_Permission" Guid="*">
            <CreateFolder>
                <util:PermissionEx User="Users" GenericAll="yes"/>
            </CreateFolder>
        </Component>
    </DirectoryRef>

The answer above is correct, and you will set the permissions to all the folders and files in this folder.

Please note: The CreateFolder tag should be in a component, and this component must be added to a Feature.

Also, you have to add this to the command line of the compiler and the linker:

-ext WixUIExtension -ext WixUtilExtension

Answer 2

I solved: different PermissionEx are defined in Wix and Util schema (Wix PermissionEx and Util Extension PermissionEx)

I used the Util version:

• Add a reference to WixUtilExtension assembly
• Add the UtilExtension namespace to the Wix tag:

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

• Specify the Util PermissionEx version:

<CreateFolder Directory="DirectoryToManage">
    <util:PermissionEx User="Users" GenericAll="yes" />
</CreateFolder>

Answer 3

First of all, I would recommend you using PermissionEx instead. It is a standard WiX extension and it has one really huge advantage over Permission - it doesn't overwrite, but modifies ACLs. And by default, it applies permissions to the folder and all its descendant files and folders, so you don't have to specify anything extra.

Hope this helps.