RE: [WiX-users] User Input

[Bob A. <sf...@bo...>]

Ask yourself this question: If any one of those 30 items changes (e-mail
addresses change, database servers move, etc), would you expect the user to
reinstall the app to make the change? If the answer is yes, well, then,
that's just mean. 8~) Installers should install. That's it. Full stop.
 
As a practical matter, MSI's user interface support isn't exactly
overflowing with power. It supports basic user interfaces and that's about
it. If you need more, you'd have to execute some code during the install.
 
My suggestion would match Adam's: Write a configuration tool and run it
after the install finishes. If you need the data during the install, run the
tool before the install starts. It can pass the data as properties to the
installer.


  _____  

From: wix...@li...
[mailto:wix...@li...] On Behalf Of Steve Donie
Sent: Monday, 21 February, 2005 09:30
To: wix...@li...
Subject: [WiX-users] User Input



I have just started evaluating WiX for our company, and I'm pretty sold on
it. I haven't found how to do something though, hope someone can help.

 

One of the things I need to be able to do is collect a bunch of information
from the user at install time - 30 or more items - the number varies. Things
like an email address for notifications, a database connection string, etc.
etc. 

 

The current installation is authored with InstallShield, and uses a grid
control to show all the names and values. I'm wondering if there is a
straightforward way of accomplishing the UI for this data collection step in
WiX. According to the MSI SDK, ".not all standard Microsoft Windows controls
are available, and custom controls cannot be created for use with the
installer UI."

 

So that makes me think I am going to have to fall back on doing something
like have a sequence of User Input dialogs with static text and Edit boxes,
which I suppose is doable, but seems really ugly.