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Last edited time @April 2, 2025 7:45 PM
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Created time @April 2, 2025 7:45 PM
Explanation of the WiX .wxs File
This .wxs file defines an MSI installer for a WPF application. Let's break it down
section by section:
1. Root Element ( <Wix> )
This is the main XML container for the installer and must include the WiX schema
namespace.
2. <Product> Element
Defines the application being installed.
Id="*" : Generates a new GUID for each build.
Name="SetupProject" : The name of the application.
Language="1033" : English (US).
Version="1.0.0.0" : Application version.
Manufacturer="Generalitat de Catalunya" : The developer or company.
UpgradeCode : A GUID for managing upgrades.
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Inside <Product> , we have:
<Package> : Specifies installer properties.
InstallScope="perMachine" : Installs for all users.
Compressed="yes" : Embeds all files in the installer.
<MajorUpgrade> : Prevents downgrades.
<MediaTemplate> : Defines media layout for installation files.
3. <Feature> Elements
Defines installable features.
Main Feature ( ProductFeature ):
Installs the core application and shortcuts.
Documentation Feature ( ProductDocumentation ):
Installs extra documentation.
Each <Feature> references <ComponentGroup> elements, which define specific sets of
installed files.
4. User Interface ( UIRef )
<UIRef Id="WixUI_Mondo"/>
<UIRef Id="WixUI_ErrorProgressText"/>
<Property Id="WIXUI_INSTALLDIR" Value="INSTALLDIR" />
WixUI_Mondo : Adds a full UI (install location, progress, etc.).
WixUI_ErrorProgressText : Displays error messages.
WIXUI_INSTALLDIR : Defines the install directory.
5. Icon and License
<Icon Id="IconaDePrograma" SourceFile="..\SetupApp\favicon.ico"/>
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<WixVariable Id="WixUILicenseRtf" Value="License.rtf"/>
Defines an application icon ( favicon.ico ).
Specifies a license file ( License.rtf ).
6. Custom Actions
<Binary Id="CustomActionDLL" SourceFile="$(var.CustomActionProject.Targe
tDir)CustomActionProject.CA.dll"/>
<CustomAction Id="CA_CustomAction" BinaryKey="CustomActionDLL" DllEntr
y="CustomActionInstallDatabase" Execute="deferred" Impersonate="no" Ret
urn="check"/>
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="CA_CustomAction" After="InstallInitialize"/>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
Runs CustomActionInstallDatabase from CustomActionProject.CA.dll during installation.
7. <Directory> Structure
Defines the install locations.
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="MiPrimerSetup">
<Directory Id="DOCFOLDER" Name="docs" />
</Directory>
</Directory>
<Directory Id="ProgramMenuFolder">
<Directory Id="CARPETA_MENU_INICI" Name="MiFirstApplication"/>
</Directory>
<Directory Id="DesktopFolder"/>
</Directory>
Installs files into C:\Program Files\MiPrimerSetup .
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Creates a docs subfolder.
Adds a Start Menu folder ( MiFirstApplication ).
Defines DesktopFolder for shortcuts.
8. Installed Files ( ComponentGroup )
Each <Component> represents a file.
<ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
<Component Id="ProductComponent_Executable">
<File Id="FILE_Aplicacio_exe" Source="$(var.SetupApp.TargetDir)SetupA
pp.exe" KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
<Component Id="ProductComponent_dll">
<File Id="FILE_Aplicacio_dll" Source="$(var.SetupApp.TargetDir)SetupAp
p.dll" KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
<Component Id="ProductComponent_json">
<File Id="FILE_Aplicacio_json" Source="$(var.SetupApp.TargetDir)Setup
App.runtimeconfig.json" KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
<Component Id="LlibreriaMatematica_dll">
<File Id="FILE_LlibreriaMatematica_dll" Assembly=".net" Source="$(var.
SetupApp.TargetDir)LlibreriaMatematica.dll" KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
</ComponentGroup>
Installs the main SetupApp.exe and related DLLs.
KeyPath="yes" marks the main installation file.
9. Shortcuts
Start Menu Shortcut
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<ComponentGroup Id="GC_SHORTCUT_MI" Directory="CARPETA_MENU_INI
CI">
<Component Id="CMP_SHORTCUT_MI" Guid="{4b81c8c7-2721-43ae-b74b
-eced2b7a74b4}">
<Shortcut Id="SHC_MI_EXE"
Icon="IconaDePrograma"
Name="MiFirstApplication"
Description="Shitty application"
Target="[INSTALLFOLDER]SetupApp.exe"/>
<Shortcut Id="SHC_MI_UNINSTALL"
Name="Desintal·lar MiFirstApplication"
Description="Desintal·lar the shitty application"
Target="[System64Folder]msiexec.exe"
Arguments="/x [ProductCode]"/>
<RemoveFolder Id="RemoveMyShortcutsDir" On="uninstall"/>
<RegistryValue Root="HKCU"
Key="Software\IESMila\MiFirstApplication"
Name="installed"
Type="integer"
Value="1"
KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
</ComponentGroup>
Adds a shortcut to SetupApp.exe in the Start Menu.
Adds an Uninstall shortcut that calls msiexec.exe /x [ProductCode] .
Desktop Shortcut
<ComponentGroup Id="GC_SHORTCUT_DESK" Directory="DesktopFolder">
<Component Id="CMP_SHORCUT_DESK" Guid="{69ea5bb1-645d-4d89-ae
d4-9af94d1d7502}">
<Shortcut Id="SHC_DESK_EXE"
Icon="IconaDePrograma"
Name="MiFirstApplication"
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Description="Shitty Application"
Target="[INSTALLFOLDER]SetupApp.exe"/>
<RegistryValue Root="HKCU"
Key="Software\IESMila\MiFirstApplication"
Name="installedDesktop"
Type="integer"
Value="1"
KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
</ComponentGroup>
Adds a desktop shortcut for SetupApp.exe .
How to Do Common Tasks in WiX
1. Add More DLLs to the Installation Folder
Add them inside <ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents"> :
<Component Id="MyLibrary_dll">
<File Id="FILE_MyLibrary_dll" Source="$(var.SetupApp.TargetDir)MyLib
rary.dll" KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
2. Set Custom Icons for Shortcuts
Ensure you have an ICO file and reference it:
<Icon Id="MyAppIcon" SourceFile="myapp.ico"/>
3. Create a Start Menu Shortcut
Already included in <ComponentGroup Id="GC_SHORTCUT_MI"> .
4. Add a License Agreement
The license file must be in RTF format:
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<WixVariable Id="WixUILicenseRtf" Value="License.rtf"/>
5. Modify the Installation Directory
Change:
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="MyApp"/>
This will install in C:\Program Files\MyApp .
Final Thoughts
This sample WiX script covers installation, shortcuts, registry entries, and UI
elements.
You may need to adjust file paths based on your actual WPF project.
To build the installer, use:
candle.exe MySetup.wxs
light.exe -out MySetup.msi MySetup.wixobj
Would you like help setting up WiX 3 in Visual Studio? 🚀
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