4 replies to this topic

[CM XS]

I know you're only supposed to access properties from a deferred custom action using only CustomActionData.  But i have tried accessing public properties using MsiGetProperty(...) and it works.

can anyone add insight here?  i assume it works because the session still exists while the script is getting executed, so what kind of circumstance would lead to the session not existing?

[Leigh Ravenhall]

Which version of Installshield are you using?  With Developer 7, Installscript custom actions run under a seperate process, called IDriver.exe (I think).  These custom actions have full access to public properties regardless of whether they are running as immediate or deferred.

[CM XS]

thanks for the response leigh,  i'm not using installshield.  strictly ORCA and C++. to access these properties i'm using the msi API, calling MsiGetProperty(...).

CM

[CM XS]

(and in case it wasn't clear, the question stands)

[Stefan Krueger]

You can get the productCode and UserSID properties in a deferred CA.
For any other properties the documentation is quite clear: don't do it.
Maybe it works sometimes, on some windows versions, with some windows installer versions, for some properties. But it undocumented, so don't use it. Even documented functions are often not 100% reliable, so I wouldN#t rely on anything that the docs say it won't work.