Summary

ISDEV : warning -3028: The string ID "[1]" was not found in the string table. It is referenced in the table: [2] in column: [3]

Symptoms

When building a project , the following warning may occur:

ISDEV : warning -3028: The string ID "[1]" was not found in the string table. It is referenced in the table: [2] in column: [3].

This warning may also appear as:

Warning -3028: An error occurred replacing string IDs in the specified table.

[1] is a placeholder that contains the string ID that could not be found. [2] contains the specific table, and [3] contains the specific column that contains the invalid string ID.

Cause

This warning can occur in the following scenarios:

1. A string ID is referenced in an MSI table, but the string ID does not exist in the string table.
2. At least one value in the General Information view has not been filled in properly.
3. Incorrect entries exist in the string table.

Resolution

1. Note the specific table and column indicated in the build warning message. Two potential solutions can be used to resolve this specific issue:

   Add the string ID to the string table

   1. Select the General Information view.
   2. Highlight the string table under the String Tables in the center column.
   3. Add a string table entry with the string ID specified in the warning message and give it a value.
   4. Rebuild the project.

   Change the table entry to reference a valid string ID

   1. Select the Direct Editor view.
   2. Highlight the table specified in the warning message in the center column.
   3. Locate the column specified in the warning message.
   4. Scan down the column to identify the invalid string ID being referenced.
   5. Change the string ID to a valid ID actually listed in the string table, such as PRODUCT_NAME. To determine valid string IDs, use the steps listed in the solution above to access the string table and determine valid string IDs.
2. InstallShield requires that all values be populated correctly in the General Information view. To accomplish this, follow these steps:
   1. Select the General Information view.
   2. Navigate through each view in the center column and make sure all properties listed in the property sheet in the right panel contain a value. The only properties that can be blank are: Setup Author Name, Authoring Comments, Display Icon, Read Me, and Application Type.
   3. If a property other than those listed above is blank, provide a value for that property.
   4. Rebuild the project.
3. If the string table contains numerous invalid entries or has been corrupted, the easiest way to resolve the situation is to replace the entire string table with a valid string table. This can be done by following these steps:
   1. Select the General Information view.
   2. Right-click on the string table listed under String Tables and choose Import String Table.
   3. Browse to the English string table in the following location. This location will vary depending on which product is being used, e.g., for InstallShield 2013 users, use \InstallShield\2013\Support\1033.txt

      If you have the language packs installed, the text file may be in the folder:

      <PROGRAMFILES>\InstallShield\2013\Support

      This replaces the current string table with the default string table for that language.

   4. Update the string table entries to apply to your main project.
   5. Rebuild the project.

Additional Information

Additional information on string tables can be found in the InstallShield Help Library topic String Tables.

This error is briefly documented in the InstallShield Help Library topic Troubleshooting Build Errors and Warnings.