Summary

Symptoms

Error -1501 occurs when building a compressed release for an InstallShield Project. The error is displayed in the following format:

Error -1501: Could not compress '%1' into '%2'.

Note: %1 is the name of a file that cannot be found, and %2 is the name of a .cab file that the build is trying to compress the file into.

Cause

This error occurs when trying to create a compressed build, and the build cannot find one or more source files listed in the File table that need to be compressed into a cabinet file. The following are possible causes:

1. A file has been deleted from its source location making current links to it within the Files view in the project invalid. The build engine cannot compress a file into the release because the file cannot be found at the source location specified due to the file being deleted or moved to a new source location.

2. A build is being done from the command line, and all files in the project are linked correctly in the Files view, but the build still cannot find the files.

3. There is not enough space on the build drive to build the release.

4. There are merge modules included in the project that are causing the error. To determine if or which module is causing the error, merge modules may need to be deselected while rebuilding the setup to help determine the merge module causing the error.

Resolution

Solution for Cause 1

1. Open the Files view and find the file mentioned in the error message.
2. Verify that the files linked in the Destination computer's files section of the Files view are valid links. If a file link is broken, the modified column for the file will say ***File not Found*** .
3. If files have been deleted or removed from the original source location, the files must be placed back in their original source location, or the files must be relinked. To relink a file:
   1. Click the file in question within the Files section of the component.
   2. Right-click the file, and choose Delete.
   3. Browse to the file in the Source computer's files section of the Files view.
   4. Add it back into the Destination computer's files section of the Files view.

Solution for Cause 2

Find IsCmdBld.exe on the build machine. This file may be in different locations depending on what InstallShield products have been installed on the build machine. The easiest way to find the file is by going to Start > Find on the Windows menu and searching for IsCmdBld.exe. Once found, make a copy of the file and place it in the same location as the file listed in the error message. Launch IsCmdBld.exe from that location. This solution can only be used if building from the command line.

Solution to Cause 3

Free up some disk space and rebuild the release.

Solution to Cause 4