Summary

This article describes how to launch a batch file from a Windows Installer (MSI-based) setup.

Discussion

The following steps describe how to create a custom action that launches a batch file targeted to be installed to the main installation directory location (i.e., the location stored in the INSTALLDIR MSI property).

To create a custom action that launches a batch file targeted to be installed to the main installation directory location:

1. Make sure that the installer is configured to install the batch file to the main installation directory location (i.e., the location stored in the INSTALLDIR MSI property)
2. Launch the Custom Action Wizard. For more information, see the Additional Information section of this article.
3. On the Basic Information dialog, enter a name (such as test) for the custom action in the Name field.
4. Click the Next button.
5. On the Action Type dialog, set the Type to Launch an executable and the Location to Stored in the Directory Table.
6. Click the Next button.
7. On the Action Parameters dialog, set the Source to SystemFolder and the Target to the following:

   "[SystemFolder]cmd.exe" /c "[INSTALLDIR]NameOfBatchFile.bat"

   This command calls cmd.exe (the executable for the Windows command prompt) from the location stored in the SystemFolder MSI property and passes cmd.exe the path to the batch file. Cmd.exe accepts various parameters. For example:

   • To have the command prompt window close after launching the batch file, use the /c parameter, as in the example above.
   • To have the command prompt window remain open after launching the batch file, use the /k parameter instead.
   • For more information regarding the parameters accepted by /cmd.exe, see the Additional Information section of this article.
8. Click the Next button.
9. On the Additional Options dialog, keep the default values selected.
10. Click the Next button.
11. On the Respond Options dialog, keep the default values selected.
12. Click the Next button.
13. On the Insert into Sequence dialog, set the Install Execute Sequence to After InstallFinalize and the Install Execute Condition to the following: Not Installed and VersionNT. This condition instructs the install to only execute the custom action during a first-time install on an NT-based target system.

Additional Information

• This method is restricted to NT systems.
• For more information about the Microsoft cmd.exe command interpreter, refer to the Microsoft Learn article: Cmd.
• For more information on the VersionNT property, refer to the Microsoft Learn article: VersionNT Property.
• For more information on creating custom actions in InstallShield, see Custom Action Wizard in the InstallShield Help Library.