Summary

Synopsis

This article discusses how to launch an executable using a custom action.

Discussion

The following steps can be followed in order to configure the installation to launch a Readme File installed by your setup program, using the copy of Notepad found in the user?s WindowsFolder directory.

1. Create a new Basic MSI project
2. In the Project Assistant tab, select the Application Files view and add a Readme.txt file.
3. Go to the Installation Designer tab -> Behavior and Logic -> Custom Actions and Sequences.
4. Right click the Custom Actions icon and select New Exe -> Path referencing a directory then name it appropriately (ex. Launch_readme)
5. In the Working Directory setting, select WindowsFolder, which represents the directory containing the executable (Notepad in this case)
6. In the Filename & Command line setting, enter the following value: notepad.exe ?[INSTALLDIR]Readme.txt?
7. Change the In-Script Execution setting to Deferred Execution. This is necessary because the action refers to a file being installed, and system changes are not performed until deferred execution.
8. Change the Install Exec Sequence setting to After InstallFiles. Because the file to be launched is being installed, the action must be scheduled after the standard InstallFiles action.
9. Set the Install Exec Condition to ?Not Installed? which ensures the action runs only during a first time installation and not during the uninstall where the file would no longer exist.
10. Save and build the project, and then test your installer.