I needed to add a new custom dialogue to a MSI basic project that captures a new path for the data folder for a project. The dialog should take the INSTALLPATH add DATADIR, then allow the user to change the path. On install the DATADIR path will be inserted into an app.config xml file so the application knows where to look

Create a new Basic MSI Project

Application Information

Installation Interview

Installation Designer

Create new component

Rename to DATAFOLDER

Click on the three dots Buttons next to Destination

Click on the three dots Buttons next to Destination

 

New Component Files

New Component Files

Configure XML Changes

import the XML file

Choose only the elements you need to change

Take out the xpath information that searches for specific elements in the config file, we just want it to match on runtime element, not the dataFolder orenviromentId

Change the dataFolder Parameter to [DATAFOLDER]

Delete the environmentID since we are not changing that

Navigate to Dialogs

right click Clone

Rename the dialog

Select the Location Control

Create new string for the control you are changing by clicking on the three dots

Click New

Enter Value: [DATAFOLDER]

Select DlgTitle Control

Select the three dots the text

Select New

Enter  DataFolder

Select LocLabel

Click three dots next to Text

Click New

Enter “Choose Data Directory for [ProductName]:”

Select Bahavior

Select ChangeFolder

Change INSTALLDIR to DATAFOLDER

Select Destination Folder

Select Next

Change NewDialog to DataFolder

Select DataFolder

Select Back

Change New Dialog to Destination Folder

Goto ReadyToInstall

Go to Back

Change DestinationFolder to DataFolder

To DataFolder

Now do a build, and you install, you should see

And when you check your XML file you should see the changes reflected there.