Custom Actions Supported in InstallShield
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Action Type
Project Type
Custom Action Behavior
InstallScript
Basic MSI, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module
Run InstallScript code.
EXE
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Launch an executable file.
Standard DLL
Basic MSI, InstallScript MSI
Call a function in a standard DLL.
MSI DLL
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Call a function in a DLL that was written specifically for Windows Installer.
The entry point of the .dll file must have a predefined parameter and return value.
Managed Code
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module
Call a public method in a managed assembly that is written in managed code such as Visual Basic .NET or C#.
For more information, see Calling a Public Method in a Managed Assembly.
Set Property
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Set a property in the Property table.
This is useful if you need to get information from the end user and store it so that it can be used later in your installation.
Set Directory
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Set a directory in the Directory table at run time.
For example, if you want to create a temp directory that is a subdirectory of the installation directory selected by the end user, you can use this option to set that new temp directory for use later in the installation.
Nested MSI
Basic MSI, InstallScript MSI, MSI Database, Transform
Launch another .msi package. This is also known as a nested installation.
Important: Nested installations is a deprecated feature of the Windows Installer. Applications installed with nested installations sometimes fail because they are difficult for end users to service correctly. Microsoft Corporation recommends that you avoid using nested installations and nested-installation custom actions to install products that are intended to be released to the public. To learn more, see Concurrent Installations in the Windows Installer Help Library.
VBScript
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Run 32-bit or 64-bit VBScript code.
JScript
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Run 32-bit or 64-bit JScript code.
Error
Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, Transform
Display a specified error message, return failure, and end the installation.
For example, you may want to add an error custom action to your project to handle scenarios where an end user tries to install the current version of your product over a future major version. For more information, see Preventing the Current Installation from Overwriting a Future Major Version of the Same Product.
Kill Process
Basic MSI, InstallScript MSI
Terminate a process at run time. For more information, see Calling a Kill-Process Custom Action.
PowerShell
Basic MSI, InstallScript MSI
Run a PowerShell script to perform system configuration tasks at installation run time. For target system requirements, as well as other information about this type of custom action, see Calling a PowerShell Custom Action.
WiseScript
Basic MSI
Edition: This custom action type is available in the version of InstallShield that is included in certain editions of AdminStudio.
Runs a WiseScript executable file.
This type of action includes a wrapper MSI DLL that gets and sets Windows Installer properties and evaluates Windows Installer conditions.
