Windows Installer Editor Reference
321
Working With Source Paths
Converting to UNC-Based Source File Paths
You can convert the mapped drive paths of source files to UNC-based (Uniform Naming
Convention) paths. This helps prevent compile errors when installation source files are
on a central file server.
Example: If you add files to an installation from your Y drive, which is mapped to a file
server, paths of files you add to the installation start with Y:\. If a co-worker opens and
compiles the installation on another computer that doesn’t have its Y drive mapped to
the same file server, the compile fails because the installation cannot find the source
files on the Y drive. However, if you first convert all network paths to UNC paths, co-
workers on the same network can open and compile the installation without
encountering errors. Instead of a path such as Y:\Application.ini, a file has a fully
qualified path such as \\Server\Development\Application\Application.ini.
To convert to UNC-based source file paths
1. Select Tools menu > Convert Source Paths.
The Convert Source Paths dialog box appears.
2. Click Change All Paths to UNC.
This button is only available if at least one of the paths in the installation is from a
mapped network drive.
The Change Source Directories to column displays the new paths. Only the source
paths that are from mapped drives are changed to UNC.
3. To convert all directories you add subsequently to UNC paths, select UNC Paths
from Path Type.
4. Click OK.
A one-time conversion of all the network paths in the installation is performed. Paths to
files that are on local drives are not converted. However, if the local drive is shared, it is
converted to the shared drive name.
See also:
Source Paths in an Installation
on page 318
Changing the Source Directory Dynamically During Compile
You can define a source directory as a property, so you can easily reassign the location
of source files when you compile a .WSI or .MSI. Use this feature if you:
z
Frequently change the location of source files.
z
Frequently move the installation to other computers.
z
Need to point to a different source directory each time you compile.
Use the procedures below to change the source directory dynamically during compile.
To create a property to hold the source directory value
1. Select Setup Editor > Product tab and click the Properties icon in the left pane.
2. In the right pane, select New > Property from the right-click menu.
The Property Details dialog box appears.