Windows Installer Editor Reference
319
Working With Source Paths
structure. If you change the directories to UNC paths, you can leave the source files on a
server but open the installation from any computer on the local network.
Whether the path to a file is stored depends on what kind of file you’re working in. When
you add a file to an .WSI or .MSI, the path to the file is stored, and each time you
compile, the file is recompressed into the resulting .MSI. However, if you open an .MSI
that was compiled from a .WSI, it does not store paths to the files because the files are
encapsulated inside the .MSI. You cannot change the source paths of files encapsulated
inside an .MSI.
To see a file’s path, go to the Files or Web Files page and double-click a file in the lower-
right list box. The File Details dialog box appears, which displays the path for the file in
the Source Pathname field. If this field only displays a file name or is blank, then you
are working in an .MSI that was compiled from a .WSI. If files do not have paths, you
can either double-click on each file and define a path, or convert the .MSI to a .WSI by
using MSI to WSI Conversion.
See also:
Changing Source Directories
on page 319
Converting to Relative Source File Paths
on page 320
Converting to UNC-Based Source File Paths
on page 321
Changing the Source Directory Dynamically During Compile
on page 321
Changing Source Directories
When you change source directories, you can specify a new path for a selected directory
or for multiple directories.
To change source directories
1. Select Tools menu > Convert Source Paths.
The Convert Source Paths dialog box appears with a list of all the directories that are
referenced in the installation.
2. Select a directory from the list.
To change multiple directories, select a high-level directory so that you can change
all of its subdirectories.
3. Click Change Selected Path.
The Change Selected Path dialog box appears.
4. Complete the dialog box:
Change to
Specify the new path.
Change Sub-Directories
Mark this to change the subdirectories of the current directory.
5. Click OK.
The Change Source Directories to column displays the new path. If you marked
Change Sub-Directories, all directories that start with the same name as the one
you changed are renamed.
