MSI Script has nothing to manipulate character strings (ie LEFT( ), RIGHT( ), MID( ), etc). To do this we must use a VBS script or WiseScript. To do either, we must call the scripts from MSI Script.
The hard thing is determining where in MSI script to do this. This all depends on the Property you are trying to use. If you try to use a property that is set after the Custom Action you added, you won't get what you're expecting.
(With help from Wise KB Article #1548)
For an example, let's try to extract the name of MSI file from the OriginalDatabase property. The OriginalDatabase property give us the name of the MSI file but it includes the full path, we want to parse for the MSI file name only.
-Go to the MSI Script view:
-Select the Execute Immediate page
-Place it after the CostFinalize action (This is usually safe since most properties are now defined)
-In the left column select Call VBScript from Embedded code
-Custom Action Name: MrParseIT (This is just a cutesy label, it's whatever you want)
-Enter the VBScript to execute:
'based on the InstrRev entry in Script56.CHM
Dim MyString, SearchChar, MyPos, Resultstr
'Read from windows installer property.
SearchString = Session.Property("OriginalDatabase")
SearchChar = "\" ' Search for "\".
'edit SearchString
MyPos = InstrRev(SearchString, SearchChar, -1, 1) 'textual comparison starting at the end.
'InstrRev counts from the end of the string so we have to switch that around for Right()
MyPos = Len(SearchString)-MyPos
Resultstr = Right(SearchString,MyPos)
'For testing only
'MsgBox"Resultstr has:"&Resultstr&Vbcrlf&"SearchString has:"&SearchString&" ", 0, "test"
'Write value to windows installer property.
Session.Property("MYNAMEIS") = Resultstr
The
name of the property that is set at the end is: MYNAMEIS
Should look like this:
(With help from Wise KB Article #1956)
For an example, let's try to extract the name of MSI file from the OriginalDatabase property. The OriginalDatabase property give us the name of the MSI file but it includes the full path, we want to parse for the MSI file name only.
-Go to the MSI Script view:
-Select the Execute Immediate page
-Place it after the CostFinalize action (This is usually safe since most properties are now defined)
-In the left column select Call WiseScript from Installation
-Custom Action Name: MrParseIT (This is just a cutesy label, it's whatever you want.)
-For the WiseScript EXE file: MrParseIT (Again, whatever you want, I'm just consistent..)
-Click the Options button and select Create New WiseScript
-A Save As window appears. Browse to where you want your WiseScript to be save and click the Save button. I would suggest the same directory as where your WSI is located. That way all the files needed to build the package stays together.
-WiseScript Editor (or WiseScript Express) opens
-Paste in this WiseScript:
item: Remark
Text=Read from windows installer property.
end
item: Custom Script Item
Filename=Get Windows Installer Property.wse
Variable Name1=_PROPERTYNAME_
Variable Value1=OriginalDatabase
Variable Name2=_PROP_VAR_
Variable Value2=SearchString
Variable Name3=HELPFILE
Variable Value3=\\parisdmres02\WPSDIR$\HELP\WiseScriptEditor.chm
end
item: Remark
Text= Search for "\".
end
item: Set Variable
Variable=SEARCHCHAR
Value=\
end
item: Remark
end
item: Remark
Text=edit SearchString
end
item: Parse String
Source=%SearchString%
Pattern=%SEARCHCHAR%
Variable1=JUNK
Variable2=RESULTSTR
Flags=00000100
end
item: Remark
end
item: Remark
Text=For testing only
end
remarked item: Display Message
Title=test
Text=Resultstr has: %Resultstr%
Text=SearchString has: %SearchString%
end
item: Remark
end
item: Remark
Text=Write value to windows installer property.
end
item: Custom Script Item
Filename=Set Windows Installer Property.wse
Variable Name1=_PROPERTYNAME_
Variable Value1=MYNAMEIS
Variable Name2=HELPFILE
Variable Value2=\\parisdmres02\WPSDIR$\HELP\WiseScriptEditor.chm
Variable Name3=_PROPERTYVAL_
Variable Value3=Resultstr
end
Yea, it's gobbledygook alright.
But if you paste in onto the WiseScript Editor it looks like this (Trust me!):
-Click Compile and exit out of WiseScript Editor.
-This will bring you back to your package and you'll have something like this:
-Click Ok
-Click Compile to compile your MSI that will now contain the WiseScript.
