How to run a ".bat" file during Install Custom Action

Saqib Bhatti 1

I am creating an installer using Visual Studio Setup. In the File System, I have created a folder named 'Batch' and put batch file there. Now on Install Custom Action properties, in the Source Path field I enter this
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

but in the Arguments filed I don't know what to enter. If I give Local disk path then it won't work on another PC.

Any help will be highly appreciated.

PengGe-MSFT 3,331 Reputation points

2021-11-05T06:37:18.667+00:00

Hi, @Saqib Bhatti
I found something that might be useful to you:

1.Create a setup project and configure as you normally would, including the subdirectory in which you'll place your batch file (you can just place it in the Application Folder directly if you don't want it in a subdirectory).
2.In the "File System" view (right-click on the project in Solution Explorer->View->File System), add the batch file you want to execute and cmd.exe (C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe)
3.Open the "Custom Actions" view (right-click on the project in Solution Explorer->View->Custom Actions)
4.Right-click on "Commit" and choose "Add Custom Action"
5.Navigate to and select cmd.exe.
6.Open the properties panel for the newly created custom action.
7.Delete /Commit from the Arguments property.
8.Enter: /c "[TARGETDIR]subdirectoryname\batchfile.bat" in the Arguments property, where subdirectoryname should be replaced by the name of your subdirectory (if you put the batch file in a subdirectory like I did... if you didn' t, the value should be /c "[TARGETDIR]batchfile.bat") and batchfile.bat should be the filename of your batch file.

You can refer to this thread.

By the way, the vs-setup tag is Technical questions about installation, uninstallation and upgrade of Visual Studio.
Saqib Bhatti 1 Reputation point

2021-11-05T08:00:43.85+00:00

/c "[TARGETDIR]subdirectoryname\batchfile.bat

What is [TARGETDIR] in the above line ? Can you please explain.

Thanks
PengGe-MSFT 3,331 Reputation points

2021-11-05T09:52:32.35+00:00

According to the description in that thread, [TARGETDIR] is the directory containing a batch (.bat) file. I suggest you post your issue on Stackoverflow.
Paul Sanders 0 Reputation points

2023-05-20T14:43:51.6466667+00:00

Isn't there an assumption here that Windows is installed on drive C:?