How do you create an event log source using WiX

Question

I'm creating an installer for a website that uses a custom event log source. I would like our WiX based installer to create that event log source during installation.

Does anyone know the best way to do this using the WiX framework.

This is amazing. I was looking for exactly this solution, and thought it was too obscure to possibly already be answered here. Go figure. — Daniel Schaffer, May 21 '10 at 17:09

score 59 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 12 '08 at 11:01

59

Wix has out-of-the-box support for creating event log sources.

Assuming you use Wix 3, you first need to add a reference to WixUtilExtension to either your Votive project or the command line. You can then add an EventSource element under a component :

<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi"
    xmlns:util="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/UtilExtension">

    <Component ...>
        ...
        <util:EventSource Log="Application" Name="*source name*"
           EventMessageFile="*path to message file*"/>
        ...
    </Component>

If this is a .NET project, you can use EventLogMessages.dll in the framework directory as the message file.

answered Sep 12 '08 at 11:01

Paul Lalonde

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[WindowsFolder]Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll – David Gardiner Feb 18 '09 at 01:32
9

If you use the WixNetFxExtension, you can use [NETFRAMEWORK20INSTALLROOTDIR]EventLogMessages.dll – Wim Coenen Feb 22 '09 at 13:03
1

Just a warning for anyone trying Wim's suggestion; properties can't depend upon the result of other search properties (which `NETFRAMEWORK*` are). Just spent ages trying to figure out why a `DirectorySearch` using `NETFRAMEWORK40CLIENTINSTALLROOTDIR` wasn't working... :P – porges Sep 28 '10 at 01:46
One other thing you will need to ensure is that you include -ext "%WIX_BUILD_LOCATION%\WixUtilExtension.dll" on your candle command to use any of the util: features. – Phred Menyhert Nov 25 '11 at 15:41

score 19 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 24 '11 at 04:27

19

Just to save people some time - if you are trying to use the Application log and the .NET messages you can cut paste the below code:

<Util:EventSource
 xmlns:Util="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/UtilExtension"
 Name="ROOT Builder"
 Log="Application"
 EventMessageFile="%SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll"
/>

NOTE: the path above is now correct..

edited Feb 24 '11 at 04:27

Peter Tate

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answered Feb 22 '09 at 00:52

Gordon

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is it still v2.0.50727 or does a .NET 4 application use v4.0... ? – gbjbaanb Feb 28 '13 at 16:27
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@gbjbaanb .Net 4.5 uses `C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\EventLogMessages.dll` – Peter M Oct 23 '14 at 12:48
%SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\EventLogMessages.dll – Brain2000 Mar 29 '23 at 14:03

Daniel Fisher lennybacon · Answer 3 · 2017-09-20T13:19:04.507

18

How about the more flexible stuff built in:

EventMessageFile="[NETFRAMEWORK20INSTALLROOTDIR]EventLogMessages.dll"

or

EventMessageFile="[NETFRAMEWORK40FULLINSTALLROOTDIR]EventLogMessages.dll"

And

EventMessageFile="[NETFRAMEWORK40FULLINSTALLROOTDIR64]EventLogMessages.dll"

edited Sep 20 '17 at 13:19

answered Feb 17 '11 at 13:47

Daniel Fisher lennybacon

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Not quite correct. In Wix 3.5 it should be [NETFRAMEWORK40FULLINSTALLROOTDIR] or [NETFRAMEWORK40FULLINSTALLROOTDIR64] (for 64bit) - see http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix3/wixnetfxextension.htm. And remember to include a PropertyRef to it. – Simon Brangwin Jul 01 '11 at 01:56

How do you create an event log source using WiX

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