New IsWiX Setup Project fails to build - undefined preprocessor variable

Question

I am attempting to use WiX Toolset to create a deployment project. I am using Visual Studio.NET 2010 SP1, WiX 3.7, and IsWix 2.0.13013.4. I am using .NET framework 4.0.

I created the directory structure provided below.

C:\Projects\ExcelXLL\Installer

C:\Projects\ExcelXLL\Installer\Deploy

I added an IsWix Setup Project under the Installer directory in the path C:\Projects\ExcelXLL\Installer\ExcelXLL64Deploy.

If I attempt to compile the setup project, I get the exception:

Error 1 Undefined preprocessor variable '$(var.ExcelXLL64DeployMM.TargetPath)'. C:\Projects\ExcelXLL\Installer\ExcelXLL64Deploy\Code\Features.wxs 16 1 ExcelXLL64Deploy

What am I doing wrong or is there an issue with either IsWix or Wix?

Christopher Painter · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-09T19:02:31.543

4

The IsWiX project templates assume you'll create an MSI project called Foo and a MSM project called FooMM. These assumptions are meant to automate and template as much as possible and can be changed to your tastes.

After creating the projects, you then add a reference from Foo to FooMM. This then resolves $(var.FooMM.TargetPath).

You can watch a short, silent walkthrough video here.

If you have additional questions, feel free to email me. And thanks for using IsWiX. :)

Update: We now have tutorials.

edited Oct 09 '17 at 19:02

answered Sep 19 '13 at 23:42

Christopher Painter

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Thank you for your comment. I did not realize that the project name had a naming convention and was attempting to name it with a different name. – Lee Z Sep 20 '13 at 13:12
Yes, it was my attempt at a convention over configuration to make initial project setup as painless as possible. – Christopher Painter Sep 20 '13 at 14:01
Adding the project-reference to the setup-project was a good hint (I got an "Undefined preprocessor variable '$(var.MyProject.TargetDir)'" error – Sascha May 20 '16 at 17:45
I've added a link to some new tutorials that we have. – Christopher Painter Oct 09 '17 at 19:03

New IsWiX Setup Project fails to build - undefined preprocessor variable

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