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I need to build an MSI package which includes entire directories from the source tree. We are using InstallShield LE and a Deployment Project in Visual Studio (2013 Proffessional); the answer to "InstallShield LE - Relative paths to file" explains very nicely how to deploy files, but the gist of it is:

  1. Ensure your file is included in your MSBuild Project.
  2. Mark your file as with "Build Action == Content" and "Copy to Output Directory"
  3. Now it will available to select in the deployment Projects "Source computer's files".

The trouble is (a) I would rather not fiddle with the "Build Action" field for some of the files I want to install and (b) there is no such field for directories (we install them into the MSBuild bindir using post-build actions and XCOPY).

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Adrian Ratnapala
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    From InstallShield's documentation, it appears that what you want is a dynamic link. Unfortunately, that feature isn't available unless you upgrade from ISLE to a paid version. http://helpnet.installshield.com/installshield16helplib/IHelpISXFilesDynamic.htm – Dan Is Fiddling By Firelight Aug 11 '14 at 14:36

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Perhaps this is not a fair answer, and if it was not my own question I would have kept my opinions to myself. But the answer to any InstallShield question is use WiX. Spending a day getting WiX going will save you endless pain in InstallShield.

Adrian Ratnapala
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