Creating simple web installer using WiX Designer in Visual Studio

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Creating simple web installer using WiX Designer in Visual Studio
Error following sample 
Tyrel Van Niekerk




Posts: 6
 Joined: 2016-06-14
I just got the WiX designer yesterday and created a setup project to install a web site. I ran through the steps in the PDF for a simple web site install and when running the setup, I get the following error:
CustomAction WEBCA_SetTARGETSITE returned actual error code 1603

To be sure, I created a new solution, created a new ASP.net MVC website, added a new WiX setup project and followed the instructions again. Same error again. Any ideas what's wrong with my project?

Thanks.
Posted 14 Jun, 2016 14:05:40 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18821
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Hello Tyrel,

I've googled out this page: http://forums.iis.net/t/1186076.aspx?WEBCA_SetTARGETSITE+returned+actual+error+code+1603+while+installing+an+vb+net+msi. Does it help?


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 15 Jun, 2016 04:36:34 Top
Tyrel Van Niekerk




Posts: 6
 Joined: 2016-06-14
I saw that post before, but they are saying to turn in IIS 6 compatibility. I guess that's a limitation of the WiX web installer. I was thinking I could just do a regular installer and do all the IIS stuff myself, just seems to add more work.
Posted 15 Jun, 2016 09:04:40 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18821
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Tyrel,

I think this limitation comes from the IIS design and infrastructure, see e.g. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/k8kzx145(v=vs.80).aspx.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 15 Jun, 2016 09:45:45 Top
Tyrel Van Niekerk




Posts: 6
 Joined: 2016-06-14
Seems like the web deploy mode is basically useless at the moment. It just surprises me because it's been many years since IIS 6 was done and we still don't have proper support for post IIS 6 in WiX.

Unless I want to get into the source code for WiX (not something I really want to do) it seems I just have to create a regular installer and create custom dialogs and call the IIS commands myself. Just more work. It's just I would have expected WiX to support post IIS 6 out of the box.
Posted 15 Jun, 2016 14:09:23 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18821
 Joined: 2006-05-11
We will consider adding support for IIS 7.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 16 Jun, 2016 06:22:11 Top
Tyrel Van Niekerk




Posts: 6
 Joined: 2016-06-14
From what I am reading, at least from the WiX side of things, version 4 will contain IIS 7 support. I am not sure when it's due to be released, but hopefully soon.
Posted 16 Jun, 2016 08:20:35 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18821
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Thank you!


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 20 Jun, 2016 07:11:14 Top