Methods/Techniques to install empty folders

[ScottMuc]

In our installer we wish to install upwards of 50 empty folders. The app breaks if these folders don't exist, and if they have dummy files. Unfortunately we are dependent on code which has these constraints.

I don't want to create 50 Create Folder statements because that means updating the installer just because someone created a new folder that needs to be part of the build.

Currently, We run a script that populates all these empty folders with 'dummy.tmp'. Once these folders have been extracted I would like to remove all of these files. At what point during the install can this be done and how?

I've tried using DELETE FILES RECURSIVE %TARGETDIR%\\SomePath\\*.tmp but the files still exist after installation.

Thank you for your assistance.

[MichaelNesmith]

Ensure Delete Files Recursive is called after the call to Apply Install.

[ScottMuc]

Thank you! I'll give that a shot. I sort of got thrown into the InstallAware side of our project so there's a lot of learning as I go right now.

[ScottMuc]

Hi Michael,

I'm afraid DELETE FILES RECURSIVE doesn't behave the way that I would like. It's definitely running now.

Unfortunately the installer removes the folder along with the dummy file!

My exact command is:
Recursively Delete Files $TARGETDIR$\\dummy

If I have a tree like:

Code: Select all

\\A
  \\B
     dummy
  \\C
     dummy
  \\D
     usefulfile.xml

It will delete folders B and C (which I want to keep)

[ScottMuc]

I got around this issue by using Run Program and execute cmd.exe /C del /S .\\dummy in $TARGETDIR$