mgorga
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:00 pm

Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Mon Nov 07, 2022 10:15 am

Hello,
I tried the new feature to create a symbolic link (https://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-guide/links.html) because until now I was using a Custom Action and Windows Command Line to create it. The feature is working fine to create it. My problem is to remove the symbolic link on uninstall.

When the product is uninstalled the symbolic link is not remove it like I was expecting. My first option was to add a "file operation" to delete it. With this approach it is removed on uninstall. Then the problem is updating the product. On update process when old version is being uninstalled the file operation that removes the symbolic link is not executing (I don't no why). Then, when the update process tries to install the new version the creation of the symbolic links fails because it is already created. And after that, an automatic rollback of all the installation is executed.

How can I easily remove the symbolic link on uninstall and update process? My current workaround is to use a Custom Action that execute a Command line to remove it. But this is the solution that I was using before having the new feature of symbolic link, so the new feature it has no sense for our approach.

Best regards,
Mario

Liviu
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:29 am
Contact:  Website

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Mon Nov 07, 2022 1:13 pm

Hello Mario,

I've just tested this and everything worked as expected. Please note that if you are using our predefined support, then the symbolic link file is automatically removed on uninstall.

Can you please send us the .AIP (setup project) file and a download link for your setup package by email to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can further test and investigate this?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best regards,
Liviu
________________________________________
Liviu Sandu - Advanced Installer Team
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mgorga
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:00 pm

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:31 am

Hello Liviu,
I sent our .aip few days ago to your email support. I prepared an example and it was working, so it must be something specific to our .aip, maybe is because we use some custom actions and IIS configuration.

Best regards,
Mario

Liviu
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:29 am
Contact:  Website

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Tue Nov 15, 2022 9:34 am

Hello Mario,

Unfortunately, it looks like the email did not get in our inbox.

Could you please try to send it again and then let me know so I can check?

Best regards,
Liviu
________________________________________
Liviu Sandu - Advanced Installer Team
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mgorga
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:00 pm

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:09 am

Hello,
I send again the email to support@advancedinstaller.com.

Best regards,
Mario

Liviu
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:29 am
Contact:  Website

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Tue Nov 15, 2022 11:22 am

Hello Mario,

The email did not arrive in our inbox this time either. Did you get any error message?

I've just sent you an email. Please try to respond to it or try to send an email from another address.

Best regards,
Liviu
________________________________________
Liviu Sandu - Advanced Installer Team
Follow us: Twitter - Facebook - YouTube

mgorga
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:00 pm

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Mon Nov 28, 2022 4:31 pm

Hello,
it was some problems with email server but I could send it using your upload server.

Finally I solved the problem. I created a new “component” on “Organization” panel with only the file and its symbolic link. This component has only these elements and nothing else.

Best regards,
Mario

Liviu
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:29 am
Contact:  Website

Re: Create symbolic link and remove it on uninstall

Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:00 am

Hello Mario,

Thank you for your follow-up on this.

I am sure this will be of help for other users facing a similar scenario.

Best regards,
Liviu
________________________________________
Liviu Sandu - Advanced Installer Team
Follow us: Twitter - Facebook - YouTube

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