In a Visual Studio setup project, How do I generate an uninstall script?

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I have a Visual Studio setup project. Upon installation, it creates an uninstall batch file in the application folder. IF the user wants to uninstall the product, he can go to "Add/Remove Programs", or he can just double-click the uninstall.cmd. The contents are: 

%windir%\system32\msiexec /x {CC3EB7BF-DD82-48B9-8EC5-1B0B62B6D285}

The GUID there is the ProductCode from the Setup Project in Visual Studio.

ProductCode

But, in order for upgrades to work properly, I have to increment the Version number, every time I produce a new MSI. And, if I increment the Version number, then I also have to generate a new Guid for the ProductCode. Which means the static uninstall.cmd file needs to change.

How can I dynamically generate a batch file that contains the ProductCode for the, at build time?

setup-project visual-studio-2008 installation visual-studio
8 Answers

I did a combination of the accepted answer and Locksmith's answer to not see any flashes of command prompt or the command prompt itself. One pro of doing it like this is that you DONT HAVE to create a shortcut and set the arguments for it in order for it to work.

My createUninstaller.js file:

var fso, ts;
var ForWriting= 2;
fso = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");

var parameters = Session.Property("CustomActionData").split("|"); 
var targetDir = parameters[0];
var productCode = parameters[1];

ts = fso.OpenTextFile(targetDir + "Uninstall.js", ForWriting, true);

ts.WriteLine("var v = new ActiveXObject(\"Shell.Application\");");
ts.WriteLine("v.ShellExecute(\"msiexec.exe\", \"/x "+productCode+"\", \"\", \"open\",10);");
ts.Close();

This file is added as a custom action at the commit action 'directory'. In order to actually get to this custom actions: right click your setup project>view>custom actions>right click commit 'directory'>add custom action. After you have to search for the createUninstaller.js file you created and add it.

Now to make the createUninstaller.js read the variables targetDir and productCode you have to
Right click the createUninstaller.js file in the setup project custom action 'commit' directory and go to properties window. In properties you will see the 'CustomActionData' property. In there you just copy paste [TARGETDIR]|[ProductCode]
And VOILA! It should now add the Uninstall.js file which will work as soon as you double click it.

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