Custom Action Types

The following table identifies the basic types of custom actions and shows the values that are in the Type, Source, and Target fields of the CustomAction table for each type. The basic custom actions can be modified by including optional flag bits in the Type column. For descriptions of the options and the values, see the following:

Use the links to the Basic Custom Action Type for a description and the options available for each type.

Basic custom action type Type Source Target
Custom Action Type 1DLL file stored in a Binary table stream.
1 Key to Binary table. DLL entry point.
Custom Action Type 2EXE file stored in a Binary table stream.
2 Key to Binary table. Command-line string.
Custom Action Type 5JScript file stored in a Binary table stream.
5 Key to Binary table. An optional JScript function that can be called.
Custom Action Type 6VBScript file stored in a Binary table stream.
6 Key to Binary table. An optional VBScript function that can be called.
Custom Action Type 17DLL file that is installed with a product.
17 Key to File table. DLL entry point.
Custom Action Type 18EXE file that is installed with a product.
18 Key to File table. Command-line string.
Custom Action Type 19Displays a specified error message and returns failure, terminating the installation.
19 Blank Formatted text string. The literal message or an index into the Error table.
Custom Action Type 21JScript file that is installed with a product.
21 Key to File table. An optional JScript function that can be called.
Custom Action Type 22VBScript file that is installed with a product.
22 Key to File table. An optional VBScript function that can be called.
Custom Action Type 34EXE file having a path referencing a directory.
34 Key to Directory table. This is the working directory for execution. The Target column is formatted and contains the full path and name of the executable file followed by optional arguments.
Custom Action Type 35Directory set with formatted text.
35 A key to the Directory table. The designated directory is set by the formatted string in the Target field. A formatted text string.
Custom Action Type 37JScript text stored in this sequence table.
37 Null A string of JScript code.
Custom Action Type 38VBScript text stored in this sequence table.
38 Null A string of VBScript code.
Custom Action Type 50EXE file having a path specified by a property value.
50 Property name or key to Property table. Command-line string.
Custom Action Type 51Property set with formatted text.
51 Property name or key to the Property table. This property is set by the formatted string in the Target field. A formatted text string.
Custom Action Type 53JScript text specified by a property value.
53 Property name or key to Property table. An optional JScript function that can be called.
Custom Action Type 54VBScript text specified by a property value.
54 Property name or key to Property table. An optional VBScript function that can be called.

 

In addition, the following custom action types are used with concurrent installations: