IT:AD:WiX:HowTo:Create an Uninstall Shorcut

After defining some precompiler variables as follows:

<!-- ex: SomeCompany.SomeDiv.SomeAppName -->
<?define PRODUCTTARGETNAME = "$(var.ConsoleApplication1.TargetName)"?>
<!-- ex: http://somecompany.com/products/$(var.PRODUCTTARGETNAME) -->
<?define PRODUCT_INFO_URL = "http://somecompany.com/products/$(var.PRODUCTTARGETNAME)"?>
<!-- ex: c:\Workspace\SolutionDir\ProjectDir\SomeCompany.SomeDiv.SomeAppName.exe -->
<?define PRODUCTTARGETPATH = "$(var.ConsoleApplication1.TargetPath)"?>
<!-- ex: c:\Workspace\SolutionDir\ProjectDir\ -->
<?define PRODUCTTARGETDIR = "$(var.ConsoleApplication1.TargetDir)"?>
<!-- ex: SomeCompany.SomDiv.SomeAppName.exe -->
<?define PRODUCTTARGETFILENAME = "$(var.ConsoleApplication1.TargetFileName)"?>
<!-- ex: 1.x -->
<?define PRODUCTVERSION_X = "1.x"?>

and a directory structure along the following lines (under the Well-Known ProgramMenuFolder to make the shortcut easily findable):

<!--  STEP: Define Program Menu Folders -->
<Directory Id="ProgramMenuFolder">
  <Directory Id="_directory_ProgramMenuFolder_Manufacturer" Name="$(var.PRODUCTMANUFACTURER)">
    <Directory Id="_directory_ProgramMenuFolder_Product" Name="$(var.PRODUCTTARGETNAME)">
      <Directory Id="_directory_ProgramMenuFolder_Version" Name="$(var.PRODUCTVERSION_X)">
        <Directory Id="_directory_ProgramMenuFolder_Uninstall" Name="Uninstall"/>
      </Directory>
    </Directory>
  </Directory>
</Directory>

 

 

One can create a Component that contains a shortcut back to the MSI to uninstall:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Include>

  <!--- 
  Notes:
  This shortcut is created under the Start/programMenu
  to make it easy to find later.
  Note that it has its own subdirectory.
  
  Requires: 
    PreCompiler vars need to be set up first:
      PRODUCTMANUFACTURER
      PRODUCTTARGETNAME
      PRODUCTVERSION_X
      PRODUCTTARGETFILENAME
  References:
    http://bit.ly/gOUmuW
    http://bit.ly/fAgocz
  -->
  
  <Component Id="_componentClientConsoleUninstall" Guid="*">
    
    <!-- Every Component requires an element that can be the KeyPath.
         Shortcuts (which cannot be a Component's KeyPath)
         in Components that have no File (that can be a KeyPath), 
         require a Registry (of any value) as a workaround -->
    <RegistryValue Root="HKCU"
                   Key="Software\$(var.PRODUCTMANUFACTURER)\$(var.PRODUCTTARGETNAME)\$(var.PRODUCTVERSION_X)\Shortcuts\Uninstall"
                   Name="installed"
                   Type="integer"
                   Value="1"
                   KeyPath="yes" />

    <!-- Directory: 
         Uninstall shortcut  could be in in the INSTALLDIR
         with the main app, but I prefer it tucked away
         in its own sub subdirectory -->
    <Shortcut Id="_Shortcut_uninstall"
              Name="Uninstall $(var.PRODUCTTARGETNAME)"
              Directory="_directory_ProgramMenuFolder_Uninstall"
              Target="[SystemFolder]msiexec.exe"
              Arguments="/x [ProductCode]"
              Description="Uninstalls $(var.PRODUCTTARGETFILENAME)" />

    <RemoveFolder Id="_removeClientConsoleUninstallFolder" On="uninstall"/>

  </Component>

</Include>

 

Note the reference to /x [ProductCode] which I suspect will be the Guid on the Product element.