How to run aspnet_regiis.exe in a deferred custom action and pass the value of INSTALLDIR property? - installshield

Question

I have a custom action (RunEncryption2) that I'm using for encrypting a configuration file by using aspnet_regiis.exe. The custom action type that I'm using is an EXE with path referencing a directory (initial type 34) using deferred execution in system context (so the final type is 3106). The file that I want to encrypt is on INSTALLDIR, so I have a Set Property custom action (SetRunEncryption2, type 51) where I'm setting RunEncryption2=[INSTALLDIR]. My two custom actions look like this:
SetRunEncryption2
Property Name: RunEncryption2
Property Value: [INSTALLDIR]
RunEncryption2
Working Directory: WindowsFolder
File Name & Command line: [WindowsFolder]Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -pef "connectionStrings" "[CustomActionData]" -prov "DataProtectionConfigurationProvider"
When the installer runs, I get no error, however the file gets no encryption at all. When I review the log, I get the following:
MSI (s) (34:C0) [17:32:11:356]: Executing op: CustomActionSchedule(Action=RunEncryption2,ActionType=3106,Source=C:\WINDOWS\,Target=C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -pef "connectionStrings" "" -prov "DataProtectionConfigurationProvider",CustomActionData=C:\Test\)
From the log I can see that the CustomActionData property has been set correctly, however it hasn't been included as part of the command.
At this point the only way I have to make the command work is passing a hard-coded value of INSTALLDIR, otherwise it doesn't seem to work.
I have tried:
Not using CustomActionData, instead passing the value of INSTALLDIR as part of my command line directly.
Using a "Path in Property value" custom action with similar results.
When I run option 1 above, I get a 1722 error on the log:
MSI (s) (C4:50) [12:49:46:968]: Note: 1: 1722 2: RunEncryption2 3: C:\WINDOWS\ 4: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -pef "connectionStrings" "C:\Test\" -prov "DataProtectionConfigurationProvider"
Error 1722. There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program run as part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor. Action RunEncryption2, location: C:\WINDOWS\, command: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -pef "connectionStrings" "C:\Test\" -prov "DataProtectionConfigurationProvider"
MSI (s) (C4:50) [12:49:56:841]: Product: TestEncryption -- Error 1722. There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program run as part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor. Action RunEncryption2, location: C:\WINDOWS\, command: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -pef "connectionStrings" "C:\Test\" -prov "DataProtectionConfigurationProvider"
Does anyone know how can I do to correctly execute this command and dynamically pass the value of INSTALLDIR?

Answer 1

Finally found the problem was not in the custom action passing the properties, but in the way that aspnet_iisreg is expecting the parameters.
INSTALLDIR is passing the string with a trailing slash (e. gr. c:\Test\), when I hard coded the installation path I was passing c:\Test instead.
The solution consisted in creating another custom action that removes the trailing slash and stores the value in a new property, this then can be used as parameter for aspnet_iisreg.
By the way, as Michael Urman mentioned, there was no need to use CustomActionData. Thanks.