How to launch a file after an installation

The following article uses options that are available starting with the Enterprise edition and project type.

For some installation packages you may want to launch a file or open a folder or a URL after the install process is finished.

1. The user can decide if the file will be launched
- 1.1 Launch the file in a mixed package type
- 1.2 Custom approach to launch a file, folder or URL
2. The user cannot decide if the file will be launched
- 2.1 Run a custom action on dialog

1. The user can decide if the file will be launched

For this, you can follow these steps:

Go to the Dialogs page and select "ExitDialog"
Select the [ Finish ] button and select the Finish Actions tab in the "Control" section
Enable the "Launch application at the end of the installation" option
Select the file you want to launch

This method doesn't allow you to launch a URL or a folder, it allows you to launch files only.

1.1 Launch the file in a mixed package type

This approach can be used in a mixed package type when the application is conditionally installed, based on the machine architecture. Instead of launching the application at the end of the installation, a property will be set with the path of the installed file.

To use this approach, you can follow the steps below:

Go to the Install Parameters page and create a new property:
- Property: FILE_TO_LAUNCH
- Value: C:\
Add a Set Installer property custom action as a custom action with sequence scheduled after the "Paths Resolution" stage, in the Wizard Dialogs Stage section. Edit the custom action properties as follow:
- Property: FILE_TO_LAUNCH
- Value: [#myFile32bit.exe]

Condition the custom action execution through its "Condition" field. For this, we can take advantage of the VersionNT64 property. Since the 32-bit executable will be installed, we can add the NOT VersionNT64 as a condition.

Add another Set Installer property custom action as a custom action with sequence. Edit the custom action properties as follow:
- Property: FILE_TO_LAUNCH
- Value: [#myFile64bit.exe]

Condition the custom action execution through its "Condition" field. Add the VersionNT64 as a condition.

Go to the Dialogs page and select "ExitDialog"
Select the [ Finish ] button and select the Finish Actions tab in the "Control" section
enable the "Launch application at the end of the installation" option
Select any file

The view does not support to select a property, but you can delete the current content and add the [FILE_TO_LAUNCH] in the Application field.

1.2 Custom approach to launch a file, folder or URL

To launch a file, folder or URL you can use a custom checkbox like this:

Create a checkbox control on "ExitDialog"
In the Properties section set the "Property Name" field to CHECK
In the "Text" field set the text of the checkbox (for example "Launch the application")
In the Custom Actions Page, add a "Launch file" or an "Open URL" custom action "without sequence"
Add an "Execute custom action" published event on the [ Finish ] button that executes the "Launch file" or the "Open URL" custom action that you created
Modify the "Execute custom action" control event's condition to use the property of the checkbox:

Execute custom action   myapp.exe   AI_INSTALL AND CHECK

This way, the custom action will only run if the checkbox is selected. If you want the checkbox to be selected by default, you can set any value in the "Default Value" field.

2. The user cannot decide if the file will be launched

For this you can use a custom action scheduled under the "Install Execution Stage" -> "Finish Execution" action group (you can use the "Launch file" custom action to launch a file or the "Open URL" custom action to open a URL). The custom action will have the "Condition" field in the "Execution Stage Condition" section set to "NOT Installed". In order to use the custom action you can follow the steps below:

Go to the Custom Actions page
Add a "Launch file" or an "Open URL" custom action after "Finish Execution" action group
Set the "File To Launch" field to the path of the file or folder you want to open (you can also set a URL if you use the "Open URL" custom action)
Set the "Condition" field in the "Execution Stage Condition" section to (Not Installed)

With this method, the file, folder or URL will be launched when the install process is complete (when "ExitDialog" is displayed).

If the installation will run on Windows Vista or above, the custom action should be moved under "Install Execution Stage" -> "Add Resources". Also, it should be set as "deferred" with "no impersonation".

2.1 Run a custom action on “Finish” dialog

If you want to launch the file when the user clicks the [ Finish ] button on "ExitDialog" you can follow these steps:

Make sure you are using at least an Enterprise or Architect project (you can change the project type using the Project -> Options menu)
Go to "Dialogs" page and select "ExitDialog"
Select the Finish Actions tab
Enable the "Launch application" option for the file you want to launch
Make sure that the Checked by default option is set
Select the "Launch Your Application" text control and set the "Visible" flag to "False" in its Properties pane
Do the same for the checkbox control