Allow the user to choose install location

[lrandersson]

What is the problem or limitation you are having?

It is currently not possible as a user to choose the exact install location, and the install directory is forced into one of two option based on the scope the user chooses.

Describe the solution you'd like

As a user, after choosing the install scope, ideally I would like to be able to choose the install location as below:

Of course the install location should still be limited to where the user is allowed to install into.

Describe alternatives you've considered

I have not considered any alternative solutions since this is not an uncommon feature in installers today.

Additional context

No response

[freakboy3742]

Agreed - WiX has InstallDirDlg that provides this functionality; adding a boolean allow_custom_install_dir option in Windows MSI configurations, defaulting to False, that enables/disables the use of that installer step makes sense as a feature addition.

[mhsmith]

I think this is such a basic feature of installers that there isn't even any need to make it optional.

[freakboy3742]

I guess that's fair - as long as the default value for the install location is meaningful, having a confirmation of the install location is just another click on next, so there's no real reason to make it optional.

[lrandersson]

@freakboy3742 it seems that you can choose the same default value as the current install location is today, then it also wouldn't change the behavior much for existing users.

[freakboy3742]

@lrandersson Oh sure - but WiX has a habit of taking a "standing in a hammock" approach to some concepts that should be fairly obvious 😄 . The handling of the "install for all users" setting, for example, is two separate values, neither of which is a boolean, with a very specific set of interpretations for combinations of values. I certainly hope the install dialog assumes a reasonable default... but based on my history with WiX, I wouldn't take that bet without more research.

[lrandersson]

@freakboy3742 that's fair. If it is not too much work then WixUI_InstallDir can be cloned and customized as needed, but yeah maybe that doesn't make it any easier with respect to the default path. Finger's crossed!