Not possible to configure all tempfile locations

[wixbot]

When using WIX to create large MSI's, it would be convenient to redirect the storing of temp files created by WIX to some other storage media. As I understand, this is done by setting WIX_TEMP environment variable.

And yes, it does redirect some of the temp files, but not ALL. Some still end up in C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Temp.

What light does:

1) Create directory called something like xvnt3tm8. This directory contains a directory called cab_0_WixUIExtension and a file called cab_0_WixUIExtension.cab. The location of this dierctory can be configured with WIX_TEMP.

2) Create temp file(s), called something like 00000003.1188 in C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Temp. These files are the CAB files, I think, so they can be up to 2 GB each.

3) Copy temp files (e.g. 00000003.1188) from C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Temp to xvnt3tm8.

4) Remove 00000003.1188 from C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Temp

Here is the problem (bug): WIX stores the temp file 00000003.1188 in C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Temp instead of location in WIX_TEMP? I've also tried setting the -cc option in light

I would like to store it elsewhere, as there is more space on other disks.

To summarize: It is possible to use envoronment variable WIX_TEMP, to set where some temp files end up. The problem is the CAB-temp-files.

Originally opened by mattihagerlund from http://sourceforge.net/p/wix/bugs/1884/

[wixbot]

Originally changed by barnson Area changed from light to ` Releasechanged fromfuturetov3.x`

[wixbot]

Originally changed by bmurri AssignedTo set to wixsupport

[philippeqc]

Hi,

Should anyone find themself in this situation, here is my work around. The TL;DR is that you need to set both environment variables WIX_TEMP and TMP. Setting TEMP doesn't impact the process.

I've wrapped the call to Wix with the following in powershell:

# Store current temporary directory location
$previousTmpDir = $env:tmp

# Create a local temporary directory
$name = [System.Guid]::NewGuid()
$localTmpDir = Join-Path (pwd) $name
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $localTmpDir

# Set relevant variables to local temporary directory
$env:WIX_TEMP=$localTmpDir
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('tmp', $localTmpDir, 'User')

# Call Wix
msbuild ./Installer/GamePackageInstaller.sln  /p:Configuration=Release

# Restore $env:tmp
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('tmp', $previousTmpDir, 'User')

# Remove local temporary directory
Remove-Item $localTmpDir

This code has been modified as not to expose any of my specifics, so I appologize for the introduction of errors. Hopefully, it will be of value for someone else.