How to pass an install directory from a WiX Burn bootstrapper into an MSI generated by electron-builder?

[RampantDespair]

Hi, I'm using electron-builder to generate an MSI installer for my app, and I need to support the following scenario:

I have a WiX bootstrapper (Burn) that lets the user choose an install directory. That directory is stored in a WiX variable (e.g. InstallFolder), and I want to pass that value down to the MSI generated by electron-builder, so that the MSI installs into that path.

I do not need the MSI itself to provide any UI or directory selection. All UI and choice happen in the WiX bundle. I just need the MSI to respect the directory passed from the bundle.

I cannot find any documentation on how to make the MSI produced by electron-builder honor MSI properties such as INSTALLDIR or TARGETDIR when invoked by a bootstrapper.

---

Current electron-builder configuration

{
  "build": {
    "appId": "test.client",
    "artifactName": "test-client-${version}.msi",
    "directories": {
      "output": "release"
    },
    "files": [
      "out/**/*"
    ],
    "productName": "Test Client",
    "win": {
      "target": "msi"
    }
  }
}

There is no documented option such as:

• installDirectory
• defaultInstallDir
• msiProperties

So I’m not sure how to tell electron-builder which MSI property controls the final install path, or how to make it consume a value passed from an external bootstrapper.

---

WiX Bundler Context (for reference)

I also have a WiX bootstrapper that wraps the MSI (generated by electron-builder). Here is the minimal relevant portion:

<Bundle
  Name="Test Setup"
  Version="1.0.0.0"
>
  <Variable
    Name="InstallFolder"
    Type="formatted"
    Value="[ProgramFiles64Folder]Test"
    bal:Overridable="yes"
  />

  <BootstrapperApplication>
    <bal:WixStandardBootstrapperApplication
      SuppressOptionsUI="no"
    />
  </BootstrapperApplication>

  <Chain>
    <MsiPackage
      Id="ClientMsi"
      SourceFile="test-client-$(ClientVersion).msi"
      Vital="yes"
    >
      <MsiProperty Name="TARGETDIR" Value="[InstallFolder]\Client" />
    </MsiPackage>

    <!-- other stuff... -->
  </Chain>
</Bundle>

The issue is that the MSI built by electron-builder appears to:

• Ignore the TARGETDIR property passed from the bundle
• Install into its own default location instead of [InstallFolder]\Client

---

Main Question

Is there a supported way in electron-builder’s MSI target to:

• Make the generated MSI honor directory-related properties passed by a bootstrapper (e.g., TARGETDIR, INSTALLDIR, or a custom property)?
• Configure which MSI property controls the install directory, so that a WiX Burn bundle can set it via <MsiProperty>?

I haven’t found any examples or documentation on wiring an external WiX variable (like InstallFolder) through to the MSI generated by electron-builder so that the MSI installs into that specific path.

Any clarification or guidance would be greatly appreciated. If this is not currently supported, knowing that would also help so I can adjust my bundling approach.