Find references of Path Variables used in ISM file

Question

I have one ISM file created using Installshield. In Path Variables Explorer, I can see some variables defined. How can find if they are used anywhere in the ISM ? I want to remove variables if they are unused.

I am using Installshield 11.5 Adminstudio.

Thanks in Advance.

---Sambhaji

Answer 1

Sambhaji,

ISM files may be binaries or XML, make sure you are using the XML format.

I'm not sure if the option is the same in InstallShield 11.5, but in InstallShield 12, you have to go to General Information-->Project Properties-->Project File Format.

I understand that the Binary format is a bit faster than XML, but in order to keep my projects under version control I prefer the XML format.

Answer 2

There is one simple way to find references of variable or properties.
Go to Additional Tools -> Direct Editor -> Tables
Just click on Tables and press Ctrl+F (Search option). And type the variable/property you want to search & hit enter.
It will show the reference of variables/properties. Press F3 to see next occurances.

Answer 3

I wrote a program that did something similar only it was looking for unused string table entries. You can read about it at:

Use Linq to XML to Clean up ISString Tables

It would only take a few tweaks to change the query to look at the table that holds ISPathVariables.