HeatDirectory document

[atwayne]

The document of HeatDirectory task implies that it accepts more than one directory

Parameter	Description
Directory	Required item group parameter.The list of directories to harvest.

The description is wrong as HeatDirectory doesn't take more than one directory

https://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/msbuild/task_reference/heatdirectory.html

[BMurri]

Actually, because of the way msbuild works, the task does accept multiple directories. Due to msbuild task batching, msbuild will pass one Directory at a time to the HeatDirectory task and thus the task will pass one directory at a time to the harvesting tool.

You can load up as many non-identical values in the Directory item you wish and call the target just one time and it all works perfectly.

[atwayne]

Thanks... I did some test and it doesn't look like it's working as expected:

<ItemGroup>
      <DirectoryItem Include="$(SolutionDir)First\"/>
      <DirectoryItem Include="$(SolutionDir)Second\"/>
</ItemGroup>

<HeatDirectory OutputFile="Dependencies.wxs"
                   Directory="@(DirectoryItem)"

Then I have the following error message in output

16>C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.11\bin\Heat.exe dir "\PATH\TO\First\;\PATH\TO\Second" 
16>heat.exe(0,0): error HEAT0001: The given path's format is not supported.

Maybe I did it wrong but it looks like the HeatDirectory task combines all the paths and pass it as a single parameter to the heat tool, and then a failure...

[BMurri]

Each directory usually needs a unique DirectoryRefId, and you didn't supply any.

  <ItemGroup>
    <DirectoryItem Include="$(SolutionDir)First\">
        <DirectoryRefId>First</DirectoryRefId>
    <DirectoryItem>
    <DirectoryItem Include="$(SolutionDir)Second\">
        <DirectoryRefId>Second</DirectoryRefId>
    <DirectoryItem>
  </ItemGroup>

[BMurri]

We should be discussing this on wix-users rather than here. If on wix-users it's determined that a bug exists, you would then be directed to open the issue with all the pertinent information as spelled out in the template you erased.

[BMurri]

The documentation mentions ComponentGroupName in the context of multiple directories. This use case is directly covered in the documentation. Please close this issue.

[robmen]

For support please contact the wix-users mailing list.

It is possible through discussion a specific bug in the WiX Toolset will be uncovered but usually someone can help you find the error in your .wxs code.