Wix : how to install a shared folder

Question

I'm running WiX 3.11 with a C# VSTO add-in. I need to create a feature that will install a folder, register it for sharing with everyone and remove the share upon uninstall.

I've tried 2 different approaches with no success (names and Ids are changed for simplification) :

1. With the help of the links below, I've tried to create permissions when the folder is created :
   WiX set App_Data folder permission to modify for NetworkService
   Wix: CustomAction to set Folder permissions
   Set permissions for existing folders and files in ProgramData with WiX Toolset

 <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">    
   <Directory Id="WINDOWSVOLUME">
    <Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name=".">
     <Directory Id="FOLDERTOSHARE" Name="Share">
       <Component Id="ShareFolderPermissions" Guid="SOMEGUID">
         <CreateFolder>
           <util:PermissionEx User="Everyone" GenericAll="yes" />
         </CreateFolder>
       </Component>
     </Directory>
   </Directory>
 </Directory>

With ShareFolderPermissions referenced in my new feature.
I've tried tweaking it a bit but it didn't work for me.

2. My second solution was to try using Windows commands through CustomActions to get the job done (spoiler: I'll need CustomActions later anyway).
   It worked fine at some point but I've been unable to implement the whole process.

I used a non-english website to get set up on how to create a WiX CustomAction project to import into my Product.wxs file, and I'm giving below what helped me set up command lines in C#.
How to use Windows command with C#
Net share documentation

Product.wxs (xml):

<?if $(var.Configuration) = MyShareConfiguration?>
  <Property Id="SHAREFEATURE" Value="1" />
<?endif?>
  
<Feature Id="ShareFeature" Title="ShareSetup" Level="0">
  <Condition Level="1">SHAREFEATURE</Condition>
  <ComponentGroupRef Id="MyShareFiles"/>
</Feature>
  
<CustomAction Id="CustomActionShareFolder" BinaryKey="CustomActionProject" DllEntry="ShareFolder" Execute="immediate" Return="check" Impersonate="no" />
<CustomAction Id="CustomActionUnShareFolder" BinaryKey="CustomActionProject" DllEntry="UnShareFolder" Execute="immediate" Return="check" Impersonate="no" />

<Binary Id="CustomActionProject" SourceFile="CustomActionProjectPath" />

<InstallExecuteSequence>
  <Custom Action="CustomActionShareFolder" After="InstallFiles"> SHAREFEATURE AND (NOT REMOVE) </Custom>
  <Custom Action="CustomActinUnShareFolder" Before="RemoveFiles"> SHAREFEATURE AND (REMOVE~="ALL") </Custom>
</InstallExecuteSequence>

CustomAction.cs in my CustomAction project (C#), logs are removed for clarity:

private static readonly string SHAREFEATURENAME= "MyShareFeatureName";
private static void ExecuteCMD(string command) 
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process process = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
    System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
    {
        WindowStyle = System.Diagnostics.ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden,
        FileName = "CMD.exe",
        Arguments = command,
        CreateNoWindow = true,
        UseShellExecute = true,
        Verb = "runas"
    };
    process.StartInfo = startInfo;
    process.Start(); 
}

[CustomAction] 
public static ActionResult ShareFolder(Session session)
{
    ActionResult result = ActionResult.Success;
    string directoryPath = session.GetTargetPath("FOLDERTOSHARE"); // See Directory setup in 1.
    string command = string.Format("/c net share {0}=\"{1}\"", SHAREFEATURENAME, directoryPath.Remove(directoryPath.Length - 1)); // Remove '\' at the end of the path

    try
    {
        ExecuteCMD(command);
    }     
    catch (Exception)
    {
        result = ActionResult.Failure;
    }

    return result; 
}

[CustomAction] 
public static ActionResult UnShareFolder(Session session) 
{
    ActionResult result = ActionResult.Success;
    string command = string.Format("/c net share {0} /delete", SHAREFEATURENAME);

    try
    {
        ExecuteCMD(command);
    }
    catch (Exception)
    {
        result = ActionResult.Failure;
    }

    return result; 
}

I've tested my command in a separate application project with hard coded values I got from my msi logs.

msiexec /i "C:\MyPackage\Example.msi" /L*V "C:\log\example.log"

Code from the separate project (names changed on purpose) :

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    string command = "/c net share SHAREFEATURENAME=\"MyFolderPath\"";
    //string command = "/c net share SHAREFEATURENAME /delete";

     Console.WriteLine("Command : " + command);

     Process cmd = new Process();
     cmd.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
     cmd.StartInfo.RedirectStandardInput = true;
     cmd.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
     cmd.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
     cmd.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
     cmd.StartInfo.Arguments = command;
     cmd.StartInfo.Verb = "runas";
     cmd.Start();

     cmd.StandardInput.WriteLine("echo test");
     cmd.StandardInput.Flush();
     cmd.StandardInput.Close();
     cmd.WaitForExit();
     Console.WriteLine(cmd.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd());
}

The code from the separate project works fine as long as VS runs as administrator.
As of my msi, I've set Impersonate="no" so it asks for elevated rights on install / uninstall.

Both command are correctly called and end with no error. However, the targeted folder is never shared.

Can anybody help me out ?

Answer 1

What you describe - as far as I understand it - should be possible to achieve with built-in WiX constructs. Here are some pointers, I want to avoid too much code and markup duplication. Please DO follow link 2 at least. Link 1 is just for the record:

1. Always try to avoid custom actions (I know you state you need them).

2. Perhaps try this WiX sample for folder sharing?