Installshield The specified File key not found in the File table

Question

I've packaged my WinForms app with the Visual Studio Installshield Limited Edition wizard.

When installing the app, I get this error during installation.

Error 2715. The specified File key ('myappname.xml_serializa') not found in the File table

Any ideas from anyone? I'm completely loss on this one.

Answer 1

In your installer project directory, open the *.isl file and search for the text in your error message, myappname.xml_serializa. It will most likely be in there quite a few times. Either remove it or correct all instances of it.

Answer 2

I had a similar problem recently and found out that it didn't find the key because I was not adding the .primaryoutput file on the section Specify Application Data -> Files. Check if you are adding all the necessary files for your setup before creating the installer. The installer will be created even if it doesn't have all the files, but it won't execute properly.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Changing the *.isl file resolved our issue. I found that we had changed the .NET framework of a project and when we removed the project output from the Installshield using the prompt it did not update this file so when we added the output again it now contained two outputs. OUTPUT and OUTPUT1. Hope this helps

Answer 4

This worked for me:

1. In your setup project double-click Project Assistant.
2. Click on Application Files.
3. Select file(s) with the file extension that was reported in the error message(s).
4. Click on Delete.
5. Repeat for any files as needed.
6. Go back to setup project in Solution Explorer.
7. Click on Rebuild

Answer 5

This is what worked for me: The project in my case was readonly as it was connected to TFS. If you are working offline, make sure you make the project files writable. (Uncheck Read Only at the folder level)