How to tell a setup file to install to the Documents folder with Inno Setup compiler?

Question

I'm trying to create a setup file using Inno Setup Compiler, and I want it to install to the Documents folder as it needs to create and then delete a file, something that it can't do if it installs to Program Files. I've tried using %userprofile%\\Documents as that works in File Explorer, but that simply creates a folder called %userprofile% wherever the Setup.exe is, and C:\\Users\\%username%\\Documents simply creates the %username% folder in the Users folder. How do I get it to install into the Documents folder no matter where it is?

Answer 1

While @GTAVLover is right, you will most probably want to use the {userdocs} or {commondocs} constant in standard Inno Setup sections, likes [Files] .

The syntax is like:

[Files]
Source: "readme.txt"; DestDir: "{userdocs}"

---

Had you wanted to refer to environment variables (what is not the right way in this case), use {%NAME} syntax:

[Files]
Source: "readme.txt"; DestDir: "{%USERPROFILE}\Documents"

Answer 2

You should use Inno Setup Shell Folder Constants to do this.

See more at Inno Setup Help.

Use ExpandConstant('{userdocs}') where you want to get path of Documents folder (For current user).

It will return "OS Drive:\\Users\\CurrentUser\\Documents" .

Eg:

MsgBox(ExpandConstant('{userdocs}'), mbInformation, MB_OK);

For all users, you should replace userdocs with commondocs .

So, It will return "OS Drive:\\Users\\Public\\Documents" .