mailbag | Rails gem that logs outgoing mail to a database table | Database library

Formatted: The fact that notepad.exe works probably means that you need a full path (notepad.exe is in the system path and can hence be invoked without a path, other binaries need full path).

Did you try to do [#filekey] as in [#MyProgram.exe] as value in the Target field? The reference must match a File table entry. So look in the first column of the File table to determine what the file identifier is, and use that in the Target field.

Check out the documentation for Formatted.

WiX?: By the way, is it an option to migrate to WiX? Not to annoy you, but there are some major problems with Visual Studio Projects for long term use. Maybe give it a quick skim.

File Table:

Shortcut Table:

Leaving original answer below:

Quick Test: Maybe first check this: What VSDCA_Launch mean in Custom Action script

Logging: Have you enabled logging to determine what is going on? Please check the Logging section in this answer for a quick "how to".

Dry Run: I suppose you could slipstream notepad.exe in there instead of your own executable to see if it launches OK when admin rights are not required. All you need is a test build and a test run.

Incomplete: I am betting you have forgotten something when post processing the MSI though. My guess is a simple formatting issues such as described by the post linked above.