create an exe or setup file in .net windows application _ explore

8/13/2019 Create an EXE or Setup File in .NET Windows Application _ Explore

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/create-an-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application-explore 1/19

12/24/13 Create an EXE or Setup File in .NET Windows Application | explore .net

balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/

CREATE AN EXE OR SETUP FILE IN .NET

WINDOWS APPLICATION

77 Votes

Hi .NET Architects!

Visual Studio Setup and deployment Projects provides to make an executable or installer file in

.NET windows application is easy and rapidly.

Visual Studio provides templates for four types of deployment projects: Merge Module Project,

Setup Project, Web Setup Project, and Cab Project. In addition, a Setup wizard is provided tohelp step you through the process of creating deployment projects. You can see the templates

and the wizard in the New Project dialog box under the Setup and Deployment

Projects node.

The following are guidelines for choosing the right type of deployment project for your project.

1)Merge Module Project : Packages components that might be shared by multiple

applications.

2)Setup Project : Builds an installer for a Windows-based application.

3)Web Setup Project : Builds an installer for a Web application.

4)Cab Project : Creates a cabinet file for downloading to a legacy Web browser.

5)Smart Dev ice Cab Project : Creates a Cab project to deploy device applications.

This topic demonstrates deployment using a Setup and Deployment Project.

Setup Projects

Setup projects allow you to create installers in order to distribute an application. The resulting




balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/ 2

Windows Installer (.msi) file contains the application, any dependent files, information about the

application such as registry entries, and instructions for installation. When the .msi file is

distributed and run on another computer, you can be assured that everything necessary for

installation is included; if for any reason the installation fails (for example, the target computer

does not have the required operating system version), the installation will be rolled back and

the computer returned to its pre installation state.

I. Create Setup Project

The following steps will gives the elegant guidance to create an executable or installer file.

1. Go to file menu > click Add > new project >now “Add New Project” dialog will appear.

2. Select the “Other Project Types” and click “Setup and Deployment ” projects,Choose “Setup

Project” give name project name in name text box finally click OK .

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/windowslivewritercreateexeorsetupfi.netwindowsapplication-ec19addnew3.png





3. New project appear in solution explorer,for eg., you have give the name “MyEXE” file will be

displays with given name.

4.Right click the MyEXE > go View > click “File System”

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/windowslivewritercreateexeorsetupfi.netwindowsapplication-ec19image08.png

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/windowslivewritercreateexeorsetupfi.netwindowsapplication-ec19setup5.png





5.You can see the “File System on TargetMachine”under three folders

Application Folder

User’s Desktop

User’s Program Menu

6.Select Application Folder and right click Add>Project Output>select Primary output

7. Select User’s Desktop right click on the right side pane>click create new shortcut>select

output file from Application folder>change the file name from primary output name to MyEXE








Next >>

Same procedure follows the user’s program menu also

8.If you want to change the Manufactures name, just right click the project go to properties







Change the properties as per you requirement

9.Finally Build the new project

11. Select the Release folder for build. (Select ‘Properties’ in right click of Setup Project)







12. Set the Compression Mode

Mode 1: Optimization for speed (Installation Speed)

Mode 2: Optimization for size (Setup file size)

13. Once successfully build the setup. Please look up in inside Release folder

When you want to install the setup file or exe file on the client machine, before you should

be installed .NET Framework on that machine because, Applications and controls written for the

.NET Framework v2.0 requires the .NET Framework Redistributable Package version 2.0 to be

installed on the computer where the application or control runs. (Framework 4.0 need .NET

Framework 4 Client Profile).

#1 .NET Framework 2.0 Redistributable Package Downlaod

#2 .NET Framework 4 Client Profile Downlaod

II. Create shortcut icon in User’s Desktop, User’s Programs Menu and

Add/Remove Programs

Note: System support only .ico file format

a. User’s Desktop

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24872

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/release-folder/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/compression-mode/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/setup-project-release-folder/#main





Step 1: Add an icon file (.ico) in project

Step2: Select the icon file

Stpe3: Icon file added in Application Folder

Step4: Select ‘User’s Desktop’ or ‘User’s Program Menu’ and right click on right side pane

Step5: Add primary output of actual application and click ‘OK’ to select

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/user-desktop.png

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/iconf-file-added/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/select-the-icon-file-in-open-dialog-window/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/add-icon-file-in-setup-project/#main





Step6: Rename the actual name to your desired project/product name

Step7: Here the sample product name is ‘Your Product Name’ for demo purpose

Step8: If we want to add icon on shortcut, Click Properties Window

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/rename-product-name.png

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/rename.png

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/primary-output.png





Step 9: Select Icon, next Browse icon file

Step10: Browse icon file in Application Folder

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/icon-in-properties-window.png

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/properties-window.png





Step 11: Click ‘Application Folder’

Step 12: Add File button will be enable once you have clicked the Application Folder

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/application-folder.png

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/browse.png





Step 13: Select your product icon and Click ‘OK’

b. User’s Programs Menu

Kindly follow the same steps for shortcut added in User’s Program Menu.

C. Add/Remove Programs Icon

If you want to add your icon in Control Panel > Programs >Uninstall, You need to follow the

below steps.

Step 1: Select the setup project in Solution Explorer and right click, select the ‘properties’

Add the icon from Application Folder.

View Icons

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/select-icon-in-addremove-programs/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/add-icon-in-addremove-programs/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/file-added/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/add-file-2/#main





Install your setup in target machine, You can view the shortcuts in Desktop, Start Menu and

Uninstall Programs.

Figure 1: Shortcut icon in Desktop

Figure 2: Shortcut icon in User’s Program Menu

Figure 3: Shortcut icon in Uninstall Programs

III. Add Prerequisites

Prerequisites are provide support resources to run the installed process on your target

machine.

Visual Setup and Deployment projects are automatically detect the required prerequisites need

to install the system. But the question is what is the source for install the prerequisites? No

need to worry, Visual Studio IDE provides three options to install the prerequisites on your

system.

Download prerequisites from component vendor’s website (default option)

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/icon-in-uninstall-programs/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/start-menu-icon/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/desktop-icon/#main





Download prerequisites from the same location as my application

Download prerequisites from the following location

How to add prerequisites in Visual Studio?

1. Select Project in Solution Explorer, Right click

2. Click the Prerequisites button in Property Pages

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/prerequisites_properties.png





3. Select the required prerequisites from the window

http://balanagaraj.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/prerequisites_button.png





Step 2: Select the dialog which you wish to add

Step 3: New dialog added

b. Re-order the Scree ns

Right click of desired screen which you need to move the specific place and select ‘Move Up’

and ‘Move Down’

c. Change the text and banner images

Right click and select the ‘Properties Window ‘ where you need to edit the text and image.

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/dialog-move-up/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/dialog-added/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/select-the-dialog/#main

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/ui-add-dialog/#main





Once you’ve complete the changes and ‘Build’ the project again. Now, you setup file is

professionally ready.

V. Prevent Multiple Instance Running.

How do avoid multiple instance in installed application?

In Program.cs file add the below code.

static void Main()

{

Application.EnableVisualStyles();

Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);

Process[] process = Process.GetProcessesByName(Application.ProductName); //Prevent

multiple instance

if (process.Length > 1)

{

MessageBox.Show("{Application Name} is already running. This instance will now

close.", "{Application Name}",

MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);

Application.Exit();

}

else

{

Application.Run(new <Initial Form>());

}

}

Help me to improve better by sharing your feedback here.

Thanks!

http://balanagaraj.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/create-exe-or-setup-file-in-net-windows-application/change-the-text-and-image/#main

create an exe or setup file in .net windows application _ explore

Documents