Installation tool
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What tool or product do you recommand to create a program that installs a .NET Windows Form component? Does Microsoft provides one such tool with the .NET SDK?
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What tool or product do you recommand to create a program that installs a .NET Windows Form component? Does Microsoft provides one such tool with the .NET SDK?
There's the Windows Installer projects that are seemlessly integrated with VS.NET. You can even assign your build outputs, sources, content, etc. to directories and what-not. If you really don't mind learning the internals of the MSI database, you can get free tools in the Platform SDK, but you have to do almost everything yourself. Otherwise, you could go with commercial solutions. Another options lies in the System.Configuration.Install namespace, where you use and create installer classes that can do about anything, from installing Windows Services to VS.NET toolbox items to custom CodeGroups. To use these, you use
installutil.exe [options] MyAssembly.dll. InstallUtil.exe is a utility in the .NET SDK. There are other free solutions out there, but none with support for .NET assemblies that I've seen. I recommend either the Windows Installer projects in VS.NET or writing custom installers like I also mentioned. "Well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob." - Peter Gibbons -
There's the Windows Installer projects that are seemlessly integrated with VS.NET. You can even assign your build outputs, sources, content, etc. to directories and what-not. If you really don't mind learning the internals of the MSI database, you can get free tools in the Platform SDK, but you have to do almost everything yourself. Otherwise, you could go with commercial solutions. Another options lies in the System.Configuration.Install namespace, where you use and create installer classes that can do about anything, from installing Windows Services to VS.NET toolbox items to custom CodeGroups. To use these, you use
installutil.exe [options] MyAssembly.dll. InstallUtil.exe is a utility in the .NET SDK. There are other free solutions out there, but none with support for .NET assemblies that I've seen. I recommend either the Windows Installer projects in VS.NET or writing custom installers like I also mentioned. "Well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob." - Peter GibbonsThanks very much for these informations. Just another question: where can I find the Windows Installer projects in VS.NET?
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Thanks very much for these informations. Just another question: where can I find the Windows Installer projects in VS.NET?
If you need a sample Windows Installer project, you can try Desktop Bob[^] lazy isn't my middle name.. its my first.. people just keep calling me Mel cause that's what they put on my drivers license. - Mel Feik
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Thanks very much for these informations. Just another question: where can I find the Windows Installer projects in VS.NET?
Add a new project to your solution (with your existing project, making build outputs available to your setup project) from the Deployment category. There should be several options available to you. Use the wizard if you're not sure about what to do. It does quite a bit for you. "Well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob." - Peter Gibbons
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Add a new project to your solution (with your existing project, making build outputs available to your setup project) from the Deployment category. There should be several options available to you. Use the wizard if you're not sure about what to do. It does quite a bit for you. "Well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob." - Peter Gibbons
Thanks. The Deployment wizard seems to be a very good starting point. It is a good surprise for me. Until now, I had not noticed its existence.