I have just finished creating a wpf application in visual studio express C# and need to create an installer file. This is going on just a couple of machines because it is a personal program for me. I have looked into Advanced Installer using the simple method but cannot figure out how to do that or if it can even create a wpf installer. I have also tried WIX with the same results.
Any tips for doing this?
Before I start using WiX I worked with NSIS and HM NIS Edit which has a wizard to create simple installers.
Perhaps it can help you for your purposes.
Related
I am using Visual Studio 2013 Express for Desktop and SQL server, and I want to know
how to make an installer for a WinForm application that I developed.
where I have to put the files that the software needs to do its job. These files are images, databases, etc.
Any help would be appreciated. (sorry for my english)
First you need to download installer project extension from this link
Then follow the step by step guide that how to select step project template and add files.
How can I create set up file for WPF application ? I'm new to WPF applications and I don't have any idea about initializing this.Please help me !!
I advise you to use InnoSetup. It's a powerfull tools to make setup-wizard for all projects. You can create it easyly. And more features are available with it (icons file, registry management, associate file extension with application, desktop and start menu windows entry, and much more...)
I suggest you to go through below link if you are using VS 2010 and above-
CREATE SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT OF WPF APPLICATION STEP BY STEP WITH VISUAL STUDIO 2012
You need InstallShield packaging software to after Visual Studio 2008.
It will create a template to create deployment project, but you can
get the Visual Studio Installer Projects in VS 2010 and above , you
need to install the Visual Studio Installer Extension from the Visual
Studio Extension Gallery - Microsoft Visual Studio Installer
Projects
If you are using VS 2008 then it already have template to create setup project your WPF application. Just follow the below link to know that How use Setup Project..
Create Setup and Deployment of WPF Application Step by Step
#Hana's answer showing screenshot of the Setup Project, which is used in the VS 2008 to create the deployment package.
References:
Create an application setup in visual studio 2013
Visual Studio 2013 Installer Projects – Hello World Installer
Using VS 2008:
Add a Setup and Deployment project to the Solution
As soon as you add the project it opens the File Explorer view.
add Program File's Folder to our Setup project
add Primary output and other dependencies to Application Folder.
Select as displayed above.
Now we would add A folder to the Program Files Folder.
Now add the same as you did for the Application Folder.
add a Shortcut to User's Desktop.
Rebuild the Solution and then rebuild the Setup project.
Full help is here
I have downloaded and installed Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Phone. Is there a way to be able to code WPF apps for Windows too? Can I upgrade Visual Studio, because at the moment I can only create windows phone apps. Haven't found anything on the web.
Thanks in advance!
You need to get Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop (or a paid SKU) to develop WPF applications.
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-windows-desktop
This version is for Desktop apps.
Did you install "Express for Windows Phone"? Perhaps try "Express for Windows Desktop"?
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-windows-desktop
(must admit I've not tried express in a while, but it looks like they are different installers. I've always found Visual Studio works well side-by-side with different versions these days, so I imagine you can install both.)
I have installed VS2012 on a windows 8 machine and surprisingly doesn't show any WPF or Silverlight option when I create a project.
Am I missing something here?! In fact, it is not the way it used to be in VS2010. I only can see it as template under Visual C# which again it is under Online.
Why is that?
You need to install "Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop"....it's a different edition which has restored the WPF capability.
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-windows-desktop
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2012/09/12/visual-studio-express-2012-for-windows-desktop-is-here.aspx
To help decide if it's got all the capabilities you need:
Limitations of Visual Studio 2012 Express Desktop
When I deploy my application in VS2010, I see two options: InstallShield LE and Visual Studio Installer. Why are there two options? What is the advantage of using InstallShield LE over Visual Studio Installer?
To update this a little, Microsoft seems to have thrown in the towel on their own installer project type. It is not included in the Visual Studio 11 developer preview, and there are forum/blog posts that indicate this is no longer a supported product. If you are searching for what to use for new projects, I would steer clear of the Visual Studio Installer. Hopefully when VS11 finally is released, there will be a free version of InstallShield included.
These are just default tools that can help you create simple installers for your applications. Most difference are UI related, there's not much functionality in either of them.
If you want to choose a setup authoring tool, take a look at these threads:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4621478/what-is-the-best-windows-installer
How to create an installer using Java?
What is the best installer?
There are lots of threads like this which mention free and commercial setup authoring tools.
Basically, if you want a simple installer, you can use Visual Studio setup or InstallShield LE. If you want more advanced features, you need to find a different setup authoring tool that fits your needs.