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Customizing Setup Project in Visual Studio.NET 2005

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Author : Exforsys Inc. Published on: 4th Aug 2005 | Last Updated on: 2nd May 2006

Customizing Setup Project in Visual Studio.NET 2005

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As can be seen from the screenshot, there are number of system folders that we can choose from. They are summarized in the following table.

Special folders are folders in the File System Editor that represent predefined Windows folders. The physical location of Windows folders can vary from one computer to another — for example, the System folder may be located in C:Windows on one computer, D:Windows on another, and C:Winnt on a third. Regardless of the physical location, Windows recognizes the folder as the System folder by reading special attributes.

Using special folders in a deployment project allows the developer choose a destination folder on a target computer without knowing the actual path to that folder.

Custom folders are special folders that represent folders on a target computer. Unlike special folders, custom folders do not necessarily depend on existing folders on the target, but rather allow the creation of new folders at install time. The user can also create custom folders that target predefined Windows folders other than those defined as special folders.

The types of special and custom folders available to a deployment project differ according to the project type. The following special folders might be available.

Special Folder

Represents
Application Folder

An application folder under the Program Files folder. Typically C:Program FilesCompany NameApp Name

Common Files Folder

A folder for components that are shared across applications. Typically C:Program FilesCommon

Custom Folder

A folder that you create on a target computer, or a predefined Windows folder that is not a special folder. Defaults to same location as the Application folder.

Fonts Folder

A virtual folder containing fonts. Typically C:WinntFonts

Module Retargetable Folder

A custom folder that allows you to specify an alternative location for a merge module.

Program Files Folder

The root node for program files. Typically C:Program Files

System Folder

The Windows System folder for shared system files. Typically C:WinntSystem32

User's Application Data Folder

A folder that serves as a repository for application-specific data on a per-user basis. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameApplication Data

User's Desktop

A folder that contains files and folders that appear on the desktop on a per-user basis. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameDesktop

User's Favorites Folder

A folder that serves as a repository for the user's favorite items. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameFavorites

User's Personal Data Folder

A folder that serves as a per-user repository for documents. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameMy Documents

User's Programs Menu

A folder that contains a user's program groups. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameStart MenuPrograms

User's Send To Menu

A folder that contains a user's Send To menu items. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameSendTo

User's Start Menu

A folder that contains a user's Start menu items. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameStart Menu

User's Template Folder

A folder that contains document templates on a per-user basis. Typically C:Documents and SettingsusernameTemplates

Windows Folder

Windows or system root directory. Typically C:Winnt

Web Custom Folder

A custom folder on a Web server, identified by an HTTP address.The typical paths shown represent a standard installation of Windows 2000 Professional. Locations may differ on other operating systems or non-standard installations.

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To add a file from the File System Editor

1. Select a target folder in the File System Editor.
2. On the Action menu, point to Add, and then click File.
3. Note: The File command is also available from the Project menu. Choosing this command from the Project menu rather than the Action menu will cause the file to be placed in the Application Folder rather than in the target folder you have selected.
4. In the resulting Add Files dialog box, browse to the file you want to add and select it.
5. Note Adding a file that is contained in an assembly causes the assembly to be added to your project. In a merge module project, you are prompted prior to adding the assembly.

To add a file from Solution Explorer

1. Select a deployment project in Solution Explorer.
2. On the Project menu, point to Add, and then click File.
3. In the resulting Add Files dialog box, browse to the file you want to add and select it.
4. Note Files added from Solution Explorer will always be placed in the Application Folder in the File System Editor. If you want to place files in a different folder, you must to add them from the File System Editor as described above.
5. To remove a file
6. Select the file in the File System Editor, and choose Delete from the Edit menu.
7. Creating Shortcuts

The final aspect of the File System editor is the process of creating shortcuts.

1. The first step in creating a shortcut is to locate the file that is to be the target of the shortcut.
2. Select the target file and right-click it.
3. The popup menu that appears will include an option to create a shortcut to the selected file, which will be created in the same folder.
4. Select this option.
5. To add the shortcut to the user’s desktop, we need to move this shortcut to the folder that represent the user’s program menu.
6. Cut and paste the new shortcut to the User’s Desktop folder in the left-hand pane of the editor.
7. The shortcut will now be added to the user’s desktop when the installation is run.

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This tutorial is part of a VB.NET 2005 tutorial series. Read it from the beginning and learn yourself.

VB.NET 2005