Create an EXE or Setup File in .NET Windows Application

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 to help 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 Device 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 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.

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”

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
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

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

Step 9: Select Icon, next Browse icon file

Step10: Browse icon file in Application Folder

Step 11: Click  ‘Application Folder’

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

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
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)
• 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

3. Select the required prerequisites from the window

Click ‘Ok’, prerequisites will associate based on your install location selection.

IV. Setup file User Interface customization

If you want to customize the installation process screens. Visual Studio provides facility through ‘User Interface’.
Right click of setup project, Select View and Click ‘User Interface’.

Here, you can see the hierarchy tree of installation process screens.
a. Add new dialog window
Step 1: Right click desired selection, Select ‘Add Dialog’

Step 2: Select the dialog which you wish to add

Step 3: New dialog added

b. Re-order the Screens
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.

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>());
}
}
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