Create Windows Setup Using Visual Studio

To distribute your windows application to multiple users, you have to create setup of your application. Using visual studio, it can be created very easily. Windows setup steps also mentions how to create desktop, Program menu shortcut and how to set icon for your application.

Steps To Create Setup of Windows Application
(1) Create any sample Desktop App(C# or VB) using Visual Studio.(2) Right click on Solution Explorer –> Add –> New Project –> and select setup project.


Windows-Setup-New-Project

(3) Once you click on, you will see file system like this in your visual studio.


Windows-setup-file-system
(4) Application folder: This folder should have primary output of application, Icon Of application and any external libraries used by your application.

Right Click On Application Folder –> Add –> Project Output. This will add output of your project to Application folder.

Right Click On Application Folder –> Add –> File . Browse for icon of application icon and add it.

(5) Now, Right click on Primary output –> Create Shortcut for primary output. Now cut and paste it to User’s Desktop Folder. So once your application is installed, it can create shortcut on desktop.


Windows-setup-add-shortcut

(6) Now, Right click on Primary output –> Create Shortcut for primary output. Now cut and paste it to User’s Program Menu. So once your application is installed, it can create shortcut in program’s menu.

(7) File System folders should have minimum these files. Check All Screenshots.


Windows-Setup-Application-folder


Windows-Setup-Users-Desktop


Windows-Setup-Users-Programs-Menu

(8) Now, Select setup project and enter all properties. i.e. software version, author name, installusers etc.

Windows_Setup_Properties

(9) Once done, Right click on setup project –> Build it.

(10) You will find setup file in Debug folder of your setup project.



Windows_Setup_Location