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[jeezy09]

In this tutorial im gonna show you guys something I use for about every program, a installer. This tutorial will show you how to create a installer that installs your project into the users program files but creates a shortcut of the exe to their desktop. Most programs like mozilla or google chrome create a desktop shortcut along with almost all programs now a days so this is how you can too:

1. Open visual studios and go to File>New>Project>Setup and Deployment>Setup Project

2. Now on the left hand side under where it says File System on Target Machine click on "Application Folder"

3. Open up your project and build it. Then go into your projects folder and go to bin and choose release(if release doesnt show up going to debug is fine)

4. Drag all those files (exe,xml,manifest,etc) into the right hand side of your setup and deployment project. Application folder should still be highlighted on the left hand side.

5. Now that we have all of our dependencies set to install to the users program files we are going to need to create a shortcut for easy user access. Right click on your exe file and click on "Create Shortcut" then name the shortcut with the name of your program.

6. Now single click on your shortcut and over in the properties window change folder to users desktop, and make sure workingfolder is set to application folder. This is where its linking the shortcut to.

7. Go to icon and change the shortcuts icon to your projects icon.

8. Build the Setup and send to a friend clapper;

Now when you or someone else installs your application it will create a shortcut on the users desktop linking it to the exe along with all its dependencies in the application folder (users program files).

Enjoy cooll;

[wrighty1986]

Nice Tutorial for new ppl to visual studios.

[Lewis]

Heyy,
This tut diddnt work for me but if it worked for anyone else, Thanks
Lewis.

[jeezy09]

If you need any help we can teamview lol its confusing where stuff is I was gonna make a video but got lazy hehaho;

[jtlusco]

I had no idea Visual Studios did this lol it took a min for me to find the setup and deploy stuff but i found it (other projects) lol thanks for this

[jeezy09]

no problem man

[codenstuffplanet]

is there a way to make an exe without an installer?

[zachman61]

yes
in visual basic use
Build>build
if you have not errors it will appear in your my documents under visual studio 2008/projects/PROJECTNAME/bin/debug/PROGRAMNAME.exe

[harmeister]

Thank you so much... I have been looking everywhere to find out how to do this. Thank you!

[Livengood]

is there a way to make an exe without an installer?

Yes there is i have created a program installer for my programs that works with all computers and doens't error out