C# : Create Setup project which also include multiple applications in one setup

Hi Friends, I have prepared below steps with snap shots that you can follow very easily to create the setup project. This will also tell about how to create setup project which includes multiple application. Moreover it also covers all the possible custom actions, registry keys and custom dialogs that you can add while building setup project. Any question regarding this article will be most welcomed. -Jack

Follow below steps to create the setup project which will also allow you to keep multiple applications in same setup.

1. Select New Project from file you will see below window. Select other project types and Setup and Deployment->Setup Project.

 
2. Once you select setup file name and clicks OK button you will see below window. If you not then in right side solution explorer right click on project “Setup1” and select File System so that we will first setup the directories hierarchy.

3. Create Directory Hierarchies
Right click on the Application folder and click Add and create folders.  

If you want to add multiple applications then the directory hierarchy will be look like below:

Here Application1 and Application2 are two totally independent applications and a sub folder contains the corresponding executables. To Add the executables and dlls for each Application, right click on the sub folder and add “File” and select the location of the file. Then added file will be appeared in right side. See below figure.

4. Create Desktop Shortcut

  Right click on “User’s Desktop”  and click on “Create shortcut to user’s desktop” and give the appropriate name of the shortcut.  I have given name MyApplication.exe. You can also set the icon and give the description to the executable by selecting icon in property window. See below figure:

5.  Put Application in Program’s menu: For this right click on user’s program menu just below user’s desktop option. And click “Create shortcut to user’s program menu” and follow the same procedure as we followed in creating desktop shortcut.

6. Now you are ready with the complete directory heararchy. If you don’t want anything else then you can start building your setup file by right clicking the project Setup1 and click build.  Your setup project is ready. Enjoy !!!!

7. Now onwards you will see advanced options like setting registry key option used by your application, set the user interface, set the custom action on Intallation, Rollback, Uninstall or Commit. First we will see how to set the registry options.

8. Right click on the project -> Select View -> Select Registry. You can create new key in any registry location where your application will go and read the some settings you have made while writing the application. See below figure.

9.  User Interface:  You can change the process of installation by adding dialogs or messages or caption to the form.  To do this Right click on the project -> Select View -> Select Custom Actions. The below window will appear. To add the custom messages right click on the item and click property. You will see property window in the right side and change the messages or captions to the form as per your requirements. You can also add custom dialogs(TextBoxes, radiobuttons, forms etc) in Start or Progress or End process by right clicking it and add dialog.

10. Add Custom Actions:  If you want to perform some task programmatically like delete registry keys directory hierarchy or the entire setup component etc then you will need to add this. For this you will need to create Installer.cs project for Setup.CostomActions. You can see below figure I have given the required output from this Setup.CostomActions to the Install, Commit, Rollback and Uninstall items.

The Installer class code given below:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Xml;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.DirectoryServices;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Configuration.Install;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;

namespace Setup.CustomActions
{
    [RunInstaller( true )]
    public partial class Installer : System.Configuration.Install.Installer
    {        

        public Installer()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        public override void Install( System.Collections.IDictionary stateSaver )
        {
            base.Install( stateSaver );

    
        }

        public override void Rollback( System.Collections.IDictionary savedState )
        {
            base.Rollback( savedState );
            //Remove the files or directory created and environment path if any set by setup
            string target_dir = this.Context.Parameters[ "TargetDir" ];
            if ( File.Exists( exe_new_path ) )
                File.Delete( exe_new_path );
            if ( File.Exists( cfg_new_path ) )
                File.Delete( cfg_new_path );
                Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable( "PATH", path, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine );
            
        }

        public override void Uninstall( System.Collections.IDictionary savedState )
        {
            string target_dir = this.Context.Parameters[ "TargetDir" ];

            base.Uninstall( savedState );
            //Remove the files or directory created and environment path if any set by setup
                    if ( File.Exists( exe_new_path ) )
                File.Delete( exe_new_path );
            if ( File.Exists( cfg_new_path ) )
                File.Delete( cfg_new_path );
            
            string path = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable( "PATH" );
        
    }
}