How to deploy a project using Visual C#?

Question

Hey, I want to deploy a C# project using Visual C# and not Visual Studio but I can't seem to find that kind of option. Is there an external plugin I should download in order to do so? Thanks.

Imri Barr · Answer

Thanks! That's almost what I wanted... Though this plugin only works with VS and not VC#. Is the only way to achieving what I want to do is to download VS?

Javeed M Shaikh · Answer

ok, you are using Express version of visual studio, the VS Express editions do not include a built-in method for creating an MSI or deployment projects. Other options is to take a look at the following: 1. Copy your files from the bin folder and deploy manually. 2. I did see the package/build option, but only for web projects. 3. http://wix.sourceforge.net/downloadv35.html (open source deployment tool for visual studio applications).

Imri Barr · Answer

OK, apparently I don't explain myself very well.. So I'll just post here a screen shot and hopefully I'll get understood this time. I'll say this again: I got ONLY Visual C# and NOT Visual Studio so these options DON'T exist when I click on new Project. Here's the image: http://imageshack.us/f/97/unled1mee.jpg/

Javeed M Shaikh · Answer

so you do not see this, please see attachment and give details on your visual studio version and screen shot of the left tree when you click on new project.

Imri Barr · Answer

That's exactly what I want to do. I want to be able to use the Visual Studio tools to deploy my application. The Setup and Deployment project does not exist in Visual C#. So my question is how to get this project without installing the whole Visual Studio on my computer. Thanks.

Javeed M Shaikh · Answer

please explain in detail as are you trying to create an application in C# for deployment with wizard and steps, if yes than why you want to reinvent the wheel as you already have deployment wizards in visual studio.

Imri Barr · Answer

But what if I want to be able to configure the setup steps and wizard? How can I achieve that? Thanks.

Hemant Kumar · Answer

If you right click on the project in the solution viewer, I get a "publish", select a directory, if you select install from CDrom (eg a file based install), it creates a setup.exe. Have you tried this? Long as they have .net installed, I believe this should be sufficient. Its not very elegant and you dont get to configure the setup app.

Javeed M Shaikh · Answer

Hi Imri, have you looked in devenv.exe switches, you can build a console app and pass command line parameters to deploy your project: devenv /Deploy there are other lot of swtiches you can play around on this.