Is it possible to package a background service written in C# with VS 2017? From what I understand VS doesn't create an installer for services and that you need to use something like Wix Toolset. I have looked into wix toolset, but haven't found any clear documentation on how to use it. Any help would be great, as this is completely new to me.
Try to use the Advanced Installer extension for Visual Studio and see if this helps.
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I have database,images and text files in my project and i would like to make instalation..
Also I would like to put prerequirements so that people who install this must install version of .net framework i used in my project
What is the best way to achieve that?
UPDATE:
I wanted to use microsoft visual studio installer but it doesnt work .. it doenst create exe file and i cant open app
I've personally used NSIS for making installers. It has an extensible scripting bit to put whatever prerequisites you need(TOS, EULA, ect.) and it can easily create a professional looking installer.
Try using Inno Setup. It has a good scripting language along with a wizard if you don't want to script. It's also free (unless you are deploying commercial applications).
I have written a Windows Service.
I now want to package it up in an installer.
I have used the VS2013 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt and then used the commands:
To install it:
installutil httpapiservice.exe
To uninstall it:
installutil httpapiservice.exe /u
This works perfectly. I can see the new service in "Services" and stop and start it no problem.
I then proceeded to right click on the project and select "Publish" and it produced a setup.exe
But, when I run the setup.exe I can see it "downloading and extracting" the files. It looks like it's installing but nothing appears in "Services"
Can anyone tell me if I am doing it correctly please?
Thanks
You need to add a setup project to your solution to build an installer executable.
Unfortunately Microsoft removed their setup project template from Visual Studio 2012 onwards, which would have done the job.
This means you are stuck with one of the alternatives, which are either less functional, harder to set up, or expensive.
NOTE - scroll down to EDIT 3 for my recommended solution. The rest of this post is just to highlight alternatives.
If you fancy the free route you can add on InstallShield Limited Edition to Visual studio, and use it to create a setup project for your solution. It will work for windows service setup projects in the latest version, but is generally considered pretty rubbish and limited. Here's the instructions for this: link
WiX is a free open source alternative, which is far more functional, but tricky to set up.
EDIT -
Here's an article describing how to use WiX to create a setup project: http://www.schiffhauer.com/wix-template-for-installing-a-windows-service/
EDIT 2 -
As of today (22/04/2014) Microsoft have reinstated the setup project in Visual Studio 2013 as an Visual studio extension - see this post
I've not tried it myself, but it's presumably the same as the VS2010 setup project, which wasn't too hard to learn (and there's plenty of help available on the internet) I'd definately recommend you try this for creating your setup program!
EDIT 3 (Apr 2016) -
I'd highly recommend you use the Visual Studio Installer Projects Extension (as mentioned in the above edit) for creating simple installers for your windows services (and other programs too). The installers it creates are simple, but professional looking enough for simple or small projects.
The extension for Visual Studio 2013 is here
The extension for Visual Studio 2015 is here
The extension for Visual Studio 2017 is here
An article describing how to create a setup project for a windows service using the old VS2010 Setup project is here. Although this is an old article it can be applied directly to the new Installer Project extensions linked above. (Thanks EbbnFlow for the link)
I ended up zipping up the software and including installutil.exe and simply gave the customer instructions have to install and uninstall.
Seems to have worked perfectly.
HTH
It seems you want to use ClickOnce (publish) to install a service. This isn't possible without a hassle but you can try to do it as described in this answer.
These official Microsoft extensions provide support for Visual Studio Installer Projects in Visual Studio 2013 https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/9abe329c-9bba-44a1-be59-0fbf6151054d
and Visual Studio 2015 https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/f1cc3f3e-c300-40a7-8797-c509fb8933b9
With these extension and the video in the previous post I was able to make a setup project for a windows service in Visual Studio Community 2015.
Don't forget to add the custom actions for install and uninstall (as described in the video) and also don't forget to add the installer class to your service project to get your service correctly installed under system --> services.
I've added the serviceProcessInstaller and the serviceInstaller-component by code and configured it like this:
public XxxServiceInstaller()
{
InitializeComponent();
ServiceProcessInstaller serviceProcessInstaller = new ServiceProcessInstaller();
ServiceInstaller serviceInstaller = new ServiceInstaller();
// Service Account Information
serviceProcessInstaller.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;
serviceProcessInstaller.Username = null;
serviceProcessInstaller.Password = null;
// Service Information
serviceInstaller.ServiceName = "your service name";
serviceInstaller.DisplayName = "your service display name";
serviceInstaller.StartType = ServiceStartMode.Manual; // or automatic
this.Installers.Add(serviceProcessInstaller);
this.Installers.Add(serviceInstaller);
this.AfterInstall += new InstallEventHandler(ProdSSSyncServiceInstaller_AfterInstall);
}
void XxxServiceInstaller_AfterInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)
{
ServiceController sc = new ServiceController("your service name");
// start immediately
sc.Start();
}
I wish you to be able to help me with this small issue :) please look at below pictures. I don't have publish and deployment in the new project (Visual Studio 2012). how to solve this problem? any idea? i will appreciate your advice!! I need to create a installer setup for my WPF application.
Publish and deployment image:
My problem here:
Microsoft removed the support for setup applications in Visual Studio 2012 (yeah I know it sucks !)
You can use Visual Studio 2010 to create your setup project, ClickOnce Deployment or a third-party setup program like Inno Setup.
vdproj Setup Project support has been removed in VS2012.
Consider WiX as alternative.
WiX also compiles without installing VS 2012 Professional, although you cannot open WiX project in VS 2012 Express.
i want to know how to create a installer similar to visual studio 2010 setup file.
thanks in advance.
There is an open source script driven project called Wix which you could use here: http://wix.sourceforge.net/
There are some additional MSI installation file utilities.
Hopefully this helps.
WiX toolset is used to create Windows Installer based installers, MSI files. Visual Studio setup uses MSI to make changes to the system. Although MSI is very powerful, it provides limited UI experience, which, however, is quite enough for most setups.
Visual Studio setup uses a regular application that collects information from the user. Then it uses External UI (see MsiSetExternalUI function) to monitor and display progress of the installation.
Look at Setup guidelines and make your setup experience as simple as possible, but not simpler.
so I have an application that I have created in Visual Studio 2010 and I want to know how I can package it so a user can install it on their machine. I'm sure I will have to do some scripting as well as call cmd prompts. Basically I want to get it to the point where there is an installer for the application that my group has built.
Any suggestions or tutorials you recommend?? Its for a school project and it would really be helpful if someone could help me get this off the ground. Its the last thing my group needs to do.
Thanks!
Joe Ristaino
Use ClickOnce
Use the MSI installer setup project in Visual studio. It's very simple.
http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/vishnuprasad2005/SetupProjects12022005022406AM/SetupProjects.aspx
I wouldn't use click once...
Ok here's a newer article
http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/58021-deploying-a-c%23-application-visual-studio-setup-project/
Visual Studio has it's own installer projects, you could check those out. I personally use them for any projects I make at my company. If you use the wizard, you'll have it done in no time.
In your solution,
right click your solution name in the Solution Explorer.
Add -> New Project.
For the type, goto Other Project Types -> Setup And Deployment -> Visual Studio Installer
Choose the setup wizard, it's pretty easy. Primary output means what's is installed to the program folder. Follow the wizard and most of the work will be done. There will only be optional tweaking left to do.
I recommend WiX. It's got quite a bit of a learning curve, but it's totally powerful.
It's expected to be included in the next version of Visual Studio (it didn't quite make it into VS2010).