I work in an environment that has leaned heavy on the use of MSI's. With the latest versions of Visual Studio this type of deployment setup is no longer provided. I've heard that using MSBuild is the preferred alternative. Does MSBuild create a file / other that a team could run on production servers? Developers do not have permissions to prod servers here. We have to pass our msi's to another team to run them.
Any help would be appreciated.
Visual Studio Deployment Projects (aka VDPROJ) deprecated from Visual Studio 2012. The output of VDPROJ is MSI.
Microsoft recommendation is WIX as a replacement for creating MSI installers. WIX is an XML based (.wixproj) project.
Don't confuse MSBuild with WIX. MSBuild is a build engine for generating code from XML based projects (.csproj, vbproj, etc.).
You can use Wix
There is a steep learning curve, but it is very powerful
Use WiX toolset - it is a nice alternative and integrates well with visual studio and team build.
http://wixtoolset.org/
Related
I used Visual Studio 2015 InstallShield Limited Edition Project to create my application setup.
My application must be installed api.msi, .net3.5 and .net4.5 to be exeuted.
In "Specify Application Data->Redistributables", I only can add .net3.5 and .net 4.5 to my setup. but i can't add api.msi to Redistributables.
How do i add api.msi to Redistributables?
this is my Redistributables
I hope the installation steps are as follows
run setup->set install path->install .net(3.5 and 4.5) & api.msi & application.
Best way to do it is by creating merge module and add it to your project for details refer the link
InstallShield can include either merge modules or prerequisites, but the Limited and Express editions do not include the capabilities to build either. Both options are available with the Professional and higher editions, and other tools may be able to create merge modules.
You can download an eval copy of InstallShield and throw it on a VM. Build your setup prereq file (.PRQ) for it. Copy the PRQ and api.msi to your machine with InstallShield LE and consume it.
You can read more about how to author a PRQ here: (Disclosure: My blog article from 11 years ago)
http://iswix.com/2006/11/21/using-installshield-12-to-install-net-framework-3-0/
I maintain an open source project called IsWiX that creates graphical UIs for managing XML documents. I thought about creating a tool to maintain PRQ files. It would only take me a day to write it but I was concerned Flexera might get really irritated. :)
I have a web application build on .net 3.5 that is built using VS 2010 pro edition. I am trying to automate the build task for msbuild. Is there a way to make a build file of my project in VS 2010? Or do I have to make the build file from scratch?
There's a tool that can help you creating your own msbuild file and it also has GUI, MS Build Sidekick:
http://www.attrice.info/msbuild/
MS Build Sidekick isn't free but it's quite cheap (US$55), and they also offer trial version for 14 days.
you need to do it from scratch... file->new->text file...
pretty good tutorial on msdn: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd576348.aspx
Please, Is there any book or tutorial for deploying .Net Windows Application/Assemblies.
I required In-Depth tutorial for .Net Application Deployment.
If you are looking to produce an MSI redistributable installer for your clients, or Group Policy deployment then I'd recommend learning the WiX system.
The Visual Studio Setup Project is no longer supported in VS11 (VS2012) and the free InstallShield alternative has less features than the VS10 setup project.
Go here http://wixtoolset.org/ and here: http://wix.tramontana.co.hu/tutorial/getting-started/the-software-package to learn how the XML file is constructed, then start adding your files into the WiX package.
The toolset http://wixtoolset.org/releases/v3.6/stable download includes a VS11 project template which integrates nicely with VS and whatever source control you're using.
Hope this helps a bit!
Follow this. You will be able to deploy with Setup Projects
http://documentation.devexpress.com/#xaf/CustomDocument3235
I'm on a mobile phone so I cannot provide you with a link but all you need to do is copy the executable out of the bin folder in your project.
Deploying A C# Application (Visual Studio Setup Project)
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.
I have found a lot of programs to make an installation package for .net application but non of them meet my requirements.
I'm looking for a free application which is able to create installation and uninstallation package and is able to check if net framework and sql 2008 Redistributable is installed if not application should be able to install them first and then start application installation process
Take a look at Wix.
It is free, but the initial learning curve may be a little bit harder then other programms. The output of WiX is a *.msi package.
I recommend Inno Setup - I compared it once with NSIS and found it more usable. It suports scripting, and you will find example scripts for installation of .NET and other redistributables through the search engine of your choice.
Did you try installer, that is shipped with visual studio? If it is very simple, try Wix. Aslo, consider NSIS.
Or Windows Installer?
If you have Visual Studio installed then you can simply create a setup project within your solution. If not, then download from the above link (or fine the appropriate version to download) and utilise the set creation application manually.