.NET 2005 - Setup & Deployment project

Hi,

I created a Setup & Deploy project for a VB.NET 2005 application I have.

The installer works, my application is installed correctly.

My problem is regarding the shortcuts the installer creates. The part "User's Desktop" and "User's Program Menu" in the S&D project.

In those two sections, I created a Shortcut to my application. The problem I have is that after the installation, when I click on the shortcuts, It kind of reinstall stuff.

EXPLANATION:
When my application is installed, in the application folder it installs a file named "Init.flag". This file is deleted the first time I start my application.

But If I restart my application using the shortcuts, I see for about 1-2 sec a progress bar .. and my "Init.flag" file is recreated in the application folder as if the installation was reexecuted.

If I manually create a shortcut, this does not occur and it all works. But I do not want my users to manually create a shortcut. I want them to use the ones the installer creates.

The ShortsCuts created by the installer seems to quickly execute something before lauching my application and that causes me headaches.
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I do not know if its clear ... or if anyone ever had this problem too.

Thanks for helping.

Moved to Application Deployment

You need to turn your logic around, instead of having the installer copy the file (that the application deletes) you should have your application check to see if the file's there or not, if it's not there then it's a "first run" if it is there then the program's been run 1 or more times.

By having the application delete the file, when you use a shortcut created by the installer, it first checks to see that all the installed files are still present, if it's not, it extracts them. This is why you have turn your logic around.

Thank you !

Great answer. I reversed my logic and it works fine now.