Setup Wizard

I've followed a few tutorials on how to add a setup wizard to my project. I got it working, however, the desktop shortcut that it adds to my desktop after the install is a shortcut to either a) Application Files b) User's Desktop c) User's Programs Menu depending on what I set it to. How can I change shortcut to be an actual shortcut to the exe?

I'm targeting .NET 2.0

VB.NET platform - Moved to Application Deployment

Application Files, User's Desktop, User's Programs Menu are the locations for the short cuts. Change the property "target" to primary output.

The only options I have for the target are;

Application Folder
User's Desktop
User's Program Menu

After create shortcut it will ask "Select item in project". In the "Application folder" you will find the "Primary output from....." Then give the shortcut a proper name and an icon.

????

I do not get prompted to do anything after I create the shortcut (Right click on Desktop and select create shortcut). It allows me to rename the shortcut and that is it.

This isn't making any sense.

So you can't set the property of the shortcut to primary output?
Are you sure you have a sulotion with 2 projects, 1 your project and 1 setup project? Which VS?

I'm using VS2008 and I do have two projects. When I setup the application folder, it is the primary output. When I change the target of the shortcut that I create on User's Desktop, the only options I have are;

Application Folder
User's Desktop
User's Program Menu

If I change it to application folder, the shortcut links to the application folder where the user can open the exe, but I want it to run the exe instead of opening the entire folder.

If you choose the "File System" of your setup project is there in the "Application Folder" the "Primary out from.....(active) type=Output" ?
All shortcuts must point to this output. Compile your project to release folder.
Otherwise try to remove to setup project and "ADD" a setup project to your solution again.

I figured it out. I did the following;

1) Right click 'User's Desktop'
2) Select 'Add'
3) Select 'Project Output'
4) Go to Primary out properties
5) On the 'Excludefilter' property, added *.dll and *.config

This installed only the exe to the desktop.

Thanks

Now my app is no longer checking for updates. How can I fix this?

Anyone know how to fix this? I'm able to create an installer that installs the application to the desktop, however, it is no longer checking for application updates.

The program only checks for updates if you use the setup.exe created when publishing the application...and since I'm targeting .NET 2.0 it won't install a desktop shortcut.

With a setup project there is no buildin update function. You have to create your one.

How do I create an update function

After adding your files on "Application Folder"
1. Right Click on your .exe file and create a shortcut.
2. Now then drag it to your "Desktop" folder on the other side.
3. After installing your application, there will be a shortcut on your desktop.

That's what I do to make it simple for users yet easy to do for us developers.