[2005] how to make a setup?

[newpat]

I know there is a way to publish my project in vb 2005, but I dun like because there are many setup files. But another program just have one setup.exe to install, so how do they make just one setup.exe?

[bmahler]

Look inot INNO Setup. There is a little bit of a learning curve with using it, but I have found that I like it the best. There is also something called IStool that is a nice gui for creating setup projects. There are links to both in my sig.

[newpat]

Look inot INNO Setup. There is a little bit of a learning curve with using it, but I have found that I like it the best. There is also something called IStool that is a nice gui for creating setup projects. There are links to both in my sig.

I download and tried INNO, but it seems that can not use for vb. just iss file.
IStool is toolbox...so I dun think both can make a setup.exe file

[Setup]
AppName=My Program
AppVerName=My Program version 1.5
DefaultDirName={pf}\My Program
DefaultGroupName=My Program
UninstallDisplayIcon={app}\MyProg.exe
Compression=lzma
SolidCompression=yes
OutputDir=userdocs:Inno Setup Examples Output

[Files]
Source: "MyProg.exe"; DestDir: "{app}"
Source: "MyProg.chm"; DestDir: "{app}"
Source: "Readme.txt"; DestDir: "{app}"; Flags: isreadme

[Icons]
Name: "{group}\My Program"; Filename: "{app}\MyProg.exe"

[zalez]

Nullsoft Install System is what I like to use when im not using vb.net's built in setup.

[RobDog888]

If you are running Express thn you have ClickOnce and if you are running Standard, Pro, or Team Suite there is a Setup project for creating a more advanced pack.

[bmahler]

I download and tried INNO, but it seems that can not use for vb. just iss file.
IStool is toolbox...so I dun think both can make a setup.exe file

ISS is an Inno setup script. It compiles into a setup exe. You can most certainly use it for VB, however it will not integrate with Visual Studio. You would first need to compile any executables and libraries for your app and then use inno to build them all into an installer.

ISTool is a tool to help you build your Inno setup script. You tell it what files you want installed and where, as well as other information about your application and when you compile it, it will create a Setup.exe or whatever you name your setup project. I can assure you that these work as they are what I use to deploy all my .net applications.

[jmcilhinney]

Why is it a problem to have more than one file? Is everyone not used to downloading a ZIP file and extracting it? WinZip even has a utility to create self-extracting ZIP files.

[cptHotkeys]

whats wrong with just creating a new form like a wizard and adding all your programs files as resources. that way you can have allot more control with it and allot more user interaction, there are plenty of articles around that show how to create file associations, startup, desktop and menu shortcuts etc...
I would personally use this method, but I dont know how to delete the uninstaller app once it removes all the files and restores registry settings etc.

Any tips on getting an executable to delete itself?

[RobDog888]

With too much control with installers you will also have too many bugs and problems. Why re-invent the wheel? The Setup project allows you to run custom actions, desktop shortcuts, etc. So what more could you want? An un-install feature? Sure, setup projects when installed will have that available too.

[javad2000]

I know there is a way to publish my project in vb 2005, but I dun like because there are many setup files. But another program just have one setup.exe to install, so how do they make just one setup.exe?

I use vb2005> File> New Project> Setup project
to create a setup file. It packs the whole project in 2 files, and it's perfect. (Only available in VB.net standard edition or higher).

but if you want your whole project to be packed in a single setup file, the most professional tool is "InstallShield" (but it's not free).

[bmahler]

Well for me personally I found that installing anything that used crystal reports did not seem to work properly with the VS setup project. I am sure that it works with the proper tweaking, but in the end I just chose to use inno and I am very happy with it.

[newpat]

but I dun know how to modify the example that INNO provide. Do they have any instructions or teach for us?