Windows Package & deployment

Windows Package & deployment

It is just an out line how we can create a setup package using Microsoft visual studio 2008. I am just trying to create a MSI - a windows installing package for a particular executable. So from the beginning iam trying to explain with screen-shots.
I : Get your executable (eg: BuisnessPjt.exe) and open this in dependency walker (http://www.dependencywalker.com/). This will help you to trace out which all *.dll files are needed for the executable to work. Avoid System files from the list and copy all the third party dll files to a folder along with the executable. If the executable work just by double clicking on it, then you have got 99% dlls needed for the executable to work stand alone.

II : Now its the time to create a setup (Microsoft installation package- MSI  )
1) Microsoft visual studio 2008 Open>>File>>New Project . This will help you to create a MSI package. You can give your specified path & create Solution.

2) Under the MSI Solution You will get
* Application Folder: Here under this you need to add files needed for the packaging. Executable, dlls, Icons, Readme.txt etc like what ever you want to come under program files (programfiles/testapplication )folder.
* Users's Desktop : You can provide links in this folder to the installed program in programs file folder @ desktop.
* User's Program menu: You can provide links in this folder to the installed program in programs file folder @ Start>>Program menu.
 So add files to Application Folder.

2) Add all files including executables and dlls from the folder as like given in first picture. Create a link or short cut for the exe and drag and drop to User's Desktop and Users Program menu.

3) Created Short cut and dragged to Users Desktop.

4) You can Set Icon for the desktop Short cut. Set it from its property window at right side.

5)Build the solution.

*** After creation of Set Up package, its installation 

 

Any more Doubts or suggestions feel free to ask here. Adding pages or for your custom Installation interface, try for 3rd Party MSI packaging applications  eg: http://www.purepackaging.com/ but you can also Introduce DLLs embedded in its way of installation.