Make an Installation program for C# applications and include .NET Framework installer into the setup

c# .net winforms visual-studio installation
Wassim AZIRAR picture Wassim AZIRAR · May 22, 2011 · Viewed 237.5k times · Source

I've finished my C# application, but I have a little problem:

When I try to run my application in another PC, I need always to Install .NET Framework 4.0.

Is there something to do to make it work without installing the framework from internet?

I tried before InnoSetup for a VB6 application, but I'm not sure if it's going to work for .NET 4.0!

Any ideas?

Answer

Alex Aza picture Alex Aza · May 22, 2011

Use Visual Studio Setup project. Setup project can automatically include .NET framework setup in your installation package:

Here is my step-by-step for windows forms application:

  1. Create setup project. You can use Setup Wizard.

    enter image description here

  2. Select project type.

    enter image description here

  3. Select output.

    enter image description here

  4. Hit Finish.

  5. Open setup project properties.

    enter image description here

  6. Chose to include .NET framework.

    enter image description here

  7. Build setup project

  8. Check output

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Note: The Visual Studio Installer projects are no longer pre-packed with Visual Studio. However, in Visual Studio 2013 you can download them by using:

Tools > Extensions and Updates > Online (search) > Visual Studio Installer Projects

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