This document discusses three methods for deploying a Windows application: XCopy deployment, ClickOnce deployment, and using a Setup program. XCopy deployment simply copies application files to the user's computer. ClickOnce allows installation and updating of applications from a web page. Using a Setup program provides more customization and control over application deployment and installation. The document provides steps for implementing each deployment method and considerations for deploying applications that incorporate database files.

1. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 1
Chapter 25
How to
deploy an application

2. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 2
Objectives
Applied
1. Use the ClickOnce feature to deploy an application.
2. Use a Setup program to deploy an application.
Knowledge
1. In general terms, describe these techniques for deploying an
application: XCopy, ClickOnce, and Setup program.

3. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 3
Deploying a Windows Forms application
Option 1: XCopy deployment
• Installs the application by copying the folder for the application to
the user’s hard drive.
• Allows the user to start the application by double-clicking on the
exe file for the application or by using a shortcut once the
application is installed.
• Allows the user to remove the application by deleting the folder
for the application.
• Works as long as all files required by the application are included
in the folder for the application.
• Is adequate for some simple applications with just a few users.

4. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 4
Option 2: ClickOnce deployment
• Allows users to install the application by clicking a link from a
web page.
• Creates an icon for the application in the Start menu.
• Allows the application to be uninstalled using the Uninstall or
Change a Program window (Windows 7 and Windows Vista) or
the Add or Remove Programs window (Windows XP) that can be
accessed from the Control Panel.
• Provides a way to automatically check for and install any files
needed by the application.
• Provides a way to automatically distribute updates to the
application.
• Is adequate for many types of applications with multiple users.

5. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 5
Option 3: Setup program deployment
• Allows users to install the application by running a Windows
Setup program.
• Allows users to specify the installation directory.
• Creates an icon for the application in the Start menu.
• Allows the application to be uninstalled using the Uninstall or
Change a Program window (Windows 7 and Windows Vista) or
the Add or Remove Programs window (Windows XP) that can be
accessed from the Control Panel.
• Provides a way to automatically check for and install any files
needed by the application.
• Can be used to install shared components in the global assembly
cache (GAC).
• Can be used to modify the registry to install COM components.
• Is adequate for all but the most complex applications.

6. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 6
The Build tab of the Project Properties window

7. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 7
A procedure for using XCopy deployment
1. Select the Release option from the Solution Configurations combo
box that’s available from the Standard toolbar.
2. Build or run the project to create the binRelease folder.
3. Use the XCopy command to copy the Release folder to the user’s
hard drive.

8. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 8
An example of the XCopy command
C:>xcopy "C:C# 2010FutureValueFutureValuebinRelease*"
"M:MurachFutureValueV1.0" /S
C:C# 2010FutureValueFutureValuebinReleaseFutureValue.exe
C:C# 2010FutureValueFutureValuebinReleaseFutureValue.pdb
C:C# 2010FutureValueFutureValuebinReleaseFutureValue.vshost.exe
C:C# 2010FutureValueFutureValuebinRelease
FutureValue.vshost.exe.manifest
4 File(s) copied

9. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 9
The Publish page of the Project Properties window

10. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 10
The Application Files dialog box

11. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 11
The Prerequisites dialog box

12. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 12
The Application Updates dialog box

13. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 13
The Publish Options dialog box: The Description tab

14. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 14
The Publish Options dialog box: The Deployment tab

15. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 15
The Publish Options dialog box: The Manifests tab

16. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 16
The Publish Options dialog box:
The File Associations tab

17. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 17
A web page for installing an application

18. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 18
The dialog box that’s displayed
if an update is available

19. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 19
The Add New Project dialog box for a Setup project

20. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 20
A Setup project displayed in Visual Studio

21. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 21
The Setup editors for customizing a Setup project
• File System Editor
• Registry Editor
• File Types Editor
• User Interface Editor
• Custom Actions Editor
• Launch Conditions Editor
Common properties of a Setup project
• Manufacturer
• ProductName
• ProductCode
• Version
• RemovePreviousVersions

22. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 22
The first step of the Setup program

23. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 23
The second step of the Setup program

24. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 24
ClickOnce deployment: The Application Files dialog
box for a project that contains a database file

25. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 25
The connection string for a database that’s
on a network server
Data Source=DBSERVERSqlExpress;Initial Catalog=MMABooks;
Integrated Security=True
The connection string for a database that’s
included in the project
Data Source=.SQLEXPRESS;
AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|MMABooks.mdf;
Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True

26. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 26
Setup project: An application with a database file

27. Murach’s C#
2010, C25 © 2010, Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.Slide 27
The connection string for the database application
Data Source=.SqlExpress;
AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|DataMMABooks.mdf;
Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True