No Setup Project in 2005 Express Edition?

[johnb41]

I'm testing out the Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition, and I like it
thus far... but i'm puzzled.

I want to add a "Setup Project" to my solution. When i go to Add
Project, I don't see the "Setup Project" listed as a template.

The templates available are:

- Windows Application
- Class Library
- Console Application
- My Movie Collection Starter Kit
- Screen Saver Starter Kit

What's going on? Is this a limitation of the free Express Edition?
How am I supposed to deploy an application?

Thanks,
John

 

[Armin Zingler]

I'm testing out the Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition, and I like it
thus far... but i'm puzzled.

I want to add a "Setup Project" to my solution. When i go to Add
Project, I don't see the "Setup Project" listed as a template.

Menu Build -> Publish


Armin

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

I want to add a "Setup Project" to my solution. When i go to Add
Project, I don't see the "Setup Project" listed as a template.
[...]
What's going on? Is this a limitation of the free Express Edition?
How am I supposed to deploy an application?

Deployment tools are not included in the Express edition:

<URL:http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/productinfo/productline/>

Either simply copy the executable file onto the target machine or use one of
the non-free editions of VS 2005 to create setup projects (VS 2005
Professional, for example).

 

[johnb41]

Herfried,

Thanks so much!

John

 

[james]

Armin gave you the correct answer. There is "Click-Once Deployment" in the Express products. However, it is not listed in any of
the product comparison pages. But, it is there and functioning. The downside for Click-Once is the lack of complete control
over the installation. And the fact that you cannot write to the registery or create shortcuts on the desktop. But, it does
create an entry on the Start Menu and in Add/Remove Programs.
Also, it will check for the framework, and other dependencies and either install them from the web or CD/DVD.
And you can distribute your app from a website with it. Check for updates to your app each time it runs, or on a given schedule
you set, or not at all. It's pretty nice, but, lacks some of the features of a regular Setup Project.
Also, the application installed with Click-Once is local to the user who installs it.
james

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

James,

Armin gave you the correct answer.

There are not much regulars in this newsgroup who have the slightest doubt
about that.
Otherwise he will always tell you that he is not completely sure



Cor

 

[johnb41]

James,

I didn't realize this tread kept going. I just assumed there was not
an installer, 'cuz i don't remember Herfried ever being wrong!

So it uses "one click"? I read alot about One Click, and it seems
hyped up to be really great. But you can't customize it fully. Is
that a limitation of the Express Edition, or is One Click more
functional in the pay/pro version?

I tried doing Build > Publish. It walks you through a few steps, but I
found it really confusing. When I was done, I double-clicked the
setup.exe file, and it tried to find a file on my web server which
wasn't there. I just want to install a simple program on my hard
drive, but they have to make it all complicated. I guess i'll just
have to keep playing with it until it makes sense!

Thanks,
John

 

[johnb41]

Thanks Armin!

John

 

[james]

John, I got in on this thread a bit late and I missed a few things. And yes, Herfried is rarely ever wrong! In this case he may
not have used the Express Edition.
ClickOnce takes a bit getting used to. I am still learning to use it. There is quite a lot of info on setting it up in Help. I
also believe that you can use MageUI.exe in the framework 2.0 SDK to build a regular install even with the Express Editions. ( I
haven't fully investigated that yet, so don't hold me to that).
Go to : Start: All Programs : Microsoft .Net Framework SDK v2.0 : SDK Command Prompt:
and type in: Mageui. You will get a nice GUI that will allow you to build a MSI application installation. Or so it appears to me
!!! I haven't tried it yet to be sure. But, it certainly looks like it will work. Again, I haven't read all the doc's on using
it yet.
james

 

[james]

Forgot to mention one thing. I also have Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition on my system and it also has Click-Once Deployment
and Setup Projects (another thing not mentioned in the comparison page). Although I don't think so, it is possible that the
VS2005 Standard Edition I have is different from the retail version. I received it at one of the recent Launch Events held by
Microsoft. The info I received when I registered for the event and even during the event , both stated that the free software
that was given out by Microsoft did include the Retail Version of VS2005 Standard Edition. So, again, I am thinking that the
fact that the Standard Edtion of VS2005 is listed on the comparison page as only having Click-Once Deployment, when in fact it
also includes regular Setup Projects, is another case of someone not telling the advertising dept. what is going on!
I said all that to say this, as far as I can tell, the Click-Once Deployment in the Standard Edition is the same as that in the
Express Editions. And if you want Setup intergrated into Visual Studio, then the Standard Edition seems to be the least costly
route for that.
james

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

James and John,

Herfried and Armin are talking about two different things.

Herfried is talking about the setup and deployment tools available in Visual
Studio Net above Standard edition.

Armin is talking about the click once publishing posibility inside all
versions of VB 2005

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/products/compare/default.aspx

some more differences in detail
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b4z62wxz(en-US,VS.80).aspx

Therefore they are both right,

I hope this helps,

Cor

 

[james]

Cor, it seems that page has been revised (the first link you provided). In the original Product Compare page it showed the
Express Editions not having any means of deployment. I found that out the first day that the Express Editions were made
available. I guess someone finally got things straightened out. I will have to revise my statements regarding the
mis-information that was on the original Product Comparison webpage.
And I really like the second link you give as it makes clear detailed differences between the different editions of
VB. Thanks for the updated info Cor.
james

 

[Michael D. Ober]

I have the VS 2005 Standard that was handed out at the Launch event and I'm
happily building a MSI based deployment for an application. This system
never had VS 2005 Beta on it so I know it's not a left over.

Mike Ober.

 

[Guest]

Since you have smarts. How to I publish my web stie created in 2005 VS
Express?
Not being able to publish is like having a car with no wheels what good is
it!!!!!
Is there a manual way to publish my web site???????
PLEASE HELP
--
Sallym

I want to add a "Setup Project" to my solution. When i go to Add
Project, I don't see the "Setup Project" listed as a template.
[...]
What's going on? Is this a limitation of the free Express Edition?
How am I supposed to deploy an application?

Deployment tools are not included in the Express edition:

<URL:http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/productinfo/productline/>

Either simply copy the executable file onto the target machine or use one of
the non-free editions of VS 2005 to create setup projects (VS 2005
Professional, for example).