Q: Getting a directory

[Geoff Jones]

Hiya

I have written a small application which I've then generated a setup project
to install the application on other computers.

How can I determine, from the application, where the program has been
installed to?

Thanks in advance

Geoff

 

[Chris, Master of All Things Insignificant]

Application.StartupPath()

Chris

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

Geoff,

How can I determine, from the application, where the program has been
installed to?

'Application.StartupPath' (for Windows Forms applications). For libraries,
console applications, etc. (ignore the text and take a look at the code):

<URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/code/application/#ApplicationPath>

 

[Geoff Jones]

Hi Herfried

Thanks for the suggestion. It isn't exactly what I want; although I didn't
make myself very clear.

Using the Deployment project, the application is stored in a directory
called, for example, ABC Ltd, which is the "Manufacturer" producing the
software. What I'd like to do is to find, within the application, the path
to this folder.

I guess this is done using the registry etc. but I'm unsure how to proceed.

Can you be of any further help?

Geoff

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

Geoff,

Using the Deployment project, the application is stored in a directory
called, for example, ABC Ltd, which is the "Manufacturer" producing the
software. What I'd like to do is to find, within the application, the path
to this folder.

Typically, the executable is installed into this directory.

You can use a WMI query ('System.Management') with the 'Win32_Product' class
and check its 'InstallLocation' property:

Platform SDK: Windows Management Instrumentation -- 'Win32_Product'
<URL:http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/wmisdk/wmi/win32_product.asp>

 

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Geoff,
I would use 'Application.StartupPath' as that is the path where the
executable is, it normally will be the path where it is installed to, unless
the user manually copies or moves the exe.

I would use System.IO.Path to get the individual parts of the StartupPath...

In addition to a WMI query to find the folder where it was installed, you
could have the Setup Project create a registry key that contains the path
where the app was installed to.

Hope this helps
Jay

Hi Herfried

Thanks for the suggestion. It isn't exactly what I want; although I didn't
make myself very clear.

Using the Deployment project, the application is stored in a directory
called, for example, ABC Ltd, which is the "Manufacturer" producing the
software. What I'd like to do is to find, within the application, the path
to this folder.

I guess this is done using the registry etc. but I'm unsure how to
proceed.

Can you be of any further help?

Geoff

 

[Geoff Jones]

Hi Jay

I'm interested further in your last point. I had a look at the deployment
project and couldn't see any options to writing to the registry. Just to
clarify, I am using the inbuilt deployment project in Visual Studio.

Could you help further?

Geoff

Geoff,
I would use 'Application.StartupPath' as that is the path where the
executable is, it normally will be the path where it is installed to,
unless the user manually copies or moves the exe.

I would use System.IO.Path to get the individual parts of the
StartupPath...

In addition to a WMI query to find the folder where it was installed, you
could have the Setup Project create a registry key that contains the path
where the app was installed to.

Hope this helps
Jay

 

[Geoff Jones]

Thanks Herfried

Geoff,



Typically, the executable is installed into this directory.

You can use a WMI query ('System.Management') with the 'Win32_Product'
class and check its 'InstallLocation' property:

Platform SDK: Windows Management Instrumentation -- 'Win32_Product'
<URL:http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/wmisdk/wmi/win32_product.asp>

 

[Cor Ligthert]

Geoff,

All about the stephchild Deployment and Setup project seems to be hidden you
would expect it under Edit however it is.

When you have opened a setup project

View -> Editor ->Registry

I hope this helps?

Cor

 

[Geoff Jones]

Thanks Cor. That makes a lot more sense now.

K

 

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Geoff,
Rather then use the View menu that Cor suggests I simply use the tool bar in
the Solution Exporer when the Setup Project itself is selected.

The trick is finding the variable names that you may want to write. I
normally refer to the Windows Installer Property reference:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/setup/property_reference.asp

Hope this helps
Jay

 

[Geoff Jones]

Hi Jay

Thanks. Very useful link.

Geoff

Geoff,
Rather then use the View menu that Cor suggests I simply use the tool bar
in the Solution Exporer when the Setup Project itself is selected.

The trick is finding the variable names that you may want to write. I
normally refer to the Windows Installer Property reference:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/setup/property_reference.asp

Hope this helps
Jay