How to create a setup(.exe) file in Visual Studio 2010

                             

Set up file is nothing but an (.exe )file of an application software. This set up file helps you to install application software. The set up file also known as installation file. Without set up file or exe file or installation file you cannot install application software. Example of application software is Note pad, Calculator, Photoshop, ms office etc.

First of all we have to create a windows application in visual studio 2010. Now I am using Visual studio 2010 version. You can use 2012, 2010, 2018 or 2005 version. All steps are same. Now I consider you have already developed an application in visual studio and your application is running well. Now you have to create a set up file or exe file which is installable in your computer as well as different computer or your friend’s computer. In my next post I will discuss about to create an installation file or (.exe) file with database. You have to confirm first that framework is same version in all machine. If dot net framework is not same to all machines then you have to include dot net framework during creation of set up file.

Step 1:

Create an application. I consider you already created an application. I have created an application like bellow. I am sure that my application is running well. I have created a demo application to show you.

 

                                  Fig: 1

Step 2:

 

Now go to you solution explorer and right click on your project. Then click on properties option.

 

                 Fig: 2

Step 3:

It will open a window shown below:

 

                     Fig: 3

Now set your target framework (mark as 1 in image). By default it will show your installed framework. But you can change it as per your requirement. Now click on publish option (mark as 2 in image). It will open a window shown below:

                 Fig: 4

Step 4: 

Now, You can change the folder path where you want to store the set up file. By default it will show the publish folder which is located to your application folder or where you located your project file. To change your folder path your click to the button which I have marked as 7 in the fig: 4 image.

Now click to Application file button which I have mark 1 in the fig: 4 image and check all files are include or not. All file should be included.

Now, click to Prerequisites button. You will see so many installed prerequisites. You need to ‘check’ only two prerequisites. i.e.

1)   Microsoft .NET framework 4 Client profile(x86 and x64)

2)   Windows installer 3.1

Then click to OK button

Now check the publish version which I have marked as 4 in fig:4 image. If you publish the application it first time then it will show 1,0,0,0. You can edit it manually. If you want to automatic updates this version then you have ‘check’ the option “Automatically increment revision with each Publish” option.

 

Now click to ‘Options..’ button. You will see the following pop up window.