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Hi,
I wrote a C# windows desktop software. I added an installer for it. The problem is the Setup project only includes a dll of my software in its Primary output, it doesn't include my software exe.
My Visual Studio is Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 (64-bit) - Current Version 17.3.6.
Microsoft .Net Framework Version 4.8.09032
I add the setup project as the following steps: Right click on the Solution -> Add -> new project -> Search Setup -> Setup Wizard
Next
Fill a setup project name
Create
Setup Wizard
Next
Create a setup for a Windows application
Next
Select "Primary output from MyAppName"
Next
Next
Finish
Primary output properties:
sourcePath of KeyOutput is pointed to program folder\obj\Debug\net6.0-windows\myApp.dll
The main properties of my software project:
In the Application section:
Output type: Windows Application
Target framework: .Net 6.0
Target OS: Windows
Target OS version: 7.0
Enable Windows Forms for this project.
Assembly name: $(MSBuildProjectName) MySoftwareName
In the Build section:
Output:
Base output path: bin\
Base intermediate output path: obj\
Thank you for your help.
Visual Studio 2022 provides two choices for creating a new C# Windows Forms App (see image below). One will create a .Net Framework project and the other creates a .Net project. The .Net Framework project will create an .exe while the .Net project creates a dll and .Net provides an .exe to host the created dll.
So which type of project do you really want to create?
Hi, I don't remember I selected Windows form app or Windows form app (.Net Framework). But My project produces both exe and dll.
I think Publish Items is for the web application, rather than the windows desktop application.
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Publish Items is what you need - I needed to change my desktop product installer recently when I moved it from .NET FW to .NET 8.
@Peter Shaw, You created a .Net Windows Forms application project. That is why the primary output is a dll instead of an exe. Since the creation of a dll seemed to be contrary to your expectation I was only questioning whether you intended to use .Net instead of .Net Framework. :) @David Lowndes guidance on deployment using Publish Items instead of Primary Output is correct.
Thank you. I added Publish Items and it worked!
Use "Publish Items" rather than "Primary Output". See here for more information.