Visual Studio Installer Projects creates dll instead of exe

Dave Gray 586

Hi,
Using VS2022 (Ent).

I have a console application solution that comprises three projects

Class library - .NET 6
Console - .NET 6
Setup

I would like to create an .EXE as my primary output, however when I build all three and execute Setup.exe I get a DLL instead of an executable. How can I force the installer to create
.EXE?

Steps taken for my setup project

Right click - select properties
Right click on application folder
Add project output
Added primary output
As below.

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 32,421 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-10-13T08:43:35.4+00:00

Hi @Dave Gray ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. RLWA32’s suggestion is correct, here’s the related document: Workflow changes for .NET Core 3.1 and later versions. It says

Select Publish Items instead of Primary Output to get the correct output for .NET Core 3.1, .NET 5.0, or .NET 6.0.
David Gray 176 Reputation points

2023-12-29T13:14:27.11+00:00

Thanks, that works just fine. Sorry it took so long to respond :-(

Accepted answer

RLWA32 46,461 Reputation points

2022-10-13T07:48:03.55+00:00

If I remember correctly for .Net 6 projects you must add the published items instead of primary output for the installer.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Dave Gray 586 Reputation points

2022-10-13T09:07:58.06+00:00

Thanks for that.

I can't mark as answer as this is a comment

RLWA32 46,461 Reputation points

2022-10-13T09:17:32.653+00:00

You're welcome. I converted my comment to an answer so that you can accept it.
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Visual Studio Installer Projects creates dll instead of exe

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