Create a deployment project

This section demonstrates the process of creating a Setup and Deployment Project for a Windows SideShow gadget.

Create a deployment project

To create a Visual Studio deployment project

1. Create a C# gadget project using the SideShow Gadget Wizard in Visual Studio 2008.

2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Project.

3. In the New Project dialog box, in the Project Types pane, expand Other Project Types, select Setup and Deployment, and then select Setup Project in the Templates pane.

4. In the Name box, type a name for your installer project, such as “Hello World”.

5. Click OK.

   The project is added to Solution Explorer, and the File System Editor opens.

6. Select the HelloWorld project in Solution Explorer. In the Properties window, select the ProductName property, and then type the name of the gadget.

   The ProductName property specifies the name that will be displayed for the gadget in folder names and in the Add or Remove Programs dialog box.

7. In the Properties window, modify the Manufacturer, Description, and other properties to contain the appropriate information. For more information on Installer Properties, seeWindows Installer Properties.

Add the Windows SideShow gadget to the deployment project

To add the Windows SideShow gadget to the deployment project

1. In the File System Editor, select Application Folder.

2. On the Action menu, point to Add, and then click Assembly.

3. In the Select Component dialog box, select the Browse Tab.

4. Browse to the gadget assembly, select it, and then click Ok.

5. In the File System Editor, select Application Folder.

6. In the Properties window, select AlwaysCreate, and then specify True.

7. In the File System Editor, select Microsoft.SideShow.dll.

8. This step removes the Windows SideShow Managed Runtime from your setup project. Do not distribute this runtime to your users. Users can install the managed runtime from the Microsoft Web site.

   In the Properties window, select Exclude, and specify True.

9. In the File System Editor, select the gadget assembly you added in Step 4.

10. In the Properties window, select Register, and then specify vsdraCOM. This will register the assembly for COM, enabling the SideShow Control Panel to provide access to the property page.

11. In the File System Editor, select Application Folder. In the Properties window, select DefaultLocation, and then type "[ProgramFilesFolder]Windows SideShow\[ProductName]". Specifying this path installs your gadget in the Windows SideShow folder in the user's Program Files folder. We recommend that you install your gadget to this folder, but you are not required to do so.