How to Create Setup Project in vs 2008?

Setup Projects:
You can add a setup project to a solution to create a Windows Installer application for your solution. Setup projects are highly configurable and allow you to create directories on the target computer, copy files, modify the registry, and execute custom actions during installation. When compiled, a setup project produces an .msi file, which incorporates a setup wizard for the application. The .msi file can be distributed by disk, download, or file share. When it is clicked, the .msi file launches the application setup wizard and installs the application.

TO ADD A SETUP PROJECT TO YOUR SOLUTION:
1. From the File menu, choose Add and then New Project to open the Add New Project
dialog box.

2. In the Project Types pane, expand Other Project Types, and then click Setup And
Deployment.
3. In the Templates pane, click Setup Project, and then click OK.




Setup Project Editors :
Each setup project includes six editors that allow you to configure the contents and the
behavior of the setup project. These editors are:
􀁑 File System Editor:
Allows you to configure the installation of your application to the file system of the target computer.
􀁑 Registry Editor:
Allows you to write entries to the registry upon installation.
􀁑 File Types Editor:
Allows you to set associations between applications and file types.
􀁑 User Interface Editor:
Allows you to edit the user interface seen during installation for both regular installation and administrative installation.
􀁑 Custom Actions Editor:
Allows you to def ne custom actions to be performed during installation.
􀁑 Launch Conditions Editor:
Allows you to set conditions for launching the installation of your setup project.

You can open any of these editors by selecting the deployment project in Solution Explorer
and then selecting the appropriate editor from the View menu.



TO ADD OUTPUT FROM A PROJECT TO A DEPLOYMENT PROJECT :
1. Right-click Application Folder in the left-hand pane of the File System Editor, choose
Add, and then choose Project Output. The Add Project Output Group dialog box opens.
2. Choose the project outputs that you want to add to your setup project. All .exe and .dll
files created by the project are contained in Primary Output. You can also add other
project files to your setup project, such as localized resources, content files, or documentation
files, or, less frequently, debug symbols, source files, or Extensible Markup
Language (XML) serialization assemblies. Once you have selected the output to be
added to the folder, click OK.

TO CREATE A SHORTCUT AND ADD IT TO THE TARGET COMPUTER:

1. In the right-hand pane of the File System Editor, right-click the file for which you want
to create a shortcut and choose Create Shortcut. A shortcut to the file is created and
added to the pane.
2. Drag the shortcut from the right-hand pane to the appropriate folder in the left-hand
pane.

How to Select Prerequisties in Setup Project?

• Right Click your project in your Solution Explorer
• Select Properties
• Select Prerequisties checkboxes what ever applicable
• Press OK

Kindly find the following link containing the Screen cast for creating Setup Project:
http://www.screencast.com/t/MmZhYzI5