Newbie Question for VB Express

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • jch

    Newbie Question for VB Express

    Sorry for the newbie question but I'm trying to learn Visual Studio. I've
    got VS Express 2008 and I'm using visual basic. I'm trying to learn how to
    deploy a program so I've written a very basic windows application (lets call
    it TWinApp1) with just a couple of buttons and a text box. It is very
    simple and runs fine in the debugger. Using TWinApp1 I'm trying to learn
    how to create a setup program to install an application on a system.
    Publisher Wizard and the default settings (file paths, etc), creates a
    setup.exe file. Clicking setup.exe, I would think, should install TWinApp1
    on my computer. While this does create a shortcut of the program in the
    Startup Menu, clicking the program there does nothing. The cursor changes
    to hourglass for a moment and then comes back w/o having run the
    application. I can uninstall TWinApp1 via Add/Remove and repeat this
    unsuccessful operation so I know something else is wrong.

    What needs to be done to create a setup and install a windows applications
    in VS 2008 Express?

    Thanks,
    jch


  • Miro

    #2
    Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

    If you are running Vista,

    what happens when you right click on the icon and say "run as
    administrator"?

    If it installed and put the icon on your desktop throu 'clickonce' you
    should have a working copy of your simple form.

    Miro

    "jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
    news:aiSBk.3854 1$bx1.29110@big news1.bellsouth .net...
    Sorry for the newbie question but I'm trying to learn Visual Studio. I've
    got VS Express 2008 and I'm using visual basic. I'm trying to learn how
    to deploy a program so I've written a very basic windows application (lets
    call it TWinApp1) with just a couple of buttons and a text box. It is
    very simple and runs fine in the debugger. Using TWinApp1 I'm trying to
    learn how to create a setup program to install an application on a system.
    Publisher Wizard and the default settings (file paths, etc), creates a
    setup.exe file. Clicking setup.exe, I would think, should install
    TWinApp1 on my computer. While this does create a shortcut of the program
    in the Startup Menu, clicking the program there does nothing. The cursor
    changes to hourglass for a moment and then comes back w/o having run the
    application. I can uninstall TWinApp1 via Add/Remove and repeat this
    unsuccessful operation so I know something else is wrong.
    >
    What needs to be done to create a setup and install a windows applications
    in VS 2008 Express?
    >
    Thanks,
    jch
    >

    Comment

    • jch

      #3
      Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

      I'm running XP. I'm not aware of what "clickonce" is. I don't see
      clickonce in any of the VSE 2008 menus. VSE 2008 didn't put the installed
      icon on my desktop during my attempts. It put an instance of icon in the
      startup menu. Thanks for your comments. I'm still missing something.

      Miro wrote:
      If you are running Vista,
      >
      what happens when you right click on the icon and say "run as
      administrator"?
      >
      If it installed and put the icon on your desktop throu 'clickonce' you
      should have a working copy of your simple form.
      >
      Miro
      >
      "jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
      news:aiSBk.3854 1$bx1.29110@big news1.bellsouth .net...
      >Sorry for the newbie question but I'm trying to learn Visual Studio.
      >I've got VS Express 2008 and I'm using visual basic. I'm trying to
      >learn how to deploy a program so I've written a very basic windows
      >application (lets call it TWinApp1) with just a couple of buttons
      >and a text box. It is very simple and runs fine in the debugger. Using
      >TWinApp1 I'm trying to learn how to create a setup program to
      >install an application on a system. Publisher Wizard and the default
      >settings (file paths, etc), creates a setup.exe file. Clicking
      >setup.exe, I would think, should install TWinApp1 on my computer. While
      >this does create a shortcut of the program in the Startup
      >Menu, clicking the program there does nothing. The cursor changes
      >to hourglass for a moment and then comes back w/o having run the
      >application. I can uninstall TWinApp1 via Add/Remove and repeat
      >this unsuccessful operation so I know something else is wrong. What needs
      >to be done to create a setup and install a windows
      >applications in VS 2008 Express?
      >>
      >Thanks,
      >jch

      Comment

      • jch

        #4
        Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

        I don't believe the Express version allows what I'm trying to do. I want to
        create a windows installer to deploy projects and Express only allows what
        I've now learned is called Clickonce. Clickonce only allows publishing to
        the web, file share, or CD/DVD. If I'm wrong perhaps someone here will tell
        me. If there is a way to create a Windows Installer Deployment in Express
        using additional software, etc, please share that. Thank you.

        jch wrote:
        I'm running XP. I'm not aware of what "clickonce" is. I don't see
        clickonce in any of the VSE 2008 menus. VSE 2008 didn't put the
        installed icon on my desktop during my attempts. It put an instance
        of icon in the startup menu. Thanks for your comments. I'm still
        missing something.
        Miro wrote:
        >If you are running Vista,
        >>
        >what happens when you right click on the icon and say "run as
        >administrator" ?
        >>
        >If it installed and put the icon on your desktop throu 'clickonce'
        >you should have a working copy of your simple form.
        >>
        >Miro
        >>
        >"jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
        >news:aiSBk.385 41$bx1.29110@bi gnews1.bellsout h.net...
        >>Sorry for the newbie question but I'm trying to learn Visual Studio.
        >>I've got VS Express 2008 and I'm using visual basic. I'm trying to
        >>learn how to deploy a program so I've written a very basic windows
        >>application (lets call it TWinApp1) with just a couple of buttons
        >>and a text box. It is very simple and runs fine in the debugger.
        >>Using TWinApp1 I'm trying to learn how to create a setup program to
        >>install an application on a system. Publisher Wizard and the default
        >>settings (file paths, etc), creates a setup.exe file. Clicking
        >>setup.exe, I would think, should install TWinApp1 on my computer.
        >>While this does create a shortcut of the program in the Startup
        >>Menu, clicking the program there does nothing. The cursor changes
        >>to hourglass for a moment and then comes back w/o having run the
        >>application . I can uninstall TWinApp1 via Add/Remove and repeat
        >>this unsuccessful operation so I know something else is wrong. What
        >>needs to be done to create a setup and install a windows
        >>application s in VS 2008 Express?
        >>>
        >>Thanks,
        >>jch

        Comment

        • Gillard

          #5
          Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

          what do you mean by "a windows installer"

          using click once you can create a setup program for your application
          make it as for a cdsetup it will make all the files you need to install your
          program

          now if you want a setup packaged in only one excutable file then after using
          clickonce you can package all your files with "iexpress.e xe"
          it is a standart utilitie shipped with windows xp

          "jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
          news:ofUBk.3859 0$bx1.25653@big news1.bellsouth .net...
          I don't believe the Express version allows what I'm trying to do. I want
          to create a windows installer to deploy projects and Express only allows
          what I've now learned is called Clickonce. Clickonce only allows
          publishing to the web, file share, or CD/DVD. If I'm wrong perhaps
          someone here will tell me. If there is a way to create a Windows
          Installer Deployment in Express using additional software, etc, please
          share that. Thank you.
          >
          jch wrote:
          >I'm running XP. I'm not aware of what "clickonce" is. I don't see
          >clickonce in any of the VSE 2008 menus. VSE 2008 didn't put the
          >installed icon on my desktop during my attempts. It put an instance
          >of icon in the startup menu. Thanks for your comments. I'm still
          >missing something.
          >Miro wrote:
          >>If you are running Vista,
          >>>
          >>what happens when you right click on the icon and say "run as
          >>administrator "?
          >>>
          >>If it installed and put the icon on your desktop throu 'clickonce'
          >>you should have a working copy of your simple form.
          >>>
          >>Miro
          >>>
          >>"jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
          >>news:aiSBk.38 541$bx1.29110@b ignews1.bellsou th.net...
          >>>Sorry for the newbie question but I'm trying to learn Visual Studio.
          >>>I've got VS Express 2008 and I'm using visual basic. I'm trying to
          >>>learn how to deploy a program so I've written a very basic windows
          >>>applicatio n (lets call it TWinApp1) with just a couple of buttons
          >>>and a text box. It is very simple and runs fine in the debugger.
          >>>Using TWinApp1 I'm trying to learn how to create a setup program to
          >>>install an application on a system. Publisher Wizard and the default
          >>>settings (file paths, etc), creates a setup.exe file. Clicking
          >>>setup.exe, I would think, should install TWinApp1 on my computer.
          >>>While this does create a shortcut of the program in the Startup
          >>>Menu, clicking the program there does nothing. The cursor changes
          >>>to hourglass for a moment and then comes back w/o having run the
          >>>applicatio n. I can uninstall TWinApp1 via Add/Remove and repeat
          >>>this unsuccessful operation so I know something else is wrong. What
          >>>needs to be done to create a setup and install a windows
          >>>applicatio ns in VS 2008 Express?
          >>>>
          >>>Thanks,
          >>>jch
          >
          >

          Comment

          • jch

            #6
            Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

            For some reason I can't get Clickonce to work. I'm now comparing VS
            Express 2008 to a trial version of Visual Studios 2008. Using VS 2008 I can
            correctly publish and create a working setup.exe file by adding a setup
            project to the app, setting options, building and using windows installer
            technology provided by VS 2008. This correctly produces a setup.exe file
            which will actually install the test app I'm working with and I have control
            over where that app is installed and other flexibility as well. However,
            when using Visual Studio Express with the same app as before, the clickonce
            feature appears to work but then when I run the setup.exe file it does not
            create the executable file of the app I'm trying to deploy on my system. An
            icon is created in the startup menu but does nothing when I click on it. I
            have not tried to copy the manifest, application files, and setup.exe files
            to a CD to install from there. I don't see that would make any difference.
            Shouldn't I be able to run the setup from my HD and have it install the
            program on my system as a test? It doesn't seem to work that way using VS
            Express but I can easily accomplish this using VS 2008. What could I be
            doing wrong in VSE using clickonce?



            Gillard wrote:
            what do you mean by "a windows installer"
            >
            using click once you can create a setup program for your application
            make it as for a cdsetup it will make all the files you need to
            install your program
            >
            now if you want a setup packaged in only one excutable file then
            after using clickonce you can package all your files with "iexpress.e xe"
            it is a standart utilitie shipped with windows xp
            >
            "jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
            news:ofUBk.3859 0$bx1.25653@big news1.bellsouth .net...
            >I don't believe the Express version allows what I'm trying to do. I
            >want to create a windows installer to deploy projects and Express
            >only allows what I've now learned is called Clickonce. Clickonce
            >only allows publishing to the web, file share, or CD/DVD. If I'm
            >wrong perhaps someone here will tell me. If there is a way to
            >create a Windows Installer Deployment in Express using additional
            >software, etc, please share that. Thank you.
            >>
            >jch wrote:
            >>I'm running XP. I'm not aware of what "clickonce" is. I don't see
            >>clickonce in any of the VSE 2008 menus. VSE 2008 didn't put the
            >>installed icon on my desktop during my attempts. It put an instance
            >>of icon in the startup menu. Thanks for your comments. I'm still
            >>missing something.
            >>Miro wrote:
            >>>If you are running Vista,
            >>>>
            >>>what happens when you right click on the icon and say "run as
            >>>administrato r"?
            >>>>
            >>>If it installed and put the icon on your desktop throu 'clickonce'
            >>>you should have a working copy of your simple form.
            >>>>
            >>>Miro
            >>>>
            >>>"jch" <jch@control.co mwrote in message
            >>>news:aiSBk.3 8541$bx1.29110@ bignews1.bellso uth.net...
            >>>>Sorry for the newbie question but I'm trying to learn Visual
            >>>>Studio. I've got VS Express 2008 and I'm using visual basic. I'm
            >>>>trying to learn how to deploy a program so I've written a very
            >>>>basic windows application (lets call it TWinApp1) with just a
            >>>>couple of buttons and a text box. It is very simple and runs
            >>>>fine in the debugger. Using TWinApp1 I'm trying to learn how to
            >>>>create a setup program to install an application on a system.
            >>>>Publisher Wizard and the default settings (file paths, etc),
            >>>>creates a setup.exe file. Clicking setup.exe, I would think,
            >>>>should install TWinApp1 on my computer. While this does create a
            >>>>shortcut of the program in the Startup Menu, clicking the program
            >>>>there does nothing. The cursor changes to hourglass for a moment
            >>>>and then comes back w/o having run the application. I can
            >>>>uninstall TWinApp1 via Add/Remove and repeat this unsuccessful
            >>>>operation so I know something else is wrong. What needs to be
            >>>>done to create a setup and install a windows applications in VS
            >>>>2008 Express? Thanks,
            >>>>jch

            Comment

            • Marge

              #7
              Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

              I'm a newbie too so forgive me if this is not what you meant.

              make a new folder on you desktop and name it accordingly(wha tever you
              like)
              open VBExpress with your project,
              on the menu's go to build,
              click build & watch the status bar at bottom of window,it says build
              started.(I'm guessing this checks everything within the project),
              when status bar says build succeeded then goto build menu & click
              publish,
              when the publish wizard opens select browse & find the new folder you
              created on your desktop,
              click open then click finish.

              when all is done close VBE & go check your desktop folder.




              Comment

              • jch

                #8
                Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

                Thanks Marge. I tried what you suggested. BTW, at least on my system, I
                received an error that I can't publish to the same directory as the build.
                I think there's a different problem. Using VBE to publish my simple test
                app continues to only produce an unlinked icon in my startup menu. Clicking
                on it does nothing useful. This is silly as everyone else has no problems
                in publishing their apps. I have no problems on VS 2008 and that is a more
                complicated process.


                Marge wrote:
                I'm a newbie too so forgive me if this is not what you meant.
                >
                make a new folder on you desktop and name it accordingly(wha tever you
                like)
                open VBExpress with your project,
                on the menu's go to build,
                click build & watch the status bar at bottom of window,it says build
                started.(I'm guessing this checks everything within the project),
                when status bar says build succeeded then goto build menu & click
                publish,
                when the publish wizard opens select browse & find the new folder you
                created on your desktop,
                click open then click finish.
                >
                when all is done close VBE & go check your desktop folder.

                Comment

                • Marge

                  #9
                  Re: Newbie Question for VB Express

                  On 23 Sep, 15:03, "jch" <j...@control.c omwrote:
                  Thanks Marge.  I tried what you suggested.  BTW, at least on my system, I
                  received an error that I can't publish to the same directory as the build..
                  I think there's a different problem.  Using VBE to publish my simple test
                  app continues to only produce an unlinked icon in my startup menu.  Clicking
                  on it does nothing useful.  This is silly as everyone else has no problems
                  in publishing their apps.  I have no problems on VS 2008 and that is a more
                  complicated process.
                  >
                  >
                  This is weird, I have a problem that I posted to the group lookup
                  Displaying Transparent GIF's, the end of the post has some
                  similarities to your remarks about the start menu??

                  here is the end of the post:

                  The VBExpress version had 3 items, a Apllication files folder,
                  setup.exe, and project1.applic ation. If you click the application or
                  the setup.exe they both do the same and install the program. Clicking
                  the shortcut in star/programes etc runs the program ok with the faulty
                  non transparent gifs.

                  Here is the strange part, normally if you right click a start menu
                  shortcu you can "find target folder" so you can find the exe file, you
                  don't get the option, I also tried to search the whole hard drive for
                  the file name, it did not exsist? I finally went to controlpanel add/
                  remove to remove the program(it was listed there) and I did uninstall
                  it but how can you run an .Exe that doesn't exsist????

                  Comment

                  Working...