setup.exe wizard file creation

I have a couple of projects done, but now I need to produce a setup.exe/wizard to manipulate where these files go via a setup.exe program. I'm continually surfing the Internet attempting to find tutorials that would teach someone how to build a setup.exe program, in C#. All I get is youtube video's that goes by quite fast when clicked on. Are there tutorials that say this and then tells why it was done. I have two projects that I have to merge together and tell where each package goes. I supposedly have a setup.exe C# program put together that emulates a video, but there are so many left unanswered questions on the whys of if all. Is there a mentor program, somewhere, that helps teaches and help understand and mentors someone in a particularly intense field. Any help sure would be appreciated, Thanks.

Hello Thad,

Do you need to install two projects in one installation wizard?

If yes, my knowledge, we can't do the one MSI wizard, but we can do some other methods.

I've also faced the same requirement some month's ago, and followed the below concept,

Create the MSI file for both projects separately, attached the video of creating MSI basic steps,

video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oIf6lGdaik&t=1s&ab_channel=Nosware

Move to MSI files on your server,

Create a new project for download and install both MSI, the below code is the download the MSI in server and install MSI one by one, You can only share this 'exe' file to the customer (this project does not require the creation of an MSI file, then get the 'exe' file from the Bin folder), If they run the 'exe' file, it will download the two project MSI and install them one by one on the given root directory.

Server download project with process bar code:

private void Frmconfiguration_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Download_Install();
}
public async Task Download_Install()
{
await Task.Run(() =>
{
try
{
string root = @"C:\Users\xxxxRepository";
if (Directory.Exists(root))
{
string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(root);
foreach (string filePath in filePaths)
File.Delete(filePath);
Directory.Delete(root);
}
Directory.CreateDirectory(root);
startDownload();
}
catch (Exception e)
{
throw e;
}
});
}
private void startDownload()
{
Thread thread = new Thread(() => {
try
{
string root = @"C:\Users\xxxxRepository";
WebClient client = new WebClient();
client.DownloadProgressChanged += new DownloadProgressChangedEventHandler(client_DownloadProgressChanged);
client.DownloadFileCompleted += new AsyncCompletedEventHandler(client_DownloadFileCompleted);
client.DownloadFileAsync(new Uri("http://Server123.com/Download/XXXXRepository/zzzz1.MSI"), root + @"\zzzz1.MSI");
}
catch (Exception e)
{
throw e;
}
});
thread.Start();
}
void client_DownloadProgressChanged(object sender, DownloadProgressChangedEventArgs e)
{
this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
double bytesIn = double.Parse(e.BytesReceived.ToString());
double totalBytes = double.Parse(e.TotalBytesToReceive.ToString());
double percentage = bytesIn / totalBytes * 50;
progressBar1.Value = int.Parse(Math.Truncate(percentage).ToString());
});
}
void client_DownloadFileCompleted(object sender, AsyncCompletedEventArgs e)
{
this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
startDownload1();
});
}
private void startDownload1()
{
Thread thread = new Thread(() => {
try
{
string root = @"C:\Users\XXXXRepository";
WebClient client1 = new WebClient();
client1.DownloadProgressChanged += new DownloadProgressChangedEventHandler(client_DownloadProgressChanged1);
client1.DownloadFileCompleted += new AsyncCompletedEventHandler(client_DownloadFileCompleted1);
client.DownloadFileAsync(new Uri("http://Server123.com/Download/XXXXRepository/zzzz2.MSI"), root + @"\zzzz2.MSI");
}
catch (Exception e)
{
throw e;
}
});
thread.Start();
}
void client_DownloadFileCompleted1(object sender, AsyncCompletedEventArgs e)
{
this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate
{
this.Hide();
string root = @"C:\Users\xxxxRepository";
var path = System.IO.Path.Combine(root, "zzzz1.MSI");
if (System.IO.File.Exists(path))
{
System.Diagnostics.Process P = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(path);
P.WaitForExit();
}
var path1 = System.IO.Path.Combine(root, "zzzz2.MSI");
if (System.IO.File.Exists(path1))
{
System.Diagnostics.Process P = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(path1);
P.WaitForExit();
}
});
System.Windows.Forms.Application.ExitThread();
}
void client_DownloadProgressChanged1(object sender, DownloadProgressChangedEventArgs e)
{
this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
double bytesIn = double.Parse(e.BytesReceived.ToString());
double totalBytes = double.Parse(e.TotalBytesToReceive.ToString());
double percentage =50+( bytesIn / totalBytes * 50);
progressBar1.Value = int.Parse(Math.Truncate(percentage).ToString());
});
}

Download 'exe' screen:

If you have any questions, let me know.

6 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Ajit Kulageri5y ago
Its easy if you think in this manner, take form then add tab control add some 5 to 6 tabpages in the form thing is tabpage headers should not be visible add button like "Next", "Back", "Accept","Decline", Install, Compleleted like that check some in google how to design wizards screen then add installer class as suggested by Rajanikant and check it how to use as he suggested and call the fucntions of Tamil RK provided on button "Install' clicked this code you have to write in installer.cs file All the best.
Rajanikant Hawaldar5y ago
@Tamil Rk Thank you so much.
Tamil Rk5y ago
Hi, @Rajanikant Hawaldar,

Downloaded root directory from the system:
var path = System.IO.Path.Combine(root, "zzzz1.MSI");
start to Installing the MSI file,
System.Diagnostics.Process P = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(path);
This line was waiting during the MSI installation, and if we do not set up a waiting process, code will run to start the next MSI installation process, it will display both MSI wizard at the same time, so the customer will be confused.
P.WaitForExit();
Rajanikant Hawaldar5y ago
@Tamil Rk, What happens when below line of code executes.
var path = System.IO.Path.Combine(root, "zzzz1.MSI");
if (System.IO.File.Exists(path))
{
System.Diagnostics.Process P = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(path);
P.WaitForExit();
}
Tamil Rk5y ago
Hello Thad,

Do you need to install two projects in one installation wizard?
If yes, my knowledge, we can't do the one MSI wizard, but we can do some other methods.

I've also faced the same requirement some month's ago, and followed the below concept,

Create the MSI file for both projects separately, attached the video of creating MSI basic steps,

video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oIf6lGdaik&t=1s&ab_channel=Nosware

Move to MSI files on your server,

Create a new project for download and install both MSI, the below code is the download the MSI in server and install MSI one by one, You can only share this 'exe' file to the customer (this project does not require the creation of an MSI file, then get the 'exe' file from the Bin folder), If they run the 'exe' file, it will download the two project MSI and install them one by one on the given root directory.

Server download project with process bar code:
private void Frmconfiguration_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
           Download_Install();
        }

        public async Task Download_Install()
        {
          await Task.Run(() =>
          {
              try
              {
                  string root = @"C:\Users\xxxxRepository";
                  if (Directory.Exists(root))
                  {
                      string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(root);
                      foreach (string filePath in filePaths)
                      File.Delete(filePath);
                      Directory.Delete(root);
                  }
                  Directory.CreateDirectory(root);
                  startDownload();
              }
              catch (Exception e)
              {

                  throw e;
              }

          });

            }

        private void startDownload()
        {
            Thread thread = new Thread(() => {
                try
                {
                    string root = @"C:\Users\xxxxRepository";
                    WebClient client = new WebClient();
                    client.DownloadProgressChanged += new DownloadProgressChangedEventHandler(client_DownloadProgressChanged);
                    client.DownloadFileCompleted += new AsyncCompletedEventHandler(client_DownloadFileCompleted);
                    client.DownloadFileAsync(new Uri("http://Server123.com/Download/XXXXRepository/zzzz1.MSI"), root + @"\zzzz1.MSI");
                }
                catch (Exception e)
                {

                    throw e;
                }
                });
            thread.Start();
        }
        void client_DownloadProgressChanged(object sender, DownloadProgressChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
                double bytesIn = double.Parse(e.BytesReceived.ToString());
                double totalBytes = double.Parse(e.TotalBytesToReceive.ToString());
                double percentage = bytesIn / totalBytes * 50;
                progressBar1.Value = int.Parse(Math.Truncate(percentage).ToString());
            });
        }
        void client_DownloadFileCompleted(object sender, AsyncCompletedEventArgs e)
        {
            this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
                startDownload1();
            });
        }
        private void startDownload1()
        {
            Thread thread = new Thread(() => {
                try
                {
                    string root = @"C:\Users\XXXXRepository";
                    WebClient client1 = new WebClient();
                    client1.DownloadProgressChanged += new DownloadProgressChangedEventHandler(client_DownloadProgressChanged1);
                    client1.DownloadFileCompleted += new AsyncCompletedEventHandler(client_DownloadFileCompleted1);
                       client.DownloadFileAsync(new Uri("http://Server123.com/Download/XXXXRepository/zzzz2.MSI"), root + @"\zzzz2.MSI");
                }
                catch (Exception e)
                {

                    throw e;
                }

            });
            thread.Start();
        }
        void client_DownloadFileCompleted1(object sender, AsyncCompletedEventArgs e)
        {
            this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate
            {
                this.Hide();
                string root = @"C:\Users\xxxxRepository";

                    var path = System.IO.Path.Combine(root, "zzzz1.MSI");
                    if (System.IO.File.Exists(path))
                    {
                        System.Diagnostics.Process P = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(path);
                        P.WaitForExit();
                    }
                var path1 = System.IO.Path.Combine(root, "zzzz2.MSI");
                if (System.IO.File.Exists(path1))
                {
                    System.Diagnostics.Process P = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(path1);
                    P.WaitForExit();
                }
            });
            System.Windows.Forms.Application.ExitThread();
        }
        void client_DownloadProgressChanged1(object sender, DownloadProgressChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            this.BeginInvoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
                double bytesIn = double.Parse(e.BytesReceived.ToString());
                double totalBytes = double.Parse(e.TotalBytesToReceive.ToString());
                double percentage =50+( bytesIn / totalBytes * 50);
                progressBar1.Value = int.Parse(Math.Truncate(percentage).ToString());
            });
        }
Download 'exe' screen:

If you have any questions, let me know.
Rajanikant Hawaldar5y ago
first check how to write / what we can do by writing installer.cs class then check for nuget packages for customized wizard, adding additional files to setup.ex is simple. please go through above articles. If you find dificulties comeback we will try to help you.

https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/creating-setup-and-deployment-projects-in-vs-net/
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/deepak.sharma00/how-to-create-an-installer-for-a-winform-application-using-s/
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/blogs/publishing-windows-form-in-desktop