Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of jeovaalmeida
jeovaalmeidaFlag for Brazil

asked on

C plus plus MFC application auto starting after installation

I have a C plus plus (mfc framework) application, developed using visual studio 2008.

I added a Setup and Deployment project, added my files and created the MSI file for intallation.

Now I want that, after the installation finishes, my app be started automatically. How can it be done? (without using Installshield)

ps. sorry for the plus plus, but the preview of this post didn't show the plus sign
Avatar of nhenny2009
nhenny2009

You could wrap in ChilKatZip or any other self-extracting, self-executing compressed file.
Avatar of jeovaalmeida

ASKER

This will allow me to run an exe after the uncompression, not after the installation, I suppose ...
Sorry, I should have been a little clearer.  What I would suggest is creating a simple bootstrapper that will first launch your MSI and then launch your applications.  You would wrap in ChilKatZip or you could also use iexpress.exe (%WINDIR%\system32) to then launch the bootstrapper after the extraction.
What is a bootstrapper exactly? And how do I create a simple one? e.g. which tool i'll have to use?
What I have in hand is visual studio 2008 and the MSI file generated by the Setup and Deployment project.
Well, you can create a bootstrapper in many different languages.  Currently I have to create my bootstrappers in c++ as I use them to install the .NET framework first so I can't really write them in C#.  But if you know that your target/client machines will have the .NET framework installed then you could write a simple bootstrapper in C#.NET (1.1, 2.0) that simply is the controller and will first start the msi and then your application.

My app is native C++, the dotNet framework is not required.
I wil have to search for more info abot writing a bootstrapper app, or consider using other installer applications, like Innosetup.
Thanks anyway.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of jeovaalmeida
jeovaalmeida
Flag of Brazil image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Hmm, how do I simply close this question?