Packaging VB.net 2008 application with Crystal reports

Are you using the Crystal Reports that comes with VS 2008 ?
If so there is no merge modlue. You will have to include the file CRRedist2008_x86.msi  (or x64 for 64 bit OS's) as an additions file in the setup package. And have the users run that before they run your application.
The file is located in the
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0A\Bootstrapper\Packages\CrystalReports10_5"

"CRRedist2008_x86.msi" (for 32bit)
"CRRedist2008_x64.msi" (for 64bit)

It's my first app deployment...Sorry tried both solutions... not working for me...

I'm using the CrystalReportViewer and Crystal 8.5 is already installed on the user machine.

My app is on my C drive, I want to be able to set it up on any desktop. My setup package seems to be looking for the files on my computer location on :c/cin/ Mynewapp folder instead of in the package on the user machine.

Can you explain( in the property tab Publish*) what is  the difference
 bet. the Publishing folder and the installation folder? I would like to setup the user app in the C:\program files folder.

Thanks
Cin

I am rather surprised that CR8.5 works with VS2008.  I know I assumed you were using the Crystal that comes with VS2008 or even CR2008.

mlmcc

I am using the crystal that comes in the app I am deploying with VS2008 but we also use crystal 8.5 on most older VB apps.
Cin

The 2 are quite different and there may be an issue if you are using CR8.5 files with your application.

Also CR8.5 may not ba able to be installed along sie other versions.  Crystal made some major changes in CR9 to allow more than one version to be able to be installed on a machine.

mlmcc

Crystal 8.5 and Report View work fine on my machine...

I think my problem is, in how I'm setting my package, I can't get that to work. The only time I got anything to work is by copying the publish folder in my project's bin folder. All is well until I try to open a Crystal Report and then I get "Load Report Failed".

Thanks
Cin

What is Report View?

What CrystalReportViewer  are you using?

mlmcc

CrystalDecisiion.windows.form.crystalReportViewer?

Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine
Imports CrystalDecisions.Shared
Imports CrystalDecisions.Windows.Forms
Imports CrystalDecisions.ReportSource

Is this what you mean?
If not, could you please clarify?
Thanks
Cin

CR 10.5 is what comes with VS2008 and is not the Crystal Reports full blown version. You need to install the MSI I mentioned earlier on the client pc's

When I tried to run the MSI on this machine is says there is already an existing version.

I'm now using a test machine with no prior VB.net on it.

On this  test machine I was able to run the install Crystal 10.5.

But myapp is not working. I fist tried to put the release folder on that machine but everything now seems to point back to my  machine, defaulting into my own folder paths settings.

How do I  bring the application and reports over to this machine? Do I use the release folder or a app.published?
Neither seems to work for me now...

Cin

Create a setup project and create a msi

mlmcc & ges

The only way  I got my app to work was to build and take the Release folder (from the bin folder) and adjust my Crystal report path to match the new location inside my project. That's where my "Failed to load" error was coming from...
(The hard coded report path in my code was wrong once it got on the other desktop)

Guys can you tell me if this setup is OK? and what is the best practice for distributing .net apps in a small environment; can I put this on a server and have the user use the exe shortcut  or should it be on the user's desktop?

Thanks for your assistance
Cin

Thank you both for you time and assistance!
Cin