dominicwong
asked on
How to create two short-cuts in the Program Start-up menu to start the same program in different modes?
Hi experts
What I have is one program. I would like to give user an option either to (1) start the program in one mode, or to (2) start the *same* program but in a different mode.
I shall have two short-cuts in the Windows Programs menu. But how do I do it with .NET, VS2008, Installer project?
Thanks
Dominic
What I have is one program. I would like to give user an option either to (1) start the program in one mode, or to (2) start the *same* program but in a different mode.
I shall have two short-cuts in the Windows Programs menu. But how do I do it with .NET, VS2008, Installer project?
Thanks
Dominic
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ASKER
Thanks Vadim
> since some users are interested only the first mode while some are interested in both, is there any easy way to disable the creation of the 2nd shortcut from the Installer project?
This is possible with Windows Installer, but not with Setup and Deployment project in Visual Studio, which implements only a small subset of the most trivial features of Installer. The installation would include two so called "features", which would be selectable by the user (similar to how you select the features of Microsoft Office to install, if you choose custom installation); but for that you need either more capable MSI editor, or free ORCA or WiX plus intimate knowledge of MSI structure. WiX can be installed as an add-on to the same Visual Studio, but expect quite a learning curve.
Once the features are implemented (with a separate feature having the 2nd shortcut disabled by default), besides the selection by the user, you can create so called transform that enables the second feature, and deploy the installation with transform to one set of users, and without it to another.
There are also other interesting possibilities, such as installing the second feature (thus 2nd shortcut) only for the users who satisfy certain criteria, for example only those who already have another product installed. This is often used by product authors whose product includes, say , a Word macro - they install the macro only to those who have Word.
This is possible with Windows Installer, but not with Setup and Deployment project in Visual Studio, which implements only a small subset of the most trivial features of Installer. The installation would include two so called "features", which would be selectable by the user (similar to how you select the features of Microsoft Office to install, if you choose custom installation); but for that you need either more capable MSI editor, or free ORCA or WiX plus intimate knowledge of MSI structure. WiX can be installed as an add-on to the same Visual Studio, but expect quite a learning curve.
Once the features are implemented (with a separate feature having the 2nd shortcut disabled by default), besides the selection by the user, you can create so called transform that enables the second feature, and deploy the installation with transform to one set of users, and without it to another.
There are also other interesting possibilities, such as installing the second feature (thus 2nd shortcut) only for the users who satisfy certain criteria, for example only those who already have another product installed. This is often used by product authors whose product includes, say , a Word macro - they install the macro only to those who have Word.
ASKER
Thanks Vadim for your help. I appreciate it.
ASKER
I thought I'd closed it. I am closing it again.
ASKER
Thanks Vadim for your prompt response and taking the screenshots for the clear illustration. I appreciate it!!
BTW, since some users are interested only the first mode while some are interested in both, is there any easy way to disable the creation of the 2nd shortcut from the Installer project?