How do I find the EXEs and DLLs of a Windows Store App? The target seems to be very odd in the shortcuts on the desktop, and I can't look at them more because these are virtual files. The target seems to be a package ID, followed by an exclamation point, followed by a keyword. Where can I find the files for these apps?
Go to %programfiles%, make sure hidden folders are enabled, then try to access the WindowsApps folder. If it gives a pop up saying you don't have access, click the "Security" button then "Advanced" then change the owner to "Administrators" and click Apply and then just press okay on everything.
Related
I made a simple checklist desktop app in Visual Studio 2015, and I'm ready to share it with the world. Problem is that I don't know how to make an installer for it that I can share online. I have an installer exported, but it is Visual Studio's default ClickOnce installer, which won't work when I remove it from its original location
Is there a way I can package it so I can upload it somewhere and then share it? Do I need to code my own, or there some add-in or tool that will do it for me?
Once you have the installer extension this should help you to get started, as the name implies:
https://www.simple-talk.com/dotnet/visual-studio/getting-started-with-setup-projects/
Have a look at this older post of mine:
What you can do,open the project as if going to edit it, just go to "Project" then "Publish(Whatever-your-work's-name-is).vb at the bottom. Then use the wizard to finish. At the end, say you saved your exe on the desktop, three files will appear.
"Whatever-your-work's-name-is".exe And its icon shape varies.
A folder called "Application Files"
And a "setup.exe" Its icon a like a CD on something.
For the first time, click on setup.exe and open the app. From then on, the "Whatever-your-work's-name-is".exe will open normally. I usually store all three on a zipped folder, which I upload on my website and can be downloaded from there.
To get a better example, vist my website.
I use this website to store my files for backup.
You can get the MS Installer extension from here... There's one for VS 2013 too.
(Credit to peterG for commenting this)
I'm creating an installation program for my VB.NET application; after install my application I get the icon on my desktop with the right icon image and open the right application but when I right click on the shortcut --> Properties the "Open location" button is grayed out.
There's a way to create a regular shortcut with all the buttons enabled?
Second, my application is being installed inside Program Files(x86)\Microsoft\MyApp, there's a way to specify a directory outside program files?
I need to write log files and that directory needs that the application runs as Administrator to do that.
I created the installer by adding an Assisted Installation project to my application project.
I tried by using MyAppSetup.exe and the msi package too with the same results.
Using Visual Studio 2012, I manage to publish a Winforms application and install it successfully on other machines, making it work nicely. Although, there are a few small details that I want to change.
The published application goes into the Start Menu inside a folder named after me. I suppose it's taking my Windows user name, I don't set it anywhere, it just happens by default. I wish I could define that.
(EDIT)
I solved the above issue: Project properties > "Publish tab" > Options and set the Publisher name: this is the name of the folder
(end edit)
When I look for the program in Control Panel > Programs and Features, it has a weird default icon instead of the one I defined (which appears correctly on the Start Menu)
So, how to set my icon on the Programs and Features as well?
(EDIT) -
I'm using ClickOnce apparently (thanks to #Crono)
Thanks
For changing application icon in Programs and Features, this answer might help you: Custom icon for ClickOnce application in 'Add or Remove Programs'
The trick is in adding a registry string value DisplayIcon pointing to the icon file. The value is located under Uninstall registry key of your application.
I cannot understand what is exact consequences of using attribute Advertise in Shortcut attribute.
What is the diffirence?
A non-advertised shortcut (Standard Shortcuts) is a standard windows shortcut. If you right-click it you will see the target field points to the executable that will be launched. If, for whatever reason, this executable is missing the application will simply fail.
An advertised shortcut (Windows Installer Shortcuts) is a technology specific to Windows Installer. If you right-click an advertised shortcut the target field will be greyed out. An advertised shortcut supports advertisement and repair.
Repair means that if the executable to which the shortcut is pointing is not there then windows installer will repair the application and replace the missing file. In fact, it will also check other important files, flagged as key paths, and if any of those are missing it will replace them as well.
Advertisement is a process in which the application appears to be installed the shortcuts are there but the application is not actually installed. The installation, the copying of files and registry entries, only takes place when the user first launches the application. An advertised install only puts down what we call the application interfaces. An application interface is any way to start the application. This could be a shortcut, file extension or COM interface.
http://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/about-windows-installer-shortcuts
Advertised shortcuts are used by advertised features:
when a feature is installed as advertised, it is only registered with Windows Installer; it's content is not actually copied on the machine
when launching an advertised shortcut which targets something in this advertised feature, the feature content is finally copied on the machine
So advertised features and shortcuts are a form of "advertising". Your package shows the user that it has a feature available and installs it only when the user want to use it. If the shortcut is never used, the feature is never fully installed.
Here is more detailed description how Advertised shortcuts used:
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-guide/advertised-shortcuts.html.
And here is MSDN description which was also very useful for me - to understand what is advertisement and how to properly use advertised features (not directly about shortcuts, but it is partial case):
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa367548%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa369293%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
when i publish an app in vb.net it creates some files:
application files directory, app.application, and setup.exe
i am going to be distributing this application to people who can barely use a computer, so i need to bundle everything in one, self-extractable package.
how can i do this?
I think your best choice would be to use Click Once Deployment. All your user have to do is to click on a link and the application gets installed. Moreover its easy for you to send updates too.
HTH