'How do I add my program to the users start menu with VS2010 Setup Project?

How do I add my program to the users start menu with VS2010 Setup Project?

I don't see an obvious place to do this.

What would be even better than this is a link to a reference that holds my hand through setting up projects so I can see how it is supposed to be done.

Thanks!

c++sharp.netinstallation


Solution 1:[1]

  1. Go to Application Folder, look on the right hand side it should say, Primary output from X (make sure you don't have other widgets covering up this real estate.)
  2. Right click that => make shortcut
  3. Go to User's Program's Menu ==> create the folder that you want your shortcut to reside in, probably your company name
  4. Drag the shortcut from step 2 to the folder you just created.

Solution 2:[2]

In the Setup Project File System, right-click the User's Programs Menu, and create a folder for your application. Go to the Application Folder, right-click project output, then select Create Shortcut to xxx. Drag the shortcut to the application folder.

Solution 3:[3]

After wasting an hour, I got it done - VS 2010 (this article helped):

In your Deployment Project go to File System Editor Click on "Application Folder" (I assume you have "Primary Output" from your projects there) Right click on "Primary Output" of the project you want to target with your shortcut - select "Create Shortcut to Primary Output ..." Rename shortcut Drag shortcut to Desktop / Programs Menu folder That's it!

Solution 4:[4]

Right click on the setup project and click View -> File System. There is a foler there for User's Programs Menu. You can add a shortcut to your project's executable there.

Here is a link that walks you through the process.

Solution 5:[5]

Creating the shortcut at the top level of the start menu is not really standard behavior. The shortcut should be created in the folder [Manufacturer][ProductName] in the user's "Programs" menu. However, it seems you can't use the installer properties in the Visual Studio deployment proje

Solution 6:[6]

Sorry I'm 11 years late for this but here is a way to do it:

  1. Right click on "Application Folder", click on "Properties", then change "AlwaysCreate" to true.
  2. right click on "Application Folder" and click "Create Shortcut to Application Folder"
  3. Rename the "Shortcut to Application Folder" to whatever name you choose.
  4. Drag that shortcut into the "User's Desktop" or "User's Programs menu".
  5. Build the project.
  6. You're done! :)

Sources

This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Overflow and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Source: Stack Overflow

Solution Source
Solution 1
Solution 2 Hand-E-Food
Solution 3 Kashan
Solution 4 Nick Olsen
Solution 5 Mozzis
Solution 6 Lee Taylor

Related Questions