Installing .NET application in Silent mode using IExpress

Introduction

My customer had come up with two questions when i am trying to deliver my project.

1. Need only one Standalone installation packages to install the application in users machine.

2. Application should install in silent/unattended mode.

Basically my client's support division not familiar with the distribution of software and not familiar with .net framework dependency. So my client wants to maintain a single installer file which helps the admin/support to install the application in target machine by just double clicking on it.

Silent/unattend/hands-free mode: Installation is one which does not require user interaction, except the indication of progress.

First of all i thought Visual Studio 2005 comes with lots of setup and deployment wizards, so it must have one type which generates the single self extract setup file to install the application and the .net framework prerequesties. But when i tried, VS 2005 gave me two files rather than one package.

1. setup.exe - used to install the .net prerequesites if the target machine not have one.

2. myproject.msi - contains all my project exe and dependency files.

I am sure it can be achieved through the giant deployment softwares like installshield, wise and winzip. But the license matters makes me think lot. It took sometime to find the solution but i managed to find a way to get it done by using Microsoft IExpress.

IExpress

IExpress is a utility which comes with the IE Administrative Kit (IEAK) (hidden program :-).

IExpress creates an output file, and executable (.exe) that contains all the files specified, and the instructions to carry out the extraction of these files. The files are stored compressed in Microsoft's cabinet format.

Click the Start Button, goto Run and type "iexpress".

More information can be found here.

Assumptions

I have assumed that the readers of this article must be familiar with Visual Stuidio 2005 setup and deployment wizard and functionalities.

Steps to make self extract package:

In brief,

Step to make the installation in silent/unattended mode:

• Create a project that we want to install.
• Create a setup and deployment wizard that will install our application in the target machine.
• In the 'File System' window of the setup project, add the primary output of our application.
• View the 'User Interface' window of the setup project. Remove all the UI dialogs from Install>start, Install > progress and Install > End.
• It depends on the requirement, you may leave progress bar dialog or confirmation dialogue to notify the user that the setup is complete. (optional)
• Make sure that the property 'Create setup program to install prerequisite components' is selected in setup project properties.
• Build the setup project.
• Now we have two files (myapplicaiton.msi and setup.exe) as output of setup project.

Step to create the installation files / dependent files in a standalone installation package.

• Once it is done, run the command 'IExpress' from the 'Start > Run' or command window.
• The Iexpress window guide you what needs to be packed and which setup file needs to be executed after extracting files.
• Nowe we have only one package(<installpackage>.exe) which contains the our standard setup files generated from VS 2005.

After the steps are done now we will have only one package to distribute to the admin. It is very easy for them to keep only one file in their repository rather than multiple files. .

History

23 Aug - Initial Draft

25 Oct - Updated article with more explanation (thanks bill)

Note: After reading this article, please pass your comments and suggestion. It help me to correct my mistakes and can help other new readers.