Deploying a project...How can I incorporate a folder of contents in the deployment install file if they are not in the project?

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I am trying to deploy a beta of my first project and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of how to include a separate folder of files in the deployment (they are to be stored on the C:\ drive once the install is completed, outside of the installation directory). Do I add them in the reference paths area of the properties wizard prior to publishing? I'm new to deployment of projects. I'm currently using Visual Studio 2012.

Also, how can I deploy a SQL Server Compact database? When I try to install a deployment on another computer, it tells me that the path to the database is invalid. It's still referencing the path name in the project.

Posted 8-Oct-12 5:54am

joshrduncan2012

Updated 8-Oct-12 7:58am

v3

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-Oct-12 14:39pm

To start with, you should not even assume C: exists on the target computer of your customer -- it really may not exist. All deployment is done to the directory supplied by the user, with a possibility of using some defaults, of course.
--SA

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Answer 1 · 2012-10-08T08:45:00

You can add any files to the installation, even if they are not in your project used to build the software. You can add such directory and files when you create a deployment project. For example, if you create a deployment project from the project template "Setup and Deployment" which comes with Visual Studio, you will immediately see such possibility in the project tree (as a part of Solution Explorer) and its context menus.

I think the most recommended way of deploying of the SQL Server is making it a prerequisite for your product. This can resolve all possible licensing issues and the cases when a user already has the same or compatible server installed, so it gives more convenience and flexibility to your user as well.

—SA