Visual Studio Deployment Project - Creating a Shortcut for a Deployed Executable File

Question

I understand that there is an easy way to do this, but how do I create a desktop shortcut for the executable file deployed by MSI created using the Visual Studio deployment project?

I assume that I need to use the file system editor, but when I create a shortcut on the user's desktop, I can’t target the executable. I can specify the target object as an application folder, and not a specific executable file.

Answer 1

Having lost an hour, I did it - VS 2010 ( this article helped):

• In your deployment project, go to the File System Editor
• Click “Application Folder” (I assume you have “Primary Output” from your projects)
• Right-click on the "Primary Output" of the project you want to target, - select "Create a shortcut for primary output ..."
• Rename Shortcut
• Drag the shortcut to the "Desktop / Programs" folder

What is it!

Answer 2

I would add the following steps (to answer roman m) to get the .exe icon in the shortcut, because by default it seems that you will get an ugly general document shortcut icon.

Assuming you have already given your program the desired icon,

• right click on deployment project
• select menu item View> File System
• in the "File System" window, find a brief description whose icon you want to change (for example, in the "User Programs Menu")
• go to the Properties shortcut (right-click and select "Properties Window")
• go to icon
• Overview...
• change "Files of type" to * .exe
• find and select your "main output"
• OK OK

Answer 3

It should be pretty simple:

• Open the file system editor and go to the "User Desktop" folder.
• Right-click and select Create New Shortcut.
• A dialog box appears, allowing you to select, for example, the application folder (on the target machine). When you double-click on it, you will see what is inside this folder.
• Now just select the main output of the project that "contains" your exe file.

Similarly, you can set the shortcut icon. At least I think so.

Answer 4

I solved this error using the 64 x 64 icon

Answer 5

The icon file size is important, 75 KB is not displayed in the exe file label, but 15 KB is shown.