Packaging Files With C# Published Project

Question

Throughout the development stages of this project I am working on I have been using images in /sources/*.png, that I have referenced with an OpenFileDialog() and the directory being set with Environment.CurrentDirectory, I am working on publishing this so that it can be distributed by CD, now I know that when installed on CD the path will not be the same as it is currently (for the executable),

That probably didn't make a whole lot of sense, :(, but essentially...

Is there a way that I can package this directory with 4 or 5 images in it, so when the program installs the files will be in the /sources directory, relative to where the program is?

Sam Hobbs · Answer

See Choosing a Deployment Strategy . It describes ClickOnce and Windows Installer. When I asked what you are using I said  for the setup . In other words are you using ClickOnce or Windows Installer or something else. I think that VS Express won't create a Windows Installer setup for you but I am asking you to tell us what you are using. Or let's back up; I am assuming that you want the images to be insalled by a setup program that also installs your program; am I correct?

Frogleg · Answer

I have used http://www.advancedinstaller.com/ in the past

David Richardson · Answer

One of the reasons the resources folder won't work is because users need to be able to add / remove images from the sources folder when they want to. Essentially I have a /sources/image.png image2.png image3.png etc. and that /sources/ directory is in ../bin/debug/. I want to copy that entire directory to .../'installation_folder'/sources/ when the app is installed. I am using Visual C# Express 2010.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

I think that Karthik is suggesting that you put the images into the exe file as resources. I assume you don't want to do that. Regardless please don't mix my suggestion up with Karthik's suggestion. I think we need to get clarification from Karthik so we know for sure that what Karthik is suggesting is to put the images into the exe and then we need you to decide that you don't want to do that. Then you will answer my question about what you are using to make your setup. Or you can just go ahead and answer my question now.

David Richardson · Answer

I am using Microsoft Visual C# Express Edition (2010). I have tried adding images to the resource folder. But I don't know where the resource folder actually stores the files after it's published because they're not in the same place.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

What are you using for the setup? The answer depends on the setup software.

Karthikeyan Anbarasan · Answer

Yes definately you can do that... Use the resource folder to put the images and use it. So when u build the application the resource folder will be taken care automatically.