Generate setup.exe for ClickOnce deployment from command line using MSBuild

Question

Hi all,

I have a MSBuild script that builds my windows forms application, generates the application manifest and signs it, then generates the deployment manifest. The script also generates the publish.htm file for me.

Now I need to generate the setup.exe file and so far I have not been able to figure out how VS generates it. How can I generate the setup.exe file using a MSBuild script?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer 1

Hi.

You can use the built-in GenerateBootstrapper MSBuild task

When you do a Publish from Visual Studio, this is also what ClickOnce uses.

Check out C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\\Microsoft.Common.Targets to see exactly what happens.

Look at the _DeploymentGenerateBootstrapper target.

Your CSharp project file contains some items and properties that this target uses to figure out:

1. If it's going to generate a bootstrapper (BootstrapperEnabled property)
2. The packages to generate the bootstrapper for (BootstrapperPackage item group)
3. Where the packages will be installed from (BootstrapperComponentsLocation property)

Hopefully this makes sense. With a bit of work you can implement with your MSBuild file exactly what happens when you Publish from Visual Studio.