How to make an installer in vb.net

Question

I cannot create .msi files cause I don't have VS professional, and I want to have much more control over the installer than NSIS or Inno Setup give me.

Things I don't know how to do:

• Compress the file(s) into the installation file
• Extract the file(s)
• Remove the file(s) on uninstallation

Any help would be much appreciated.

I'll stress this point though: I do not want to use an existing tool.

Answer 1

If you really don't want to use something sane like WiX, then you're left with the direct MSFT installer APIs. They're on MSDN starting here : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa372860%28VS.85%29.aspx, and that's what Microsoft used to use before developing WiX.

Answer 2

Have you heard of WiX? It's open source for creating MSI files.

Answer 3

Are you sure you have looked at the control that NSIS gives you?

I've not found anything you need to do that cant be done with nsis. The only drawback is the the steep learning curve.

If you can afford it get Installshield. There is a reason the majority of commercial software uses Installshield, It is easy and lets you spend time working on real problems, not worrying about stupid installer minutia.

Otherwise write your own installer and enjoy the pain of reinventing the wheel.

EDIT You can use ClickOnce installer with the express editions. I've used it before and it is very nice indeed.

Answer 4

If you insist on doing this, add a reference to %windir%\system32\msi.dll to your project & the WindowsInstaller namespace will be available to Import.

I don't know what you want to do that's so special that Inno, NSIS or Wix can't do it simply enough, but this isn't going to be any picnic.