How do I add my program to the users start menu with VS2010 Setup Project?

Question

How do I add my program to the users start menu with VS2010 Setup Project?

I don't see an obvious place to do this.

What would be even better than this is a link to a reference that holds my hand through setting up projects so I can see how it is supposed to be done.

Thanks!

patrick · Answer 1 · 2020-01-16T13:33:46.670

49

Go to Application Folder, look on the right hand side it should say, Primary output from X (make sure you don't have other widgets covering up this real estate.)
Right click that => make shortcut
Go to User's Program's Menu ==> create the folder that you want your shortcut to reside in, probably your company name
Drag the shortcut from step 2 to the folder you just created.

edited Jan 16 '20 at 13:33

answered Jun 06 '12 at 20:42

patrick

16,091
29
100
164

CharithJ · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-27T21:36:31.500

25

You can add a short cut in to the executable in the File System view.

enter image description here

More steps here

edited Jul 27 '16 at 21:36

answered Jul 31 '11 at 01:23

CharithJ

46,289
20
116
131

1

User's Programs Menu wasn't showing up in my file system view. You have to right click on the "File System on Target Machine" and choose to show it first. Nice image tho. – Jason Jul 31 '11 at 04:49
2

There's a bit more to it than that ... you need to sat the Target to be Application Folder\Primary Output – Zaid Masud Sep 18 '12 at 17:15
@CharithJ the icon changes in the desktop shortcut but not change for the start button. any suggestion? – Harish Kumar Oct 31 '19 at 06:21
Look at User's Program Menu properties and check the icon? Make sure you install the correct build debug/release. Uninstall the application and reinstall. – CharithJ Oct 31 '19 at 06:24

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 12 '12 at 07:16

4

After wasting an hour, I got it done - VS 2010 (this article helped):

In your Deployment Project go to File System Editor Click on "Application Folder" (I assume you have "Primary Output" from your projects there) Right click on "Primary Output" of the project you want to target with your shortcut - select "Create Shortcut to Primary Output ..." Rename shortcut Drag shortcut to Desktop / Programs Menu folder That's it!

answered Jul 12 '12 at 07:16

Kashan

906
10
15

Step by step procedure to follow :) http://www.courtesyindia.com/software/tipsandtricks/Publish.aspx?Select1=Create%20a%20desktop%20shortcut%20in%20a%20Visual%20studio%202010%20Setup%20project%20dot – Kashan Jul 12 '12 at 07:25

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 31 '11 at 03:33

In the Setup Project File System, right-click the User's Programs Menu, and create a folder for your application. Go to the Application Folder, right-click project output, then select Create Shortcut to xxx. Drag the shortcut to the application folder.

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 17 '14 at 21:30

Creating the shortcut at the top level of the start menu is not really standard behavior. The shortcut should be created in the folder [Manufacturer][ProductName] in the user's "Programs" menu. However, it seems you can't use the installer properties in the Visual Studio deployment proje

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 31 '11 at 01:23

2

Right click on the setup project and click View -> File System. There is a foler there for User's Programs Menu. You can add a shortcut to your project's executable there.

Here is a link that walks you through the process.

answered Jul 31 '11 at 01:23

Nick Olsen

6,299
11
53
75

score 1 · Answer 7 · edited May 21 '22 at 12:13

Sorry I'm 11 years late for this but here is a way to do it:

Right click on "Application Folder", click on "Properties", then change "AlwaysCreate" to true.
right click on "Application Folder" and click "Create Shortcut to Application Folder"
Rename the "Shortcut to Application Folder" to whatever name you choose.
Drag that shortcut into the "User's Desktop" or "User's Programs menu".
Build the project.
You're done! :)

How do I add my program to the users start menu with VS2010 Setup Project?

7 Answers7

Linked

Related