Gaurang

Recently I was tasked to create MSI installer for our current application which is in development phase. While browsing project types in VS, I had known that VS has ability to create installer using Install Shield, but that was pretty much of it. I have never worked with them before. But after working with windows installation project for few days, it looks pretty straight forward process to me. I mean of course, we can customize installer anyway we want and it can get pretty complex subject, but out requirement was not so fancy (at least at this moment ) so I am overall enjoying working with it.

For this demo I have created a very simple console application in C# and I am creating installer for that app. This installer will allow user to install that app to any location, just like any other app. And this application is targeted for only 32bit machines. This console application basically runs in a loop until user quits it, with each loop it displays two random number and user is required to add them (I know its pretty basic app .. but this demo is for installer not for some fancy app ). I am actually following old MSDN walkthrough which explains step-by-step process to create MSI installer.

First, I have created a console application project “Installer Demo”. Like below.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace InstallerDemo
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            char cont;
            do
            {
                Random r = new Random();
                int i = r.Next(1, 10);
                Console.WriteLine("First Number: {0}", i);
                int j = r.Next(1, 10);
                Console.WriteLine("Second Number: {0}", j);
                Console.Write("Total is: ");
                int k = i + j;
                var l = Console.ReadLine();
                Console.WriteLine(k == Convert.ToInt32(l) ? "True" : "False");
                Console.WriteLine("Another Addition ?? Y/N");
                cont = Convert.ToChar(Console.ReadLine());
            } while (cont == 'Y' | cont == 'y');

            Console.WriteLine("Bye");
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}

 
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