How to create an installer in order to distribute a .NET windows application?

After you have developed a .NET windows application you need to follow the following steps to create an installer in order to distribute your application. The resulting windows installer file is a combination of the application, dependent files, registry files, and instructions for installation.

1. Go to File menu then click Add to follow Add->New Project->“Add New Project” window opens
2. Double click “Other Project Types” and then click “Setup and Deployment Projects” to choose “Setup Project” from the given templates. Give a name (e.g. Setup) for the project in the name text box and then finally click “OK” button. After that “File System” window might opens immediately.
3. Now newly created “Setup” project appears in solution explorer accompanied with your application project created earlier.
4. Select “Setup” project and then right click to follow Setup->View->File System->”File System” window opens.
5. You can see here three folders such as Application Folder, User’s Desktop, and User’s Program Menu under “File System on Target Machine”.
6. Select Application Folder and then right click to follow Add->Project Output->Select Primary Output(Contains the DLL or EXE built by the project.) from “Add Project Output Group” window->Click “OK” button
7. Select User’s Desktop Folder and then right click on the right panel to follow Create New Shortcut->”Select Item in Project” window opens->Select Primary Output file from Application Folder>Click “OK” button->Chang the shortcut to name it “Setup”
8. Select User’s Program Menu Folder and then right click on the right panel to follow Create New Shortcut->”Select Item in Project” window opens->Select Primary Output file from Application Folder> Click “OK” button->Change the shortcut to name it “Setup”
9. Now if you want to change the manufacture’s name or anything else just select “Setup” project to change “Setup” project’s Deployment Project Properties as per your requirement.
10. Finally build your application project after successfully build the “Setup” project. When completed, Setup.msi file can be appeared in the application Debug or Release folder depending upon the properties settings (Select and then right click “Setup” project to follow Properties ->Setup Property Pages)
11. Prerequisites: Windows installer 3.1 and most importantly .NET Framework 3.5 must be installed on the target machine where your application project will be installed with the help of Setp.msi installer. .NET Framework 3.5 installation is mandatory because application and controls written for the .NET Framework version 3.5 require the .NET Framework redistributable package version 3.5 to be installed on the computer where the application or controls runs.

That's it.