This approach moves you from "drag and drop" setups to a software deployment strategy that handles versioning, dependencies, and system integration correctly.
VS2015 default setups often create duplicate entries in "Add/Remove Programs" if you don't manually handle upgrade codes. WiX handles this with the MajorUpgrade element.
VS2015 native tools struggle with complex prerequisites (like specific SQL Server versions or .NET 4.6). WiX solves this with a separate project type called a . how to create an installer in visual studio 2015
<!-- Create a Desktop Shortcut --> <Directory Id="DesktopFolder" Name="Desktop"/> </Directory> </Fragment>
Give your setup project a name (e.g., "MyApplicationSetup") and click OK . 3. Add Application Files and Primary Output This approach moves you from "drag and drop"
(if needed):
Before you can create a setup file, you need to add the installer templates to Visual Studio 2015. "Core Application" vs.
Instead of dumping all files in one block, you can create a feature tree allowing users to select what to install (e.g., "Core Application" vs. "Documentation").