visual-and-installer

Unable to get setup file to "Start" with Visual & Installer


My Inno Setup project is named correct in the IDE:

Visual Studio IDE

And the Visual & Installer project settings also match:

VI Properties

As you can see, my installer project is part of several, with Meeting Schedule Assistant being my primary project:

Solutions

Even though I select my build project:

Build Project

It compiles correct if I choose to build it. But, notice here:

Drop List

The MeetSchedAssistInno project is not listed. As a result, when I try to run it I get the following error:

Error

So I am getting confused. Why can't I trigger the setup file to start?

Note: I know I can set in the VI Properties to run the installer:

VI Properties

That way works (but it forces you to build first). But I should be able to simply start the existing installer like normal (or, it prompt me to build if it is out of date).


Solution

  • Launching Setup

    There are spaces in your path to .exe file and that is the reason why the Visual Studio complains "The system cannot find the the path specified."

    Did you rename the project or Solution? Please check twice whether the paths and real file names are good and without spaces.

    Inno Setup project does not register itself among the Startup Project list as the Debugging is at this moment not supported. That is a reason why Visual Studio does not show it with GoogleAuthandSync and OutlookCallIFConsole projects.

    You can right click the Inno Setup project and choose Set as StartUp Project to add this project temporarily into the list so the F5 will work

    (Alternatively you can right click the project Debug -> Start new instance. Again: this is not real debugging, just launching the .exe).

    StartUp project

    Conditional Startup

    Inno Setup supports:

    This can also be achieved with Visual and Installer by having two configurations. For example:

    Configrations

    Then, set the Run installer option in the properties as required:

    Properties

    This way you can choose build, or build and run, by simply choosing the appropriate configuration.