File System Editor

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The File System editor presents a graphic representation of the files, folders, and shortcuts your product installation creates or modifies on the target machine. Use this editor to:

  • Add and delete files, folders, and shortcuts in the installer project.

  • Control where to install folders and files on the target machine.

  • Establish and modify the file structure of installer components.

You can open this editor by either:

  • Double-clicking File System in the Target Machine node in the Project Explorer window.

    –or–

  • Selecting the File System option on the Project menu.

As you work in the File System editor, you can add, modify, or delete folders, files, and shortcuts with:

  • The context menu.

    Note   You can display the context menu by right-clicking in the File System editor. Context menu activated options differ depending on what is selected when you right-click.

  • Options on the Actions menu.

    Note   Actions menu active options differ depending on your current file or folder selection.

  • The DELETE key (for item removal).

Options

Left pane of File System editor

The left pane of the File System editor shows a folder view of the target machine. You can add and delete folders your product installs by setting them up here. You can also establish contents of target machine folders. Microsoft® Visual Studio® Installer provides these initial folders for you to work with:

  • Application Folder. Sets the root directory for your application on the target machine.

  • User's Desktop. Place items (such as files or shortcuts) you want to install to the user's desktop in this folder.

  • User's Start Menu. Place items (such as files or shortcuts) you want to install to the user's Start menu in this folder.

    Note   If the installer project contains a Microsoft® Visual Basic® project with dependencies that can't be mapped to merge modules, a fourth folder labeled Windows System Folder is displayed in the left pane of the File System editor.

You can add several additional Microsoft® Windows® special folders to the left pane view, including: Windows Folder, Windows System Folder, Common Files Folder, User's Favorites Folder, Users Application Data Folder, User's Personal Data Folder, Users Send-To Menu, User's Template Folder, and Root Folder.

You can also create and add custom special folders to your installer project.

You can add these additional special folders by using the right-click context menus available in the File System editor. For more information, see Working with Folders.

Right pane of the File System editor

The right pane of the File System editor shows a file view of the target machine. You can add, move, and delete files and shortcuts your product installs by setting them up here. You can also establish which folders maintain which installed files, and you can group files into components and ungroup them from components.

When you add a file in this right pane, it will be installed in the folder that is selected in the left pane.