In this section, you will learn to deploy projects that use ClickOnce deployment.

ClickOnce deployment reduces the time and effort required to deploy Windows Applications across a network. Rather than distribute a separate executable to each individual hard drive, ClickOnce deployment places the executable on a common Web page, from which all users can launch it. As part of the launch process, a copy is retrieved to the user's hard drive that can be used to re-launch the application locally. However, this local copy regularly checks the source executable on the Web page for updates.

Updates to the Windows Application can be re-published to the web server, and the newer application files are then available to clients. If an older version of the Windows Application opens locally on a client machine, an update dialog box gives the option to check for updates from the web server. ClickOnce deployment is only available for Windows applications that use the .Net 2.0 Framework or later.

Note
As of Crystal Reports 2008, the home site option is now supported.

In this section:

• To Set the ClickOnce Deployment Properties
• To Publish the Windows Application
• To Install the Windows Application on a Client Machine