How do I create an InstallShield LE project to install a windows service?

Question

I downloaded Visual Studio 2012 yesterday when it was released on MSDN. I have noticed that a few of the project types that we had in 2010 are gone or different. The biggest difference for me right now is the removal of the Windows Installer project. Now we are being forced to use the InstallShield LE (Limited Edition). The problem here is that I write a ton of Windows Services and I can't see how to setup InstallShield LE. It appears that we (my company) will have to invest in licenses for the professional edition.

Has anyone found a way to install services in InstallShield LE? When using the Windows Installer project, you just set the custom actions.

Faulkner

Using InstallUtil custom actions in Visual Studio Deployment projects was actually a really poor practice. It's basically reinventing the wheel with a fragile solution because the underlying authoring tool didn't expose MSI's native capabilities. – Profound

Answer 1

For Visual Studio 2012 & InstallShield LE, do the following:

• Run through the InstallShield project assistant and add the primary output of your service to the Application files section.
• After you are done with the project assistant, double click the "Files" item under step two of the setup project.

• Right click on the primary output of your service, and go to properties.
• Click the "COM and .NET Settings" tab, and place a check in the "Installer Class" checkbox.
• Click Ok

Now, once you build and run your install, your service will show up in the Windows Services snap in.

Note that this assumes you added a "Project Installer" to your service project (Right click on the service design sheet and click "add installer"). I can confirm this work on Windows 8 with Visual Studio 2012 / InstallShield LE.

Krysta

Ok, this also works in VS 2010 and Win 7 Pro. I have yet to try it in VS 2012, but this should do it. Thanks. – Faulkner

Is it possible to have a dialog asking the user for the database connection string (Server, authentication and database name) and update the windows service configuration file using InstallShield LE? – Waaf

This is a pretty good guide: c-sharpcorner.com/uploadfile/cb88b2/…. – Jeannettajeannette

1+ Mongo - it works on VS 2012 / InstallShield LE and Win 7 64 bit – Selfsupport

Visual Studio Installer Project in VS 2013. Download: visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/… User voice: visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio/… Reference: blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2014/04/17/… – Monosaccharide

Great summary! I did have trouble with the step 'add the primary output of your service'. I simply selected the executable for the service and it worked. Now "MyService.exe" is in the Start Menu where it does not need to be -- so I need to get rid of that and everything will be fine. – Kratz

This option does not start the service after installation. To install service and start it, in solution explorer, select 3. Configure Target System > Services. – Carping

It doesn't work for me. A message box says Cannot start service from the command line or a debugger. A Windows Service must first be installed (using installutil.exe) and then started with ServerExplorer, Windows Services Administrative tool or the NET START command. – Tennies

Perfect, thanks! I can confirm this work with Visual Studio 2015. – Tying

Answer 2

I've recently installed VS 2012 with Install Shield LE. At first I kept getting a ISEXP -5036 internal server error after a build (this was after setting up a ISLE project and running through the Install Shield Project Assistant). Eventually I found out that it was trying to create the MSI in the DVD-5 media type which is where it was failing. For some reason, creating the solution again from scratch somehow recognizes to only build to the CD_ROM and SingleImage media types which works.

Anyway to rectify the 5036 error, click the Build tab in VS 2012 (top menu), select configuration manager and you should see that your IS setup file is selected on the DVD-5 configuration. Change this to CD_ROM and click close. Once you build/rebuild it will complete with no IS 5036 error.

Jeannettajeannette

This may not have anything to do with his problem, but it solved mine. Thankyou! +1 – Observe

Same issue for me right off the start, default install had DVD-5 as the configuration and the setup failed to build. With your tip I changed it to Single Image and built without issue! – Amaro

DVD-5 was selected. Simple but great answer – Muster

Answer 3

While using the installer class checkbox may work for some instances, you may experience the following error:

Error 1001.The specified service already exists

Here is an excerpt from this link on how to resolve this issue:

For Error: Error 1001.The specified service already exists

This error will occur if the component installing a .NET Service is incorrectly configured with ".NET Installer Class" set to Yes. The method to install a .NET Service is to use Component\Advanced Settings\Services view, not the ".NET Installer Class" setting. Making definitions in the Component\Advanced Settings\Services view creates entries in the Windows Installer ServiceControl and ServiceInstall Tables. These entries are used by the Windows Installer "InstallServices" action to install the Service.

Thoma

could you help and explain this.... Component\Advanced Settings\Services" view can be found?? – Infatuated

it's in the premier edition of the installer (ffs! microsoft why did you take out setup project type!).. If you have the premier edition. community.flexerasoftware.com/… – Pope

I found that it's related to the length of the setup project name i.e. change your setup project name to something shorter like "Install" or "Setup". – Jeannettajeannette

Answer 4

If your project is .NET, then try then you can use the ServiceProcessInstaller class with InstallShield LE.

To get it to work with InstallShield, you have to go into the InstallShield "files" tree and right click on your file. Then check the checkbox for "Installer class" on the "COM and .NET settings" tab.

I have gotten it to work, but I've had problems on some OS's like Windows 2008R2. Your mileage may vary.

Here is an example: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/14353/Creating-a-Basic-Windows-Service-in-C

Eudemonics

Sorry. I did not see this until today. It looks like it is pretty much the same answer as the one I accepted. I'll +1 it. – Faulkner

Answer 5

I had all sorts of problems with this.

As follows.

1. InstallShield takes ages to download
2. the registration process is a pain.
3. the configuration options are confusing and overly complex.
4. the accepted solution on this thread is a hack and it doesn't always work - see 1001 in the documentation - essentially you need to get through the paywall to get the right configuration options to install a windows service.

Solution for me as mentioned elsewhere - was to abandon InstallShield

Very easy from that point.

Edit: Update - install the latest version from here https://wix.codeplex.com/releases/view/115492 for vs 2013 / 2015

Pope

Answer 6

Visual Studio setup projects are back in VS 2013 as a visual studio extension.

https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/9abe329c-9bba-44a1-be59-0fbf6151054d

Please update your solution and projects to VS 2013. If you are still in VS 2010, you are probably better off by upgrading directly to VS 2013.

My experience with Installsheild LE is that it is very quirky but once you figure out the tricks, it is easier to use. However, I think that the limited edition is a way by Microsoft and Flexera to sell the fully featured edition. In other words, first we pay Microsoft a lot of money for Visual Studio and then their partner (in crime) more for Installsheild. Bad strategy which did not work out since they had to bring back the setup projects in VS 2013.

Malediction

Answer 7

I've written about this subject:

Augmenting InstallShield using Windows Installer XML - Windows Services

Basically you create a merge module using WiX to encapsulate the service and then add it to your installshield project. ( Be sure to associate to the INSTALLDIR directory to make sure your file goes where you expect ). Build and test on a VM. Piece of cake.

Profound

Another technology to learn? Up until yesterday, I had not heard of WIX. I still do not know anything about it. It sounds like this whole process is becoming increasingly difficult for something that used to take just a few clicks. – Faulkner

It only takes a few clicks to RUN an installer. Authoring them has always been far more effort. – Profound

It also only took a few clicks to setup the installer. You have to type the title, the manufacturer, and etc, but you did not have to author an entire xml document. What can you tell me about WIX? I can tell that you obviously know a lot about it. What is it? Where do I get it? How do I use it? Etc... – Faulkner

I've been writing installers for 16 years and only simple installs with a single EXE and shortcut take me 'just a few clicks' to author. Eitherway you can find WiX on CodePlex and there is a book published on the subject. The underlying technology is Windows Installer and that documentation can be found in the Platform SDK and on MSDN. – Profound

Seriously"there is a book published on the subject...docs on in the SDK".?? Chris, we're just trying to migrate our 2010 solutions to 2012 and install/setup is stopping us in our tracks. MS, bring back VS Setup/Installer visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio/… – Glossa

Answer 8

I'm using VS2012 and Installshield LE Spring Edition. I did not have to use Wix.

If you encounter the error "Could not create _isconfig.xml for use with InstallUtilLib.dll", please create a folder with the same name as your setup project and inside the setup project folder.

Credits to http://community.flexerasoftware.com/showthread.php?165929-Could-not-create-_isconfig-xml-for-use-with-InstallUtilLib-dll

Colter

Answer 9

I just got some problems finding where to add installer as referred in the answer. So here it is how.

Double click on your service class within your Windows service Project A blank screen with the text "To add components to your class, drag them from the Toolbox and use the Properties window to set their properties..." Right click anywhere but on the links and select "Add Installer"

see ya

Cally

Answer 10

Bear in mind that all the above explanation will not help you if you plan to create later an upgrade of that setup. InstallShiled LE can't stop the running service when you upgrade. You can't do it either from Window Service Installer -> BeforeInstall event.

Krystlekrystyna

Answer 11

Wanted to put this here;

On VS 2015, when doing this, I ran into the 1001 error upon installation repeatedly.

Answer on this page explained that on the newer versions (anything past 2012), apparently you need to explicitly leave the installer class option unchecked, and then add your windows service under the Services section under Step 3 of the installer project:

Error 1001 when installing custom Windows Service

Sorcha