OK, I admit it! I don't understand the Build and Publish options in "Visual Basic 2005 Express" (VBE). Especially Publish.

Tell you what though: According to my search results, neither do a lot of other people. And there doesn't seem to be anything in the way of a clear, simple explanation available - not that I can find anyway.

I know I can do a Build, then grab my apps executable from /vbfolder/projects/myapp/bin/release.

There's also an executable in /vbfolder/projects/myapp/bin/debug, but I've seen recommendations that the one from ../release be used. Why? Dunno for sure.

I think debug holds the last executable created when you do a trial run from within VBE, while ../release holds an executable created each time you do a Build.

So... does anyone know of a clear and simple, yet comprehensive, explanation of the Publish thing?

What I'd really like to know is how to build an executable installer for my app that would install the main program and any other supporting files PLUS check for .Net and offer to install it if missing. Is that even possible with VBE?

As long as I have been a developer (more years than I care to admit) I still find the task of distributing an application to be daunting at times. Often the process of deciding exactly what files and prerequisites (such as Net 2.0) to include with your application can difficult at best.

That said, here is a link to an MSDN page describing the VBE 'Click Once' procedures:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms184642(VS.80).aspx

If you are looking for a clear & simple explanation of anything that Microsoft produces you may have to wait quite a long time...

The /Release version of your application is the directory that you should use for publishing. Among other things, this directory does not include the files *.vshost.* which the IDE uses when you are running your application prior to compiling. When you "publish" the files will automatically be gathered from the /Release directory.

I was tempted to outline the procedures that I use to publish an application to my corporate network, but I am not sure that the steps are exactly the same between VBE and the VS version.





Best Regards,
Earl Francis