How to install a file in app data in setup project (C#)

Question

I want to install my database to a separate folder (@ C:\Users\User1\AppData\Roaming\Company1\database.mdb)

I'm using a C# setup project.

How can I do it?

Solution 1

1. Right-click on the project and select View -> File System
2. in the new File System screen, right-click the root node (File System on target Machine) and select Add Special Folder -> User's Application Data Folder
3. Select the newly added folder form the treeview and create any sub-folder structure you need
4. Finally select your destination folder, right-click, Add -> File and select the .mddb file.

Solution 2

Right click on your Setup project -> View -> File System. Then you could add a custom folder and set its default location to [CommonAppDataFolder]:

Then add your database file to this folder.

Solution 3

Just for completeness, here is the official documentation for changing the folders: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/716bxh4e(v=vs.100)

1. To add a custom folder that targets a predefined Windows folder In the folder list of the File System Editor, select the File System on Target Machine node.
2. On the Action menu, point to Add Special Folder, and then click Custom Folder. The new folder is highlighted in the folder list.
3. Type a name for the custom folder. For example, to target the Temp folder, type "Temp Folder".
4. In the Properties window, select the DefaultLocation property and enter the Windows Installer system folder property for the folder you wish to target. For example, the property for the Temp folder is [TempFolder]. For a list of system folder properties supported by Windows Installer, see System Folder Properties.

Here is a list of all folder properties: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions//aa372057(v=vs.85)?redirectedfrom=MSDN

Property	Description
AdminToolsFolder	The full path to the directory that contains administrative tools.
AppDataFolder	The full path to the Roaming folder for the current user.
CommonAppDataFolder	The full path to application data for all users.
CommonFiles64Folder	The full path to the predefined 64-bit Common Files folder.
CommonFilesFolder	The full path to the Common Files folder for the current user.
DesktopFolder	The full path to the Desktop folder.
FavoritesFolder	The full path to the Favorites folder for the current user.
FontsFolder	The full path to the Fonts folder.
LocalAppDataFolder	The full path to the folder that contains local (nonroaming) applications.
MyPicturesFolder	The full path to the Pictures folder.
PersonalFolder	The full path to the Documents folder for the current user.
ProgramFiles64Folder	The full path to the predefined 64-bit Program Files folder.
ProgramFilesFolder	The full path to the predefined 32-bit Program Files folder.
ProgramMenuFolder	The full path to the Program Menu folder.
SendToFolder	The full path to the SendTo folder for the current user.
StartMenuFolder	The full path to the Start menu folder.
StartupFolder	The full path to the Startup folder.
System16Folder	The full path to folder for 16-bit system DLLs.
System64Folder	The full path to the predefined System64 folder.
SystemFolder	The full path to the System folder for the current user.
TempFolder	The full path to the Temp folder.
TemplateFolder	The full path to the Template folder for the current user.
WindowsFolder	The full path to the Windows folder.
WindowsVolume	The volume of the Windows folder.

When using them, make sure to use the square brackets [] around the property names.

Comments

[Mike Bryant]

I tried that but got File '<file>' should not be installed into a User's Profile folder because it may not be available to all users No sign of my database anywhere in the app data folder/ subfolders

[Mike Bryant]

My database file is not in there

[Mike Bryant]

I've viewed the folder by modified date and there's nothing new

[Mike Bryant]

It works, in program data folder but not in app data folder. Thanks for your help

[Mike Bryant]

It does work I thought that when i right clicked and install that it automatically re generated the setup file but no.

[Andreas]

You really should add the most relevant parts of your linked resources to your answer. Web resources change sooner or later and might not be available any longer. This is very true for Microsoft pages.

[Ksdmg]

@Andreas I have added the related information as you suggested, to make the answer complete.