Copying a file to a specific directory during installation using Visual Studio Setup Project

Question

I have a file - say readme.txt that I want to copy or insert to a directory say

C:\Documents and Settings\fooUsername\Application Data\BarSoftware

during the installation of my program using Visual Studio's setup project - I know it is something to do with File System Editor but not exactly sure as it has been some time since I have done this type of thing.

Answer 1

1. Right click your setup project -> View -> File System
2. Right click "File System on Target Machine" -> Add Special Folder -> User's Application Data Folder
   • All special folders are listed here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/s2esdf4x but the "Application Data Folder" is the one that will put files in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\
3. Right click "User's Application Data Folder" -> Add -> Folder
4. Name the new folder whatever you like (e.g. BarSoftware)
5. Right Click new folder (e.g. BarSoftware) -> Add -> File
6. Find your Readme.txt to add to that folder.

Answer 2

For others that stumble across this, if you need a more general location (outside your application directory) see question:

VS Setup project: install files in different directories