KernelCAD Documentation

This tutorial demonstrates creation of a Windows Installer package for a KernelCAD-based application using KcRedist merge module and an installer creation software like Install Shield. The tutorial is based on Setup and Deployment type of project of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. With adjustments for different user interface the same steps are required when using different installer creation software.

The installer will install MiniCAD.exe of the MiniCAD sample. It is a native 32 bit C++ application. If the application uses .NET version of kernelCAD the only required change is described in the Registry and Properties section below

To create a 64 bit installer you need to use 64 bit KernelCAD. Assume that "_5_2" means "_x64_5_2" in the steps below in the case

A copy of the completed project is available in Samples\Deployment\DeployModule folder.

File System

In Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 select File > New > Project. In the New Project dialog expand "Other Project types" in the left panel and select "Setup and Deployment". If you do not see the project type check that you have the latest service pack for Visual Studio
In the right-hand side panel select "Setup Project". Select location for the project at the bottom and type "DeployModule" for the name.
When the project is created Visual Studio opens File System window. It can be closed and re-opened using icons on top of the Solution Explorer.
Select "Application Folder" in the File System window and select Action > Add > File in menu. Browse to the installation folder of KernelCAD, which is C:\Projects\KernelCAD_5_2 by default
Select MiniCAD.exe. Press Open. The MiniCAD.exe will appear in the right hand side panel of the File System window.
Download KcRedist_5_2.zip (KcRedist_x64_5_2.zip for 64 bit installer) from http://www.dynoinsight.com/ProDown.htm and extract it into KcRedist_5_2 folder in a temporary location
Right-click DeployModule project in Solution Explorer of Visual Studio and select Add>Merge Module. Browse and select all three .msm files in the KcRedist_5_2 folder. They will appear in Solution Explorer of Visual Studio
Select Application Folder in the left hand pane of the File System window and in context menu select Add > Folder. Change name of the folder to Models. The name can also be changed using the Properties Window. Add new Samples sub folder to the Models folder in the same manner.
Add MiniCAD.glm from Models\Samples folder of KernelCAD_5_2 installation directory to the Bin\Models\Samples folder of the target directory
Add Gen.ico file located in KernelCAD_5_2\Samples\Deployment\ to the Application Folder of the target file system
In the Solution Explorer of the Visual Studio select the DeployModule project. If the properties window (View > Properties Window) click at the end of the AddRemoveProgramIcon line and in the appeared dialog browse to the Gen.ico
Select User's Programs Menu folder in File System window. Right-click into right hand pane and select "Create New Shortcut". Select MiniCAD.exe in the dialog and press OK. Change name of the shortcut to MiniCAD. In the properties window change the Icon property to Gen.ico similar to the above

Registry and Properties

Open Registry Editor using icon on the top of Solution Explorer
Add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\DInsight\KerCADe\5.2 registry key with string value named InstallDir and value [TARGETDIR] as described in Locating Model on Target Computer of Deploy tutorial. If the application relies on the .NET version of KernelCAD add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\DInsight\KerCADne\5_2 instead
Select the Deploy node in solution explorer. Select Properties in the context menu. Click Prerequisite button. Turn on check box next to "Visual Studio Runtime Libraries (x86)" or "Visual Studio Runtime Libraries (x64)" depending on bitnes of your application.
Select Deploy node in solution explorer and change ProductName property in Properties Window to "MiniCAD v1.0"
Change the Title property to MiniCAD v1.0 Setup
If you are using 64 bit KernelCAD change TargetPlatform property of the project to x64

Building and testing

Make sure that the active configuration is Release via Build > "Configuration Manager" menu option of Visual Studio
Build the project with Build > Build Solution. Make sure that there are no errors in the output window
The DeployModule.msi and setup.exe will be created in Release folder is the output of the project. To make sure the application works without KernelCAD it is recommended to test the installer on another machine or uninstall KernelCAD temporary
Run setup.exe to install the application. Select MiniCAD in Start menu to test the application.
Uninstall the MiniCAD application using "Add or Remove Programs" from Control Panel