如何在安装过程中修改.NET配置文件？

Question

I use the app.config file to store some values (path to a mapping database, data connection selections). These settings differ on the user machines and I would like the installer to set them right. Is there an installer that can work with .NET config files during setup and allow me to create some dialogs that would help me fill in these values ?

I know this question may be similar to : Initializing user.config or app.exe.config during install , but I am not limited to VS 2008 setup project and I want to change the settings in the config files.

EDIT: I see that using WIX is one option, but I feel like cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. It may be the only solution, but I still hope for something simple.

Answer 1

We use WIX to change the application's configuration file. It works really well, you'll need to add wixUtilExtension.dll in the reference.

WIX sample:

<Component Id="ChangeConfig" Guid="[YOUR_GUID_HERE]">
   <File Id="App.config" Name="MyApplication.exe.config" Vital="yes" KeyPath="yes" Source="[Path to project dir]\app.config" />
   <util:XmlFile Id="AppConfigSetConnStr" Action="setValue" Permanent="yes" File="[#App.config]"            
        ElementPath="/configuration/connectionStrings/add[\[]@name='MyDatabaseName'[\]]" Name="connectionString" 
        Value="Your Connection string values here" />

</Component>

It actually depends on what you are using to create the installer, What are you using ?
Have alook at the WIX Tutorial .

Answer 2

If you're using a VS setup project, have you created a custom action? I've used them for everything from poking XML values to deploying databases.

Answer 3

I've used the WIX toolset to produce an msi. The tool allows you to declaratively specify changes to XML files like app.config during installation. Problem is though there is a significant learning curve. Search sourceforge for wix.

Answer 4

我使用带有XML插件的NSIS来做到这一点。

Answer 5

I know this is an old question but we didn't want to use WIX either for a very simple little installer. I found this article that explains in a lot of detail exactly how to do it. It worked perfectly for us.

http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/ddoedens/CustomUI11102005042556AM/CustomUI.aspx