Visual Studio Deployment Project - Create shortcut to deployed executable

Question

I realize there is likely a simple method to do this but how does one create a desktop shortcut to the executable deployed by an MSI built using a Visual Studio Deployment p

Answer 1

I would add the following steps (to roman m's answer) to get the .exe's icon into the shortcut, because it seems that by default you will get an ugly generic document-shortcut icon.

Assuming you have already given your program the desired icon,

• right-click on the Deployment Project
• pick menu item View > File System
• in the File System window, find the shortuct whose icon you want to change (for example, under "Users's Programs Menu")
• go to the shortcut's Properties (right-click and pick "Properties Window")
• go to Icon
• Browse...
• change "Files of type" to *.exe
• browse to and select your "primary output"
• OK, OK