Visual Studio Setup Project conditional if File Exists

Question

I have a Setup/Deployment Project for my Application and it outputs certain files (*.dll, *.dat) to the Application Folder.

I would like a condition to be set to che

Answer 1

You should just install the data file as a test to see what actually happens. The reason I say this is that Windows Installer will not overwrite files that have been changed after they were first installed. See this rule:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa370531(v=vs.85).aspx

It seems to me you may need to do nothing at all.

Answer 2

To only install a file, if it doesn't already exist, follow these steps:

1. Add a "Search Target Machine" entry under the "Launch Conditions" view in your setup project.

2. fill in the FileName property and the Folder property.

3. the Property property should be a constant you can remember, like "MY_AWESOME_FILE_EXISTS"
4. in the "File System" view of your project, locate the component to install and add this to the Condition property "not MY_AWESOME_FILE_EXISTS"

That is all.

Sources (since I just had to figure this out for myself):

• Condition Property
• Conditional Statement Syntax
• Conditional Install if a file exists
• Searching for Existing Applications, Files, Registry Entries or .ini File Entries

Answer 3

The Condition-attribute has just what you need: an Exists-condition. Simplified example is:

<Copy Condition="!Exists($(DestPath)database.dat)"
      SourceFiles="$(SrcPath)database.dat"
      DestinationFolder="$(DestPath)"/>

See also this topic.

Answer 4

On the Setup Project, right-click on the file you want to keep on the installation folder, select Properties and set Permanent to true.