ClickOnce Deployment Checklist

ClickOnce Deployment Checklist
By Joe Bolen

Steps:

1) Brand project with your icon for all forms. (Use 16x16 or 32x32 pixels size.)

2) Exclude unused forms.

3) Make certain object's property in the Resource folder have Build Action = Content or Resource; and, Copy to Output Directory = Copy if newer or Always.

4) From Project's Application properties ...
	a. Set the Application's Icon to your custom icon.
	b. Click the "Assembly Information..." button, fill out or verify information.

5) From Project's References properties, click on "Unused References ..." button and remove unneeded references.

6) From Project's Resources, remove unused resource objects. Note: Custom Splash and About forms may have images that you may wish to keep, although they have been excluded from the project.

7) From Project's Signing properties ...
	a. Click the "Sign the ClickOnce manifests".
	b. Click "Create Test Certificate..." button (or select other options) to sign the manifest.
	c. Fill in Timestamp server URL < http://timestamp.verisign.com/scripts/timstamp.dll >.
	d. Check "Sign the assembly".
	e. On the "Choose a strong name key file" dropdown, select <New>. Complete the "Create Strong Name Key" form and click the "OK" button.

8) From Project's Security properties ...
	a. Check "Enable ClickOnce security setting".
	b. Select "This is a full trust application".

9) From Project's Publish properties ...
	a. Fill in or browse "Publishing Folder Location". Example: U:\Deploy\[AppName]
	b. For "Install Mode and Settings", select "The application is available offline...".
	c. Click the "Application Files..." button. Check and verify settings. Then "OK" button.
	d. Click the "Prerequisites..." button.
		i. Check "Create Setup program to install prerequisite components".
		ii. View and check prerequisites.
		iii. Select "Download prerequisites from component vendor's web site".
		iv. Click the "OK" button.
	e. Click the "Updates..." button. Verify that nothing is selected or fill in the information.
	f. Click the "Options..." button.
		i. From Description...
			1. Publisher's name and Product name must be filled out. This is the way it will appear in the Start Menu.
		ii. From Deployment ...
			1. Check "For CD installations ...".
		iii. From Manifests ...
			1. Check "Allow URL parameters to be passed to application".
			2. Check "Use application manifest for trust information".
			3. Check "Create desktop shortcut".
		iv. From File Associations ...
			1. Extension -  Example: .txt or .log
			2. Description - Example : Plain Text File or Plain Text Log File
			3. ProgID - Example: TED.TXT or TED.LOG
			4. Icon - Example: Resources\Bolen.ico

10) From Visual Studio menu bar, select Build | Clean Solution.

11) Run again in Debug mode and verify.

12) Change Build Action to Release.

13) From Visual Studio menu bar, select Build | Build Solution.

14) From Visual Studio menu bar, select Build | Publish.


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