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visual-studio-2008windows-services.net-2.0service-installer

Visual Studio missing "Add Installer" link in service project


I'm building a Windows service and following this MSDN article, but I'm stuck on step 3 under "Create an installer". I can't find the "Add Installer" link it's referring to. I've clicked everywhere, including following the instructions it gives exactly, but I can't seem to find it. A few people on Google have had the same problem, but never found a solution (other than adding the ServiceInstaller object and configuring it manually).

Has anybody else had this problem and found a reason? I'm using VS2008 and targeting .Net 2.0 if it matters.


Solution

  • The "Gray area" they're talking about is the Commands panel from Properties of the Properties panel (not a typo). It is not very useful so you have probably shut it off, I did.

    You can either re-enable it by right-clicking the Properties panel and selecting "Commands", or add an Installer project directly by right-clicking the Service design view (the big tan window with "To add components to your class...") and selecting "Add Installer".