C#/Crystal Reports Application Deployment

Question

Setup program with merge files (created exactly as it is described in MSDN and many aricles) successfully installes my program on my development computer and on two other computers but failed to install on any other computer

Setup process is interrupted with the message:

Unable to get installer types in the C:\Program Files\...\MyAplication.exe assembly. --> Unable to load one or more of the requested types. Retrieve the LoaderException property for more information.

 

All steps I do are have carefully checked against tens of articles.

 

There is a difference between three computers which allow installation and all other which do not allow. Before to start develop the application I used those three computers for test. I created small C#/CR test application with setup program and installed it on those three computers (one is my own development computer with VS 2005). Everything was ok so I deleted test application code and started the real development. The test application was not uninstalled on the three computers.

 

When I found I am able to install my real (not-test) application on those three computers only, I deinstalled test application from one of those three computers and after that the installation of the real aplication became impossible on this computer too. 

 

I am not sure now I used the correct consequence for setup test program, perhaps by mistake I installed on those computers something that theoretically should not be installed and it was luck. Unfortunately I am not able to guess what "something" was.

 

I appreciate any ideas.

 

 

 

Answer 1

I included to setup program installation of CRRedist2005_x86.msi from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\BootStrapper\Packages\CrystalReports\ as Prerequiest. It solved the problem but in still be non-undestanadable why I need to install it if I have included in my project merge file CrystalReportsRedist2005_X86.msm  already. And there was nothing about that in numerous instructions and helps.

 

Answer 2

When you added the msm file, did you add it as a file or as a merge module to the setup project.  If you added it as a file, it will not work.  You need to right click on the project and choose add file as merge module.  This way it gets built correctly for when installing, otherwise it will just copy the msm file onto the deployed machine.

Answer 3

Yes, I add it as merge file on right click -> Add... -> Mege Module...

Every step and every small detail were absolutly as it should be in accordance with MS instructions. I checked it many times and very carefully.

But it didn't work and started work only when I found somewhere that CRRedist???.msi should be installed first even I include into setup merge file CrystalReportRedist2005???.msm.  There is no word about that in documentation.

 

 

 

Answer 4

I can guarantee that you don't need to install the msi first, as it installs the exact same files as the msm does.  I have not had a problem personally when building a setup project using that msm.

Answer 5

I belive it should be like you describe it, or the consequence became ridicilous. But fact is fact. I checked everything thousand times.

1. Created Setup project

2. Add project output

3. Add merge module Right Click -> Add... -> Merge Modules... - Selection Dialog

4. Checked Solution explorer

5. Compiled

There is no room for mistake.

Perhaps our VS or CR version are different amd miy vercions have some bugs?

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
Version 8.0.50727.42  (RTM.050727-4200)
Installed Edition: Professional

Microsoft .NET Framework
Version 2.0.50727

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer 6

hi

        i had the same issue while installing an application on other computers. as one of my friend has described above, we need to add CRRedist2005_x86 as prerequisites (right click on the setup project --> click on prerequisites tab --> check Crystal report for Dot Net framework 2.0) and then install the application, i hope this will solve the problem. remember Crystal report files should be added to your setup project as MergeModules not as files.

Answer 7

I don't have the Crystal Report for 2.0 framework option - is there an option or installation process that I need to do?