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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-16T17:20:14+00:00

I am updating an existing application that is installed via a Setup and Deployment

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I am updating an existing application that is installed via a Setup and Deployment Project.

The old application copied a config and a database file into the application’s folder in Program Files during installation. This worked fine on Win 2000 and Win Xp (under a local admin account). In Windows 7, however, not only is this frowned upon, but it essentially doesn’t work due to UAC.

So I want to update the application to write its config/data in CommonApplicationData. In the existing Setup and Deployment project, you can easily select some locations as targets for copying files. i.e. Application Folder, User’s Desktop, & User’s Program Files.

I do not see an analogous means of telling the Setup program to copy to the AppData / CommonApplicationData folders. Does that exist, and if not, are there any simple fixes?

Thanks!

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Do a Right Click | Add Special Folder | Custom Folder and name it anything you want ( Common Application Data Folder would be good )

    In the folder properties grid, change the DefaultLocation attribute to [CommonAppDataFolder].

    Add a file to the folder, build and install. You should find your file in C:\ProgramData on Windows 7.

    Be advised, I highly reccomend other tools such as InstallShield and WiX over Visual Studio Deployment Projects. The tool is very limited in what it can do and you will eventually hit a brick wall.

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