Question

I have a ClickOnce application, that I want to run everytime the computer starts, based on user’s choice. For this I add my application’s executable to the registry. But this directly starts the app, skiping the ClickOnce search for updates.
So I need the path to the ClickOnce application to correctly setup in the registry.

Answer 1

Execute the .appref-ms file, that the start menu shortcut (created when your ClickOnce was installed) executes. This is what we do in VB.Net:

Dim FilePath As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.StartMenu) + "\Programs\[your publisher name]\[your app name]"
Static p As Process

Dim files As String()

Try
    files = Directory.GetFiles(FilePath, "[your shortcut name]*.appref-ms")
Catch ex As Exception
    '' an exception is thrown if no matching file exists
    '' you can open your ClickOnce URL in a webbrowser control here
    Return
End Try

If files.Length = 1 Then
    Dim psi As ProcessStartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo(files(0))
    psi.Arguments = "" 
    psi.WorkingDirectory = FilePath
    psi.UseShellExecute = True
    psi.CreateNoWindow = False
    psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal
    psi.RedirectStandardOutput = False
    psi.RedirectStandardError = False

    Try
        p = Process.Start(psi)
        p.WaitForExit(50)
        p.Close()
    Catch ex As Exception
        ' handle error
    End Try
Else
    ' more than one would be an anomaly
    If files.Length > 1 Then
        Dim f As String
        For Each f In files
            File.Delete(f)
        Next
    End If

    '' you can open your ClickOnce URL in a webbrowser control here
End If