Deploying Microsoft Chart Controls

MSChart.exe setup should be used to deploy Microsoft Chart controls but what exactly need to be done to create a deployment package in Visual Studio? Visual Studio provides an easy way to add the prerequisites using bootstrappers. Now we have a detailed instructions on how to create and use .NET Chart Control bootstrapper.

Adding MS Chart Controls as a prerequisite in your Visual Studio 2008 installation package.
In order to specify a prerequisite to your deployment package something called a bootstrapper is needed. Unfortunately Microsoft do not provide a bootstrapper for the Chart Controls for the .Net Framework. Luckily it is not too difficult to create your own bootstrapper.

Here's how to do it:
Firstly you need to locate the folder in which the bootstrapper files need to be. On my machine this is here: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0A\Bootstrapper\Packages\

Follow the instructions below to create the files:

1. Create a Folder called: Microsoft Chart Controls
2. In this new folder create a file called product.xml
3. Use Notepad to edit this file and add the following code:
   

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> 
   <!-- Bootstrapper for MS Chart Controls. Created by Phil Preen, Feb 2009,

   use at your own risk -->
   <Product xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/2004/01/bootstrapper" 

   ProductCode="Microsoft.ChartControls">
   <RelatedProducts>
   <DependsOnProduct Code="Microsoft.Net.Framework.3.5.SP1" /> 
   </RelatedProducts>
   <PackageFiles CopyAllPackageFiles="false">
   <PackageFile Name="MSChart.exe" HomeSite="MSChart.exe" /> 
   </PackageFiles>
   <InstallChecks /> 
   <Commands>
   <Command PackageFile="MSChart.exe">
   <ExitCodes>
   <DefaultExitCode Result="Success" /> 
   </ExitCodes>
   </Command>
   </Commands>
   </Product>

4. Copy MSChart.exe (the chart controls installation package) into this folder.
5. Create a sub-folder called: en
6. In this new folder create a file called package.xml
7. Use Notepad to edit this file and add the following code:
   

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
   <!-- Bootstrapper for MS Chart Controls. Created by Phil Preen, Feb 2009, 

   use at your own risk -->
   <Package
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/2004/01/bootstrapper"
     Name="DisplayName"
     Culture="Culture"
     LicenseAgreement="eula.rtf"
   >
       <PackageFiles>
           <PackageFile Name="eula.rtf"/>
       </PackageFiles>
       <!-- Defines a localizable string table for error messages-->
       <Strings>
           <String Name="DisplayName">Microsoft Chart Controls for Dotnet 

   Framework 3.5 SP1</String>
           <String Name="Culture">en</String>
           <String Name="AdminRequired">Administrator permissions are 

   required to install

   Microsoft Chart Controls for Dotnet Framework 3.5 SP1. Contact your 

   administrator.</String>
           <String Name="AnotherInstanceRunning">Another instance of setup is

   already running. The running instance must complete before this setup can 

   proceed.</String>
           <String Name="GeneralFailure">A failure occurred attempting to 

   install Microsoft Chart Controls for Dotnet Framework 3.5 SP1.</String>
       </Strings>
   </Package>

8. Copy eula.rtf (the chart controls license agreement) into this folder. To obtain this file, start the Chart Controls installer and choose the option to Save the license agreement.

 Microsoft Chart Controls will now appear in the list of prerequisites in your Visual Studio deployment settings.

 Note that because Microsoft Chart Controls is dependent upon the .Net Framework 3.5 SP1. It is necessary to have the Framework files available.

Reference Link : View