publish vs2k8 win app to local drive for testing

[Jeremy]

My app will eventually be published to a file server for deployment and
updates, but right now I want to test the publish and deploy on my laptop.
However, the install folder demands a unc, and just won't proceed without
it. I tried ///C:, and I tried \\(localhost), but neither work. The latter
throws an error when I try to install -- when I try to run the manifest (is
that the right term?), it says it can't find files that are obviously
present.

Is this possible, or am I wasting my time?

[Jeremy]

However, the install folder demands a unc, and just won't proceed without

it. I tried ///C:, and I tried \\(localhost), but neither work.

Figured that one out. \\ComputerName\path seems to work (I have a share
setup on the path, as it happens, although I'm not sure that was required).
However, during an actual install, it seems that the browser has to be set
to allow running a program, as opposed to requiring a download, then
running. Is that correct? I'm getting the following error msg:

"SOURCES
Deployment url : file:///C:/Downloads/TranslatorWin.application

ERROR SUMMARY
Below is a summary of the errors, details of these errors are listed later
in the log.
* Activation of C:\Downloads\TranslatorWin.application resulted in
exception. Following failure messages were detected:
+ Downloading file:///C:/Downloads/TranslatorWin.application did not
succeed.
+ Could not find file 'C:\Downloads\TranslatorWin.application'.
+ Could not find file 'C:\Downloads\TranslatorWin.application'.
+ Could not find file 'C:\Downloads\TranslatorWin.application'."

[Jeremy]

Got past that one too. This is turning into a comedy.

When I do "Publish", eventually I get a browser window with a big Install
link, and a tiny, hidden "launch" link. Click Install and i get a browser
prompt to save or cancel. Save, and then I get the error about files not
found in c:\downloads. However, if I click launch, the program runs.

So now presumably the program is installed locally. Except that I can't find
any shortcuts to it, and there is no folder in Program Files, no shortcut on
the desktop. Perhaps I don't understand where the program will be
installed. It's a win app. Yes, I did select "The application is available
offline as well (launchable from Start menu)".

[Jeremy]

"So now presumably the program is installed locally. Except that I can't
find

any shortcuts to it, and there is no folder in Program Files, no shortcut
on the desktop.

Yes, this is a comedy. Magically, now there is a shortcut on Start. I
guess you gotta do everything twice, right?

So, problems all solved ... for the moment.