VB 2005 Multiple instance deployment

[balabaster]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how to install multiple instances of a Windows Service on a single machine using the deployment Setup Project.

We have a Windows Service that's configurable through the app.config file so that the service can be configured to do different things when it's fired up. We have a number of different configurations that aren't compatible with each other and consequently need multiple instances of this service installed (on the same box).

Using the InstallUtil application, I was able to customize my Installer Initialize routine to ask the user for the name that is needed to be assigned to this Windows Service at install time. All of this works perfectly is far from professional. So my next step is to change the installer to receive the user input from the Project installer, which again all works fine and the service installs and runs as I would expect - I now have a professional setup program that installs my service.

The issue I'm running into is when I come to install the second instance of this component. The only issue with this is that the Setup Project doesn't seem to allow you the ability to install multiple instances of the same application on the same box.

Anyone have any ideas? I've scoured through books and all over the internet and have drawn a blank. Is there any way to do this with the Visual Studio 2005 Setup Project?

Cheers in advance!

[balabaster]

I'm wondering if there's some way for the person installing the application to set the name of the application in the setup project, i.e. a page that says "What should this service be called?" and then it uses that for the name of the application in the Add/Remove programs list as well as the service name in the services list.

If anyone could give me a pointer in the direction of how I would go about achieving this, I would be most grateful.

Cheers again.