If you are deploying to a server running Windows Server using http, the server must have the Front Page extensions installed on it. So you can either install the Front Page extensions on it, or use FTP instead.

On one of my web servers that I use to test deployments, I have FTP access to a virtual folder. So I FTP the files to it, and the web server has an HTTP address to point to the root of my folder.

So for example, the publishing location would be something like this:

ftp://mydeployment.mycompany.com/rootofmyfolder/appname/

which might point to this:

http://mydeployment.mycompany.com/appname

(In my case, the root folder is mapped to the alias http://mydeployment.mycompany.com/ .

RobinDotNet

Are you hosting it yourself, or is someone else hosting it for you?

You need to figure out how to ftp stuff to the folder that corresponds to where you would publish it via http.

For me, my network people would not give me http write access to the web server itself, so they set up an alias and a virtual directory. (I think I have the nomenclature right). So I ftp to a folder on the server, but the folder does not reside directly under C:\Inetpub\, and they set up an http address to point at my folder. This is why my FTP address and the HTTP address of the deployment are different.

Are you publishing a publish page along with your application files? It's it under the Options dialog, you can set publish.htm to the page, and check the boxes for "create this every time" and "show it after publishing". If you include a publish page and it comes up, you can then try clicking on Install and testing your deployment.

RobinDotNet

I was able to put a link in my web page to the publish.htm file. When I click install everything seems to be working then I get an error:

'Cannot Continue. The application is improperly formatted, Contact the administrator vendor for assistance.'

The details of the error are:

PLATFORM VERSION INFO
Windows : 5.1.2600.196608 (Win32NT)
Common Language Runtime : 2.0.50727.3082
System.Deployment.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
mscorwks.dll : 2.0.50727.3082 (QFE.050727-3000)
dfdll.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
dfshim.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)

SOURCES
Deployment url: http://buildersplussoftware.com/solutions/Builders%20Estimator.application

ERROR SUMMARY
Below is a summary of the errors, details of these errors are listed later in the log.
* Activation of http://buildersplussoftware.com/solutions/Builders Estimator.application resulted in exception. Following failure messages were detected:
+ Exception reading manifest from http://buildersplussoftware.com/solutions/Builders%20Estimator.application: the manifest may not be valid or the file could not be opened.
+ The 'meta' start tag on line 1 does not match the end tag of 'head'. Line 22, position 16.

COMPONENT STORE TRANSACTION FAILURE SUMMARY
No transaction error was detected.

WARNINGS
There were no warnings during this operation.

OPERATION PROGRESS STATUS
* [9/21/2009 9:06:25 PM] : Activation of http://buildersplussoftware.com/solutions/Builders Estimator.application has started.

ERROR DETAILS
Following errors were detected during this operation.
* [9/21/2009 9:06:26 PM] System.Deployment.Application.InvalidDeploymentException (ManifestParse)
- Exception reading manifest from http://buildersplussoftware.com/solutions/Builders%20Estimator.application: the manifest may not be valid or the file could not be opened.
- Source: System.Deployment
- Stack trace:
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestReader.FromDocument(String localPath, ManifestType manifestType, Uri sourceUri)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.DownloadDeploymentManifestDirectBypass(SubscriptionStore subStore, Uri& sourceUri, TempFile& tempFile, SubscriptionState& subState, IDownloadNotification notification, DownloadOptions options, ServerInformation& serverInformation)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.DownloadDeploymentManifestBypass(SubscriptionStore subStore, Uri& sourceUri, TempFile& tempFile, SubscriptionState& subState, IDownloadNotification notification, DownloadOptions options)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator.PerformDeploymentActivation(Uri activationUri, Boolean isShortcut, String textualSubId, String deploymentProviderUrlFromExtension, BrowserSettings browserSettings, String& errorPageUrl)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator.ActivateDeploymentWorker(Object state)
--- Inner Exception ---
System.Xml.XmlException
- The 'meta' start tag on line 1 does not match the end tag of 'head'. Line 22, position 16.
- Source: System.Xml
- Stack trace:
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(String res, String[] args)
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowTagMismatch(NodeData startTag)
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseEndElement()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElementContent()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReader.Read()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestValidatingReader.XmlFilteredReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Skip()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReader.Skip()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestValidatingReader.XmlFilteredReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Skip()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReader.Skip()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestValidatingReader.XmlFilteredReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Skip()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReader.Skip()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestValidatingReader.XmlFilteredReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Skip()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReader.Skip()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestValidatingReader.XmlFilteredReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Skip()
at System.Xml.XmlTextReader.Skip()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestValidatingReader.XmlFilteredReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XmlCharCheckingReader.Read()
at System.Xml.XsdValidatingReader.Read()
at System.Deployment.Application.ManifestReader.FromDocument(String localPath, ManifestType manifestType, Uri sourceUri)

COMPONENT STORE TRANSACTION DETAILS
No transaction information is available.

Were you able to ftp the publish.htm file to that folder and then open it using an http link? I keep asking you that question for a reason -- it's how to verify the ftp and http locations.

You need to talk to whoever is hosting yeour website, and ask them this:

(1) what is the URL I can use to FTP my files to my web server folder?

Take this url and append a folder onto it for your app (assuming you're going to deploy multiple applications, or at least want to be able to later). For example, if they give you ftp://yahoo.com/buildersplussoftware/ you want to use ftp://yahoo.com/buildersplussoftware/MyAppName for your publishing location.

(2) What is the http URL that I can use to access the files in the web server folder?

Take this url and append a folder onto it for your app (same assumption). For example, if they give you http://buildersplussoftware.com/ you want to use http://buildersplussoftware.com/MyAppName/ for your installation location.

If it publishes successfully, you should be able to append publish.htm to the installation url to access your deployment. So it would be something like http://buildersplussoftware.com/MyAppName/publish.htm

The other thing you need is for them to make sure they have the MIME types set up for you to handle a ClickOnce deployment. Here they are:

.application --> application/x-ms-application
.manifest --> application/x-ms-application
.deploy --> application/octet stream

If you are deploying .Net 3.5 as a prerequisite, you need these as well:

.msp --> application/microsoftpatch
.msu --> application/microsoftupdate

If you have vsto apps, you need this one:

.vsto --> application/x-ms-vsto

You do not have your ftp and http addresses right, and only Yahoo or whoever it is hosting it can help you with that.

RobinDotNet

I was able to move the publish.htm file to the remote site using filezilla and from there link in to a text on my webpage to start it.

This is the deployment manifest. This is what is run to actually install the ClickOnce part of the deployment, so without it, you are sunk.

I have no idea why it wouldn't upload. Did you ask Yahoo about the MIME types? Because if those aren't set up, you are s.o.l.

If you can't upload your files to your web server, you'll need to ask Yahoo why. Maybe they are blocking certain file types, although this seems really odd, as ClickOnce has become quite popular. But you'll have to ask them.

If it makes you feel any better, you do seem to be getting much closer. :-)

RobinDotNet

I was able to find the problem. Ihad a space between to word 'Builders Estimator.application' and I changed it to 'buildersestimator.application' properties - publish . Now I am able to transfer or upload all my file to 'buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/'. I get this error in the set up after it is check:

PLATFORM VERSION INFO
Windows : 5.1.2600.196608 (Win32NT)
Common Language Runtime : 2.0.50727.3082
System.Deployment.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
mscorwks.dll : 2.0.50727.3082 (QFE.050727-3000)
dfdll.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
dfshim.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)

SOURCES
Deployment url: http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/buildersestimator.application
Server: YTS/1.17.13
Deployment Provider url: http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/buildersestimator.application

IDENTITIES
Deployment Identity: buildersestimator.application, Version=3.2.3.40, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=5b236a6b12f52d70, processorArchitecture=msil

APPLICATION SUMMARY
* Installable application.

ERROR SUMMARY
Below is a summary of the errors, details of these errors are listed later in the log.
* Activation of http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/buildersestimator.application resulted in exception. Following failure messages were detected:
+ Downloading http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/Application Files/buildersestimator_3_2_3_40/buildersestimator.exe.manifest did not succeed.
+ The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.

COMPONENT STORE TRANSACTION FAILURE SUMMARY
No transaction error was detected.

WARNINGS
There were no warnings during this operation.

OPERATION PROGRESS STATUS
* [9/24/2009 6:07:20 AM] : Activation of http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/buildersestimator.application has started.
* [9/24/2009 6:07:23 AM] : Processing of deployment manifest has successfully completed.
* [9/24/2009 6:07:23 AM] : Installation of the application has started.

ERROR DETAILS
Following errors were detected during this operation.
* [9/24/2009 6:07:23 AM] System.Deployment.Application.DeploymentDownloadException (Unknown subtype)
- Downloading http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/Application Files/buildersestimator_3_2_3_40/buildersestimator.exe.manifest did not succeed.
- Source: System.Deployment
- Stack trace:
at System.Deployment.Application.SystemNetDownloader.DownloadSingleFile(DownloadQueueItem next)
at System.Deployment.Application.SystemNetDownloader.DownloadAllFiles()
at System.Deployment.Application.FileDownloader.Download(SubscriptionState subState)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.DownloadManifestAsRawFile(Uri& sourceUri, String targetPath, IDownloadNotification notification, DownloadOptions options, ServerInformation& serverInformation)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.DownloadManifest(Uri& sourceUri, String targetPath, IDownloadNotification notification, DownloadOptions options, ManifestType manifestType, ServerInformation& serverInformation)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.DownloadApplicationManifest(AssemblyManifest deploymentManifest, String targetDir, Uri deploymentUri, IDownloadNotification notification, DownloadOptions options, Uri& appSourceUri, String& appManifestPath)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator.DownloadApplication(SubscriptionState subState, ActivationDescription actDesc, Int64 transactionId, TempDirectory& downloadTemp)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator.InstallApplication(SubscriptionState& subState, ActivationDescription actDesc)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator.PerformDeploymentActivation(Uri activationUri, Boolean isShortcut, String textualSubId, String deploymentProviderUrlFromExtension, BrowserSettings browserSettings, String& errorPageUrl)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator.ActivateDeploymentWorker(Object state)
--- Inner Exception ---
System.Net.WebException
- The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.
- Source: System
- Stack trace:
at System.Net.HttpWebRequest.GetResponse()
at System.Deployment.Application.SystemNetDownloader.DownloadSingleFile(DownloadQueueItem next)

COMPONENT STORE TRANSACTION DETAILS
No transaction information is available.

I talked to them about the MIME types and they said that they don't support this. Does this mean that I have to change my web host to one that does support MIME. If so can you reccomend one?
Thanks

I created a folder on my C drive to set as the publication location 'C:\Deployed Project\Builders Estimator\'
After the application is published I transferred all the files from that location to "http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/' which is the same location set as the installation location in the publish wizard.

Do I keep how the files are organized on my c drive when I transfer (upload) them. By this I mean there was a folder created called 'Applications Files' and then a folder inside thatcalled 'buildersestimator 3_2-3-40'. Or do I put all the files in one location 'http://buildersplussoftware.com/buildersestimator/'. Or if the cause is that I don't have access to read them, how to I change that?

Unfortunatly I can't check them right now because I am in the process of changingweb hosts. Hopefully I won't have problemsonce the change is done.

Thanks

An error occurred trying to download 'http://home/BuildersEstimator/buildersestimator.application'.

See the setup log file located at 'C:\DOCUME~1\Randy\LOCALS~1\Temp\VSD15C0.tmp\install.log' for more information.

When I look in this location on my C drive : C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\BuildersEstimator

it looks like everything is there. It contains the buildersestimator.application application manifest file, the publish.htm file, the setup.exe file, and the applications folder.

What else do I need to look at to get this to work?

Thanks