Request: Remove uninstall shortcuts from templates :-)

[Thona]

I was a little shocked that a new .NET project has an uninstall shortcut. That is in violation of the design guidelines for windows applications. It is actually IIRC forbidden and should result in a certification fail. Uninstallation should happen only through the add/remove programs applet.

Given that you advertise that installers out of the bos follow the design guidelines, I find that shortcut a tad disturbing.

[Gizm0]

The uninstall shorcut starts the installer in maintance mode and does NOT uninstall the product right away (which is the actual violation).

[Thona]

Ouch. You should be lawyer. Following the words of a specification while violating the intention is lawyer-talk.

I would have to make research, but IIRC it clearly says "no uninstall links", and yours is named "uninstall". The guideleines do not allow even for a maintenance link, because having that is senseless. The way to maintain apps is through the installed software panel

[Gizm0]

Ahahaha. Thank you for your good words!

No, seriously, in my point of view, is there to be user handy, even by violating the IIRC standar.

You can wait Michael's reply on that too, as he is in charge on these things.

These are personal opinions and not official InstallAWARE Software Corporation replies!

[MichaelNesmith]

Hi Thona!

Gizm0 is actually right about this one, the uninstall link was the second most frequently requested item for our setups last year. So while it might violate design guidelines (lawyer talk excluded), it seems to be something practical which end-users and software developers really like to have.

Since the uninstall shortcut can easily be deleted, but its creation is not so obvious (requires the developer to look up or know a pre-defined setup variable), the decision was made to add it to template setups.