How to deploy user controls in web application directory?

Question

I'm using wspbuilder and using Return of SmartPart. Return of SmartPart need usercontrols directory in web application root folder. How can I use wspbuilder to create a package that will deploy things in usercontrols folder of web application folder root?

Thanks.

EDIT:

[02/16/2010]

@Chris

I'm a bit confused. The reference link you provided here is moving report from 12-Hive to Web Application bin folder. Correct? The example based upon on a single file what would I have to do the same to copy a folder with its content to the Web Application root? Also, the user control folder reside under TEMPLATES\CONTENTTEMPALTE\XXXXX. When the feature activate it'll copy the folder and its content from there and move it to Web Application root? Thanks.

@Anders

This seems to be useful solution. It says you build the user controls it'll wrap it up in smartpart. I'm curious how will it deploy? Can we do the web application root deployment without even do the feature writing thingy? That could be great! no plague. Please, if you've some good read on smarttemplate that shows how to create a project of it and do the deployment which copy user controls in web application root would be great! Thanks.

Answer 1

The typical pattern used here is to use a timer job to make the changes in the web application root. As you've no doubt noticed, such changes are outside the scope of SharePoint's solution framework.

Here's an example of this from Gary Lapointe.

Answer 2

Jan has made specific SmartTemplates to deploy user controls in WSP builder:

http://www.codeplex.com/smarttemplates

Answer 3

Corrected - does not answer the question

Create a root folder in your project and name it "80". All files in that folder will deployed to the wwwroot. .

If you would like to add a .dll to the wwwroot bin catalog, create a folder in your Visual Studio project called /80/bin/ and add you dll there. In your case create /80/UserControl/ and add your controls there.. You cannot create custom folders such as UserControl and add user controls. See Chris post above on how to handle files/folders not resolved by WSPBuilder and the solution manifest schema.