I have created a finished application and I was wondering how to make an exe to install my file on a users computer. Either using instal shild or some other program. I have just never atempted to distribute my applications.
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I have created a finished application and I was wondering how to make an exe to install my file on a users computer. Either using instal shild or some other program. I have just never atempted to distribute my applications.
If it is a simple app - then you can X-Copy - just build the exe and copy it to the client machine.
If you need to do more than just X-Copy - such as add icons, use the GAC, etc. then you will be more suited to using a Setup Project that creates an install package (msi). - Or you could use install shield, etc.
Its a simple app but what I used to run into with vb6 when i just coppied it to another computer that did not have vb6 it would be missing all of the runtime files and it would not run. I do not know if i would have the same problem now. So I was hoping an install program would also carry the runtime files (if they are still used) and all of that jazz.
Yes, the client machine would need the .NET framework on it (1.0 if your app is in .NET 2002, 1.1 if .NET 2003). The install can install this for you.
I remember vb6 coming w/ an option to create an install file and distrubute, does .net have that option and i am just not seeing it?
You have to create a setup project (New Project / Setup Project) and add your project's output to it. You will see the framework is added by default (dotnetfxredist...). You might have to enable it, but I remember seeing it listed.