Can you send vb files to friends to play if they don't have vb?

[cam91]

Does anyone know how to send a vb program to a friend who doesn't have vb so they can play it? How do you send it to a friend who does have vb? How could I post it on the forum? (assuming someone want's to play it.....I promise its pretty cool....)

Thanks,
-Cam

EDIT: VB .NET 2003

[vbNeo]

Yes, you can - assuming you compiled it and your friend has the version of the .Net framework your application uses.

I believe VS has some kind of "Publish" function, otherwise just compile it and send the executable along with whatever ressources your application uses.

[jmcilhinney]

You cannot run a VB.NET application without compiling it to an EXE first. Each time you run it in the debugger it is compiled and it's that compiled EXE that is run. That EXE is output to the bin\Debug subfolder under your project folder by default. Assuming that you're using VB Express, select Build -> Build Solution from the main menu and it will create a release build under the bin\Release subfolder. It's THAT executable that you want to distribute. If your app is simple then just the EXE is enough. Someone else can simply copy it to their machine and run it, or run it straight off a CD or memory key if they like. Note that, as vbNeo says, the appropriate version of the .NET Framework is always required to run .NET apps. If you're developing with VB Express then that means version 2.0 or later.

If your app is more complex than just a single EXE then you may have to distribute DLLs and/or other files too. In that case it may pay to create an installer for it. You can do that by publishing your project or with a third-party deployment tool.

[cam91]

I'll check out the publish function, but the compile and send the executable along with w/e resources your application uses I don't really get. Do you mean just send the file that contains everything pertaining to the program?

Lol and just so everyone knows what we're dealing with here, its just a little adventure game I made. It has about 65+ bmp images though...

EDIT: I did the Build ---> Build Solution, but I can't find the exe. lol....

EDIT2: I think I figured it out - I'll find out in a couple minutes.

[jmcilhinney]

Like I said, if your app is simple then just the EXE on it's own may be enough. By simple I mean an app that doesn't use any external libraries or data files. If you embed all your images as resources then your app could be just an EXE. Even if it does use external files then you can still use the XCOPY deployment method. All you have to do is make sure that all the libraries and data files are located on the target system where the EXE expects them to be. For libraries that would mean in the same folder. For data files it might mean the same folder, a subfolder, the current user's My Pictures folder or wherever. As long as the path you use in your code is valid on the target system it will work.

[cam91]

I think I've got it working now - Thanks!

[SilencerXXX]

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