.NET framework Question

[lavarock09]

Hey,

I am making this program in Visual Basic 2005, and it will only run if I am using .NET Framework v2.0, so, Is there a way I can make it install .NET framework v2.0 when I publish it so that it can run on other computers.

Thanks,
Chris

[jannemann]

If you are using the Express Edition I think you can't do that with the build-in publisher. I think you'll need to use another tool to create an installer for your application and have it check for the .net version in the registry on the target machine. If it is not 2.0, either display a message or install dotnetfx.

If I'm wrong and you can actually do that with the Express Editions, please let me know how :-)

[Ideas Man]

Nah, I think jannemann was correct, you need to use another installer. One other method to do is to inform the users before they install, or tell them to download it from Microsoft Update.

[jmcilhinney]

The VS 2005 Express editions only support ClickOnce deployment. A ClickOnce installer can deploy the Framework with your app as the bootstrapper is built-in. You should read about ClickOnce and determine whether it is suitable for your needs. If not then you would need to either just provide the Framework redistributable with your program and tell the user to install it themselves or else use a third-party installer. There are some freeware ones around, like Inno and NSIS. Note that these are both very powerful as they are sriptable, but they are not so user-friendly as the VB Express Publish function.

[mendhak]

Here is a link to what jmchi...ey is talking about.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wh45kb66.aspx