EXE source code & include runtimes

[Vuen]

Yeah is there any way I cna make it so that you can't see my program's source code by opening it in notepad? And can I make it somehow include the runtimes in the exe so I can just send a .exe file without an installer and it can run the program by itself even if the person doesn't have the 6.0 runtimes?

[MartinLiss]

Yeah is there any way I cna make it so that you can't see my program's source code by opening it in notepad?

Why do you care. Are you giving the source code to someone? EXEs can't be read by humans using Notepad.

And can I make it somehow include the runtimes in the exe...

Probably not. I say probably because although I've heard of a 3rd party tool called Fusion that supposedly allows you to do that, I've never used it and you can't to it with Microsoft's tools.

...so I can just send a .exe file without an installer and it can run the program by itself even if the person doesn't have the 6.0 runtimes?

No. Use either the Setup Wizard for VB5 or the Package and Deployment Wizard for VB6.

Yeah...Fusion's really cool in all but one respect...it costs a bomb!!

Download the demo of Fusion from http://www.bit-arts.com

Matthew Ralston
E-Mail: [email protected]
ICQ: 31422892
Web Site: My Home Page
AKA: ...::: The Fragmeinster :::... (On Quake 3 World Forums)

Sorry about my English, but my Scouse is dead good!

P.S. Can you read computer code? Last time I looked at a program in Notepad I didn't think people seeing my source code was much of a problem.

[Edited by matthewralston on 03-31-2000 at 08:43 AM]

[Crazy D]

Notepad can open *every* file, although it's not always easy to read.. (like an exe..)
I wouldn't bother about that too much....

[Claudi]

Hi,

Just some words about what most vb users are looking for:
A single exe with no dependances, to increase speed and use less space (especialy for light applications).
THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE TODAY because you'd have to rewrite the whole vb compiler to do that. If you want no runtimes, try C or delphi...
About the FUSION application: fusion does NOT put the runtimes in the CODE OF THE EXE, but in a compressed autoexecutable file containing the exe, runtimes, ocx and so on. Of course if you check for dependencies with for example exescope on the generated file, you'll not find the vb runtimes because you can only see the HEADER dependencies, caus' your original exe is PACKED and still need the runtimes when depacked (the runtimes are automaticaly stored or re-stored in your system directory when runnig the fusion generated file!
DON'T LOOSE YOUR MONEY, this is just another(hidden)setup application.

[Vuen]

That sucks. And open a vb program in notepad, you can see a lot of ascii there that's straight from your code. Most of it is just object properties but you can still see/hack lots. So much for "time expiry"