In VS, I've only tested code and debugged it, but never actually prepared anything for a finalized program or release. Some of the programs I've downloaded have had dlls that need to be in the folder they're in, and I've had programs that come as just one .exe. Is there a way to compile all the files into one application and not have external dlls? Is this bad programming practice for some reason? How do I compile my VS program into one executable file?
I know this is quite an obvious question, which is why I can't really find an answer, because it would be too obvious to write any kind of tutorial on it.
With a managed language like C# or VB.NET, ILMerge is a utility that you can use.
ILMerge is a utility for merging multiple .NET assemblies into a single .NET assembly. It works on executables and DLLs alike and comes with several options for controlling the processing and format of the output.
If the question is just around getting VisualStudio to build executable programs, it does it every time you run them within it. If you are using all of the default settings, open your project folder and look for a /bin directory. Underneath it, there is a /debug and a /release directory. If you build your program in debug mode, look in the /debug directory, if you build it in release mode, look in the release directory. VS will put everything that your program needs within that directory. You can copy all of those files to another machine that has the .Net runtime installed and it should run.
If the question is more about combining multiple dlls into a single exe, actually, there is a tutorial on it at CodePlex:
As you know, traditional linking of object code is no longer necessary
in .NET. A .NET program will usually consist of multiple parts. A
typical .NET application consists of an executable assembly, a few
assemblies in the program directory, and a few assemblies in the
global assembly cache. When the program is run, the runtime combines
all these parts to a program. Linking at compile time is no longer
necessary.
But sometimes, it is nevertheless useful to combine all parts a
program needs to execute into a single assembly. For example, you
might want to simplify the deployment of your application by combining
the program, all required libraries, and all resources, into a single
.exe file.
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/mergingassemblies.aspx
Lastly, if the question is about building an installer for broad distribution, Jan Willem B has a sample for WIX: Using WIX to create an installer: quickstart tutorial
Yes, you can use ILMerge for embedding managed .Net DLLs! Example here.
Related
I'm new to c#, and i'm stunned by the amount of files that are generated by my release output.
I wrote a REALLY simple program that i want to distribute, no external assets or anything special.
but still, there are 10-15 files generated (.dlls, .pdbs, .configs, etc. etc.)
I did a little research yesterday and i got the impression that it is simply not possible to clean up this mess without a REALLY big hassle?
i tried Fody (didn't work at all) and Tidybin (or something like that?) (created a lib folder and put everything there, which was nice, but the program stopped working and threw errors about the missing files)
I'm looking for a way to generate a clean release version.
ideally with JUST my exe, with all the dlls and other stuff embedded, but everything i read about that was just way above my head and overly complicated (why isn't this super easy to do???)
if that's not possible, i'd be happy with moving everything except the .exe in a lib folder. but that didn't seem to work. how do i update the path inside my application, so that those files can still be found? like i said, that plugin seemed to do half the job, while leaving all links like they were.
(side note: why is there not ANY KIND of ducomentation for all of these plugins? i really don't have the SLIGHTEST idea what to do)
thanks
If you have a simple application, there shouldn't really be that much in the folder.
Actually, there should be:
1 exe, 1 pdb (only for debug build), 1 exe.config file for the application
1 exe, 1 pdb (only for debug build), 1 exe.config file for the Visual Studio Host Process
If there is the System.Net.Http library referenced, this could create a folder with many localizations. If you don't use it: Remove the reference.
Please note that you do not need to deploy all these files! If the application only references framework DLLs, all you need is the .exe and .exe.config file.
DLLs will not be embedded, but if they are framework libraries, they should not be added to the output folder unless you set the "Copy Local" property of the reference. And you don't need to deploy them along with your application, as obviously they are installed along with the .NET framework on the target system anyway.
If you reference any DLLs that do not belong to the .NET Framework, you normally deploy them along with your application. It's easiest to put them in the folder along with your application, but you can also put them in the global assembly cache on the target system.
There are solutions that package the executable, third party DLLs and stuff into an EXE wrapper that is unpacked every time you start the application, but I advise against this. The user won't expect this to happen, virus scanners may block this and builtin mechanisms like .NET settings may not work properly for those solutions.
The easiest way to distribute your code is using InstallShield Visual Studio edition. (That is available with your Visual Studio license)
Download and register, then add a new distribution project to your solution.
InstallShield Limited Edition for Visual Studio
A wizard will help you by selecting the main distribution files. And it is a useful tool distributing new releases of your application.
As a second option I use is ClickOnce (Microsoft), but for specific internal applications.
ClickOnce Deployement
I've never done this before, because I've never needed to until now, but I need to build my windows forms application to a standalone executable. I'm aware of both Build and Publish options within Visual Studio however none do what I need. Build doesn't allow you to move the executable it makes, and Publish makes a setup to install on the computer.
My goal is for the application to open without installation.
In the /bin/Debug/ directory made by the Build option, I have an executable, four dlls required, two .pdb file, and few other standard files (.manifest, .config, etc.). I was hoping to get any requirements built inside the executable.
How do I do this? All my searching has taken me to bunch of tutorials on how to make applications from scratch and how to use the csc.exe console command.
You can merge the separate assemblies to make it one single executable.
There is a tool called ILMerge that is capable of doing that for you. Another method is described in this post, which also works for WPF.
What you want is to embed the .DLLs in the .exe file so you can move it freely and only need the .exe , you just didn't search for the right thing,
here is what you are looking for :
It is possible to merge .NET executables with libraries. There are multiple tools available to get the job done:
ILMerge is a utility that can be used to merge multiple .NET assemblies into a single assembly.
Mono mkbundle, packages an exe and all assemblies with libmono into a single binary package.
IL-Repack is a FLOSS alterantive to ILMerge, with some additional features.
See : Embedding DLLs in a compiled executable
this is indeed a duplicate but i don't have the reputation to mark it as so.
I'm coding a simple application that I need to be portable (the user can just run it by clicking on the .exe without having to run a installer).
All the other questions on this subject that I found on StackOverflow wants to make .NET Framework "bundable" with the software, but I don't need that.
A workaround that I found is going to /bin/Debug on the project folder and use the .exe there, but that seems "wrong". Is there another way to make a software written in C# portable?
Thanks!
EDIT: Okay, I'm really dumb and I asked all the wrong questions. However, your answers pointed me to the right direction. I wanted to know how to generate the .exe to send to my friends. What I had to do is change this to "Release" and press F6. I added this so if someone with the same "doubts" that I had can find the answer easly. Thanks!
Going to bin/Debug and using the DLL there is wrong.
Instead, build and copy the one from bin/Release.
If there's anything else inside the folder, though (except *.pdb), then beware. Your application might need those additional files. For example, the app.config.
All .NET applications are "portable" as long as the machine you are running it on has the version of .NET you are targeting (or a compatible version). The key here is to make sure that your application does not depend on things that an installer would take care of for you to make your application work. Examples include: registered DLLs (like Interop assemblies), registry keys, or components that must be found in certain locations (such as having something stored in user's AppData folder).
As long as the machine you want to run it on has .NET framework, you can make any .NET application portable. If the app you're making has no dependencies other than .NET then it's fully portable already. Even if it does have dependencies just include those with the executable.
To expand on Zerkms's comment:
Every software is portable by default. Installers are a way of telling to program to search for resources in a certain place, meaning that if the place isn't there, eg: C:\Windows then the program won't be able to run.
So as long as you have the application have the resources already within the exe or a root folder search (so where the program is, rather then where it should be) then you'll be fine.
If you're using default controls, it should be fine as long as your software's running framework version is installed on the computer. If you're using 3rd party controls, you can emded the dll's into the .exe upon compiling. Do note that the more dll's you embed, the bigger the .exe file will be.
I can't seem to find the solution I'm looking for in the similar questions, but that might be because of my lack of searching skills.
Either way, I have a using System.Runtime.InteropServices; in my C# project which I use to unzip a downloaded .zip file.
My problem arises from the following: I hate installers... Thus I need a way to include the Interop.Shell32.dll file into the .exe which is located in the project's \bin\Debug folder.
Thus avoiding the need for an installer which adds the Interop.Shell32.dll into the program's path and avoiding the need for an extra file download along with the .exe if I don't use an installer.
What would be the best/most efficient way for me to do so? (Preferably without having to include a load of extra code into the program)
There are several useful tools; I'm not exactly sure what is being sought, so I will provide a small listing of tools/approaches that I use.
ILMerge for merging multiple managed assemblies such as the project output and external assemblies/PIAs. Make sure the PIA/assembly being merged is allowed to be distributable as such or see #3.
Embedded resources for including "external data" including non-managed DLLs which might be external requirements for managed assemblies. These non-managed DLLs/COM libraries can be bound/loaded at runtime after extraction.
dotNetInstaller for making a unified launcher/installer (it is a bootstrap and can provide embedded resources). This can be used in conjunction with a normal MSI (VS Setup Project) installer to handle prerequisites such as installing official distributable packages or it could simply be used to launch the executable (no "installer" except those for prerequisites).
You can use ILMerge. Taken from the Microsoft webpage:
ILMerge is a utility for merging multiple .NET assemblies into a single .NET assembly. It works on executables and DLLs alike and comes with several options for controlling the processing and format of the output.
I'm developping with visual studio 2008 and I use several project library used by several application project. There is also external dependency.
When I distribute the program, all the DLL appears in the program files folder which would make very easy to hack my program.
Is is possible to bundle all the project library into one exec file?
Well, if you sign your assemblies it will be near impossible to "hack" your program. Read about signing assemblies here. There is a program called ILMerge that you can use to bundle your assemblies into one, but I don't see the need really... at least not to avoid that someone hacks your codez :-)
Yes, there is. There is a tool called ILMerge. For more info see http://blogs.msdn.com/brad_mccabe/archive/2005/08/19/453703.aspx