send program to numerous computers

Question

I know in the release folder there is a compiled version of my program that i can run from my system without opening visual express but i need to send the program to another computer without visual express or any of my .NET Frameworks, right now when i try it says i need to download them, how can i do it so my program is self contained?

theLizard · Answer

This is the reason I don NOT seriously use C# as a programming language yeah it's ok for some things but NOT when you want to distribute a single exe without the overhead of .net and other stuff.

PJ Martins · Answer

There are ways to have the setup project check and download the framework if necessary. See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324733 or http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vsto/archive/2008/11/18/how-to-include-net-framework-3-5-sp1-with-your-installer.aspx

Matthew Pawelke · Answer

if i creat a setup project does the user still require the .net framework?

PJ Martins · Answer

The .NET framework can be downloaded here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=333325fd-ae52-4e35-b531-508d977d32a6&displaylang=en for version 3.5 or here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en for version 2.0. Also ensure that you update to any service packs. After that's been installed there is a couple of ways you can distribute your program Firstly you can include your .exe and any additional .dll files in a zip file and extract them on the target machine. Then simply create a shortcut to the exe and run it. Your second option would be to use ClickOnce if you have a server to host it on this way you simply give the user a link to your program which will then install it automatically to read more about ClickOnce: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/t71a733d(VS.80).aspx . Your third option will be to create a Setup Project (New Project - Other Project Types) and include your program and .dll files in it. This will then build an installer file you can run on the target machine.

Matthew Pawelke · Answer

probably a dumb question but i've never done this how do i install the .NET framework on the computer can i have it so that i just send one single file with all necessary elements and install then run the program just like when i buy software?

PJ Martins · Answer

You will need to have at the .NET framework installed on the target machine else you will not be able to run your program. To include any third party dlls you've used or any other class library projects go to its reference properties and set Copy Local to true this will copy the dll to your bin folder once you build your project. You can then distribute those dlls along with your program.