Deploying applications with .NET

[Edward Bird]

Hi all,

I've written a VB.NET application that I want to convert into an exe file
which will run on other computers. Can you give me a few guidelines on how
to do this, or a useful link

I've tried building the solution as a release, but I can't get it to work on
other machines,

thanks in advance for any help given,

regards,

Edward.

 

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,

You need the dotnet framework installed on the machines you want to
run the program on.

Ken
----------------
Hi all,

I've written a VB.NET application that I want to convert into an exe file
which will run on other computers. Can you give me a few guidelines on how
to do this, or a useful link

I've tried building the solution as a release, but I can't get it to work on
other machines,

thanks in advance for any help given,

regards,

Edward.

 

[Poolbeer \(MCP\)]

Edward,

Do the other machines have the .net framework installed?

regards,

Poolbeer

 

[Edward Bird]

Hi,

You need the dotnet framework installed on the machines you want to
run the program on.

Ken

Hmm. This seems very restrictive. How can I get around this?

regards,

Edward.

 

[Edward Bird]

Edward,

Do the other machines have the .net framework installed?

regards,

Poolbeer

No, they don't.

Does the .NET framework *have* to be installed. Is there any way around
this?

Also, is the .NET framework built into XP, or does it have to be installed
separately?

regards,

Edward

 

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,

I would recomend you install the framework but maybe this will help.
http://thinstall.com/help/index.html?linking_netframework.htm

Ken
--------------------

Hi,

You need the dotnet framework installed on the machines you want to
run the program on.

Ken

Hmm. This seems very restrictive. How can I get around this?

regards,

Edward.

 

[Poolbeer \(MCP\)]

Edward,

To run applications written in VB.net or C# (or any managed language) you
MUST have the .net framework installed on the machine.

Windows XP Service Pack 1 has the .net framework embedded (I think). and
Windows Update lists this as a optional update too (if prior to SP1).

regards,

Poolbeer

 

[Sriram Krishnan]

No - XP SP1 does not have the framework. I wonder whether SP2 has it though

 

[Greg Burns]

SP2 is suppose to have NET 1.1 Framework.

Greg

 

[SStory]

Why is it such a big deal?

On install tell user to run dotnetfx once to install it and if they already
have it from another .NET app they won't need to.

Or download the MS bootstrap setup that includes installing framework.

The thing is that all new versions of Windows will definitely have it and if
people want to run most new apps they are going to have to have it. Yes it
is a pain in one sense but on the other hand, once installed you can copy an
..EXE without a setup, technically to that machine and it will run--just like
in DOS days.

So there are pluses and minuses.

I have also read of companies that take the framework and your app and do
static linking somehow to form a standalone exe. This would do what you
want but in my opinion is a big waste of space since it would need to
statically link reusable framework code into every such app instead of the
framework just being installed once and everyone using it.

My 2 cents worth,

Shane

 

[Ricky W. Hunt]

Why is it such a big deal?

On install tell user to run dotnetfx once to install it and if they already
have it from another .NET app they won't need to.

According to what I've read it would increase by program from about 3MB to
something like 26MB. That's enough to keep people from even trying to
download my program. In fact, it's more than I can even send on my ISP.

That Thinstall that someone mentioned looks fantastic!
http://thinstall.com/help/index.html?linking_netframework.htm. Why in the
world doesn't MS offer something like this? I can't afford $1,400 just to
send a few friends a program I wrote.

 

[SStory]

Well yes if you are downloading it is a deal.
It doesn't really increase your program... just the prereqs.
ie. the more dotnet programs you write for a machine the less "behemoth"
those apps are.

The actual dot net EXE's are really small.

Just the runtime is huge.

However since Microsoft spent 1 billion--so I hear--on developing dotnet.
It isn't going away and will come standard with Windows. People--no matter
how slow their connection are going to need to get it period. You could
offer your product via CD if it is a real concern--for those without
broadband.

I do know what you mean that some folks won't want the hassle.

Shane