Creating an exe for a Windows standalone application using C# in Visual Studio 2015

Question

I have created Sales Management System using C# and MS SQL Server 2012. This is working fine. All I want to know in how can I create an exe so that this can be installed in another machine without any .NET Framework.

e.g. it should say like SalesManagementSystem.exe, and I should be able to install it in any machine.

You will need the .Net framework installed. There is no getting around that. Unfortunately the Setup and Install project templates were not included in VS2012, MS wanted to decommision them, after much public outrage they were brought back in VS2013. — Jeremy Thompson
– Jeremy Thompson, Commented Aug 25, 2017 at 5:35
Unless it's .NET Core where you can bundle the DLLs with app, then you can't create an executable from .NET code which doesn't require the .NET Framework installed on the machine that will run it. If you really want that, write the app in something like C++ instead. However, newer versions of Windows have certain versions of .NET (and therefore any earlier version too) already installed. So the check the Microsoft Docs for what your target O/S will support. — ADyson
– ADyson, Commented Aug 25, 2017 at 5:37
blogs.unity3d.com/2015/05/06/an-introduction-to-ilcpp-internals — user128511
– user128511, Commented Nov 15, 2019 at 5:05

Jeremy Thompson · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-25 05:40:02Z

4

Just download the Setup project templates and create an installer:

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=VisualStudioProductTeam.MicrosoftVisualStudio2015InstallerProjects

See my extensive guide here on how to make an Installer (one that upgrades itself as well): Install to same path when upgrading application

answered Aug 25, 2017 at 5:40

Jeremy Thompson

66.3k38 gold badges225 silver badges344 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Oliver · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-25 05:46:42Z

0

A .Net application will never run without the corresponding framework installed. But depending on the target OS the framework is already installed. Please check the release history at wikipeda. There you can see which .Net version is already installed in which windows version.

If you want to deploy a single executable you have to embed all your depending assemblies into your executable as a resource (plenty of questions and answers are already at SO) and load them by overwriting the AssemblyResolve event.

If you want to create a windows installer take a look at WiX.

answered Aug 25, 2017 at 5:46

Oliver

45.4k8 gold badges101 silver badges165 bronze badges

Comments

Bozhidar Stoyneff · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-25 05:47:48Z

0

You cannot just skip the .NET Framework on the target machine - it is needed to run your program. The exe file, produced by the C# compiler contains MSIL, which is understood by .NET Framework, as opposed by the destination OS - be it Windows or any other.

Having that said, your best bet is to write an installer for your app and distribute the .NET Framework distribute the .NET Framework along with it. When launched, the installer might check what is the installed version of the .NET framework on the target machine (if any) and respond appropriately by installing whatever it is needed for your application.

You can use WiX to author an installers.

answered Aug 25, 2017 at 5:47

Bozhidar Stoyneff

3,6621 gold badge20 silver badges30 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Creating an exe for a Windows standalone application using C# in Visual Studio 2015

3 Answers 3

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related