Make a .exe to create my own install

Question

3.00/5 (1 vote)

See more:

(sorry for any English mistake) That's the problem: I've created my own install interface whith a form C# project. It allows user choose the path of app and, more important, creates tables in MySql. In my entire project I have a .msi of my main project, dependents .exe, like FrameWork 3.5 and Foxit PDF Reader, the form project that is responsible for dialogs screens and a VB Script that searchs for a resgistry key of Framework. If Framework 3.5 is not installed vbs file prompts user about this need and install it. After that, dialog starts install main program and mysql, creating databases and tables. So, I want "hide" all my files in one .exe. When user click on .exe, .vbs(file openned after extraction) is openned and starts the install process. I know winrar sfx, but that allows user extract and see files that were hidden. I noticed that a lot of .exe install programs doesn't permit extraction. How does it done? That's I want!
Even in Visual Studio Setup project we have, after debug, .exe and .msi files. How can I merge them? I've tried iexpress, but it also gives possibilities of extracting "hidden" files.
Thanks

Posted 16-Jun-11 1:36am

flabegalini

Add a Solution

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Ubloobok · Answer 1 · 2011-06-16T02:56:00

Solution 1

You may use "Pre-build event command line" and "Post-build event command line" in Project Properties -> Build Events.
Add commands for invoking 'packagers' which you maybe find on this topics:

http://www.liutilities.com/articles/merge-two-exe-files-using-free-software/[^]

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2268515/merge-two-exe-files-into-one-programmatically[^]

Posted 16-Jun-11 2:56am

Ubloobok

Comments

flabegalini 16-Jun-11 11:26am

But I have 2 Form projects, one of them (main project) will be installed and I've created a .msi for that, but another one I don't want install, its role is provide a custom dialog whith user and install Mysql in a specific path inside application folder, and before execute dialog form, I should search for Framework 3.5, after all, if Framework does not exist, Dialog Form can't be executed, since it was built on Framework 3.5, so I have .vbs for that. What I want is exactly what winrar SFX does. Merge all files in single .exe, and choose .vbi(or .vbi changed to .exe) as first ( and unique) open file, it searchs for framework, if that were installed, .vbi opens Dialog form, if not, install framework and, after that, open Dialog Form. However, I don't want allow user recognize that .exe is a .sfx, extract and see my files. How programs install like CorelDraw are done? Their installs seem to be a single .exe file.

Ubloobok 17-Jun-11 3:12am

So, i think exists two ways:
1) Convert dll's into binaries stream, save it one EXE file, invoke it from concrete byte position. It's a very hard and long way, sorry i don't know how you can do this.
2) Try to get more knowledge about MSI Installer. It has many parameters and customization properties. MSI can check existing concrete Framework version and other programms. As i know MSI can invoke other DLL's and EXE files. But then you not merge files into one.