Merge DLL into EXE?

Question

I have two DLL files which I'd like to include in my EXE file to make it easier to distribute it. I've read a bit here and there how to do this, even found a good thread here, and here, but it's far too complicated for me and I need real basic instructions on how to do this.

I'm using Microsoft Visual C# Express 2010, and please excuse my "low standard" question, but I feel like I'm one or two level below everyone else's expercise :-/ If someone could point out how to merge these DDL files into my EXE in a step-by-step guide, this would be really awesome!

Answer 1

For .NET Framework 4.5

ILMerge.exe /target:winexe /targetplatform:"v4,C:\Program Files\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0" /out:finish.exe insert1.exe insert2.dll

ILMerge

1. Open CMD and cd to your directory. Let's say: cd C:\test
2. Insert the above code.
3. /out:finish.exe replace finish.exe with any filename you want.
4. Behind the /out:finish.exe you have to give the files you want to be combined.

Answer 2

Use Costura.Fody.

You just have to install the nuget and then do a build. The final executable will be standalone.

Answer 3

Download ilmerge and ilmergre gui . makes joining the files so easy ive used these and works great

Answer 4

Reference the DLL´s to your Resources and and use the AssemblyResolve-Event to return the Resource-DLL.

public partial class App : Application
{
    public App()
    {
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += (sender, args) =>
        {

            Assembly thisAssembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();

            //Get the Name of the AssemblyFile
            var name = args.Name.Substring(0, args.Name.IndexOf(',')) + ".dll";

            //Load form Embedded Resources - This Function is not called if the Assembly is in the Application Folder
            var resources = thisAssembly.GetManifestResourceNames().Where(s => s.EndsWith(name));
            if (resources.Count() > 0)
            {
                var resourceName = resources.First();
                using (Stream stream = thisAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream(resourceName))
                {
                    if (stream == null) return null;
                    var block = new byte[stream.Length];
                    stream.Read(block, 0, block.Length);
                    return Assembly.Load(block);
                }
            }
            return null;
        };
    }
}

Answer 5

Download

ILMerge

Call

ilmerge /target:winexe /out:c:\output.exe c:\input.exe C:\input.dll

Answer 6

1. Install ILMerge as the other threads tell you to

2. Then go to the installation folder, by default C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\ILMerge

3. Drag your Dll's and Exes to that folder

4. Shift-Rightclick in that folder and choose open command prompt

5. Write

   ilmerge myExe.exe Dll1.dll /out:merged.exe
   

   Note that you should write your exe first.

There you got your merged exe. This might not be the best way if your going to do this multiple times, but the simplest one for a one time use, I would recommend putting Ilmerge to your path.

Answer 7

static class Program
{
    /// <summary>
    /// The main entry point for the application.
    /// </summary>
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
    /* PUT THIS LINE IN YOUR CLASS PROGRAM MAIN() */           
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += (sender, arg) => { if (arg.Name.StartsWith("YOURDLL")) return Assembly.Load(Properties.Resources.YOURDLL); return null; }; 
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

First add the DLL´s to your project-Resources. Add a folder "Resources"

Answer 8

2019 Update (just for reference):

Starting with .NET Core 3.0, this feature is supported out of the box. To take advantage of the single-file executable publishing, just add the following line to the project configuration file:

<PropertyGroup>
  <PublishSingleFile>true</PublishSingleFile>
</PropertyGroup>

Now, dotnet publish should produce a single .exe file without using any external tool.

More documentation for this feature is available at https://github.com/dotnet/designs/blob/master/accepted/single-file/design.md.

Answer 9

Also you can use ilmergertool at codeplex with GUI interface.

Answer 10

Here is the official documentation. This is also automatically downloaded at step 2.

Below is a really simple way to do it and I've successfully built my app using .NET framework 4.6.1

1. Install ILMerge nuget package either via gui or commandline:

   Install-Package ilmerge
   

2. Verify you have downloaded it. Now Install (not sure the command for this, but just go to your nuget packages): Note: You probably only need to install it for one of your solutions if you have multiple

3. Navigate to your solution folder and in the packages folder you should see 'ILMerge' with an executable:

   \FindMyiPhone-master\FindMyiPhone-master\packages\ILMerge.2.14.1208\tools
   

   

4. Now here is the executable which you could copy over to your \bin\Debug (or whereever your app is built) and then in commandline/powershell do something like below:

   ILMerge.exe myExecutable.exe myDll1.dll myDll2.dll myDlln.dll myNEWExecutable.exe
   

You will now have a new executable with all your libraries in one!

Answer 11

I answered a similar question for VB.NET. It shouldn't however be too hard to convert. You embedd the DLL's into your Ressource folder and on the first usage, the AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve event gets fired.

If you want to reference it during development, just add a normal DLL reference to your project.

Embedd a DLL into a project

Answer 12

NOTE: if you're trying to load a non-ILOnly assembly, then

Assembly.Load(block)

won't work, and an exception will be thrown: more details

I overcame this by creating a temporary file, and using

Assembly.LoadFile(dllFile)

Answer 13

I Found The Solution Below are the Stpes:-

1. Download ILMerge.msi and Install it on your Machine.
2. Open Command Prompt
3. type cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\ILMerge Preess Enter
4. C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\ILMerge>ILMerge.exe /target:winexe /targetplatform:"v4,C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319" /out:NewExeName.exe SourceExeName.exe DllName.dll

For Multiple Dll :-

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\ILMerge>ILMerge.exe /target:winexe /targetplatform:"v4,C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319" /out:NewExeName.exe SourceExeName.exe DllName1.dll DllName2.dll DllName3.dll

Answer 14

The command should be the following script:

ilmerge myExe.exe Dll1.dll /target:winexe /targetplatform:"v4,c:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\" /out:merged.exe /out:merged.exe