19

I have a simple project in C#. It's a Windows Forms application.

I want to be able to make this into an EXE file to be able to give this out to some of my friends. I am using Visual Studio 2015.

Before you say that there is an application file in the bin/debug folder, yes, I know that. The thing is that I want to be able to create this into just one file where they won't be able to access the code.

Peter Mortensen
  • 30,738
  • 21
  • 105
  • 131
kris594
  • 227
  • 1
  • 2
  • 6
  • 8
    If you're already aware of the executable file in the bin/Debug folder, what is the question here? Share that file to your friends and you should be done? – Lasse V. Karlsen Dec 13 '15 at 20:23
  • My problem is that if i try to copy that application file and run it the application doesnt function properly and gives an error message – kris594 Dec 13 '15 at 20:34
  • @kris594 what error message? Can you try to be more specific? – Camilo Terevinto Dec 13 '15 at 20:38
  • It gives me an error saying an unhandled exception has occurred in my application. This is what happens when i just copy that file and paste it outside of the folder. But when i open the exe file inside the folder the application works fine – kris594 Dec 13 '15 at 20:46
  • 1
    Then you're most likely relying on other files, but there is not enough information here for us to go on. If your program did not rely on surrounding file, it would work if you just copied it somewhere. Have you referenced other assemblies? – Lasse V. Karlsen Dec 13 '15 at 20:50
  • my program uses textfiles and images that are stored inside the project folder – kris594 Dec 13 '15 at 20:58
  • i believe that thats where the problem may be. Is there any solution to this? – kris594 Dec 13 '15 at 20:59
  • 1
    Embed these files as resources] – Bartosz May 29 '18 at 22:30
  • Related (though that, like the currently single answer, also relies on the files left in the `bin` folder): *[Best way to deploy Visual Studio application that can run without installing](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16946173)* – Peter Mortensen Sep 14 '19 at 09:48

1 Answers1

58

Very simple steps:

  1. Compile the application in Release mode:
  • Visual Studio:
    enter image description here
  • .NET Framework MSBuild: msbuild.exe ConsoleApp1.sln /t:Build /p:Configuration=Release
  • .NET Core CLI: dotnet build -c Release (you may need to configure the project to output EXE)
  1. Open the solution folder
  2. Open the application project folder
  3. Open the Bin folder
  4. Open the Release folder
  5. Copy the .exe file
  6. Share it.
Camilo Terevinto
  • 31,141
  • 6
  • 88
  • 120