How to pack a installation (framework + application) in one executable?

Question

I'd like to create a file 'setup.exe' that contains one application that I developed in C#, and the setup of .Net framework 4.0.

The idea is: When I execute the 'setup.exe' this one will check if have the .net framework 4.0 installed on the computer, and if don't install it!

Using InstallShield 2009.

Anyone knows how to do this?

Let me know if don't understand anything.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Regarding setup you can use the built-in mechanism which come with Visual Studio, they allow for example to make setup.exe automatically check if the needed framework version is installed and install it if not present - for a good starting see MSDN.

Regarding making your application/EXE consist of 1 file including all managed dependencies you have several options:

• use ILMerge (free)
  For howto see here and here

OR

• use some tool like SmartAssembly (commercial)
  it can embed and merge among other things (no need to change your source code)

OR

• code that yourself in less than 10 lines (free but minimal source code change)
  mark all needed dependencies as "embedded resource" - this way they are included in the EXE file... you need to setup an AssemblyResolve handler which at runtime reads from Resources and returns the needed DLLs to the .NET runtime...