Deploy a .exe and dependent .dll

Question

I have console project. It is developed in VS2010. It uses Mysql.net connector.

When I was developing in my machine, Every thing worked fine.

I copied the .exe to my friends laptop and tried to run it, but I got an error telling that Mysql.data.client not found.

I copied all the dlls in to the project folder. Everything worked fine.

Is there any way I can can build the .exe in such a way that I dont have to copy the Mysql.data.client to the other machine.

"Building .exe with all dependencies." Is that possible?

Please let me know.

Answer 1

I think what you are looking for is a multimodule assembly (netmodules):

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/226t7yxe(VS.90).aspx

Also, check this link:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/mergingassemblies.aspx

It explains how to use ilmerge to accomplish this.

Answer 2

Here you go: ILMerge

Answer 3

You can create a Setup Project to add to your Solution.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/19x10e5c%28v=VS.100%29.aspx

This will create an installable application (.msi) with all the included dependencies of your project.