Single-file deployment for the Bootstrapper?

  • Article

Question:
When I deploy my Setup Project I need to redistribute two files (setup.exe and yourapp.msi).  Is it possible to merge those into a single file, such as BootstrapperAndApp.exe?

Answer:
No.  The Visual Studio 2005 Generic Bootstrapper does not have the ability to bake in the 'caboose' or final application into setup.exe, so for now you will need to redistribute both files.  However, this is a feature which has been requested and I am seeing if we can add this for the next release of Visual Studio codenamed Orcas.