Creating a Single Executable File for Distribution

InstallShield 2024

Project: This information applies to the InstallScript projects.

To package a build as a single executable file, use the Create a single file executable option in the General Options panel of the Release Wizard, or the Single .exe File Name setting in the Releases view, as described in the following procedures:

Note:The single executable file that you create accepts any command-line parameter that Setup.exe accepts.

To package a build as a single executable file by using the Release Wizard:

Launch the Release Wizard.

Navigate to the General Options panel.

Select the Create a single file executable check box.

By default, the file name <project name>.exe is entered in the File Name box. If you want the self-extracting executable file to have a different name, type a new file name in the box or select a path variable whose value defines the file name.

In the Icon box, you can specify the fully qualified name of the file that contains the icon that InstallShield should use when it creates the Setup.exe file at build time.

To specify a file, type an explicit path or path variable, or click the browse button to open the Change Icon dialog box, in which you can click the Browse button to select a file.

By default, the icon with index 0 is used; to specify a different icon, either select an icon in the Change Icon dialog box or append the icon’s index or resource ID (preceded by a minus sign) to the file name. For example, C:\Temp\MyLibrary.dll,2 indicates the icon with an index of 2, and C:\Temp\MyLibrary.dll,-100 indicates the icon with a resource ID of 100.

Complete the Release Wizard; in the Summary panel, select the Build the Release check box and then click the Finish button.

To package a build as a single executable file by using the settings in the Releases view:

In the View List under Media, click Releases.

In the Releases explorer, select the release that you want to package as a single executable file.

Select the Setup.exe tab.

For the Single .exe File Name setting, type a file name or a path variable (enclosed in angle brackets—for example, <MY EXE FILE NAME>) whose value defines the file name.

In the Setup.exe Icon File setting, specify the fully qualified name of the file that contains the icon that InstallShield should use when it creates the Setup.exe file at build time.

To specify a file, type an explicit path or path variable, or click the ellipsis button (...) to open the Change Icon dialog box, in which you can click the Browse button to select a file.

Build the release.

To learn how to digitally signing your executable file, see Digital Signing and Security. For information about requiring end users to enter a password in order to launch the self-extracting executable file, see Password-Protecting Installations.