How to Generate a Standalone Executable File from C# Project in Visual Studio 2022

Introduction

In this article, we are going through the process of generating a standalone executable file (.exe) from your C# project. Following these steps, you can create a self-contained file that can be easily shared and run on other systems without additional dependencies. We will focus on using the one-click publish method in Visual Studio to simplify the process.

What is an EXE file?

An executable file (or .exe file) is a file format used by Windows operating systems to run applications or programs. It contains the compiled code and resources of a software program, making it executable and allowing it to run directly on a compatible system without additional tools or frameworks.

It also includes any resources used by your application, such as images, icons, configuration files, or other supporting files necessary for your program to run correctly.

When you distribute an executable file to other users, they can simply run it on their Windows system to execute the application without installing any development tools or frameworks. The executable file allows users to interact with and utilize the functionalities provided by your C# application.

Implementation Steps using One-Click Publish Method

Part  1. C# Project Setup

Create a new project in Visual Studio 2022

Choose a console app project.

Name the project, then select its location and click Next.

Select the target framework and click Create.

It has some default Program.cs file with a hello world message that needs to be printed in the console log.

Test The project output by running the application.

Part 2. Generate a standalone executable file (.exe) from C# Project

When you build a C# project in Visual Studio and generate an executable file, it encapsulates your C# code and any referenced libraries into a single file that can be executed on a compatible Windows system. This file typically has the .exe extension and can be launched by double-clicking or running it from the command line.

Navigate to Solution Explorer and right-click the project to get the "Publish" option. Click Publish

The Publish wizard will appear. Choose the "Folder" option and specify the target location where the published files will be stored. Click the "Next" button to proceed to the next step, and finally, click "Finish".

Customize the settings to fit your needs and click the "Publish" button to start the publishing process.

Visual Studio will generate the necessary files and folders in the target location.

Once the publishing process is complete, navigate to the target location and locate the published folder.

When you publish your solution using ClickOnce deployment in Visual Studio, the generated files serve specific purposes:

• Application Files: This folder contains the actual application files, including the main executable file (.exe), along with any additional files required by your application, such as DLLs, configuration files, or resource files. These files are the core components of your application that will be installed on the user's system.
• .application file: The .application file is an XML manifest file generated during ClickOnce publishing. It provides information about your application, including the deployment manifest, application identity, version, and dependencies. This file is used by ClickOnce to manage updates, ensure version compatibility, and launch the application.
• setup.exe: The setup.exe file is the ClickOnce installation bootstrap file. When a user runs this file, it initiates the installation process of the ClickOnce application. The setup.exe file is responsible for checking prerequisites, verifying security permissions, and performing the necessary steps to install the application on the user's system.

Summary

By following these implementation steps using the one-click publish method in Visual Studio, you can successfully generate a standalone executable file from your C# project. This executable file contains all the necessary code and resources to run your application on other systems without requiring additional installations or dependencies.

If you want to know how to make this exec file sharable and install it on the local machine and other machines like (client/friend), click the below link to know more!

 

How to Share and Install C# Application on Another Computer as executable file

!!! Happy Learning !!!