How Can I Easily Embed DLLs into My .NET Executable?

Simplifying .NET Application Deployment: Embedding DLLs into the Executable

Distributing applications that depend on external DLLs can be cumbersome. This guide demonstrates a straightforward method to embed these DLLs directly into your executable, simplifying deployment.

Using Microsoft Visual C# Express 2010 (or later versions), integrating DLLs is a simple process. Follow these steps:

1. Obtain ILMerge: ILMerge is a utility that combines .NET assemblies. Download it from the official Microsoft site: https://www.php.cn/link/4a4ae8ed6f8e3608223f48427320c936

2. Access the Command Line: Open a command prompt window and navigate to the folder containing your executable and DLL files.

3. Construct the ILMerge Command: Replace the placeholders below with your actual file paths:

   <code> ILMerge.exe /target:winexe /targetplatform:"v4,C:\Program Files\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0" /out:merged_app.exe myapp.exe mydll1.dll mydll2.dll</code>

   • merged_app.exe: The name for your resulting merged executable.
   • myapp.exe: Your main application executable.
   • mydll1.dll, mydll2.dll: The DLLs to be embedded. Add more as needed.

4. Run the Command: Press Enter to execute the command. ILMerge will merge the specified files.

5. Close the Command Prompt: Once the process finishes, close the command prompt.

Your application is now a single executable, streamlining distribution and eliminating the need for separate DLL files.

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