How to add External .exe to my C# project?

Question

Can I add external .exe to my C# project so that i don't need any path to access it as outside app? I want to embed it as my project resource? Thanks in advance

Hampstead

I don't think you can, at least I've never done it that way. I would use a config file to store the path of the external exe so it can be easily changed. – Disfeature

you could, but in order to run it, you'd still have to extract it and Process.Start it, or use one of the concepts presented here, a bit easier for managed code, a bit heavy lifting for PE code. If it has dependencies, it will be a whole different story and won't work without an installer. – Painter

if you store it in the resources you can always extract it in the Windows Temp folder and run it from there. – Renferd

Answer 1

You can add file by right-clicking on the project, or drag-n-drop works.

You can add your exe in your solution and set its Build Action: Content and Copy to output Directory: Copy always.

The installer should automatically include the file.

Hope this helps

Boxer

Could you explain the steps. I am not very experienced in C#. Thanks in advance. – Hampstead

It is more Visual Studio than c# here.... drag and drop the exe you have from a windows explorer into your Solution manager to add the exe to the project. – Boxer

then click on the exe that has just been added in the solution explorer window and open up the Properties tab, in here you have two options 1) Build action and 2) Copy to Output Directory. These are the fields you want to set as in my answer and that should do it – Boxer