Deploy with VS2022 single exe-File for .Net 6 WPF-Application not works

Question

I need a single exe-file on a windows pc executing a .Net WPF program. This file must be signed with a code authentication certificat. With this certificat the exe-file is executed on foreign windows system without system warnings or administration rights after copy deployment by user to a trusted place.

I can do this with VS2019 and .Net 4.7.2. But I want go forward to VS2022 and .Net 6.0. Below a simple sample working with VS2019. You can step over signtool, because in VS 2022 already fails the posibility to create a single exe files. Same happens with VS 2019 and .Net 5.0 already in the past, but I find some post with information that single exe-file with WPF first work in future with .Net 6.0. Now, after release of .Net 6.0 and VS2022 I try it again. More options in deployment assistent for single file are available, but nothing creates a single exe-file!

Working process in VS2019:

• I create WPF-App (.Net Framework) WPF4Test using .Net Framework 4.7.2
• I put code sign command ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.18362.0\x64\signtool.exe" sign /a /n "my company name" /t http://timestamp.comodoca.com/authenticode $(TargetPath)) in postbuild step
• I build release and enter password of certificate during sign process
• bin\Release folder contains 3 files (WPF4Test.exe, WPF4Test.exe.config, WPF4Test.pdb)
• I copy WPF4Test.exe to share folder and application is executable and signed

I test process in VS2022 with .Net 6

• I create WPF-Application WPF6Test using .Net 6.0
• I deploy Application in a folder (in assistant i must select folder twice) (default set configuration Release and destination runtime portable)
• pubxml is created and i publish application
• deployment folder contains 5 files (WPF6Test.deps.json, WPF6Test.dll, WPF6Test.exe, WPF6Test.pdb, WPF6Test.runtimeconfig.json)
• I copy WPF6Test.exe to share folder, but application not start without error message

If I copy the whole folder to share and application run. I can delete WPF6Test.deps.json and WPF6Test.pdb, but i need 3 files (WPF6Test.dll, WPF6Test.exe, WPF6Test.runtimeconfig.json).

I go back to VS2022 and add additional pubxml file with changed profil option (deploment mode independent, create single file, activate compile ready to run). But now I get 7 files (D3DCompiler_47_cor3.dll, PenImc_cor3.dll, PresentationNative_cor3.dll, vcruntime140_cor3.dll, WPF6Test.exe, WPF6Test.pdb, wpfgfx_cor3.dll).

What do I have to do to get a single exe file? How I can sign this exe file during publishing process?

Rafflesia

Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it's hard to tell exactly what you're asking. – Avant

Answer 1

You need to set 'IncludeAllContentForSelfExtract' in the project file or if you using the CLI to build 'IncludeNativeLibrariesForSelfExtract'.

Even if you tick or set single exe if you are producing a self contained exe it will not including the native libraries.

Project File (your-project.csproj)

<IncludeAllContentForSelfExtract>true</IncludeAllContentForSelfExtract>

.Net CLI

dotnet publish -r win-x64 /p:PublishSingleFile=true /p:IncludeNativeLibrariesForSelfExtract=true --self-contained true

Gather

Answer 2

Edit your publish profile settings,

• Select Deployment mode as Framework-dependent
• Select the target runtime to something other than Portable (Produce single file is not available for Portable)
• Under File Publish options, select Produce single file

Save the profile settings and try publishing again. This should produce a single exe file.

If you select the Deployment mode as Self-Contained or independent, it will produce 7 files as you mentioned.

Hope this helps for publishing to a single file!

Tilden