How Can I Embed DLLs into My EXE Using ILMerge in C#?

Streamlining Deployment: Embedding DLLs into a Single EXE

This tutorial details how to seamlessly integrate DLLs into your C# EXE using ILMerge, simplifying software distribution and reducing dependencies. We'll use Microsoft Visual C# Express 2010 for this example.

Step 1: Acquiring ILMerge

Download and install ILMerge, a command-line utility that merges multiple assemblies into a single executable file.

Step 2: Accessing the Command Line

Open your command prompt and navigate to the folder containing your EXE and the DLLs you wish to embed.

Step 3: Executing the ILMerge Command

Execute the following command, customizing the file names to match your project:

<code>ILMerge.exe /target:winexe /targetplatform:"v4,C:\Program Files\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0" /out:merged.exe insert1.exe insert2.dll</code>

Let's break down the command:

• /target:winexe: Specifies a Windows executable as the output.
• /targetplatform: Defines the .NET Framework version. Adjust the path if your framework version differs.
• /out:merged.exe: Sets the name of the resulting merged executable.
• insert1.exe and insert2.dll: Represent the files to be merged (replace with your actual filenames).

Important Considerations:

• Verify that your EXE and DLLs are built for the same .NET Framework version.
• Avoid including DLLs already included in the standard .NET Framework.
• This method incorporates the DLL functionality directly into the EXE, resulting in a single executable for easier deployment.

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