How to distribute your TrueVision project

[ownage]

Hi all, recently there have been a few threads about what files you need to for truevision and how you should go about distributing your project, so i thought i will tell you all how i go about it. I am a vb.net programmer, but i am fairly sure this should work the the other languages.

1) Download the .net 3.5 redist (so if the user does not have the .net 3.5 framework they only need to run the .exe) http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/0/f/60fc5854-3cb8-4892-b6db-bd4f42510f28/dotnetfx35.exe

2)Download the latest DirectX redist (so if the user does not have all the required DirectX files, they only need to run this .exe) http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=822640ab-0983-4c41-9c70-632f6f42c557&DisplayLang=en

3)Publish your project to a .exe

4) Give the user all those files and your application will work.

Notes:
The user will only need to run the .net 3.5 redist and the DirectX redist ONCE.
Instead of making the user run the exe's that they need, why not use an installer (Like 'Advanced Installer') to detect if they have the .net framework 3.5 and if they don't, then run the .net exe. Then make the installer run the DirectX redist with the /silent command, and then make it run your applications setup.

I hope that makes some kind of sence....

[sybixsus]

Good idea. Couple of points though.

Stage 1 is not required if you're using unmanaged C++ or BlitzMax. Possibly Delphi too, I'm not sure about that.

Also, I think you (currently) need to distribute one of the D3DX dll's which is not the latest. I think some shaders are compiled with the older DLL, so you have to distribute that separately. It's permitted to do that though. Hopefully Sylvain or someone else can clear this up. I don't know if this is a temporary situation or permanent though.

[ownage]

Good idea. Couple of points though.

Stage 1 is not required if you're using unmanaged C++ or BlitzMax. Possibly Delphi too, I'm not sure about that.

Also, I think you (currently) need to distribute one of the D3DX dll's which is not the latest. I think some shaders are compiled with the older DLL, so you have to distribute that separately. It's permitted to do that though. Hopefully Sylvain or someone else can clear this up. I don't know if this is a temporary situation or permanent though.

Yeah, what your saying is right. I distribute all the DX dll's, just to be 100% sure my app's will work. If someone could explain exactly what Dll's we need, and where to place them then that would be good. Although I think we only need the D3DX9_31.dll and D3DX9_36.dll.