ClickOnce is a great deployment model for many Windows applications built with the .NET Framework. Too bad it isn't supported for C++, VB 6, or other technologies. Or is it...
Surprisingly, you can deploy your unmanaged apps with ClickOnce. You just need a tiny .NET app to get it started.
Here's how it works:
- Take your existing C++ project.
- Add to the solution a .NET console application.
- Change the project settings on the console application to "Windows Application".
- Write the following code for your Main method of your .NET launcher application:
static void Main(string[] args)
{
try
{
Process.Start( "TheRealApp.exe" );
}
catch ( Exception x )
{
string msg = "Error launch application:\n\n" + x;
string cap = "Error Launching Application";
MessageBox.Show( msg, cap, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error );
}
}
- Set the build path of your C++ app to be in the main folder for your .NET application.
- Add the C++ app and its libraries (if any) as existing items in the .NET app.
- Change the build action to "Always Copy" as shown here:
- Then you publish your .NET application and when it runs, TADA!, the C++ app is deployed, versioned, and kept up to date as well.
If you want to try it yourself, you can run this sample application here:
Run Michael's Useless C++ App via ClickOnce...You can also
download the source.