C# to Create Self-Extracting EXE
with Custom Icon, Auto-Run Setup, etc.

Download Chilkat .NET for 2.0 / 3.5 Framework

Download Chilkat .NET for 1.0 / 1.1 Framework

C# sample program to create an SFX (self-extracting executable) with a custom icon, auto-run setup file, no-interface option, and other SFX options.

private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
        Chilkat.Zip zip = new Chilkat.Zip();
        zip.UnlockComponent("30-day trial");

        // Set this property to use an icon for the EXE that is created.
        zip.ExeIconFile = "box.ico";

        // Use this property to automatically unzip when the EXE is double-clicked.
        // True = EXE has no interface, False (the default) = EXE includes interface
        zip.ExeNoInterface = true;

        // Causes the EXE to automatically unzip to a pre-set directory.
        zip.ExeUnzipDir = "c:\\temp\\myApp";

        // Causes the EXE to run a program (that was contained within the EXE)
        // immediately after extracting.
        zip.AutoRun = "Setup.exe";

        // Parameters can be passed to the AutoRun program.
        zip.AutoRunParams = "-x -a -b";

        // Causes the creation of an EXE that has no interface,
        // and automatically selects a temporary directory for
        // unzipping.
        //zip.AutoTemp = true;

        // Initialize the Zip object and add some files.
        zip.NewZip("blahblahblah.zip");  // <-- This is the file that would be written if WriteZip were called.
        zip.AppendOneFileOrDir("Setup.exe",false);
        zip.AppendOneFileOrDir("hamlet.xml",false);

        // Create the self-extracting EXE.
        bool success = zip.WriteExe("myPackage.exe");
        if (!success)
        {
	MessageBox.Show(zip.LastErrorText);
        }
        else
        {
	MessageBox.Show("Created SFX!");
        }
		
}