Create Self-Extractor

How to create a self-extractor: Creates a self-extracting executable containing the compressed contents of a directory tree. When the resultant EXE is run, the files are decompressed and the directory tree is re-created.

Download Chilkat Ruby Library

require 'chilkat'

zip = Chilkat::CkZip.new()

#  Any string unlocks the component for the 1st 30-days.
success = zip.UnlockComponent("Anything for 30-day trial")
if (success != true)
    print zip.lastErrorText() + "\n"
    exit
end

#  Initialize the zip object.  Because we're creating
#  a self-extracting EXE in this example, the filename
#  passed to NewZip will never actually be created.
success = zip.NewZip("notUsed.zip")
if (success != true)
    print zip.lastErrorText() + "\n"
    exit
end

#  Append a directory tree.  The AppendFiles does
#  not read the file contents or append them to the zip
#  object in memory.  It simply appends references
#  to the files so that when WriteExe (or WriteZipAndClose,
#  or WriteZip, etc.) is called, the files are compressed
#  and added to the archive.
recurse = true
zip.AppendFiles("c:/temp/a/*",recurse)

#  Write "archive.exe"
success = zip.WriteExe("archive.exe")
if (success != true)
    print zip.lastErrorText() + "\n"
    exit
end

print "EXE Created!" + "\n"