Create Self-Extracting EXE in Visual Basic

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This VB Example program shows how to do create Self-Extracting EXEs in Visual Basic. It shows how to create four types of self-extracting executables: (1) a Simple Self-Extracting EXE, (2) an AES Encrypted Self-Extracting EXE, (3) an Auto-Run Self-Extracting EXE, and (4) an Auto-Run AES Encrypted Self-Extracting EXE.

' Create a Simple Self-Extracting EXE
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim zip As ChilkatZip2
    Set zip = New ChilkatZip2
    zip.UnlockComponent "UnlockCode"
    zip.NewZip "notUsed.zip"
    zip.AppendFiles "Sample/*", 1
    success = zip.WriteExe("sample.exe")
    If (success = 0) Then
        MsgBox zip.LastErrorText
        zip.SaveLastError "log.xml"
    Else
        MsgBox "SFX created!"
    End If
End Sub

' Create an AES Encrypted Self-Extracting EXE
Private Sub Command2_Click()
    Dim zip As ChilkatZip2
    Set zip = New ChilkatZip2
    zip.UnlockComponent "UnlockCode"
    zip.NewZip "notUsed.zip"
    zip.AppendFiles "Sample/*", 1
    ' Setting encryption to non-zero causes Rijndael AES encryption to
    ' be used in the self-extracting EXE.
    zip.Encryption = 1
    ' Key lengths can be 128, 192, or 256
    zip.EncryptKeyLength = 256
    zip.SetPassword "chilkat"
    success = zip.WriteExe("encrypted.exe")
    If (success = 0) Then
        MsgBox zip.LastErrorText
        zip.SaveLastError "log.xml"
    Else
        MsgBox "SFX created!"
    End If
End Sub

' Create an Auto-Run Self-Extracting EXE
Private Sub Command3_Click()
    Dim zip As ChilkatZip2
    Set zip = New ChilkatZip2
    zip.UnlockComponent "UnlockCode"
    
    ' AutoTemp and AutoRun control what kind of self-extracting EXE
    ' is created.  If AutoRun is set, the EXE will automatically
    ' run the specified EXE after unzipping.  If AutoTemp is 1
    ' the self-extracted EXE will automatically unzip to a TEMP
    ' directory when double-clicked.
    zip.AutoTemp = 1
    zip.AutoRun = "Sample\Setup.exe"
    
    zip.NewZip "notUsed.zip"
    zip.AppendFiles "Sample/*", 1
    success = zip.WriteExe("autoRun.exe")
    If (success = 0) Then
        MsgBox zip.LastErrorText
        zip.SaveLastError "log.xml"
    Else
        MsgBox "SFX created!"
    End If
End Sub

' Create an Auto-Run AES Encrypted Self-Extracting EXE
Private Sub Command4_Click()
    Dim zip As ChilkatZip2
    Set zip = New ChilkatZip2
    zip.UnlockComponent "UnlockCode"
    
    ' AutoTemp and AutoRun control what kind of self-extracting EXE
    ' is created.  If AutoRun is set, the EXE will automatically
    ' run the specified EXE after unzipping.  If AutoTemp is 1
    ' the self-extracted EXE will automatically unzip to a TEMP
    ' directory when double-clicked.
    zip.AutoTemp = 1
    zip.AutoRun = "Sample\Setup.exe"
    
    zip.NewZip "notUsed.zip"
    zip.AppendFiles "Sample/*", 1
    ' Setting encryption to non-zero causes Rijndael AES encryption to
    ' be used in the self-extracting EXE.
    zip.Encryption = 1
    ' Key lengths can be 128, 192, or 256
    zip.EncryptKeyLength = 256
    zip.SetPassword "chilkat"
    success = zip.WriteExe("encryptedAutoRun.exe")
    If (success = 0) Then
        MsgBox zip.LastErrorText
        zip.SaveLastError "log.xml"
    Else
        MsgBox "SFX created!"
    End If
End Sub