Making an .exe file from Borland

[camaro]

How do I export a program file from Borland and make it into an .exe file so I can run it anywhere?

[rock]

From what Borland product? Borland C++ should generate native .exe when compiling. Just look in the bin directory. If you're using JBuilder, you're compiling Java code to class files. There is no trivial way to make .exe files from Java classes. But you can package them into a .jar file that will open when double-clicked on most OSes.

[camaro]

Borland 6++ Builder Enterprise

Could you walk me through this? I just finished a C++ beginners course using this soft so I'm still a noob.

The problem is that the program works on my PC, but not on anyone else's who doesn't have Borland installed. I need to know how to combine the library files or whatever is causing this error with the source program so it can run anywhere.

[I4one]

one silly sidenote i recall about java issues;
(not specifically jar files) - but if you were compiling for java - that Java and it's "classes" need to be placed into the default PATH (perhaps global) - and environment variable..

this likely doesn't even apply to you - but what the hey - it may come in handy when t-shooting someday

[rock]

Could you walk me through this? I just finished a C++ beginners course using this soft so I'm still a noob.

Unfortunately, I don't have any Borland compilers installed anymore as we've moved to Visual Studio.

But, I can say that in all likelihood, you need to include some runtime DLL with the .exe file. What error appears when the other systems try to execute the program? Typically, it should say something like "Cannot find blah.dll", which you'll want to drop in the folder with your .exe or else in their path somewhere (Windows\System32 usually works, but gets cluttered).

[camaro]

My prof said this,
"Basically there are other files in other locations necessary to make a C++ program work. Those other files are on your computer because you installed C++ Builder. These other computers don't need C++ Builder or another C++ compiler. If they don't have that installed, then you need an install program that locates these so-called dependencies (the other files) and includes them in your installation program. There are third party software programs that do this, such as InstallShield. You can do this yourself manually as an alternative. It is not easy, but it is doable, and there are resources on the Web which explain how. Research this, and if you have difficulty finding anything, follow up here and I will try to point you in the right direction."

I don't want to do this manually every time I write a program. I always thought the compiler will have the capability to do this. Does Visual Studio do this or does it also need some other software?

[rock]

Visual Studio does rely on a couple runtime libraries, but Microsoft's dominance shows here -- these are already on every Windows machine.

You really shouldn't need to delve into things like InstallShield at this point in your education. It shouldn't be a huge manual process each time, either -- it's just a matter of figuring out which DLLs are required. I've done some Googling just now on distributing Borland-build applications, but have only found this page that leads me to believe you may be able to select a Release build and to check the Use RTL box, and then include the following DLLs:

• VCL60.BPL size 1295 kB.
• RTL60.BPL size 669 kB.
• BORLNDMM.DLL size 25 kB.
• CC3260MT.DLL size 1465 kB.
• STLPMT45.DLL 604 kB.

Try copying these along with your .exe and see if that works. The next to try is to uncheck the RunTime Library box and see if it build a bigger, but all-inclusive application.