Including Dependency Files in Setup Packages

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This content is no longer actively maintained. It is provided as is, for anyone who may still be using these technologies, with no warranties or claims of accuracy with regard to the most recent product version or service release.

A dependency file contains information about the run-time requirements of an application or component — for example, which files are required, how they are to be registered, and where on the user's computer they should be installed.

For example, say you have created a Microsoft® Access database that uses a Microsoft® Excel workbook that is late-bound in code. To package this application, you would first create the workbook, and then you would package the application in Access, including the Access Runtime. When creating the package in the Packaging Wizard, include the Excel file in your package.

Note   Office Developer provides royalty-free run-time distribution licenses that make it possible for you to distribute copies of your application, including the Microsoft Access Runtime licensing key and the Microsoft Graph 9 run-time executable file. These are necessary to run Office applications on a computer that does not have Microsoft Office.

The Packaging Wizard will inform you if dependency information is missing for a component in your project.

Note   For some third-party projects, you might want to manually search for dependency files when using the Packaging Wizard.

To include a dependency file for your application

  1. On the Dependencies screen in the Packaging Wizard, click Add File to browse for files you want to include in the package.
  2. Select files in the list and click Scan to search for dependencies on the selected files to verify that all related files are included in the package.
  3. In the list of found files, verify the files that should be included in your package. Clear the check box for any files that should not be included.
  4. Work through the wizard until you have set the necessary options for your file, and then click Finish.

See Also

The Packaging Process | Creating a Setup Package Using the Packaging Wizard | Deploying Your Application | Packaging Wizard | Dependencies Screen (Packaging Wizard) | Secondary Dependency Information Screen (Packaging Wizard) | Testing Your Setup Package