Application Distribution Process

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The following list identifies the overall steps you need to follow to distribute a Visual FoxPro application:

  1. Create and debug the application using the Visual FoxPro development environment.

  2. Prepare and customize your application for the run-time environment. For details, see Preparation for Distributing Applications.

  3. Make sure your project includes all the necessary files for your application, including any resource files, graphics files, or templates. For more information about the types of files you can include in your application and how to include files, see Resource Files in Applications and Including Files with Applications for Distribution.

  4. Remove any restricted Visual FoxPro features or files from your application. Certain development environment features are not available in the run-time environment and need to be removed from your application. Make sure any files you plan to distribute meet the guidelines for redistributing files. For more information on restricted and distributable files, see Distributable and Restricted Visual FoxPro Features and Files.

  5. Create documentation and online Help. For more information about creating Help for your application, see Creating Help.

  6. Build an application (.app), executable (.exe) file, or a COM component (automation server) with a .dll or .exe extension. For more information about building an application, see Compiling an Application.

  7. Create an installation package using a Windows Installer deployment program. For more information about creating installation packages, see Walkthrough: Creating a Visual FoxPro Application Setup Program Using InstallShield Express.

    Note   The setup creation program you use must use Windows Installer technology to create a Setup program (.msi) or merge modules (.msm) that are compatible with Microsoft Windows Installer. The Windows 2000 Logo guidelines require that setup programs be based on Windows Installer technology.

  8. Package and distribute your application disks and any printed documentation. Depending on the setup creation program you use, the program might create the disk images for you, or you might need to copy the files to the distribution location manually. Consult the documentation for the setup creation program for more information.

See Also

Distributing Applications | Preparation for Distributing Applications