A full application was created, allowing you to discover several WINDEV features. We must now generate the executable and install the application on the user computers. That's what we are going to do now. So, you will be familiar with the main topics for developing a WINDEV application.


	Answer	If you did not perform the operations in the previous lessons, you can follow this lesson by opening a corrected project: in WINDEV's home page (Ctrl + <), click "Tutorial" and select "Full application (Answer)"

Creating the executable

Creating the executable is child's play: a menu option and a few mouse clicks are sufficient.

We will now present in detail the different steps for creating the executable. You can click the "Finish" button to validate all the steps of the wizard at any time.

To create the executable:

Expand among the quick access buttons, and select "Generate the 32-bit Windows executable (.exe)".

Remark
WINDEV also allows you to create 64-bit executables, Linux executables, services, Java applications, ...
The executable creation wizard starts.
Describe the general options of the executable:
- the executable name: we will keep the default name.
- the name of icon associated with the executable: you have the ability to select an icon in the image catalog.
- the splash screen. Several types of splash screens are available. A splash screen with animated text is selected by default. The "Options" button is used to configure it.
  Express
  This option is not available in Express version.
Choose "No splash screen" and go to the next step.
For the operating mode of executable, we will keep the default options. Go to the next step.
You have the ability to customize the error message of application. We will keep the message proposed by default. Go to the next step.

The wizard proposes to enable the telemetry in the application. We won't use this feature. Go to the next step.


	Remark	Telemetry allows you to get detailed statistics about the use of your application by the end users. Telemetry returns various information about your deployed applications, giving you the ability to improve them. See Overview of the telemetry for more details.

This step is used to specify whether the executable will take the patches into account.


	Remark	When a modification is performed in the application, to avoid having to provide the entire executable, the additional resources (windows, reports, ...) can be supplied as patches. These patches are additional libraries. If the option "Yes: the executable will take these updates by patch into account" was checked when the executable was created, the elements found in the patch will replace the elements found in the application library when the application starts. See Application patch for more details.

We will keep the default options. Go to the next step.

This step is used to manage the executable languages. The multilingual feature will be presented in another lesson. We will keep the default options. Go to the next step.
This step displays all files that will be included in the executable library. Those are the project elements that can be handled by the end user. We will keep the default options. Go to the next step.
This step concerns the directory of HFSQL Classic data files used by the application.
Select "Automatic (recommended)" if necessary. This option is used to install the data files:
- in the data directory of application (if the executable is installed in "Program files").
- in the executable directory.
Go to the next step.
We are now going to type the information about the executable. This information is displayed in the Windows explorer by selecting the file properties.
Type the following information:
This step can also be used to sign the executable if necessary.
Go to the next step.
This step concerns the version number of executable. You can use:
- a format compatible with the earlier WINDEV versions,
- a standard Windows format. Select this option.
Go to the next step of the wizard.
We are now going to define the options for integrating the WINDEV framework.
Express
This option is not available in Express version.

Remark
The framework corresponds to the different libraries required for the executable to operate.
The option "Framework DLL beside the executable" allows you to use the necessary libraries only. These DLLs are copied into the executable directory.
The option "Framework included in the executable" allows you to distribute the executable only (the DLLs being found in the executable).
The option "Common framework" allows you to use the framework common to all the WINDEV applications installed on the computer. With this option, the framework is installed once only on the computer (it can also be downloaded by Internet) and it is used by all WINDEV applications.
Select "Common framework" and choose "Common WINDEV framework".
Go to the next step.
This step concerns Windows Vista (and later). You have the ability to include a manifest for a use in Windows Vista (and later).
For our example, check "Don't include a manifest for Windows Vista and later".
Go to the next step.
WINDEV proposes to perform a project backup. This backup is used to keep a project version whenever the executable is created. In our case, select "No: Don't make a backup copy of the project" and validate the wizard.
The executable is created. It can be run immediately to check its operating mode. To do so, click the "Run the executable" button.

That's it, the executable creation is ended. A lot of options to fill but after a first configuration of your choices, you will be able to validate all wizard steps from the beginning.


	Remark	You also have the ability to click the steps specified in the wizard in order to reach a wizard screen directly. The default options of other screens will be automatically validated.

Creating the setup

The setup is created via a wizard. This wizard allows you to define the main choices. You also have the ability to use the setup editor if the options proposed by the wizard are not suitable. We will not see its use in detail in this lesson. See The setup editor WDInst for more details.

We will now present the different steps for creating the setup program. You can click the "Finish" button to validate all the steps of the wizard at any time.

To create the setup program:
1. On the "Project" pane, in the "Generation" group, expand "Setup procedure" and select "Create setup procedure". The executable and setup creation wizard starts.
2. The executable was already created: the selected options are stored.
3. In the wizard, click on "Additional information" in the "Executable" section.
4. The wizard proposes to perform a project backup. Select "No: Don't make a backup copy of the project" and go to the next step.
5. The wizard proposes to create the page of new features.
  Express
  This option is not available in Express version. In this case, go to step 8 directly.
  This option is used to create a help file in order to present the new features to the end users. During a first setup, this file can correspond to the software help.
  Select "Create a documentation for the new features" and go to the next step.
6. You have the ability to define the elements that will be automatically included in the help file. Keep the default options and go to the next step.
  Remark
  If the application already contains a help system, it can be used in order to include a page for the new features.
7. Validate the message. The executable is automatically created (with the options defined when creating the executable) as well as the help system. You now have the ability to type specific information in the help system. In the example, leave the information created by default. To resume the creation of the setup program, click , which corresponds to "Continue the creation of the setup procedure".
  The help is automatically compiled.
8. Let's now go to the "Setup" section of the wizard. In this first screen, choose the setup mode:
  - Individual setup for an independent application, installed and started on each computer. We will choose this option.
  - Setup with automatic update, for a setup on a server. The applications will be installed from the server. In case of update, only the server must be updated. The applications installed on the computers will be automatically updated.
  Go to the next step.
9. Choose a standard setup. Go to the next step.
10. We will not change the default setup directory. Go to the next step.
11. Keep the files proposed in the list of installed files. By default, WINDEV proposes the Executable file and the help file (created by the help of new features). We are going to add the data files:
  - Click the "Add" button. The Windows explorer displays the content of the generation directory of application.
  - Select the Customer, Orders, OrderLine, PaymentMode and Product data files (files with ".fic", ".ndx" and ".mmo" extension).
  - Validate. The files are automatically positioned in the data directory of application.
12. Go to the next step.
13. Uncheck all options from the database parameters. Go to the next step.
14. Keep the following options in the additional modules:
  We will choose the optional tools to install and we will include the uninstaller. The uninstaller will allow the users to uninstall the application from the Windows program manager. Go to the next step.
  Express
  The choice of optional tools is not available in Express version. In this case, go to step 16 directly.
15. We will select WDOptimizer. This tool is used to optimize the data files of application on a regular basis.
16. Click "Medium" on the left of wizard. The setup will be generated in a single directory. By default, the setup program is created in the project "Install" subdirectory. You can:
  - Specify a password for the setup. In this case, only the user who knows the password will be able to install the application.
  - Sign the setup with a certificate. This option is used to ensure the integrity of setup pack.
17. Validate. The setup program is automatically created.