Creating executable which doesn't need any further installations to work on other computers? [closed]

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I am trying to make a simple desktop log app in which a list of pre-defined dates are shown which when selected, the relevant text appears in a description box and a button is updated so that when pressed it loads up the relevant PDF file for that date.

Now, I tried to do this on my own using visual c++ 2010 express and it all worked fine but when I sent it to others using windows they received an error message saying they need to download a later version of the .NET Framework.

Now I am back to the start and would like to know if there is any simple method of making such a GUI (such as visual C++) for which the executable file will work on any windows computer without needing any further installations.

Note: I have experience with C++ and Java programming and also I would prefer if the PDF's in my example were able to be merged within the executable, this would mean that I would only have to issue a single executable file to users rather than sending a folder full of PDF's with it (this did not work with visual c++ for me).

Answer 1

You should look into ClickOnce deployments. A bit outdated, but will do the job.