How do I make a program that doesn't need to be installed?

[BigMikeD]

I would like to create a small exe that can run on a windows computer without having to install anyting.  Is this possible?

Thanks

Mike

[Phil_]

I am sure I have seen a thread on here about this before, and I seem to recall the answer was no. 

I will have a look to see if I can find a link.

(I assume you mean without installing the LabVIEW Runtime Engine either?)

[BigMikeD]

Yes i would like to be able to have an exe on a USB key and be able to run it on whatever computer it gets pluged into.

[LV_Pro]

LabVIEW exe's will require the appropriate (i.e. same version as the exe was developed in) LabVIEW Run Time Engine to be installed. This is not unlike Visual C++ or Visual Basic, the difference is that with those development systems the Run Time is installed as a part of the massive Windows install.

The LabVIEW RTE is a free (if big) download and there isn't a license to install it on other computers. To create an exe will require having the Professional Development System, or the appropriate add-on.

[crossrulz]

You will need the LabVIEW Run-Time Engine in order to run EXEs built with LabVIEW.  But as long as you have that, you can just copy EXEs to wherever you want them.

[Phil_]

Relevant Idea Exchange submission: http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Build-executibles-that-don-t-require-a-runtime-engine/...

[Hooovahh]

So this information gets less and less relavent, but LabVIEW 7.1 and older EXEs can be ran on a computer without the runtime engine installed if you include the runtime engine files in the same folder as the EXE.  Check it out here on LAVA.

http://lavag.org/topic/1103-runtimeless-installer-and-labview-applications/

Of course who makes LabVIEW 7.1 EXEs anymore?  7.1 does include the majority of the tools we use today in LabVIEW 2012 but you may find your self frustrated trying to implent some feature you are use to having.

EDIT: Here is another link with the relavent information.  http://lavag.org/topic/13166-running-labview-app-on-cdrom-without-run-time-engine-installed/

[BigMikeD]

That's a bummer that it can't be done anymore, but thanks for all the help.

Mike

[Hooovahh]

One other thing, did you find any posts about Cameyo.  I've heard some success with making a stand alone LabVIEW program with it.

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Labview-exe-as-portable/td-p/2122520

[N1LAF]

I know this can be done up to Version 8.5 (I have done this a lot). Copy these files (C:\Program Files\National Instruments\shared\LabVIEW Run-Time\8.5) to a new folder, then drop your compiled Labview 8.5 executable into this folder. Copy to thumb drive or CD/DVD, and run. Before the chorus of nay-sayers to this approach chime in, there are many cases of sending demo applications to customers, potential customers to run an application without having to install programs (many do not like or refuse to install anything strange). Also, many company computers are tightly administered and will take forever, if allowed, to push runtime files. These are situations out of our control. So, to have an option to run LabVIEW applications from CD/DVD/Thumb-drive is important. I'll make a point to do the same for 2009 and newer, since that compatibility wall and Windows 7 that is looming really close, and XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, watch for NI to drop XP. Sometimes, companies get a little too big for some of these little things... just look what happened to IBM.... NI take note.