I did a Windows Explorer search for dotnetfx.exe. I changed the name(s) to something like dotnetfx_2.exe, so there is no "dotnetfx.exe" file in the computer, that I know about.
Programs run OK in debug mode.
Program.exe files run OK.
Programs can be published OK.
Programs can be installed OK.
Properties for dotnetfx.net show Internal name is setup.exe.
I've probably overlooked something; what is it
When is the file used, what does it do
Thanks
ps. I still have not figured out how to have the file "downloaded from vendor's web site" during publish, using 2005 Express. Does it work OK in Standard edition
When is dotnetfx.exe actually needed? / Net 2005 deployment download file
Farzad E.
Viktorio
The framework is usually installed into the c:\windows\microsoft.net folder. However, you should not mess with these files. Also, the 2.0 Framework isn't designed to upgrade or take the place of a the 1.0 or 1.1 framework. The .NET Framework is designed so that you can multiple versions of the framework running side-by-side on a machine without affecting each other. This is great because it means that if you have an old 1.0 application and a new 2.0 application they can coexist without causing problems with each other.
reg3x
Well having the dotnetfx.exe on your computer, especially in your Visual Studio folders is a good thing. You can build deployment projects that will include it inside of them.
Generally, you want to have a matching version of the .NET Framework for your application. However, there have been very few breaking changes from 1.1 to 2.0. This means you CAN run a .NET 1.0 or 1.1 app on a computer that just has the 2.0 framework. However, if you plan to support this you should test this. In Visual Studio, I believe there is a setting on your application to tell it if it requires a certain version of the .NET Framework or to just run on whatever you have. MS put a lot of thought into .NET.
bflotim
I had asked in a prior post "Is there an easy way to confirm if a computer has .NET Framework and what version it is "
This question is important only in the destination computer, and I get the impression that setup.exe is supposed to do this for us. But this may be a way to do it:
If directory.exists(C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.0.3705) = true then
Framework v1.0 is available etc.etc.
BTW, folder \Framework and contents are normally Hidden. I had to temporarily un-Hide it to obtain sub-folder information.
"You can build deployment projects that will include it inside of them."
Please see thread for problems with this.
http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx PostID=285767&SiteID=1
#LS
Thanks Jon,
Some additional information.
I see these parts in the .NET system:
>>Main program to run the development software / design .NET apps
>>.NET Framework to Build, Deploy, and Run .NET apps
>>Dotnetfx.exe to create .NET Framework
On my computer (Windows XP Home), I have a few versions of these parts:
>>Main program to run the development software, location:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8 ("2005 Express") (586 MB)
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 (328 MB)
>>.NET Framework, location:
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.0.3705 (35.6 MB)
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322 (59.8 MB)
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727 (121 MB)
>>Dotnetfx.exe I downloaded, location:
C:\user-specified\dotnetfx.exe (v 1.1.4322.573 - 23.1 MB)
C:\user-specified\dotnetfx.exe (v 2.0.50727.42 - 22.4 MB)
When the Main program is installed, it apparently installs the .Net Framework. Additional folders are added for each .Net version. The creation date of my Framework v2.0 is the date I downloaded 2005 Express Edition. The Main program does not include Dotnetfx.exe.
Dotnetfx.exe is not needed on the Development computer because the .NET Framework installed by the Main program enables Build, Deploy, and Run.
Dotnetfx.exe is needed only if the app is deployed to another computer that does not have the .NET Framework. The proper version is needed. If a version 1.1 app is being deployed from Net 2003, the destination computer needs .NET Framework version 1.1. If a version 2.0 app is being being deployed from Net 2005, the destination computer needs .NET Framework version 2.0. I'm assuming that a version 1.1 app does not run with .NET Framework version 2.0 and vice versa.
The methods of including the Dotnetfx.exe file in the deployment / installation procedures is another story.
Robert_Frei
Thanks,
"The dotnetfx.exe is the actual installer for .NET Framework."
That explains the properties for dotnetfx.net showing internal name: setup.exe
Q1. What / where is .NET Framework Is there an easy way to confirm if a computer has it and what version it is
Q2. After downloading dotnetfx.exe version 2, am I supposed to run it to update Net Framework