My app + .NET Framework

If the computer where I intend to install an application created with VB.NET does not have the .NET Framework than I should pack that with my application instalation so I read.
Ok. So I read also that I needed a plug in (Bootstrapper Plug in) to do that and I downlaoded and installed it.
Now when I build my setup installer it adds a dotnetfx.exe file with 23 Megs!
Does that mean that the minimum size of an app to be installed on a machine that does not have the .NET Framework is 23 megs???????

Thanks for any answers.

[]'s

Although there are many ways to address this issue, here is the one I use: I use Inno Setup (http://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php) for both VB6 & .NET installs for consistency and for it's rich set of features, in my install script I use a modified version of this (http://www13.brinkster.com/vincenzog/isxart.asp?idart=70) code to detect & download the dotnetfx.exe file for the user. This way my users only download it if they need it, and it's not added to my setup program.

There are other solutions, but that's how I handle it.

Although there are many ways to address this issue, here is the one I use: I use Inno Setup (http://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php) for both VB6 & .NET installs for consistency and for it's rich set of features, in my install script I use a modified version of this (http://www13.brinkster.com/vincenzog/isxart.asp?idart=70) code to detect & download the dotnetfx.exe file for the user. This way my users only download it if they need it, and it's not added to my setup program.

There are other solutions, but that's how I handle it.

PlenoJure,

Thanks for the answer.
I downloaded Inno Setup and will try it later today.

Still, even if my app is smaller now it seems like if the user needs to download 23 megs he will be put off. I mean if he lived without it until now is he going to download it just to run a little app...

But well, I guess that's how it works with .NET... :(

[]'s

Sadly enough there's not much that can be done about that, more & more users now have broadband connections which greatly reduces the impact, but but this will indeed be a real issue for many developers for a long time to come.

The good thing is that the framework ships with Windows 2003 as it will with newer versions of Windows, and it's being distributed via Windows Update, thus more & more users have it installed. It'll be less & less of an issue as time goes on, but for now there isn't much than can be done.