Hi All, I have a small little Desktop VFP App that I am trying to distribute via a download link. I built an InstallShield Setup.Exe, about 14.5MB

I try to download the file via a link sent via email and Avast blocks it. I attach Setup.exe to an email and send it to myself as a test, and Avast blocks it.

Is there an easy way for non-technical end-users to download this Setup.exe file? Or, will I need to send this out via CD?

TIA, Steve

maybe you can try another name without 'setup'

I think it's more the .Exe extension than anything. Plus it's not digitally signed or anything, and not a frequently downloaded file. I do change the name to AppName_Setup.exe before trying to deploy, but this doesn't seem to help.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Steve

Make up a file extention like .xyz and see if that helps. Most virous programs will not allow any file type that is considered an execuatable (.com, .exe, .bat, etc.).

Exe files are problematic and definitely a no-no if embedded into emails - you'll never be able to open them.

I recommend that you send a link to an HTML page and let them download files from there. That may still cause problems if security policy is set or Anti-Virus software is overly restrictive.

For example:

http://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/download.aspx

or

http://west-wind.com/webconnection/download.aspx

You can help with that by using a Zip file to package the exe. On most of my non-developer sites I provide download links for both EXE and Zip files for applications. In theory this shouldn't make any difference since no browser actually executes an EXE file directly, but that's how some of the anti-virus features work in over-protecting you 😃.

Anyway - main recommendation: Don't send a direct link, send a link to an HTML page and if you still run into problems add zip downloads.

+++ Rick ---