How can I embed MCR in an executable file?

Hello,

i want to compile an app and embed the MRC directly. Currently I always create an installation file which has to be installed on the end computer. Can I bypass this installation ?

Matlabversion : R2018a

Runtime: 9.4

Many thanks in advance

Torsten Klement

[Adam]

If you are using the Matlab Compiler App there is an option in the GUI in the top right as to whether to build with or without including the MCR, but it will still be an installer that you would create that will wrap these together.

Generally I build both when I build an app because some of our clients have issues with not being able to get the MCR from the web due to IT restrictions.

[Image Analyst]

Shouldn't this be an Answer down below instead of a comment?

[Torsten Klement]

Thank you for your fast response.

The Questions below are also adressed to your Post.

What happens if you send a Web installation File to your clients if they already have installed a previous one ?

Regards

Torsten

[Adam]

As far as I am aware, whether it is the web installation or the one packaged in with the installer it checks if the MCR already exists first and only installs/downloads it if it doesn't.

[Torsten Klement]

I tested it quickly and it looks like you discribed it. Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

I don't recommend it. There are installer packages that can bundle everything in, like Centurion, into a single executable, but everytime you roll out a new version of your app with the same release of MATLAB you'll be distributing about a gigabyte of the MCR which the user does not need to install again. This makes your installer way too big, too long to transmit/deliver, and take too long to install again when it doesn't even NEED to be installed again (as long as you're on the same release of MATLAB. That's why I always deliver the installer for my app separately from the MCR installer.

[Torsten Klement]

thanks for the fast response.

Do I understand correctly that a one-time installation on the end computer through the created installation file is enough to make further installations superfluous ?

The installation file is smaller than the original MRC installer.

What happens if a new installation is called on the end computer ?

[Image Analyst]

If the MCR is 1 GB and your app is 20 MB, and you bundle them together, you're shipping one file of 1020 MB. Then your installer might unpack both of those installers and run the MCR first, then your installer second.

Now let's say you make an update to your app and are using the same MATLAB release. You will only need to ship your new 20 MB installer, NOT the 1 GB MCR installer. So why bother shipping that huge thing? It won't need to be installed again so why install the combined installer and have your user install the MCR again (which is unneeded) and your app (which IS needed)? That's why I ship the two installers separately.

[Torsten Klement]

Thank you very much. This was very helpful to get a glance of upcoming workflows.