making portable “portal”

Im making a portable version of Portal. One problem is, that when im done, i get a .exe file and a .dat file. They are both needed to run it.
For convinience, i want these to be one file.
Is there a program that lets me put the 2 files in some sort of container (an .exe) and select to run the .exe when it is opened.
Im not sure if container is the right word it’s just how im picturing it.
btw, im using vmware and thinapp
Answer #1
The way I make portables is similar to yourself,
how about you just create another folder to hold the original folder and have a shortcut pointing to the .exe
This is what I do…
Folder—->Shortcut to .exe + folder—–> thin-stalled folder containing .exe + .dat + others
Hope that makes sense
Answer #2
yeah, i could do that, it’s not realy a great problem, it’s just that it would be easier to on my external hdd and to share with people if it was one file.
*EDIT*
can i change the primary storage to the .exe and get rid of the need for the .dat or would that be a miserable fail?
Answer #3
how about using winrar and making a self extracting archive!
Answer #4
yeah, i could do that, it's not realy a great problem, it's just that it would be easier to on my external hdd and to share with people if it was one file.
*EDIT*
can i change the primary storage to the .exe and get rid of the need for the .dat or would that be a miserable fail?
I can’t figure a way to get rid of the .dat, the best way i managed was as I stated.
It works for me as the folder stays on my networked drive, and the the networked pcs only need the shortcut on their harddrive to acces the programme.
Sorry I can’t be of more use
Answer #5
@ – dw man, i woudn’t have though of that and it will help me if i can’t get it to work
the self extractor sounds interesting. But would that then just extract the folders to my desktop (or wherever it is) cause that couldn’t realy solve the problem. But it would help with the sharing part. thx.
I downloaded a portable version on Counter Strike Source awhile ago, it self extracted the files then automaticaly started up the game. I didn’t have to extract it then click the start icon.
BTW, i haven’t used self extracting archives before so this may be what i need im just not sure. Can they do what i said css could do 1 paragraph above?
ps. Im surprised how small it turnout out, it’s under a gig (just though lol)
Answer #6
WinZip Self-Extractor…You can create a self extracting exe file and set it to extract to a specific path…
Answer #7
can i set it to then automaticaly open one of the containing files though, to automaticaly start the game?
Answer #8
You probably can…There are many options…I haven’t used it for a while…
Answer #9
ok, i figured out that i can. But this arises another problem.
Say i make a self extracting archive that extracts to C:/program files
To be truly portable, the extracted files would then need to be deleted when the game closes/
any ideas?
Answer #10
bump