With the Microsoft® development environment (for Visual J++™ and Visual InterDev™) you can create three types of packages for your projects. With this packaging, you can distribute an application on the Web or use a standard installation program. You can choose from three different kinds of packaging projects: a setup executable, a Microsoft cabinet, or a Zip Archive file. You can digitally sign your setup or cabinet projects for added security by attaching certificates in the development environment.
The following sections provide information to acquaint you with solution building and packaging in the Microsoft development environment.
| Section | Description |
| What Is Packaging? | Provides an overview of packaging in the Microsoft development environment. Briefly describes the three types of distribution units and the two ways of creating those distribution units. |
| Choosing One of the Three Types of Distribution Units | Provides a brief overview of the three types of distribution units: cabinet files, setup executable files, and Zip Archive Format files. |
| Cabinet Packaging | Describes the Cabinet format and details on using cabinet files for packaging. |
| Setup Packaging | Describes the setup executable format and details on using setup files for packaging. |
| Zip Format Packaging | Describes the Zip Archive format and details on using Zip files for packaging in the development environment. |
| Two Ways to Create Distribution Units | Provides a brief overview of the two methods for creating a cabinet, setup, or Zip file: in-place with a single project or as a separate packaging project. |
| Distribution Unit Signing and Security | Explains digital signing, certificates, and private keys and how to get them. |