Embedding an existing exe file into another C++ program

[milad]

Is there a way to link an existing .exe file with other C++ source files during compilation? What I'm actually trying to do is to compress and decompress some files in my console program using LZMA(7zip) SDK but unfortunately it's very difficult to use for a newbie.

There is a command line version of LZMA called 7za.exe and I am wondering if I can somehow embed it into my program and use it like a function. It can be easily used with system() function (which seems to be a very dangerous thing to use) but then if I send my program to someone who doesn't have 7za.exe in the right folder it won't work.

I came across CreateProcess() function in windows.h header files but it seems to achieve what system() does in a more proper and advanced way. I don't know if it can actually link the exe file like an object file during compilation

[1yR4jE8b]

The only real way to do it is to link with the libraries that have the functions you want and use those functions directly. I'm pretty sure what you're asking is impossible.

[Vidus]

Hi you said this is a command line version so this may help you http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q190351.

If not there are plenty of open source compression/decompression library's.You could use them to add the compression/decompression in the source of your program and not need to call an .exe.