How to do compile all of your files into one .exe

[CodyOebel]

I am programming with visual studio express using the Dark GDK libraries, and If I wanted to conceal my hard artwork such as pictures and artwork I developed so that no one could take it from my project directory to play my game how can I compile all of the files into one .exe?
I understand that this will slow down the load time for the game and require more resources but I need to know how to do this for windows applications as well. **Hopefully it's a simple compiler linker option -Crossing fingers**.

Thank you,

[CodyOebel]

Heh .. I hope this isnt advanced I am hoping for a simple compiler setting to do this in form of a few clicks.
Using : Visual Studio C++ Express 2008

My project folder for example contains these four files.

MyProgram.cpp
MyProgram.exe //Made in c++
HideMyProgram.exe // Made in VB, by different dev company
SomePicture.bmp

MyProgram.exe copies HideMyProgram.exe to startup folder for example. But I dont want to give a folder to my users without them seeing all four of these files. Instead I want one single executable. How do I do this?
How can all four of these files be encapsulated into my program to still achieve the same outcome, but being a single stand alone .exe?

I have found file binders that do this, but they are tagged by antivirus companies we use. This is no good!

[kvprajapati]

>How to do compile all of your files into one .exe

Resource files.

[CodyOebel]

>How to do compile all of your files into one .exe

Resource files.

Could you give an example ? I will look into this I remember doing some windows api programming tutorials loading resources, but I am not sure how to go about doing this to load a .exe as a resource into my main program.

[scriptkiddy]

Could you give an example ? I will look into this I remember doing some windows api programming tutorials loading resources, but I am not sure how to go about doing this to load a .exe as a resource into my main program.

// Bitmap resources
//
LANGUAGE 0, SUBLANG_NEUTRAL
IDB_MAIN           BITMAP         ".\\bkrng.bmp"

Also, if somebody wants to steal your artwork, they will.

All they have to do is open your program in a resource editor and save your art resource.

Your best bet is encrypting your files, then decrypting them at runtime.

Believe me when I say that if somebody wants to steal your artwork, you cannot stop them, bot you can make it harder for them to do.

[CodyOebel]

Thanks allot you have taught me something new :) as this I did not know.
Another thing I found out is my version of visual studio 2008 express does not provide a resource editor. I know theres a program called resedit for this so maybe I will try that instead.
The main thing I am honestly after here is being able to compile a seperate .exe in with my .exe. For example the other .exe I have is made in visual basic, but it does some processing I need, and I need them all combined into one .exe.
I have a program called hot fusion which can do this, but I being like all of you .. want to know how to do it the harder way lol.. the programmers way!