# Exporting Application not working. "windres.exe: can't open file"

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [March 30, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790 "2019-03-30T15:37:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Xabdro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/8baadc/32.png) [@Xabdro](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Xabdro)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/1 "2019-03-30T15:37:58Z")

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Hi all,  
I’m trying to export a sketch to an application. I am using windows 10 and processing 3.5.3. I am trying to embed java when I export.  
Regardless of the sketch I try I always get the same error:

[https://pastebin.com/eYpwwiDd](https://pastebin.com/eYpwwiDd)

I don’t understand most of it but at the top it says:

D:\processing-3.5.3\modes\java\application\launch4j\bin\windres.exe: can’t open file `cannot’: No such file or directory

I’ve checked and this file does exist.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

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**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/2 "2019-03-30T16:03:25Z")

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and? did you check if

> D:\processing-3.5.3\modes\java\application\launch4j\bin\windres.exe

is there? because i see it in my processing setup

 ![SNAG-0044](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/d/d867ee1f03468d35774648b4acd045190fce004c.jpeg)

if missing,  
install processing again and check if windows defender deletes files.

UPS

> D:\processing-3.5.3\Sketches\HappyBirthday\

you setup your sketch directory inside your processing installation??  
hm, i never tried that, anyhow make a backup of your work first!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xabdro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/8baadc/32.png) [@Xabdro](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Xabdro)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/3 "2019-03-30T16:06:05Z")

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Hey thanks for the reply.  
The file is there and I’ve already tried uninstalling and reinstalling.  
I have all the same files as in that picture.

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**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/4 "2019-03-30T16:16:49Z")

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ok here what i do just now ( win 7 / 64bit):

 ![SNAG-0045](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/b/bef82ac4a25abf1d6afc11059596cf022a567d04.jpeg)

 ![SNAG-0047](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/b/bc33dee67270777845967959c5ad5567c5fd4b55.jpeg)  
can you compare?  
i just double click on the app under the application.windows64 folder

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xabdro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/8baadc/32.png) [@Xabdro](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Xabdro)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/5 "2019-03-30T16:24:23Z")

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I have all settings in the Export Options the same but the only folder generated is “applicaion.windows32”  
 ![broke](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/b/b272b13789b65d251717dbbfd5954b4708cd931a.png)  
No application is made.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/6 "2019-03-30T16:27:12Z")

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hm, because it breaks at try creating the windows32 app

- did you try to do this with a other simple 5 line project?
- can you give me your sketch?
- can you move out your sketch dir to  
D:/projects/processing/Sketches/…  
after you create that path and also changed it in preferences?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xabdro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/8baadc/32.png) [@Xabdro](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Xabdro)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/7 "2019-03-30T16:38:48Z")

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I’ve tried it with sketches of varying complexity and they’ve all come back with the same error.  
I can’t give you the sketch as it has pictures of a friend (it’s for their birthday)  
Just tried moving the sketch folder and that didn’t work either.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/8 "2019-03-30T16:52:10Z")

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what is the plan? you want to send that app ( 200MB ) by mail??  
because just a idea,  
download a new processing and unzip to USB stick  
( if required win 32 / win 64 or even linux …too )  
copy your sketch there too and try to run it on yours and other computers??

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xabdro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/8baadc/32.png) [@Xabdro](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Xabdro)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/exporting-application-not-working-windres-exe-cant-open-file/9790/9 "2019-03-30T16:55:21Z")

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Well if I can’t get the export function to work then that is really my only other option.