This article presents several ways to share Axure RP prototypes with others without requiring them to install Axure RP or even a reader. This is possible because Axure RP prototypes are HTML, Javascript, and image files that can be viewed in popular browsers like Internet Explorer 6+ and Firefox.

1. Publishing to a Shared Server or Web Server: The first option is to publish the generated prototype to a shared server or a web server. This will allow anyone (with permissions to access that server) to just browse to the prototype location in their browser (or click on a link you send them).

With the appropriate access, you can generate the prototypes directly to the shared server or web server. Alternatively, you can generate the prototype locally first and move the prototype folder to the server afterwards. If you are uploading to a web server, you may need to use an FTP program like Flash FXP to transfer your files. If you do not know whether or not your organization has a server set up, your IT folks may be able to help.

2. Compressed Zip File: The second option is to zip up the folder that contains the prototype files and send the zip file to be unzipped and viewed locally.

Using Windows Explorer, go to the folder where your prototype was generated. Right click on the folder and select Send To > Compressed (zipped) Folder. 

After the folder is zipped, you can distribute the zip file. The recipient can then unzip the file and put the unzipped prototype folder on their computer. They can do this by double clicking on the zip file and using "Extract All Files" or dragging and dropping the prototype folder in the zip file onto the desktop or into another folder on the computer. Now, they can browse into the unzipped folder to view the prototype locally (typically starting with the [filename]_Start.html file.)

3. CHM Prototype: The third option is to generate a CHM file containing the prototype. This was introduced in Axure RP Pro Version 4.4. Like zip files, this option also gives you the ability to distribute a single file and typically does not require the recipient to install any software to view it. It's a little easier on the recipient since they don't need to unzip any folders. CHM is the format for Microsoft's HTML Help file so most Windows computers will already have the viewer installed and users can just double-click the file to view it.

To set this up, click on the Distribute section in the Configure HTML Prototype dialog. If you do not have the HTML Help Workshop from Microsoft installed already, you will need to install it to generate CHM files. It is available as a free download here. Once installed, there will be a hhc.exe file in the folder where it was installed. Click "Locate hhc.exe" to tell Axure RP the location of the program on your computer.

Once the prototype and .chm file are generated, you will find the .chm file in the same folder as the prototype. You can now distribute the .chm file to be viewed in the HTML Help viewer.

There you have it.  Three ways to share your Axure RP prototypes with clients, users, developers, testers or whoever you want without having to ask them to install any applications on their computers.