Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

[jcorbett2]

I have a photojam slideshow that i want to include in an APM project. I made a button to click on to activate the slideshow. I would like for it to run off of the burnt CD. Which action do I use?
I used the "execute file" action and it looked like this
<IR_ACTIONS_LIST>
<Action name="Open">
<Type>7</Type>
<Function>0</Function>
<DTIndentLevel>0</DTIndentLevel>
<Enabled>1</Enabled>
<ErrorHandling>
<UserNotificationMode>2</UserNotificationMode>
<CustomErrorMessage/>
<OnErrorAction>0</OnErrorAction>
<JumpToLabel/>
</ErrorHandling>
<FileName>%SrcDir%\inremembrance.exe</FileName>
<Verb>open</Verb>
<WorkingDir/>
<RunMode>0</RunMode>
</Action>
</IR_ACTIONS_LIST>

[Corey]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

And did that work?

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[jcorbett2]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

No it didn't...I think the problem is in using a virtual CD folder, but I am new to this and am not quite sure about how to go about it.

[Corey]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

You can set the working directory in the FILE > EXECUTE dialog if you know it's name... For example if it creates the virtual folder in the windows temp directory, or any other spot which you know ahead of time, it's easy to add that to the action and then it should work fine... You must know the name and location of the folder it creates though. If you don't you could always use a file search action to determine the virtual folder location first and then set it into the file execute action dynamically but that would cause a delay in your app while the action searches for the virtual folder...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[jcorbett2]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

OK....I created a stand alone slideshow using PhotoJam 3 Pro. Then i made an AutoRun with your program. In that autorun I wanted abutton to call the slideshow to run off of the CD.
When I made the slideshow I specified an empty folder on my desktop for the creation destination. Then when i went to burn the CD I used the Burning software to indicate the required APM files and also ALL of the Slideshow files.
As I said before I chose the ACTION from the APM editor File..Execute, but what should I indicate as the DRIVE? the default says %SrcDir%\inremembrance.exe

[Corey]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

That's a filename not a drive name. %SrcDir%\ is a folder name, and it relates to your Ditribution Folder. So if you put your .exe in your Distribution folder and then set your file as %SrcDir%\irememberace,exe and your wokring directory to %SrcDir% that should work fine unless your slideshow is extracting to another folder at runtime...

You can also use a file open action and just point it at your .exe, i.e. put your .exe in your distribution folder and use a FILE > OPEN action set to wherever it is, i.e. %SrcDir%\irememberance.exe

BTW one way to check if your slideshow is an archive is to try and unzip it in Winzip or Winrar. If so, then extract all it's files to your distribution folder first and point to whatever .exe is there. If not then just proceed as above.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[jcorbett2]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

So...where it says %srcdir% I should type in what? or should I just transfer the entire folder to the CD and then type the name of the folder there?

[Worm]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

%SrcDir% is a built in variable that is populated with the Folder that the Autorun.exe is executed from. At Design time, it is populated with the Distribution Folder's path.

[jcorbett2]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

Gee guys, I am so sorry to appear stupid, but I just cannot get it. I have burned like 10 CDs, but to no avail.
What should I type in that action?

[Corey]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

Hi, OK:

1. Put your .exe in your distribution folder.
2. Add a FILE > OPEN action to the "OnInitialize" event of your project's first page.
3. In the "file to open" field of your FILE > OPEN action type %SrcDir%\ then the name of your .exe, i.e. %SrcDir%\yourfile.exe
4. Preview your project, it should work. You do not need to burn a CD to preview your project.

BTW no one is stupid here, we're all fishing the same stream. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] You're always welcome to ask anything here, and you're always welcome to re-ask whenever you need clarification. We're all here to help...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[jcorbett2]

Re: Burning a CD-R and making it run a slideshow

I think I understnad it this morning, I got a bit brain-dead last night...Should the action look something like this:
C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\FOLDERNAME\yourfile.exe