Default resource (build) folders?

[Mythwyn]

It was asked in another thread, but not answered.
Is it possible to rename or eliminate the default build folders for the project, I much perfer the distrobution folder style of v4.
I'm guessing that the clean project would have to be sacrificed.

I want my project to be my creation not an obvious AutoPlay project.

Also I'm trying to display in a lable the OS name "windows XP" and if it's "Service Pack 1", I've found the registry values that list it this way. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion ---- Want to grab ProductName and CSDVersion values.

Can't figure out how to get the reults to a label on the project page.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Mythwyn]

I created a dummy project with nothing but a background image, and the project would not build and recreated an Autoplay folder since I renamed that folder to match my project.

A major disapointment if this is the way it has to be. I for one, would like to have a single resource folder named of my chooseing, and be able to point to my own folders as in v4.

Further testing I was able to move each resource to a renamed folder, and individually repoint to the file, but on each build v5 wants to create the AutoPlay folder, and insists on loading the "autorun.ccd" file to this default location, so that the application will not find it's data file in any other folder.

Unless I'm missing something... That means no matter what I build it will have these "AutoPlay" folders and can not be customized. May seem like a small thing but, if I'm going to pay 500US I want to have control over such details. It feels like advertising your product in a way, instead of creating something thats uniquely mine.

I think in time and with some fleshed out documentation, that I could be very happy with v5, the new features are great, but I must have control over my own projects. Looks like I'll be sticking with v4 unless this changes at some point soon.

If I am missing something (very Possible) please point it out.

[John_Klassek]

Hi Mythwyn,

I raised the same issue with APMS5 default build folders, and my reasons were that I like to build my projects incrementally, rename them as I go, and then delete older versions when I'm sure they're obsolete. I could do this in APMS4, but V5 method was to recreate the entire folder structure, and this resulted in several 650Mb CD compilations for each project.

However, once I begin a project in the default APMS5 My Project folder, I then move and rename that folder to another HDD or destination. This seems to work okay; the entire project is located where I want it.

I can also backup/synchronise the project with a HDD removable media to take home and work on via the laptop, and this works well as well.

Regards,

John

[Mythwyn]

Beyond the simple ideal of customizing my project, my current delema is that I have sub-programs with folders and files of their own.

Every time I select an .exe file to run, v5 copies it to the DOCS folder, and when the .exe launches it's not finding the other resources from the named folder I added to the project. I got it to work eventually but would love to just have a switch to turn off default folder use.

The obvious solution: Copy all the files to the DOCS folder, which is gonna get messy, exspecially if multiple applications share file names. I can believe more people are'nt having issue with this.

Again, I'm working off the demo, I might have missed something about nameing folders. This is the single biggest issue I have with v5 keeping me from purchase, once I figured out the path structure I've gotten over most of the troubles I was having.
I for one would gladly sacrifice resource cleanup for folder control.
Not that it should be difficult to scan custom folder names for unused resources.

[Ted Sullivan]

If you'd prefer to manage your own files/resources, you can simply copy them to wherever you want, such as into the CD_ROOT folder. You would then just point any actions that refer to the files to that location, without using the "action wizard".

For most people, the automatic management of resources (files etc) has been received quite enthusiastically, as it eliminates having to know anything about file paths and/or the structure of their project/CD.

On the other hand, for more advanced users such as yourself, it can sometimes seem like we've taken away some control over your project. As you can see now, that's actually not true as you still have full control over the layout of your project. You simply have to do a little bit of the work yourself - as you would expect when choosing a manual method over an automatic method!

[John_Klassek]

Hi Mythwyn,

What Ted has explained is exactly what I've done in all my projects. The attached screen capture shows the additional folders I've created beside the default AutoPlay folder.

This works well. And so, I may write the code reference to look something like this:

File.Copy(_SourceFolder.."\\Setup\\ClassicIT\\classic.exe", "D:\\Backup\\Ghost", true, true, false, true, nil);

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

John

[Mythwyn]

Well I'm most likely gonna buy v5 next week, I've gotten enough of it figured out that I can live the changes (and enjoy most) but I have a couple issues that I need some help with.

The above solution does'nt seem to address my issue. I can point to custom folders (and that was not fun after the fact) but the project still puts the data files in the AutoPlay folder.

This is the folder I'm trying to eliminate! I can set the audio defaults, all my other file locations, but the data files and plugins still are expected in AutoPlay.

Is there anyway to get rid of this folder. Any chance thats set in registry? v5 needs a switch to turn this default location off, so it can build like v4, also the fixed aspect on labels should be switchable.

I hate to sound like a malcontent, but I want control over "my" projects. In time I expect as users advance into other projects they'll feel the same and I see it popping up repeatedly on some level here.

If someone can explain how to eliminate the AutoPlay folder I'd appreciate it. I hope this is something that can change in an up-coming update, although I'm in for purchase, I'll always have issue with these two things.

Thanks

[Intrigued]

"...also the fixed aspect on labels should be switchable..."

I also hope this is corrected via way of the next update.

It would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Ted Sullivan]

Regarding the "fixed aspect on labels", that is the nature of the label object. It works that way for many reasons. If you'd like to work with text that doesn't auto-resize, such as you may be used to in AMS40, simply use a paragraph object. That's what it does.

[Corey]

Flash text and PNGs can be your last stich workaround if you truly can't get your head around the paragraph object. A lot of people don't know this but you can actually create Flash text in Dreamweaver. Just more 2 cents.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Intrigued]

Personally, I wanted to chime in to show support for the "label resize issue."

However, I know this came up in a thread already. Also that the paragraph object's "minimum" can only be set as low as 48.

But, thank you for stating that it is the nature of the Label object to act in the manner it does, with regards to the sizing issue.

I appreciate it Corey, Ted that you, have at least, offered other ways to work through this setback.

After using AutoPlay Media Studio 5.0 Pro for just a short period, I can report I am very satisfied with the feature set and the support and that you folks do listen to our suggestions, ideas.

[Corey]

Well the minimum may be 48 but with a transparent background and no border that doesn't affect your end display, i.e. you can display the text as tiny as you need.

I'm not sure I'm grasping what the conflict here is. If someone can post something they are trying to do but cannot accomplish then I could define a better solution. Seems to me on the surface that it's just a matter of working with the paragraph object... For example I've built lots of projects and I've never run into a scenario where I found myself unable to properly add text using the existing objects.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Intrigued]

There are times when I would like to "stretch" the text in a Label object. Yes, I have some off the beaten path projects that this would come in handy.

As an example of when the ability to have the "Keep Aspect" properties disabled.

This is not a major setback for my projects. Just something I would have rather have been able to manage. I will just use PSP or PS application to create this effect.

However, I'm really impatient for the "functions and more" CD-ROM to become available for purchase! (grin)

Thank you Corey.

[Corey]

Ahhhh, OK I see. Here's the thing, text in AutoPlay Media Studio is system text, not vectors. Therefore this is not possible. You would have to use a .PNG or .swf to do that. Vector based text is on the wish list for 6.0.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Intrigued]

Okay! (impressed)

Sounds like some more excellent functionability in the next version!

Thank you, again.

[Corey]

Yeah but remember I said *wish* list. We throw ten zillion wishes at the team for each version and then they get as much as they can in there...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Intrigued]

I understand.

Thanks Corey.

[Mythwyn]

To give examples Corey, my issue with the AutoPlay folder goes beyond control. My project is made up off several projects, it's modular. There is a master application, a "root" so to speak. It runs File.DoesExist checks against other projects modules. This is done so that a user can drop in my project modules and files to suit their preferance and reduce download bandwith on my end.

example: My main module has a few antivirus utilities ect.. but has a button to launch an optimization tool that is enabled by a File.DoesExist check if the user drops in that module in, which requires update files to be dropped in to function. There are other modules that are optional as well. Users can then burn the "build" folder to CD. Except having multiple AutoPlay folders on the CD root.

Yes this can be worked around, by file and folder placement, naming custom folders, and repathing all my file and object paths, but the AutoPlay folder still has to exist for each project. It a matter of inconvience during creation that v5 will always look within it's own folders for resources, slowing down design.

I'm not an advanced user, i'm just doing File.Run and some Registry calls ect.. but I'm surprised that more people don't have issue, perhaps enthusiastically recieved will change in time.

My limited time with v5 has made me a believer, You've build on v4 so much in impressive ways, but for me perfect is 1 patch away. Is there even a chance that this "AutoPlay" folder will ever have the option of being renamed? Is it even a concideration?

Appreciate any discussion on this last issue. Thanks in advanced.

[Corey]

That's not something I can't address personally since it's more of a development issue and that's not really my domain...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Ted Sullivan]

We're always looking at improvements. Thanks for the suggestions.