GST AutoFlash Builder Tutorial

This tool will allow you to build an autoplay for your CD very quickly and easily. It uses a 1-2-3 step approach. The steps are easy to learn. The first step is the autoplay wizard which will do all the hard work by guiding you through some panels with choices for you to make.

Here is an overview of what the wizard will do for you:

Here is a step-by-step look at the wizard

Select the Player Style

This page allows you to choose between 8 different players, with different background and text colors.

Note: To make your animated graphics appear to have a transparent background, you need make the background color of the JPEG that you want to animate the same background color as the menu. Here is a list of the background colors so you know exactly what color to use.

Define Menu Behavior

Next you will import your JPEG graphics and apply an animation effect for each menu area (You don't have to have a graphic effect for every area).

Here are the steps to do this

Enter Headings and Selection Line Text

This page allows you to enter the text and actions for each screen.

First select the menu number that you want to enter text for

Description Text

Enter a description for each selection (this is optional) 
Text

Enter text for two heading lines unless you are using a graphic for this
Enter the text for each line
Enter text for the left and right lower corner. This is normally "Exit" on the left and "Previous" on the right, but you can make it anything that you want to.

Actions

Click on the little racing car and checkered flag to set up the action for each line. When you click on it the Configure Actions dialog will come up.

The "Path and Programs" and "Parameters" are best taught by example. First some ground rules - in these examples, all the files on the CD are in the root folder of the CD - no other folders on the CD. This is recommended for you too if you want to keep things simple.

Some examples.

Launch notepad to show readme.txt

Path and Programs - readme.txt

Parameters - (blank)

Launch a Web Page

Path and Programs - http://www.autorun-autoplay-tools.com/

Parameters - (blank)

Launch the Media Viewer and view an MPEG movie

Path and Programs - dragrace.mpg

Parameters - (blank)

Explore the CD

Path and Programs - explorer

Parameters - (blank)

Explore a specific folder on the CD

Path and Programs - explorer

Parameters - \pictures

Launch a setup program named setup.exe

Path and Programs - setup.exe

Parameters - (blank)

Click here for special instructions for launching Microsoft Power Point

Click here for special instructions for launching Adobe Acrobat Reader

Now you are ready to test out your autoplay program that you just designed with the wizard

Step 2 - Test how your autoplay works

The autoplay test button will run your autoplay program so you can see what it looks like and try out each selection to make sure the highlight and sound work OK. All menu navigation can be tested right here before you burn a CD.

This test button will test out everything except the launch capability. The reason for this is the program that you wish to run on the CD would be in the root of the CD. If you try to launch here, running on the C: drive it will also look for it in the root (of the C: drive) and it probably is not there. The best way to test the launch is to burn a CD.

Click here to download an autorun made with AutoFlash Builder 

If everything tests out OK it is time to build the CD autoplay image

Step 3 - Build the autoplay files for the CD

The build information dialog collects the information to build the final set of files for your autoplay program. This is the set of files that will go on the CD. In this example we typed in c:\staging1 and then pressed OK. This caused the following files to be placed in the c:\staging1 sub-directory. Now we would copy all of these files to the root directory of the CD drive.

At this time we would also copy all the programs and files that we want to invoke with the autorun to the CD.

For more information on the CD layout and file paths see Windows Path Tutorial for AutoFlash Builder autorun CDs

Now we have built the CD files. When you go to exit the GST AutoFlash Builder it will ask you if you want to save the current definition. This will allow you to start where you left off to modify this autorun program at a later time.

In this case we said yes and the SaveAs dialog appears. We are going to hit the new folder icon.

and then type in myauto1 for the new folder where we want to save this autorun definition.

Now we use the same name for the project (gpj) file. This doesn't have to be the same name as the sub-directory but it makes it easy to remember.

When we hit save, the following project files are saved in c:\myauto1.  The AutoFlash Builder needs these project files to allow modification of the autorun at a later time. Notice that we did not use the build location c:\staging1 to save the files. The files that go on the cd and the files that are used to save the project are different and should be kept separate.

Send mail to support@autorun-autoplay-tools.com with questions about autorun or any products on this web site - - but first check the (FAQ)Frequently Asked Questions page. Your question might be answered there.

GSTMenu Development kit, GSTAction Development Kit, GST Autoplay Easel, GST AutoFlash, GST AutoFlash Builder, GST AcroPDF Launch, GST Power Launch, GST DigiCardCD Builder,  GST Autoplay Pilot, GST MacEasel Menu, GST Mac Autoplay Pilot, GST Mac Power Launch and GST Mac AcroPDF Launch  Copyright © 2002 GS Technology Works LLC dba GS Technologies
Last modified: August 27, 2008