Distributing Publications

But after having built your publication, you may also want to distribute it over:

• the Internet: you may want to package your compiled publication into a Setup program. Setup programs are interesting because they can install several publications (and even runtime modules if necessary), additional files like readme; create shortcuts in program groups, and offer an uninstaller to let end users remove any trace of your publication from their computer.
   
• a CD/DVD medium: you may want your publication to be automatically run when an end user inserts your CD/DVD into his/her drive.

When a publication is created, you can use the menu command: "Tools/Distribute Publication". You will have the choice between Generate a Setup package and Generate an AUTORUN.INF for CD.

Generate a Setup package

HTML Executable uses our software program Paquet Builder to generate custom and compact Setup programs for publications. It must be installed on your computer before you can use this feature.

Paquet Builder is a mix between a 7-Zip, Zip and Cabinet Self-Extracting archive maker and a Setup routine generator. Thanks to its exhaustive feature set, create flexible and compact self-extractors for professional file and software delivery. Package up any document or program files, visually construct simple or sophisticated multilanguage distribution and installation packages; generate updates and patches; wrap multimedia presentations or several Windows Installer MSI setups into single .exe files ready for delivery over the Internet...

Create ready-to-deliver packages in minutes, without requiring any additional knowledge, or go further since you may also:

• really customize the entire behavior and look of your packages from A to Z;
• create standard or Windows wizard-styled packages and change any detail of your setup's design: icon, splash screen, dialogs, billboards, version info... Show your own company advertisement;
• organize files into components, set destination paths, ask end users for which components to install, add conditions to file extraction;
• add custom actions and configure them visually to do what you want: prompt users; detect system configuration; create shortcuts; read/write registry keys and .ini files; modify file properties; work with variables; use If/Then conditionals or goto statements; display dialogs like readme, license agreement, info panel, wait messages, message boxes; execute program or document files; copy or manage files...
• make localized for international distribution;
• password protect files, add integrity checks, digitally sign your packages (code signing) with Microsoft Authenticode to secure your files;
• select between three efficient file compression methods: Zip, 7-Zip (LZMA and BCJ2) and Cabinet (LZX, MSZIP);
• include uninstallers to remove changes made by packages; No scripting is required, everything is done visually in the XP-like logically-organized interface.

More information about Paquet Builder at http://www.gdgsoft.com/pb

How does it work?

You will get a window with these fields:

HTML Executable will create a default project for Paquet Builder: you can then edit this project with the program and of course compile it to create the Setup package.

First you need to fill in the two fields "Destination path" and "Setup title": "Destination Path" is the default folder where you want your publication to be installed to, and "Setup Title" is the title that will appear on all Setup windows.

Secondly press Generate to create the project. HTML Executable will then launch Paquet Builder to let you modify the new project.

Generate AUTORUN.INF for CD:

About these INF files

This add-on lets you create AUTORUN.INF files. Autorun.inf files contain instructions for Windows that are read when an end user inserts a CDROM which has this file in its root directory (and Autoplay is set to true on his computer). These files themselves can automatically start installation programs on the CDROM, multimedia presentations, menu browsers or whatever on the CDROM (a feature you will know well from Office CDROMs, advertising CDROMs etc.)...

HTML Executable can create such a file for you.

How does it work?

You will get a window with these fields:

All of the required files are copied to a folder called the Root folder (not the same as for your publication). This root folder is actually what you will need to burn onto your final CD. The Icon file optionally specifies the icon to represent your CD in Windows Explorer.

When you have specified the Root folder, click Generate. The AUTORUN.INF file will be created in the root folder and Windows Explorer will be opened to let you browse the contents of the root folder. Then just burn that contents onto the CD.