[RESOLVED] Distribution files, What to include?

[scotzur]

EDIT: Sorry, i forgot to mention i am using VB 6.0

Hey guys, i Just finished making my program. Time to build the distribution file. I have run into a couple issues though. I have an image on one of the forms, and when i run the setup Wizard, I'm not really sure how to include the .bmp file so that when the program runs, it finds the file. I currently have it located on the desktop of my computer, and i call it during formload to a picbox. Obviously when ran from any computer except this one the image is not found.

Here is the code that calls the image:

Private Sub Form_Load()
PicLogo.Picture = LoadPicture("C:\Documents and Settings\scottk\Desktop\Program Splash.bmp")
End Sub

I realize these issues were not included in the title, but maybe we can address them here as well.

One of my co-workers would like to make the installed .EXE file have a different Icon than the standard one; how do i do this?

Is it possible to put in a hyperlink to our website on one of the forms. I was reading a little but about activeX controls , but the MSDN library wasn't too clear on how precisely to do this; especially to someone of my skill level.

Lastly, after i have made my distribution files, and i goto install it on my computer The second screen that is encountered (see attached image) shows the install directory as "c:\Program Files\Project1" I would like this to read c:\program files\REELEX without the user having to go in and manually change the directory.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[drivenbywhat]

Hi. Chances are your post is going to end up being moved to a different section titled something like "application deployment". Until then, I can try to answer two of your questions. You said you wanted to change the icon for the program's exe. Well, in your project, make sure you have the main form selected and in it's properties, there will be one called Icon. Here is where you tell it what icon to use for the exe when it's compiled.

As for the picture. Unless you really need to load it during the load event, you can set it at design time. That way, the picture will be in your project when it's compiled instead of looking for the picture in a directory.

I can't really answer your path quesiton. However, depending on what you are using to package your program into a setup, there should be a choice to set the path. You'll have to look at the settings carefully when you're in that program.

[MartinLiss]

Moved.

[scotzur]

Alright, i did what DrivenByWhat said to do and set it at design time, although i would have preferred to do it in the load event.

Also, i went through the setup procedure again, and made certain to change everything so it was named the way i wanted. However it still placed it into the c:\Program files\Project1 folder.

Seems like the icon issue should be resolved, seems simple enough, thanks for that.

Should i start another thread to address the hyperlink issue??

[drivenbywhat]

Glad I could be of some help. I don't use setup wizards but it seems to me that it might help your issue if you tell people what you are using to package your program. Is it the VB6 setup manager or some third party software? As for the picture, just like the path, there should be an option to let choose which picture files or files in general you want to be included in the setup. Hopefully someone here can help you better in that department of your issue.

As for the hyperlink, yes, you should post that in another thread. That could go in the general questions area. I'll give you a tip though. The simplest way would be to make a label and make it blue and underlined. In it's click event, you would use some api command to call up IE and open a certain address. You should do a search in the forums for something like "open internet explorer" or something like that.

[drivenbywhat]

Here are some links:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=455043&highlight=open+internet+explorer

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=465999&highlight=open+internet+explorer

[scotzur]

Thanks drivenByWhat, I got the IE window working.

I also got the install path all sorted out. I was using the "Packaging and Deployment Wizard" that comes with VB 6.0. For anyone else that has this problem, it is not a setting within The Wizard. Instead, in the project window, you must change the name of the project to the folder name you wish your project to be installed into under the program files folder.

Thanks for all your help.

[drivenbywhat]

Good of you to post your solution to the path question. I'll try to remember it for anyone else who may have that question in the future.