Digital Workshop

Welcome to the Digital Workshop Message Boards
It is currently December 22nd, 2024, 11:26 pm

All times are UTC [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Set screensaver as windows default
PostPosted: January 8th, 2007, 6:32 pm 
Offline

Joined: May 12th, 2006, 6:39 pm
Posts: 9
Location: Canada
Hi,

First, I have spent many a late night trawling for help through this forum when I first started using Opus!! I have lost count of the times I have found answers without the people helping me even knowing. In short, before I post, thought I would take the opportunity to finally pass on thanks to all those that contribute!

I have put together a screensaver that I want to send out on a CD using a 'Set Up' style program. The CD is going to a Not For Profit organization, who by their own admittance aren't 'computer savvy!' so I wanted to make the install completely automated.

I was hoping to use the 'WriteRegistryValue' to change the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Desktop\SCRNSAVE.EXE value, but on closer reading, only the 'software' subkey can be written to using Opus Script, not the 'Desktop'.

Can anyone offer advice on the best way to get the newly copied screensaver to be set as the 'Windows Default' without the need for the end user to go into the display properties and select it manually?

Many thanks.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 8th, 2007, 7:39 pm 
Offline

Joined: November 3rd, 2004, 2:11 pm
Posts: 323
Here's what I did. I don't know whether it's as automatic as you'd like but...

Get Inno Setup (installer program). It's free and can be found at:
http://www.jrsoftware.org/isdl.php

Create a script for the installer.
Compile the script.
Run the script.

The script will install your .SCR file to where it needs to go and then provide an action the user can select to open the Display Properites dialog box with the Screensaver tab active. Then all your user would have to do is select the appropriately titled screensaver from the list (since it will be on the list as they've already installed it), and click on the OK button on the dialog box.

SCRIPT LISTING:
Code:
[Setup]
*AppName=My Screensaver
*AppVerName=My Screensaver
*AppPublisher=Instructional Endeavors
*AppPublisherURL=http://www.indeavors.com
*AppSupportURL=http://www.indeavors.com
*AppUpdatesURL=http://www.indeavors.com
CreateAppDir=no
*OutputDir=C:\Documents and Settings\04773327\My Documents
OutputBaseFilename=setup
Compression=lzma
SolidCompression=yes

[Languages]
Name: "english"; MessagesFile: "compiler:Default.isl"

[Files]
*Source: "C:\Untitled1\Untitled1.scr"; DestDir: "{win}"; Flags: ignoreversion
; NOTE: Don't use "Flags: ignoreversion" on any shared system files

[Run]
Filename: "{sys}\rundll32.exe"; Parameters: "desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver *{sys}\Untitled1.scr";  *Description: "Select the screensaver titled Untitled1 as your default screensaver."; Flags: postinstall


Just change the areas you need to change (listed with an asterisk next to them), compile and run and you should be good to go.

_________________
Opus Pro XE 9.1 Win7 64-bit Core i3 8MB RAM


Top
 Profile Visit website  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 8th, 2007, 8:41 pm 
Offline

Joined: October 26th, 2004, 10:23 am
Posts: 666
Location: Digital Workshop
If you use the Distribution Wizard from within Opus the generated setup will automatically offer to install the screensaver as the user's default.

_________________
ddww Opus Developer


Top
 Profile Visit website  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 9th, 2007, 12:11 am 
Offline

Joined: May 12th, 2006, 6:39 pm
Posts: 9
Location: Canada
:D
Thank you both for your help, should have guessed there was a way to do this with Opus!

Am I able to change the default 'SetUp' icon used by the distibution wizard?

Si G


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 9th, 2007, 1:12 pm 
Offline

Joined: November 3rd, 2004, 2:11 pm
Posts: 323
I went through the Help on the Distribution Wizard and could not find anything about the icon used in the Setup program. I know in InnoSetup you can change the both the icon and the background and 2 images used on the installer.

_________________
Opus Pro XE 9.1 Win7 64-bit Core i3 8MB RAM


Top
 Profile Visit website  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 9th, 2007, 1:56 pm 
Offline

Joined: October 26th, 2004, 10:23 am
Posts: 666
Location: Digital Workshop
No, you cannot change the Distribution Wizard icon or images - it was initially provided as an integral component of Opus when standalone installers were very expensive. Today there are several free install creators that will allow more flexibility if you want to spend the time learning them, but the Distribution Wizard still provides a very simple solution in a few clicks.

_________________
ddww Opus Developer


Top
 Profile Visit website  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 9th, 2007, 6:21 pm 
Offline

Joined: May 12th, 2006, 6:39 pm
Posts: 9
Location: Canada
:D
Thanks Again.
Si G


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: finish the post
PostPosted: January 31st, 2007, 4:27 pm 
Offline

Joined: May 12th, 2006, 6:39 pm
Posts: 9
Location: Canada
I read a post today that prompted me to post here again. It mentioned that sometimes when we ask questions and are given ideas for solutions, we forget to post the solution we finally use, so here goes.

I wanted to get the screensaver to install as the windows default and as Duncan said
Quote:
If you use the Distribution Wizard from within Opus the generated setup will automatically offer to install the screensaver as the user's default.


But, I also wanted to give as much instruction to the user as possible as this is not the kind of task they perform very often (they may need to change the screensaver or its' settings, but are unsure of the process to achieve this)

I ended up using an .exe publication containing complete instructions (Camtasia is just excellent for this!) that then called upon the Opus Setup program that was put together by the distribution wizard. This gave me exactly what I was after.

Thanks again for help.

Si G :D


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 60 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group