Create Autorun CD Menu

Tutorial

Insert Listbox

The Listbox object has been developed to enable you to link a larger number of similar documents or programs with the menu.

Some typical uses might be:

• To archive pdf files on a CD
• Picture CDs
• Product catalogs
• Collections of programs (setup files), as well as other uses

An Assistant is available to help you insert and create your Listbox, meaning that it only takes a small number of clicks to link a large number of documents with the Listbox.

Listbox
Example: Pdf files

Preparation:
Create a sub-folder in the project folder (this will contain your documents or programs) and then copy your files into the folder you have just created.

Click on the Listbox symbol in the object bar and drag it into the appropriate position in the menu window.

Once it has been positioned, the Listbox Assistant is started.

The first screen presented by the Assistant enables you to set the position and dimensions of the Listbox. You can also choose between having the Listbox entries sorted and arranged either alphabetically or according to their sequence in the script.

In the next Assistant screen, use the "Browse" button to enter the file folder that you created earlier and then click on a file which represents one of the file types specified for Listbox entries (*.pdf, *.pps, *.doc, *.html, *.txt, *.exe,...)

Once this has been done, the Listbox Assistant will search for all the files in the folder specified that correspond to the chosen file type (the type you clicked on) and then create a list (script), which will include an entry for every file found in the folder.

If you click on an image file (*.jpg, *.gif, *.bmp,...), the Assistant can also be used to add all other image file types too.

The third page outputted by the Assistant corresponds to the link page in the button properties dialog window. "%1" is the placeholder for the files designated previously on the second page.

• If the file types designated are documents (*.pdf,*.pps,*.html,...), you have to enter "%1" in the document field.
• If the file types designated are program applications (*.exe), you have to enter "%1" in the applications field.
• If the file types designated are run-time parameters for program applications, you have to enter "%1" in the parameter field and enter the program application in the application field.
  Please note: Many programs do not operate correctly for run-time parameters whose path or file names contain an empty space. Please make sure you avoid using empty spaces for folder and file names!

The Listbox Assistant will suggest all the settings for you; there is usually no need to change these.

If the documents you want to use are pdf or pps files and if you are a registered user of the Business Edition, the Assistant will also suggest that you use the Pdf or Pps Starter and will fill out the entry fields accordingly.

If you want to use image files and if you are a registered user of PicturePlayer, the Listbox Assistant will suggest that you use this application and will fill out the entry fields accordingly.

Please note: One use of PicturePlayer (www.picture-player.de) is to display individual images in full-screen mode.

The last page outputted by the Assistant is used to generate the script which will be used to create the Listbox. If you want, the script can be loaded and edited in Notepad by clicking on the "Edit" button. This function allows you to resort, supplement or delete Listbox entries.

Each Listbox entry in the script file consists of one line with the following format:

LISTITEM=Autorun:FILE=Autorun.pdf:TOOLTIP=Display "Autorun" helpfile.

Special case: Listbox with image files

:TOOLTIP=<img src"=THUMB\imagefile">

This will make it possible to realize a thumbnail image in the tool tip area of the menu window. To do this, take the following additional action:

• Create a folder with the name "Thumb" alongside the folder that contains the image files; this will be used to save the thumbnails. These images have to have the same file name as the original-sized images.
• The tool tip area defined has to be big enough.
• The tool tips function has to be enabled.

Important: The images for the thumbnails should be roughly the same size as the tool tip area; this will cut down on loading times and save on resources. But if you want to use the same image files, this can be done because CDMenuPro will reduce the size of them for the thumbnail presentation if this is necessary.

Example: Image and text tool tip linked with the Listbox.