Scratch

Hi all,

I discovered a new way to run Scratch projects from an executable file. You can run the executable file everywhere, also on computers without Scratch installed. Your project will also open in Presentation Mode immediatly.

I did not create another tool for this - I used a (hidden) built-in Windows application. That means you'll have to do some settings yourselves, but I'll try to explain as good as possible.

It should work for every windows version newer then Windows 95 - because of the long filenames...

How-to

Info: IExpress is actually a program to create Windows Installers. We won't be creating an installer, we just want to run the Scratch Program opening a project in presentation mode. The idea is the same though, you include some files in the 'installer', they are unpacked and a program is started. Our 'installer' will be unpacking a stripped version of the Scratch Program together with a project. We will hide all windows from the user, so when the .exe is clicked, Scratch will just open.

(1)  On XP: Click start, then "Run..."
Type in "iexpress" and click "OK".
On Vista or 7: type in "iexpress", wait a moment and press enter. (There might be a run button available on your Vista/7 though.
You should see the old-fashioned "IExpress Wizard" window.

(2) Select "Create new Self Extraction Directive file."
and click "next".

(3) As "Package Purpose",
select "Extract files and run an installation command"
and click "next".

(4) As "Package title",
you can type anything you want - I used "Scratch Project".

This field doesn't really matter - normally this text is used in the title bar of all 'installer' windows but we will them so the user is not annoyed by Windows 95 style installation messages, instead the Scratch project should open.

Click "Next" again.

(5) Select "No prompt", click "next",
select "Do not display a license" and click "Next" again.

(6) Now we'll have to add all necessary files to the package,
do this by clicking "Add", browsing for a file, and Click open.
You can only open one file each time you click "Add".

First, all essential Scratch application files should be added.
Browse for the Scratch installation folder (usually "C:\Program Files\Scratch") and add the following files:

      Scratch.exe
      Scratch.image
      Scratch.ini
      ScratchPlugin.dll
      Mpeg3Plugin.dll
      UnicodePlugin.dll
      CameraPlugin.dll

Click "Add" again, Now browse for your scratch project and click "Open".
In this example, it's called project.sb .

Now you added All the required files to the installer package, so click "Next" to continue.

(7) As "Install program", we are going to fill in the Scratch application.
Copy-paste

Scratch.exe "scratch.image" presentation "project.sb"

into "Install Program" - the first textbox .

Replace project.sb with the name of your project. (so if your project is named "racing game.sb", fill in
Scratch.exe "scratch.image" presentation "racing game.sb"

Leave "Post Install Command" (the second text field) as it is: "<none>" and Click "Next".

(8) In the "Show Window" step, you should select "hidden". That way the unpacking window will not be shown. Click "Next", again...

(9) In "Package name and options", click browse and save your final .exe file. I named it like my project - project.exe

Check both options:
- Hide File Extracting Progress Animation from user (We wan't the project to show up, no ugly 15-years-old animation    )
- Store file using Long File Name inside package (Scratch uses long filenames - It won't work without this ancient option checked - I tried it out.)

And Click "Next" again

(10) Select "No Restart" we are not running a real installer so a restart is not required.

(11) The "Save Self Extraction Directive" allows you to store the settings you made. It is not necessary, so when you're finished, click "Next".

(12) Click next one last time to start creating the package. You'll see a DOS window, and a message when it's finished.

Now browse to your PROJECT.EXE (!) en watch it being a complete application 

The only bad thing is you cannot hide the scripts at the end.

Joren

Last edited by JSO (2010-03-17 16:45:40)