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Parameters in Startup File

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    #1

    Parameters in Startup File

    I am having a vexing problem with the startup file in Alpha Anywhere, Desktop version. I want to distribute an application with custom icons, title, and splash screen. My installer will allow a user to specify where he wants to install the application files, which is the problem. I can hard code the options in the startup file with the path to the icon and splash graphics, and that works just fine. Since my user will most likely have a different path, in that case it will not work. It seems that there is not a way to use Alpha functions in the startup, as I believe that the startup code runs during the initialization of the runtime, so Alpha functions and code are not available at that point.

    For example:

    This works:

    -TITLE="RoadMAP CRM"
    -SPLASH="C:\Users\mpeir\Documents\RoadMAP\Graphics\RoadMAP_Logo.bmp"
    -ICON="C:\Users\mpeir\Documents\RoadMAP\Graphics\RoadMAP.ico"
    -MAXIMIZE

    But this does not:

    -TITLE="RoadMAP CRM"
    -SPLASH=A5.GET_PATH() + "\Graphics\RoadMAP_Logo.bmp"
    -ICON="A5.GET_PATH() + "\Graphics\RoadMAP.ico"
    -MAXIMIZE

    If I have to, I can have the initial start of the application modify the startup file by using Alpha functions to get and write the correct path to the text file as needed. The only problem with that approach is that it still does not have the initial program run show the information that I want.

    I also note that the Alpha Anywhere V12 developer actually names the startup file similar to "RoadMAP 0_RoadMAP CRM.startup", while it seems that the old naming of "startup.txt" still works.

    Any thoughts on how to approach this?

    Mack Peirson
    RoadMAP CRM LLC
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Parameters in Startup File

    Malcom,
    I use astrum installer where you can have it create the startup on the desktop.

    When this was installed on another computer:
    \\Dave1\c\davepwds\mypwds.exe
    start in:
    \\Dave1\c\davepwds

    mypwds.exe is a .exe file compiled with all other startup options in it, but is located in the runtime folder.

    This app has been downloaded many times and so far has installed perfectly.
    Dave Mason
    [email protected]
    Skype is dave.mason46

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Parameters in Startup File

      Dave,

      Thanks, I figured that I would have to resort to using one of the install programs to handle setting the parameters. Turns out that Astrum did just fine for me, all I needed to do was use the <Installdir> alias in the icon command line at the appropriate places, and it works. I couldn't hard code the command line, since I have a number of testers who chose "other than standard" places to install their copies of my RoadMAP application. One even has a sub-directory called "Programs" under his Documents directory that he likes to use! Needed to have the screen icon, name and splash screen work no matter what a user chooses to install to.

      Even so, it is too bad that Alpha Anywhere Runtime cannot buffer the command lines from the Startup.txt file and then use them during its own startup. As it is, without the INCLUDE directive, you need to be careful of how long a command line is used or generated. Maybe if Alpha Software hadn't decided to basically move on from the desktop versions of the environment...

      I do have quite a number of potential users for this CRM program that I have built that have no desire at all to have their data on the cloud, and many are one-person operations, so a desktop program that will run on a laptop or 2-in-1 machine is a desirable choice for them.

      Mack Peirson
      RoadMAP CRM

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Parameters in Startup File

        Same here with the passwords app. I have it either for web use or for desktop. Almost all choose desktop.
        I have already distributed over 1500 apps using astrum.
        Some are free
        You can also make 2 installs and combine them into 1 overall install.
        Last edited by DaveM; 04-21-2017, 12:03 PM.
        Dave Mason
        [email protected]
        Skype is dave.mason46

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