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Distributing your Screensaver Installer

Once you have built a screensaver, you will need to get it to others for testing and eventually for final distribution to your end users, customers, or clients.

Make sure to test the final installers, both before any distribution steps AND after placing them in the final location, before announcing their presence to your end users.

Important Changes in iScreensaver 4

• Macintosh: Screensaver installers are created as an application bundle containing Universal Binary code which works on Mac OS X with either PPC or Intel CPUs. If you have the "Zip" option enabled on the build tab, a zip file will be auto-created, and it's easy to just deliver that file. On most Macs, the zip file will be automatically extracted before the user runs it. It's generally problem-free.
• Windows: Due to technical rule changes from Microsoft regarding DLLs needed to support modern 64-bit CPUs, it is no longer possible to build a single-file EXE. Thus, iScreensaver screensaver installers come in two parts: The EXE installer program, and "Libs" folder containing the DLLs and content. Since Windows does not have built-in support for any common disk image formats, this makes the use of Zip files a little tricky. However... with v4.3, iScreensaver has a built-in installer option for the installer. If all the content file sizes and overall installer are under 2GB, then the new single-file self-extracting archive .EXE is the solution.

Windows: Common Unzipping Problems & Solutions

Please note that iScreensaver Designer 4.3 has a solution for most all of the 'Most Common Problem' with zipping files. Update and rebuild your projects with the Single File EXE option checked. Use the resulting self-extracting installer file for all distribution.

The majority of all screensavers can be built with the new single-file self-extracting Installer option.

1. The Most Common Problem:
   In order to run installers made with the Zip option, the files must be un-zipped first. There is a bug in some third-party Zip programs (such as WinZip) where it will attempt to run the EXE from within the Zip file without first extracting it. This will bring up a cryptic error.
   
   Solutions:
   1. Remind your users to always choose "Extract All" for the Zip file before attempting to install the software.
   2. Make the files available on fixed media (DVD, CD, Thumb Drive), or via a network filesystem.
   3. Instead of delivering a Zip file, create a "Self Extracting EXE" file by using a free third-party installer toolkit:
      • 7-Zip
      • InstallJammer
      • Inno Setup
   4. Update to iScreensaver Designer 4.3 with new built-in self-extracting installer for the screensaver installer, then rebuild your projects.
   
   
2. Large filesizes:
   If either the overall installer or any individual file size exceeds 2GB, then these cannot be used with a single-file EXE. Either reduce the file sizes, or build with just the Zip option checked and follow the 'Most Common Solutions.'


3. Managed Installations / Active Directory Installs:
   If you are an IT department or SysAdmin, you can push out a managed installation of iScreensaver. This is a highly technical process for professionals only: please see the iScreensaver Active Directory, Group Policy, and Silent Installs discussion on our Forums.

Delivering from a Web Server Download

This is the best way to distribute your screensavers. No physical object to be manufactured, installer updates can be instantaneously available world-wide, and over the years, the process has only gotten easier to do. Things you will need include:

• A place to Host your web page.
• A way to Compress your installer program for faster and easier download.
• A way to Upload your screensaver Installer to your web page.
• A Link on your web page to the downloadable files.

Hosting your web page

Most ISPs (Internet Service Providers -- the people that you pay to access the Internet via Dial Up Modem, DSL, or Cable Modem) provide a rudimentary homepage service along with your account, for example, here are some information pages about hosting for various ISPs:

• Earthlink.net
• MSN.com

If you don't yet have an ISP, or you want a more professional service, you may want to check out some of these companies which offer inexpensive hosting:

• DreamHost.com
• GoDaddy.com

Compressing your Installer file

In order to save space, reduce download time, and insure compatibility, you may want to Compress the file before uploading it to the web site. By default, iScreensaver 4 already has done this step for you, creating compressed files within the Installers folder.

Windows:

• Select the Install folder (this is the folder that contains BOTH the .EXE and the Libs folder.
• Right-click the file and choose "Send To: Compressed (Zipped) Folder".
• This will make a .zip file that you can then upload to a website.

Macintosh:
This zipping is default behavior when building with iScreensaver, but if that process was turned off, the manual steps include:

• Right click the Installer and choose "Compress".
• This will make a .zip file that you can then upload to a website.

Tips:

• Remember that the Windows installer includes both an .EXE file and the Libs folder. You must include both, and you must not rename either file.
• Be sure to make it clear to your users which file is which: if the file ends in ".zip" it's not clear whether it's for Mac or PC.
• The Windows single-file installer, when used alone for a build, creates a single .EXE file. This is the easiest way for the end user to install.

Finally, you will need to create a link on your web page that, when clicked, will automatically download the Installer program. If you are not a HTML code programmer, check with your ISP, the w3schools training site, or the w3.org for hints and techniques for setting up your website.

Delivering on CD-rom/DVD-roms

If you have built a screensaver and are trying to make it available via CD or DVD, these instructions should be useful. Please note that this is a rather technical process using some archaic knowledge of hybrid disc formats, and may require third party software. For these reasons, we can not provide further technical support for this process. We recommend the simpler, and more versatile web-based distribution, if at all possible.

Creating Windows-format CDs or DVDs from a Windows computer

If you are using Windows, follow these steps:

1. Build your screensaver, and locate the new Installer file.
2. Insert a blank CD-R (or DVD-R) into your machine.
3. Copy the single-file installer ("My Screensaver.EXE") to the disc,
   or
   From the Installers/Windows/Install folder, copy both the screensaver installer file ("My Screensaver.EXE") and the Libs folder ("My Screensaver Libs") to the disc. Note that the EXE and Libs folder must be next to each other.
4. Burn the disc and eject it.
5. Test the disc on another machine : Insert the disc, open the disc icon, and double-click the EXE file to start the installer.
6. If you need QuickTime, consider including QuickTime on the disc by special licensing from Apple Inc.: QuickTime Licensing Info.

Creating Macintosh-format CDs or DVDs from a Macintosh computer

If you are using Mac OS X, follow these steps:

1. Build your screensaver, and locate the new Installer file.
2. If you have built it on a Windows machine, copy the .ZIP file to a Macintosh, and un-zip it by double-clicking it.
3. Insert a blank CD-R (or DVD-R) into your machine.
4. Copy the screensaver Installer file ("Install 'My' Screensaver.app") to the disc.
5. Burn the disc and eject it.
6. Test the disc on another machine : Insert the disc, open the disc icon, and double-click the installer file to start the installer.

Creating Hybrid discs: Basic Method (Requires Mac OS X)

Mac OS X can now burn cross-platform discs that will work in both Mac and Windows PCs. These steps provide a simple way of accomplishing this task. If you need more control over the finished CD or DVD, or if you are on a Windows-only PC, read the Advanced Method below.

1. Build your screensaver installers.
2. If you built the Macintosh saver on a Windows PC, it will be in ".zip" format. Copy this file to a Macintosh, double-click it to unzip the file, leaving you with a normal mac app file (e.g. "Install 'My' Screensaver.app") .
3. Insert a blank CD-R (or DVD-R).
4. Copy the installer files to the disc. Remember that the single-file Windows installer will end in ".EXE", but if building with the Zip option, then in the Installers/Windows/Install folder the bare Windows installer also ends in ".EXE" and also includes a separate "Libs" folder - you just need the first EXE, or both the second EXE and Libs folder. The Mac installer will end in ".app". You may want to put them in separate "Windows" and "Macintosh" folders to avoid confusion for the end user. If you aren't seeing the filename extensions, then do this: Go to the Finder, choose "Preferences" from the Finder menu, and make sure "Show All Filename Extensiosn" is checked.
5. Burn the disc and eject it.
6. Test the disc on both a Macintosh computer and a Windows PC : Insert the disc, open the disc icon, and double-click the proper installer file (the .app one for Macintosh, the .exe one for Windows) to start the installer.

Creating Hybrid discs: Advanced Method (Either platform)

1. Build your screensaver installers.
2. Obtain CD/DVD Mastering software:
   For Macintosh, we recommend Roxio's Toast.
   For Windows, we recommend CDEveryWhere or MacDisk for Windows.
3. Create a hybrid disc that contains both a Mac and Windows partition. Here are some sample instructions that may assist:
   • On Mac OS X, instructions using Toast (6.0.5 or greater).
   • On Mac OS 9, instructions using Toast.
   • On Mac OS 9, instructions using Toast (example #2).
   • On Windows, instructions using MacImage.
   • On Windows, instructions using CDEveryWhere.
4. Simplify installation for your end users:
   For Windows, following instructions can set an "AutoRun" or "AutoStart" feature to automatically start the screensaver installer when the disc is inserted.
   For Macintosh, this feature has been disabled as of Mac OS X for security reasons. However following instructions, the window can automatically open instead.
5. For Windows screensavers, if you are using QuickTime, consider including QuickTime on the disc: QuickTime Licensing Info.

Delivering through Email

Just attach the installer .zip files to an email. Most email providers can handle files up to about 10MB to 20MB in size, but will reject larger files. If so, consider a third-party service such as: YouSendIt or try googling "sending large emails."

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