HOWTO: Create Distributive for Application That Uses Graphics Mill with a Help of PDW

When you create an application that uses Graphics Mill, you may get some problems with installing it into another machine.

To make installation easier there are a lot of install tools. In particular, VB6 is shipped with addin known as Package and Deployment Wizard (PDW) that provides simple way to create installator for your application.

PDW is often blamed for being too basic and having too few features. In general it is recommended to use more advanced install utilities, like Inno Setup (free open source install utility) or some commercial one. However PDW is available at all machines where VB6 is installed, and it is quite easy to use.

So if you choose PDW as an install utility, follow the steps below. It is assumed that you know how to run PDW.

Steps

1. Run PDW.

2. Click "Package" button. Wizard appears.

3. On the first page select "Standard Setup Package". Click "Next".

4. Select necessary folder. Click "Next".

5. Check all the Graphics Mill dlls (as well as others you depend on). Click click Ok, then "Next".

6. Add GraphicsMill20BaseCodecs.dll using "Add" button. Click "Next".

7. Select "Single Cab". Click "Next".

8. Specify installation title, and then click "Next".

9. Select program group. Click "Next".

10. Now the most important part. On this page you specify the destination paths for files you deploy. There is a small trick - to change destination paths, you need to scroll the file list (the folder drop-down lists are out of the screen, see screenshot). By default the application itself is installed into ($AppPath) folder, all other files - into ($WinSysPath).

    

    On step 10 you need to scroll the list horizontally to edit install location.

    Make the following chages:

    * GraphicsMill20.dll -> ($AppPath)

    * GraphicsMill20BaseCodecs.dll -> ($AppPath)\GraphicsMill20Codecs

    * All other Graphics Mill files put to ($AppPath).

    It is highly recommended to put it to the application folder to prevent possible "dll hell" problem (which can occur if someone will deploy another application using Graphics Mill).

11. On the next page you will be prompted to check files marked as shared. You may clear it from Graphics Mill dlls (as you put it to the app folder, you exclude a chance to overwrite your files with another application installator).

12. Finish.

Wizard will generate several files including setup.exe. To test if everything is ok, just run it and take a look where does it save the Graphics Mill files.