Howto: Use Flash To Start Programs On Active Desktop

Howto: Use Flash To Start Programs On Active Desktop
try applying this action to your button:

on (release) {geturl ("c:\WINNT\explorer.exe", "_blank");
}

if you don't use \, flash will truncate the code like this: c:INNTxplorer.exe", "_blank - this obviously will not go anywhere.

You should use WINNT or WINDOWS depending on where your root directory is located.

If you just try to launch this from a regular browser or inside flash, it will prompt like your trying to download a file. Thankfully, there is no prompting when the flash page is set as the active desktop.

Hope this helps

---

Flash On Active Desktop?
can anyone help me figure out how to put my flash animation on my active desktop?

---

Flash Active Desktop
Hi, we are developing a Flash Active Desktop, and I want to connect it with an XML on our server, the problem comes when I try to do it.
The program exports the instaler, with the html page and the swf file, and when I test the wallpaper, the conecction is rejected.
Any idea, I tried with System.security.allowDomain();

Any idea of what could I do?

//the other answer is export the movie in flash 7, but I think there's must be another answer.
//btw, my boss don't want to buy Glow, I tried it, and it work's, but my boss don't want to buy it because he bought another swf desktop program that he found on the net without any advice about it.

thanks

---

Flash Dynamic Active Desktop
Hi,
I'm new here. I am wondering if anyone can help me out.
I am interested in having an "active desktop" created using the SWF Desktop software. It would have a dynamic feed so I can add appearances, etc.
Sort of like this example:
http://www.screentime.com/swf_desktop/example02.html

I do know Flash a little. I would want to be able to add photos, and dates and change colors. Can anyone help me with this? For a fee of course.

Thanks,
Laura

---

Making An Active Desktop In Flash. Need Advice
Hi all. This is my first post here.

I'm in the process of attempting a Windows XP Active Desktop, done all in Flash. I have a few questions about doing so.

First. Normally, when you publish a page from Flash MX, there's a border on the html page, around the .swf. Is there a way to make the flash .swf take up the whole html page, with no borders? This will be necessary if I am to make an Active Desktop page.

Second. I want to put buttons on this Active Desktop to open up 'My Computer', 'My Pictures', 'My Music', etc. What commands can I add to the buttons to make them do this. First I tried a getURL action with the URL being "file://%WinDir%/explorer.exe" (for my computer) but it just says that it can't be found, even though when I type the same thing into IE 6.0, it brings up Windows Explorer. So, what actions can I use to do this?

That's it right now, but I'm sure I'll be back with more questions. Thanks in advance for any tips given.

---

Howto Implement Active Button With HIT Area?
Hi guys,

I would like to have the current/aktive button in my navigation bar stayin on the Mouse-Over Frame - so that it indicates that it is currently active.

I played around using a Movie-Clip instead of a button and was able to implement the active state, BUT did not find a solution to create something similar to the "HIT"-Frame inside a real SimpleButton. The Mouse-Over behaviour seems to be really random with movie clips.

Do you guys have some tips for me?

Ras

---

Active Desktop
I would like to integrate some flash elements into my active desktop
I was wondering if it's possible to use some kinda of action script to
launch programs or run native windows commands
for example I would like to make an icon that launches notepad

Thanks

---

Active Desktop
I would like to integrate some flash elements into my active desktop
I was wondering if it's possible to use some kinda of action script to
launch programs or run native windows commands
for example I would like to make an icon that launches notepad

Thanks

---

Active Desktop Icon Scripting ...
I've been working on an active desktop for my PC and I would like to find a way to eliminate the 'normal' My Computer, My Documents, etc., icons and replace them with clickable buttons within the desktop 'wallpaper' itself ...

Unfortunately, I can't find the command line I need to add to the button to launch a new window as the 'normal' icons would. Does anyone have any idea what scripting (or command line) I would need to attach to the button to get this to work?

Thanks in advance for the help ...

---

Active Desktop, Can Flash Open ".exe"
I'm trying to make an Active Desktop for winXP and would like to know if i can make a button in flash open a file or folder on my hard drive or network, i.e. a winamp playlist file, or run a game executable?

Any help would be apprieciated.

Neal

---

Are There Any Programs That Will Convert Flash SWF Movies Into Real Programs?
Are there any except screenweaver? thank you!

---

Programming Programs To Write Programs
I tend to automate things. Automating automation is no exception to this rule.

If I'm going to have to do it more than once or twice, I tend to jump through some hoops to make sure the machine does it for me.

I'm not just evil enough to run my Actionscript code through a C preprocessor just so I have my macros and conditional compilation.

No, I'm sick enough that I write programs to to write programs. Have done so for years. No cure for it.

Take this simple little doohicky, a 'slide show' applet. It's part of a larger web site that has a ton of screen captures from games that are cycled when the main application loads them as a preview.

It started off that I'd grab all those pictures, drop them into Flash, and make a little 'movie' out of them. That was too much damned work.

So I wrote a little piece of Flex code, and then I cut it up into pieces.

SlideShow_1.as

ActionScript Code:
/**
 * Dumb slide show applet
**/
package
{
    import flash.display.*;
    import flash.text.*;
    import flash.geom.*;
    import flash.events.*;
    import flash.media.*;
    import flash.xml.*;
    import flash.utils.*;

SlideShow_2.as

ActionScript Code:
public class SlideShow extends Sprite
    {
        public const msSlideInterval : int = 2000;  // How long between frames
        public var timer : Timer;      // Slide changing timer
        public var aBitmap : Array;  // Array of bitmaps to display
        public var iFrame : int = -1;   // Frame index
        public var bmCurr : Bitmap;  // Current bitmap
       
        /**
         * Do 'standard' two part construction. 
         * When run alone, 'stage' is set in constructor.
         * When run from another swf, 'stage' isn't initially set.
        **/
        public function SlideShow()
        {
            new Resource();
            addEventListener( Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, addedToStage );
            aBitmap = [];
            for each (var img : Class in Resource.aImageClasses )
            {
                aBitmap.push( new img() );
            }
        }
        public function addedToStage( event : Event ) : void
        {
            stage.scaleMode = StageScaleMode.NO_SCALE;
            stage.quality = StageQuality.HIGH;
            timer = new Timer(msSlideInterval);
            timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,NextFrame);
            timer.start();
            NextFrame();
        }
        /**
         * Go to next frame of slide show
        **/
        public function NextFrame( event : Event = null ) : void
        {
            //trace( "NextFrame" );
            if( ++iFrame >= aBitmap.length )
                iFrame = 0;
            if( null != bmCurr )
                removeChild(bmCurr);
            bmCurr = aBitmap[iFrame];
            addChild(bmCurr);
        }
    }
}
/*
 * Local Resource embed class appended by external script code
 */
class Resource
{

SlideShow_3.as

ActionScript Code:
public static var aImageClasses : Array = [];
    public function Resource()
    {


SlideShow_4.as

ActionScript Code:
}
}

Then I wrote myself a little script to find all the images in a folder, sort them and insert them into the code. If you note the original, and what's missing from the pieces, this basically measures the first image, makes a [SWF()] metadata to size up the applet, then builds a list of images to import with [Embed()] metadata. It dumps the code into the output .as file, then invokes mxmlc on it.

(Note, you only need the FREE Flex SDK to build it.)

The pieces most of you won't understand are 'sed' and 'identify'.

'Identify' came from ImageMagick. A set of command-line based image manipulation tools. I could do additional things, like resize the images, turn them into one format or another, etc. All I use 'Identify' for is to find out how big the image is, and format out the 'SWF' metadata.

'Sed' (The Stream Editor) is an ancient (1977) Unix/Linux/etc. tool that's probably older than most people reading this. It performs regular expression search/replace on text. It's super handy.

makeslides.sh

Code:
#!/bin/bash

if test ! -z "$1" && test -d "$1" ; then

imgdir=$1
if test -z "$2" ; then
swfout=$1.swf
else
swfout=$2
fi
set -o errexit# Stop running the script if an error occurs
set -o nounset# Stop running the script if a variable isn't set
# Find any supported images in the folder
find "$imgdir" ( ! -regex ".*.svn.*" -a ( -iname *.png -o -iname *.jpg -o -iname *.jpeg ) ) > tmp

# echo First part of source code
# SlideShow_1-SlideShow_4 are pieces of one as file that this dumps some
# additional code/data into
cat src/SlideShow_1.as > SlideShow.as

# Sort the file list, then grab the first one, then make 'SWF' metadata
# identify is from ImageMagick - tell script about file format
# sed (Strem Editor) is an ancient unix tool
sort tmp | sed q tmp | sed "s/(.*)/"1"/" | xargs -L 1 identify -format "[SWF(width="%w", height="%h",frameRate="30", backgroundColor="0x000000")] // %d/%f" >> SlideShow.as

# echo more of the source code
cat src/SlideShow_2.as >> SlideShow.as

# Build list of Embed metadata items
sort <tmp | sed "s/(.*)$/ [Embed(source="1")] public static const image/"
| sed -n -e "/.*/ p;="
| sed -e 'N;s/
//'
| sed -e "s/$/ : Class;/" >> SlideShow.as

# echo more of the source code
cat src/SlideShow_3.as >> SlideShow.as

# Add the list of Bitmaps we embedded to a list
sed -n "=" <tmp | sed "s/(.*)/ aImageClasses.push(image1);/" >> SlideShow.as

# echo last of the source code
cat src/SlideShow_4.as >> SlideShow.as

# Now compile the
mxmlc -compiler.optimize=true SlideShow.as -o "$swfout"

# Clean up tmp file
rm tmp

else
# Parameter was invalid
echo
echo $0 srcDir [tgtSwfName]
echo
echo srcDir: Where to look for swf files
echo tgtSwfName: What to call the swf file
echo "If tgtSwfName isn't specified a swf file named after the folder is made."
echo
echo Generate a slide show swf from a folder full of image files.
echo
exit 1
fi
Here's a version for you pitiful Windoze lusers so you don't feel left out.

makeslides.bat

Code:
@echo off

set imgdir=%~f1
set swfout=%~f2

if "%imgdir%" == "" goto help
if "%swfout%" == "" set swfout=%~f1.swf

set SED=toolssed
set IDENT=toolsidentify
rem Find any supported images in the folder
dir /s /b "%imgdir%*.png" > tmp 2>nul
dir /s /b "%imgdir%*.jpg" >> tmp 2>nul
dir /s /b "%imgdir%*.jpeg" >> tmp 2>nul

rem echo First part of source code
rem SlideShow_1-SlideShow_4 are pieces of one as file that this dumps some
rem additional code/data into
type srcSlideShow_1.as > SlideShow.as

rem identify is from ImageMagick - tell script about file format
rem Sort the file list, then grab the first one, then make 'SWF' metadata
sort tmp | %SED% q tmp | %SED% "s/(.*)/"1"/" | %SED% "s/^/@%%IDENT%% -format "[SWF(width="%%%%w", height="%%%%h",frameRate="30", backgroundColor="0x000000")] // %%%%d/%%%%f" /" > tmp.bat
call tmp.bat >> SlideShow.as

rem echo more of the source code
type srcSlideShow_2.as >> SlideShow.as

rem Build list of Embed metadata items
sort <tmp | %SED% "s/\///g" | %SED% "s/(.*)$/ [Embed(source="1")] public static const image/" | %SED% -n -e "/.*/ p;=" | %SED% -e "N;s/
//" | %SED% -e "s/$/ : Class;/" >> SlideShow.as

rem echo more of the source code
type srcSlideShow_3.as >> SlideShow.as

rem Add the list of Bitmaps we embedded to a list
%SED% -n "=" <tmp | %SED% "s/(.*)/ aImageClasses.push(image1);/" >> SlideShow.as

rem echo last of the source code
type srcSlideShow_4.as >> SlideShow.as

rem Now compile the
mxmlc -compiler.optimize=true SlideShow.as -o "%swfout%"
if errorlevel 1 exit /b 2

rem Clean up tmp file
del tmp tmp.bat

goto end
:help
rem Parameter was invalid
echo.
echo %0 srcDir tgtSwfName
echo.
echo srcDir: Where to look for swf files
echo tgtSwfName: What to call the swf file
echo If tgtSwfName isn't specified a swf file named after the folder is made.
echo.
echo Generate a slide show swf from a folder full of image files.
echo.
:end
Now to make it recursively eat folders and poop out swf files, you need one more script...

allslides.sh

Code:
#!/bin/bash

set -o errexit# Stop running the script if an error occurs
set -o nounset# Stop running the script if a variable isn't set

find screenshots/* -type d ( ! -regex ".*.svn.*" )
-exec ./makeslides.sh {} ;
allslides.bat

Code:
rem first sed: Eat paths with .svn in them
dir /b /ad /s screenshots | sed -n "/.svn/!p" | sed "s/(.*)/call makeslides.bat "1"/" > atmp.bat
call atmp.bat
del atmp.bat
Now, if you've skimmed this far, you may be thinking to yourself, "Self, what the heck would I ever do with THIS?"

Well, I'll tell you. With minor modification, the script could do a LOT more than just slurp images into a slide show swf.

You could maintain all of your version-controlled art/sound/video/etc. assets in a directory tree and make this a part of a makefile (or ant, I suppose) script, and it would be able to make one Resource.as file containing all of your resources as static members of some Resource class.

So instead of screwing around in Flash to maintain your resources, embed all of the bits into your source code automagically.

At the very least you should see that when you have a lot of little pieces to manage, writing a simple script to manage them can be a real labor-saver.

---

[howto] Flash And 3d?
lately i see more andmore 3d shapes and object intergrated in to a flash movie...

can someone explain how this is done and with what software?

---

[howto] Flash And 3d?
lately i see more andmore 3d shapes and object intergrated in to a flash movie...

can someone explain how this is done and with what software?

---

CSS & Flash HowTo
Hye there folks!

I found out (through DW) that is much organize to work with CSS on web sites, it's ok if we're tallking about DW I know how to do that, but I want to use CSS on Flash eather, but I realy don't know how to do that.

I'd be very greatful if anyone can point me to a lesson or somth couse in my FL Bible doesn't say a thing about CSS connection to Flash!
I thank ya in advance for any kind of support!

Be cool!

---

Howto Go From Java 2 Flash
hello

I am a Java programmer but now I learned flash and need
to make a project. I followed some tutorials, checked some
samples and managed to get a grip on actionscript also.

I have a problem that regards my backgroud as a OOP programmer
and the fruststrations I get working with the MX environment
I find it very hard to manage, specially if you have lots of
actionscripts.

I have the following questions:

- are there some other development environments for Flash,
as replacement for MX?
- how to better understand a fla for studying, where to start:
movie explorer, actionscript, library etc

---

Howto: New Flash Adverts?
I'm sure you have all seen these new pop-up ads that are completely chromeless and completely done in flash. Does anyone know how to create them?

---

Flash Effects Howto
HI all. Been searching the web for about a week to find a tutorial that describes the effects simular:

http://www.communicationresponsable.com/

but I have been unable to find one - does anyone know any?

I actually downloaded and decompiled the above main.swf (I know it bad but I wan't the effects bad!) I can't seem to get the fla to publish / test correctly. The fla consists of 3 main frames on the timeline - first loader and resize windows like this:

Stage.scaleMode = "noScale";
chargement.onEnterFrame = function ()
{
if (_root.getBytesLoaded() == _root.getBytesTotal())
{
gotoAndPlay(3);
delete this["onEnterFrame"];
} // end if
};
if (System.capabilities.playerType != "External")
{
var largeur = System.capabilities.screenResolutionX;
var hauteur = System.capabilities.screenResolutionY;
getURL("javascript:void(moveTo(0,0));void(resizeTo(" + largeur + "," + hauteur + "-28));", "");
} // end if
stop();


and frame 3 looks like this:

_global.site = new Site();
stop();

while all the graphics and actions are on frame 2 - however using trace I don't ever seem to get to frame 2! Do you think this is just a problem with the decompiler that is leading me off task of learning hwo to create those effects?

Cheers for the help

Jamesbb

---

HOWTO Flash Inside A Php Page?
I have a simple .php page and I want to put a flash header in it. I tried putting the flash header into the .php just like I do with an .html page using Dreamweaver, but the flash movie doesn't play / appear.

I guess I'm wanting to know HowTo put a flash movie into a .PHP page?

Thanks for all the help around here Folks.

---

Programs In Flash
Hi all!

I have some doubts in Actionscripting. Please help me out.

Q. How can I use combination of two keypresses in Flash to do one event?
Example. If user presses Shift+K then my Flash file takes him to a new page where he gets some cool information.

Q. Is there anyway I can create programs in Flash? Can I add File>New or File>Save Option?
Example. Can I make a Text Editor like Notepad in Flash?

Q. I want to make a Text field in which you write a value and press Enter then a result comes. How can I make a Press Enter event in a Text Field?

Q. Please give examples on String (function), String.charCodeAt and String.concat.

I have been learning Actionscript by "Actionscript - The definitive
guide by Colin Moock". These questions are doubts where I get stuck up.

Please explain whatever you send and I'll be very grateful if you can send examples (Fla Files). That would help me a lot.

Thanks.

Yours Sincerely,
Carl

---

Flash Programs
what are some cool flash program...... i no flash mx and swish...is there are any others..?

---

Flash Programs
Any Cool FLash programs.. i no flash mx and swish and insine something any other flash programs?

---

Flash + Other Programs
Im new to flash webdesign, but I've been looking at flash designers websites for a while now - both by stumbling onto popular studios like 2advanced, and by constantly visiting cubadust.com. Anyway, I've dabbled in flash for a few months now, both by playng around with flash MX, and using swish, but I'd like to ease my way into the real stuff. Eventually, start a small studio.

While I read tutorials, and find technique, I have some questions. While viewing sites like 2advanced, WWDG, and gmunk, I have many questions about how the sites get to looking so awesome. I dont have photoshop, and know I need to get it. The question is, how do graphic editing programs(either photshop, paintshop, etc), 3D Vector graphics, photography and flash intergrate. Any links to examples would be appricated.

Im on my way to purchasing ps and swift3d, and while i know theyre good tools for a highly interactive website, I dont know their full purpose.

Also, any of you who can post any other programs I should be using are thanked. I hope to eventually be where you are now.

---

Flash Programs
hey, how can i make a flash movie into a proper program? not the .exe thing on the options as that's too big (file size)

thanks

---

Flash Add-on Programs?
I was browsing download.com the other day and I came upon a section dedicated entirely to aftermarket Flash programs that can "help make effects" and whatnot.

Are any of these programs worth downloading?

-Doug

If your not sure what im talking about check this link:
http://download.com.com/3150-6676-0.html?tag=dir

---

Run Programs From FLASH
I need to use flash for controling multimedial CD with videos and more features. Do someone know short script how to run executable program from flash which is saved on cd together? fscommand doesn't works, thx

---

Using Flash To Run Programs
Hello flash comunity !
I've been searching the forums and i haven't found the answer for my question ... is it possible to launch a windows application via flash ? - for example, i create a button and i want to make it a shortcut to run ipconfig.exe . is it possible ? any ideas ?

Thanks in advance

---

Flash Programs
What flash programs should I use?

---

Flash Programs Etc.
I've been a visitor of newgrounds for a long time, and I wanted to start getting into making flash games. I'm really into art and drawing, so i'll probably be getting a tablet once I start getting a little experienced with flash.

What I want to know is what programs I should get to help me get started, I still need to look at the tutorials. I was thinking probably photoshop for starters.

Any suggestions from some veterans? I'm pretty serious about trying to get this started.

---

3d Programs To Use With Flash Mx
I want to start working with 3d in my flash movies, should I use swift 3d or a 3d based program like 3d studio max? Thanks in advance.

---

3d Programs To Use With Flash Mx
I want to start working with 3d in my flash movies, should I use swift 3d or a 3d based program like 3d studio max? Thanks in advance.

---

Other Flash Programs
Hi

Apart from Flash from macromedia are there other flash programs that can
quickly create animations.Ones that are not so complicated.

Thanks
DD

---

Other Flash Programs
Hi

Apart from Flash from macromedia are there other flash programs that can
quickly create animations.Ones that are not so complicated.

Thanks
DD

---

Flash Slide Presentation - GotoSlide() Howto?
How do you navigate to a specific slide within this simple hierarchy, provided your buttons are on the presentation slide:

presentation
-slide1
-slide2
-slide3
-slide4

let say you have 4 buttons (on the presentation page) and at anytime you want to be able to navigate to a specific slide.

//Button2
on (click) {
macromedia say: presentation.gotoSlide(slide2);
some say: currentSlide.gotoSlide(this.slide2);
some other: _root.presentation.gotoSlide(_root.presentation.slide2);
etc etc etc
}

I have tried numerous combination of gotoSlide() and none seems to work.

How do you get to any slide from a parent slide?

thanks

---

Flash MX.HOWTO? : Locate Component In The Library
How can I locate the asset in the library when I know its Linkage ID?

I mean the exact path through the folders to this asset .

Right now I just open and close all the folders in the Library while I am looking for those assets.

Thank you

---

Howto Import Html Variables To Flash ?
i'm having problems importing variables from html to flash.

lines (in object and embed) in html file looks like this :

myflashfile.swf?var1=val1&var2=val2&var3=val3

line in flash menu file looks like this :
loadVariables("mysite/index.htm", "var1&var2&var3", "GET");

each var is connected to a flash button opening a file acurding to the imported var's :
getURL(var1, "target_frame", "GET");


my problem is that no mater what values are specified in the differet var's, the first var (var1) will allways get the value specified in the last var (val3).

i'd appreciate any help.

thanks in advance,

OrenR

---

Howto Make A Link From A Flash .sfw File?
Hello guys,

i'm just a nitwit in using flash, but here's my prob:

I like to make a link of a .swf file
so when u click on the swf file you go to a certain JSP page.

is this possible?

and if it isn't possible how should i work it out?

thnx in advanced

Gretz Lytheon

---

Open Other Programs From Flash
Hello,

Does anyone know if there is a way to open another program from a web based flash file? A tutorial maybe?? or related site??

For example: lets say I wanted someone to click a button on my website and it open AOL instant messenger on their computer.

I cant seem to find anything on the subject. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

---

Other Programs To Work With Flash
Hello, I am getting started with converting graphics to vector files and animating them. I have used Freehand and Flash 5 to trace bitmaps. I have found this to be very time comsuming. I am looking to buy a new graphic tablet. I am concerned about price, but also quality. The majority of my images will be used on the web and they will be animated in Flash 5. I also plan to move to making 3D images in the future. Could someone give me some advice and information on their experiences with different graphic tablets and 3D programs that work well with Flash and do not have such a steep learning curve? Also is there a program that converts bitmaps or scans to vector images while still keeping the image clean (meaning not a gob of points on one line when not needed) (more like full shape/whole shapes)? In summary, I need to know what all I need to animate a very professional web site using Dreamweaver 4 and Flash 5. I also have Illustrator on order and use Photoshop. What is SWISH and 3D Studio used for and are they any good for what I plan to do?

AYB

---

Opening Programs With Flash
is there any way to open a program or any other executable using flash mx?

thanks

---

Loading Programs From Flash
Hi,

I want to load of powerpoint presentation from within a flash movie does anyone know how to do that amd if so what commands I need to use. Thanks for your help.

Regards

Terry

---

Programs To Assist With Flash
Heyya...

Can anyone offer any tips about programs that you can use to assist with Flash?
I have used both Swish and Swift 3D but I am looking for more programs... What can the rest of the Macoromedia library offer? eg. Dreamweaver, Director...etc...

Thank You!


Cheers,
Maco

---

How To Execute Other Programs (.exe) From Flash
I try to execute programs with "exec" command but nothing happend
on (release) {
fscommand("exec", "program.exe");
}

Is there a way to meke this work

---

Is It Possible For Flash To Open Programs?
I was trying to make an interactive desktop, and rather than using shortcuts i'd like to have menues that would be built into the flash movie. I've tryed using the get url action but that doesn't seem to work when on the desktop.

Does anyone have a any suggestions?

---

About Extra Programs For Flash
i know theres photoshop etc. but what our others ....that i can draw more decent backgrounds with other then flashes crapy tools

---

Link To Other Programs From Flash
I am creating Flash email. I would like to find out if there are any actions that will automatically go to and open another program (such as Microsoft Excel). This is an existing form that people can fill out and send back. They are used to this form, so I would like to still use it rather than create something new.

Thanks

---

List Of All Flash Programs
can someone maybe please give me like a list of almost all the flash programs???

---

So What Programs Do I Need To Make Flash?
I'm a complete newbie to flash and know practically nothing about it. So how do I make a Flash? What program(s) do I need, and are they expensive or free?

---

Launching Programs From Flash
Related to my game question, I want to put several games together that can be launched from one Flash file.

It's very similar to the Flash installer, you click on the install button and the installer window pops up.

I would like to know how to do this. It would also help me distribute my Flash creations because I could then have a button to copy the files on to the users hard-drive (I use CDs).

Thanks for your help.

---