LiveCode Forums.

Hi all,

I'm working toward my first distrubution of a OSX app.
I've build a few in the past but they have all been for personal use.

I'm now trying to build an install set or perhaps a zip of my .app files n folders.
It's really just for my asspociates at this stage and it will never ever be sold on the MAC app store.

I was just wondering if there is a way to create an installer with LiveCode.
So far I've just zipped the xxx.app files n folders and emailed the .zip or made it available to download from a a web server.
Usually, well once, my mac associate just unzipped it and placed in his MAC application folders.
It worked.
Cool.

But I'd lke to experiment with a LC install set.

tia

I'm sure Mark S. will chime in here, but I just want to say that I bought his InstallerMaker immediately on seeing a demo of it in action, and I've been quite happy. You can go through all the pain of figuring this stuff out yourself or you can decide you want to put your effort into perfecting your application. For my money, InstallerMaker is the way to go - Mark's already done the hard work for you.

http://www3.economy-x-talk.com/file.php ... ller-maker

Most Mac apps are distributed in DMG disk image files, which you can make with Apple's Disk Utility.

Mark, thank for posting the link

Barry, I have little to add to what Mark already wrote, except that if try Installer Maker and miss any features, please submit a feature request and if we believe it is worthwhile and we find the time for it, we'll add the requested feature.

Indeed, most apps are distributed as one single package on a DMG, but sometimes you want to install fonts and application support data or you might want to put an icon into the dock (or a shortcut on the Windows desktop) automatically, which is possible with Installer Maker.

Kind regards,

Mark

http://el-tramo.be/guides/fancy-dmg/

DropDMG

Search for: DiskImages osx

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-DMG-File-on-a-Mac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tOBZSBmplM

Jeez!
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/27392/idmg

Hi,

You can also simpy drop a folder onto Disk Utility.

Mark

Ok...this may be stupid since I am mostly a Windows guy and not that Mac savvy but...
I have a project that I developed on Windows in Livecode and the Windows .exe works great. I noticed that the Windows standalone builder also seems to generate a folder of files for Mac too. The problem is, how can I get that loaded on my iMac to see if it will run as a OSX application too?

I tried uploading the single large file I guessed might be the right file into my FTP and then downloaded it to my iMac. That didn't work. I used to write on the Mac in Pascal back in the Motorola 68000 processor days and the entire program was a single file including all the resources in a resource fork. I am sensing that it is not that easy any more.

Questions?

1- do the Mac files generated in the Windows Livecode environment supply an executable application for Mac OSX?

2- what files from the Mac folders built by the Standalone builder do I need to transfer to my iMac?

3- where do I have to place these files and how is the best way?

I know there are installer addon that can create an installer package BUT I really want to convince myself that my app is truly cross platform before I spend any more money for such a convenience.

Thanks

Russ

Hi Russ,

If you build an app for Mac OS X and Windows simultaneously, you will see a folder with the name of your app and inside this folder two more folders, named Windows and Mac OS X. Inside the Mac OS X folder, you will see a folder with a name similar to NameOfYourApp.app. This is the standalone application package. Copy this folder in its entirety to your Mac. It is a good idea to compress an application package as a zip file before copying it to your Mac and to decompress it after copying. Usually, you will notice that the icon of the folder changed into the application icon as specified in the application settings. Now you can double-click the app to run it.

If the app doesn't start, you may need to give the files executable permissions. In these cases, you will often see a sign on top of the application icon, indicating that the application package isn't valid. Open the Terminal app and type the following:
followed by a space. Now drag the application package into the Terminal window. You should see something like
Now press the return key. You should now be able to run the application.

Kind regards,

Mark