Files Needed for Packaging Authorware 3.5 Pieces
Packaging and the "Runa3w" files
When you "package" an Authorware
file, you turn it into a program that can run on a computer that does not have
the Authorware program itself installed. Due to the limitations of the AW3.5
Academic version, the only option open for packaging is "Without Runtime." This
means that the file cannot have included in the piece the "runa3w16.exe", "runa3w32.exe"
or "runa3m.fat" files (called runtime engines--they are what make the AW file
"go" ) This means that you have to include the appropriate "runa3" file on the
computer on which you wish to run the program, along with the AW packaged file.
("Appropriate": "runa3w16.exe" for Windows 3.x machines,
"runa3w32.exe" for Win9X machines, and "runa3m.fat" for all Macs.
If you are using the AW3.5 Professional version and you package for Win3.X,
Win9X or Mac, you will not need the runtime files,
In addition, if you have any transitions other than the "Internal" ones, you
will need to place a folder named "Xtras" (which must include the appropriate
"Transition Xtra") along with the packaged piece and the runtime file.
Finally, you will need to include appropriate drivers: if you have included
digital video (externally-stored ones--for most folks, just "avi" files.) These
will be "A3vfw.xmo" or "A3vfw32.xmo" and are to be found
in your A3W folder on your authoring machine.
If you plan to use your project files on computers other than your own, it is
imperative that you practice with this process long before you
plan to use the final project!
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