To return to the product page for BlackBird, click here.

To go to the Keying Tool page, click here.

Question:
Is there something like a "quick, get me started" for this?

Answer:
Yup.  For you impatient sorts... Replace the existing bb_start.html page that comes with the demo kit with your own. [You can think of bb_start.html just like you do your index.html page on a website.]  When you're ready, use the Keying Tool to key your bb_start.html page.  Package it up with any standard installer creator utility (see more below on that), and you're in business.

Question:
How do I work with the demo?

Answer:
Carefully read all of the information in the bb_start.html page that ships with the kit... there are important specifics, there.  ALSO read the general outline of how I work with it, myself, located on the demo download page, here.

Question: 
Can I change the name of the blackbird.exe file?

Answer:
Yes, you can.  Please observe Windows conventions when doing so!  It's also wise to avoid using common Windows system or program file names -- though generally, that's not a problem.

Question:
Isn't there already a bb_start.html page in the download kit?

Answer:
Yes, there is -- and you replace that with your own.  Before you do that, though, make a copy of that page somewhere -- and get a look at it in NotePad.  The style code and margin settings in the html of that page are neat tricks to get your presentation looking professional.  The style, particularly -- that gets the border edge off the browser part, and also lets you set the scrollbar colors.

Question:
Since this is the same thing, really, as Internet Explorer -- can I open a page at an http:// address; say, something on my own website?

Answer:
Sure thing!  The simplest way to do that is put a link to the http:// address in the opening bb_start.html page.  BlackBird, as we've said elsewhere, behaves just like Internet Explorer, and you should think of it just like you would the browser.  Linking to live content at a http:// address on your site plainly opens up a lot of possibilities!  Give that some thought.

Question:
What is the "title" for in the bb_setup.cfg file?

Answer:
That shows up in the button for the application on the Windows taskbar.  (If you look in Task Manager, you'll see it also shows up as the name of the application on the Applications tab.) The idea, here, is to make this clearly your product and presentation.  And before anyone asks, right-click over any open spot on the Windows taskbar to find the Task Manager.

Question:
How do I get rid of the scrollbar if I don't want to see it?

Answer:
Basic html trick, there -- put scroll=no in the body tag of your html.

Question:
Is there any restriction on the content I use?

Answer:
Nope, not on what you put in it, there isn't.  Just remember, if you do something illegal or just plain stupid, we aren't in that loop... lol.

Question:
Do we have to show the copyright and logo, etc., that ships with the download kit?

Answer:
No -- that would be silly, since you want the presentation to be your own, eh?  Replace the bb_background.jpg with your own.

Question:
Is my content encoded or protected in any way?

Answer:
No.  This is just a containerization of the existing IE on the user's system, really.  We do, though, shut off the right-click context menu and text selection, etc., so -- that slows down the casual snoop, usually.

Question:
I like the included icon, but would like to make my own.  How do I do that?

Answer:
Icon .ico is a specialized format, so you need what's called an "icon editor" to make or modify your own.  MicroAngelo is one of the most popular (search Google), but it's kind of pricey and has a whole lot of bells and whistles you probably don't care about.  However!  There are tons of free icon editors out there (Google, again).  One we just looked at -- free -- is Pixel Toolbox from AxiomX.com, which you can get here.  (A pat on the back over there, by the way.  AxiomX did a really great job on this utility.)

Question:
Will you build an installer for me?

Answer:
We'd really really really rather not -- it gets too darned expensive, coming back to us every time you make a mistake or need a revision.  Please! (See next question.) Go get a free installer, and learn to use it.  Honest, it just isn't all that hard to do.

Question:
Where can I get free installer builder software to make my own installer?

Answer:
There are many free installer builders out there; most quite good, too.  Hit Google with a search on free installers.  One free one that we like (we also use their commercial version) is from ClickTeam.com -- have a look here for the freeware version.

Question:
When making an installer, where should I install?

Answer:
It's always best policy to install to the default Program Files directory; typically, here: C:\Program Files\Some Name where Some Name is the name you choose for your directory.  [Try to avoid commonly used directory names for that (Some Name), of course!]

Question:
What files do I need to include when building my installer?

Answer:
These files are absolutely mandatory, or the application will either fail or upchuck:

- blackbird.exe (or whatever you might have renamed it)
- bb_background.jpg
- bb_icon.ico
- bb_kill.bmp
- bb_logo.bmp
- bb_setup.cfg
- bb_start.html

And, of course, any other files you use in your content (html, images, etc.) must be included.  Best policy is to put all required files in the same directory where you install blackbird.exe; though more sophisticated users with larger content presentations might possibly want to use relative paths to material in immediate sub-directories.

DO NOT INCLUDE such files as bb_start.html.safecopy or bb_start.html.cleaned -- or, of course, the original zip file you downloaded the kit in... a common error.  This does no harm, particularly -- but -- it can tend to really bloat your installer.

Question:
Can I rename the bb_start.html page?

Answer:
No, you cannot.

Question:
Do I need to key any other pages than the bb_start.html page?

Answer:
No.  BlackBird will look at bb_start.html for the key comment at the end of that page, only.  It's not needed elsewhere.

Question:
How do I use the Keying Tool?

Answer:
Simplicity itself!  Navigate with the dialogue that launches when you click the Select File button, and select your bb_start.html page.  Then click the Key the File button.  OK dialogues will pop up informing you of what's going on -- just keep clicking OK until you're done.

Please note that every time you change the bb_start.html page, you must must must re-key it!

As a side issue, you might note that every time you key the bb_start.html, it will create a file called bb_start.html.safecopy -- which is, as you surely guessed, a safe copy of the file you just keyed.  Also, if a bb_start.html page was previously keyed, it will create a file called bb_start.html.cleaned, which is a copy of the page with the keying removed.  Obviously, do not include these files in your distribution.  It does no harm, really, but bloats your installer file size.

Question:
Why do you show a bluebird for the product logo, when the name of the product is BlackBird?

Answer:
Because of we showed a blackbird on a black background, you wouldn't see it...

If you have additional support questions, click the support link on this page.  I generally answer quite quickly.  - etLux