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Using ScreenTime Windows - Publishing a Windows Screen Saver

1) Setup your screen saver

Start ScreenTime for Flash. Click the Content button in ScreenTime's navigation bar.

Select a Flash swf to use as your screen saver using one of these methods:

Drag and drop a swf on the ScreenTime window.
Click Browse and navigate to a swf file.
Enter a swf file path in the Screen Saver SWF entry box.

The workspace will display your screen saver.

External files

If your screen saver uses any external files, enter the files in the External Files list box using the Add button.

Interactivity options

If you want your screen saver to quit when the user clicks or moves the mouse, or presses any key, check the corresponding boxes under Exit Screen Saver. The standard behavior for a screen saver is to quit when the mouse is moved/clicked or a key is pressed. If your screen saver is interactive, uncheck the appropriate boxes. If you uncheck both boxes, your screen saver will still quit if the user presses the Esc key.

2) Setup your Display Properties control panel

Click the Properties button in the navigation bar. The workspace will display a model of the Windows Display Properties window.

Name your screen saver

Enter a name for your screen saver in the Screen Saver Name text entry box. The name you choose is the name as it will appear in the screen saver popup menu.

Preview Monitor

By default, the Preview Monitor will display your screen saver swf file. You can customize the Preview Monitor with a different swf or even a bmp. The bmp size should be 152 pixels wide x 112 pixels high; otherwise it will be distorted to fit.

If you want the Preview Monitor to show something other than your screen saver, do one of the following:

Drag and drop a swf or bmp on the Preview Monitor.
Click Browse and navigate to a swf or bmp file.
Enter a swf or bmp file path in the entry box.

Expiration

If you want your screen saver to expire, check the Expiration box and do the following:

If you want your screen saver to expire on a specific date, specify the date using the calendar pull-down control.
If you want your screen saver to expire sometime after your end user installs it, select a number of days using the spin control.

When an expired screen saver is activated, it is replaced by a scrolling text message. The expired screen saver (or its custom swf or bmp) will still be visible in the Preview Monitor and Settings window.

Expiration Message

To include a custom message, simply type it in the Expiration Message text entry box.

3) Setup your Settings window

Click the Settings button in the navigation bar. The workspace will display a model of your screen saver Settings window.

End users will see your Settings window when they click the Settings button in the Screen Saver control panel.

Example of a customized Settings window

You can use Flash-based controls in your Settings window to modify your screen saver. Read and Write to settings to a text file using STF.readString() and STF.writeString().

Customized Settings window

By default, the Settings window will display your screen saver swf file. You can use a swf other than your screen saver such as an animated logo, scrolling credits, or a simplified version of your screen saver. You can also choose a bmp. The bmp size should be 350 pixels wide x 150 pixels high; otherwise it will be distorted to fit. If you want to display something other than your screen saver, do one of the following:

Drag and drop a swf or bmp on the Settings window.
Click Browse and navigate to a swf or bmp file.
Enter a swf or bmp file path in the entry box.

Sound control

If your screen saver has sound, you can give end users the ability to easily turn the sound on and off from your screen saver's Settings window. To do this, click the Mute Check Box.

Web button

If you want to add a hyperlink to the Settings window, check the Include Web Button box, enter a caption for the button, and provide a URL.

4) Setup your installer

Click the Installer button in the navigation bar. The workspace will display a model of your screen saver installer window as it will appear to the end user.

Customized installer window

By default, when your end users double click the installer, a window opens that displays your screen saver swf and provides information about the installation as it occurs.

You can choose to show a different swf or a bmp instead of your screen saver. If you choose a bmp, the size should be 350 pixels wide x 150 pixels high; otherwise it will be distorted to fit.

If you want to display something other than your screen saver swf in the installer window, do one of the following:

Drag and drop a swf or bmp on the installer panel.
Click Browse and navigate to a swf or bmp file.
Enter a swf or bmp file path in the entry box.

Quiet installer

If you want your screen saver to install without displaying an intervening window or messages, select the Quiet Mode radio button. Any ScreenTime installer will also run in QuietMode when launched from the command line with a "/q" parameter.

Include license

You can show a text file such as a license in the installer window. To include a license, click the Browse button under Include License and navigate to a text file.

Open Readme

You can have a text file such as a Readme open automatically after your screen saver is installed. To do this, click the Browse button under Open Readme after install, and navigate to a text file.

Auto-open control panel

You can have the Display Properties dialog box open automatically at the screen saver tab (with your screen saver selected,) after your screen saver is installed. To do this, simply check the Open Display Properties Control Panel after install box.

Build your installer

ScreenTime for Flash creates a single, self-contained installer – making your screen savers easy to distribute.

Click the Build button in the navigation bar. A dialog box will open prompting you to save your Project file. Name the project file and click Save.

The Report window will open. Click Continue to proceed. You will be prompted to save your installer. Type a name and select a location for the installer ScreenTime will build. Click Save.

Project file

Project files allow you to save content and configurations for every screen saver you build or are working on for later use.

Project file icon

Report window

The Report window displays a summary of your screen saver attributes in text format. You can also print the report. To view the report when you build a screen saver:

Go to Project in the menu bar.
Select Show Report On Build.

To suppress the report window, uncheck Show Report On Build from the Project menu. You can also view and print the report while you are working on your project:

Go to Project in the menu bar.
Select View Screen Saver Report.

5) Installing and using your screen savers

Double click the installer. When your screen saver is successfully installed it becomes the active screen saver.

ScreenTime for Flash installer icon

6) Removing Screen Savers

To delete a ScreenTime screen saver from the Display Properties control panel:

Run the Add or Remove Programs control panel by clicking the Start button, selecting then"Settings" menu item, then "Control Panels", and then finally "Add/Remove Programs".
Select the screen saver you want to delete.
Click Change/Remove.

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