Your+Standalone+JB+Program

There is probably no single topic asked more frequently than, "How do I make an executable program to share with my friends?"

Making an executable is quite simple, especially if you read the HELP FILE Topic, Using the Runtime Engine. If you can't be bothered with reading for yourself, just finish reading this topic and you can create an executable of any programs you write in Just Basic.


 * 1) 1. Create a folder within Just Basic for your project. This one is newFolder, but yours can be //Captain Fantastic Saves Detroit//, //The Garbage Truck that Swallowed Washington,// or whatever.


 * 1) 2. When you have completed your program, in the JB Editor, click on RUN > Make *.TKN file. Save the TKN file to your project folder.


 * 1) 3. From the JB root folder, **COPY** (don't move) all the files shown below to your project folder. If you have images, text files, WAV or MIDI files, or any other files required by your program, include them in your project folder.



There are a total of **3 SLL and 5 DLL files** included with Just Basic, which must also be included with your stand alone EXE, in addition to your renamed runtime engine and the token file for your program. Please locate these files in your JB folder and copy them to your project folder.


 * 1) 4. Right-click on jbrun101.exe (or jbrun100.exe if you are using the earlier version) and RENAME it exactly as your TKN file, using the EXE file extension.


 * 1) 5. Take a break, you're done! If you want to put a shortcut to this program on your desktop, simply right-click on //whatever.exe// and choose "Send to desktop as shortcut."

Before adding the images, sounds, or text files used by your program, your project folder will be larger than 2 MB. Sorry, all the files shown above are **REQUIRED** to run your program. If you fail to include any of them, or fail to include your supporting files, your program will not run.

There are many installer utilities you can download and try, or purchase when you have found one you like. There is also IExpress Installer, which that dreadful Microsoft Corporation includes with every installation of Windows 2000 and Windows XP - - and they don't even charge for it! See [|LB NL#134] for a review of IExpress. You can also go to [|JB NL#1] for the steps needed to create an installable program, complete with your custom icon and desktop shortcut, using WinRAR.

Everyone has their own favorite installer, but mine just happens to be WinRAR. Feel free to try them all, as I have done, before you decide which version you want to purchase.