Programming

Win32   CD Run  

Win32

I have learned everything I know about Win32-programming from Charles Petzold, author of Windows95 programming. He uses the raw API to teach you everything you need to know to get started. It's a hard way, but this basic knowledge will help you if you switch later to the MFC or Delphy. It's even more important if you "reverse engineer" other programs with SoftIce or a Disassembler.

Reading is of course not enough, you have to write your own programs. My first bigger windows-program was an editor, based on the RichEdit-control. I only used the raw Win32-API and learned very much during these weeks. The result was a small and fast editor with many extra functions: encryption, compression, a diary, time-logging, fuzzy-searching, ... ;-). That's the advantage if you do something by yourself, you can add as much as you like. I am not very satisfied with the editing features, but as a viewer and packer it works great.

CD_Run

Windows supports a nice feature - Autorun. You insert a CD and a small program starts. Small? Unfortunately, most CDs start a big and fat menu which takes a long time to load. It's very annoying and I have turned the Autorun-feature off, but sometimes it would be nice to have e.g. an installation program loading at once. The solution: CD_Run. If the CD-Rom in your first CD-Rom drive supports Autorun, the specified program will be started. Try it! If you download the Source code please send an e-mail with your comments.

If you have 2 or more CD-Rom drives
1. Create a shortcut somewhere, e.g. on your desktop
2. Add the letter of your CD-Rom drive at the end of the commandline
   • Rightclick on the shortcut-icon
   • Choose "properties" (german: Eigenschaften)
   • Look at "target" (german: Ziel), the directory and the name of the program should be there
   • Add the letter of your CD-Rom drive at the end
   • Click okay

Example:

"c:\programme\cd_run\cd_run.exe" d
[directory of cd_run]            [letter of CD-Rom drive]

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