WebXtra can be used to create projector in all operational systems and platforms supported by Director 8.5, Director MX, Director MX 2004 and Director 11.

Important: please remember that WebXtra sprites do not spawn a working web browser on the Macintosh: the Xtra is only fully functional on Windows. The Macintosh versions of the Xtra are provided as stubs to help users that must author cross-platform movies on the Mac platform, or need to work with their movies in both platforms with the same set of files and cast libraries, without any error messages.

CREATING A CROSS-PLATFORM OR STANDARD PROJECTOR

(Director MX 2004 and Director 11)

Director MX2004 and Diretor 11 include the ability to create Windows projectors when hosted on Mac OS X, and vice-versa. The OSX version of Director MX 2004 can create projectors for older versions of MacOS (8 and 9) as well. However, this only works correctly if Director is configured to locate and include the proper Xtra files for "the other" platform. Please make sure the appropriate files are installed in the Configuration\Cross platform resources Director folder according to the installation notes, and also make sure the Configuration\xtrainfo.txt file contains information about WebXtra (this procedure is also covered in the installation instructions)

Assuming the cross-platform files are already installed and configured correctly you can invoke the FILE->PUBLISH SETTINGS menu item to configure the parameters for your projector. You can then configure what types of projectors will be created. You should disable the option to create a Shockwave file, as WebXtra is not available for Shockwave.

In the FILES tab you can add additional Director movies to your projector. The Xtra will be automatically included if there is at least one WebXtra castmember in the main director movie. To finalize just click the PUBLISH button. Director saves the publishing settings with your Director movie, and future projectors can be created simply by choosing the FILE->PUBLISH menu item.

CREATING A STANDARD WINDOWS OR MACOS PROJECTOR

(Director 8.5 and MX)

Director 8.5 and MX can only create native projectors. Windows projectors need to be created on a Windows machine, and Macintosh projectors need to be created on a Macintosh computer. However, Director movies (.dir files) containing WebXtra members don't need any modification in order to work on both platforms. A developer can work primarily on the Mac and only transfer the final .dir file to Director for Windows in order to create a Windows projector, or vice-versa. The only requirement is to install and register the Xtra on both platforms. Instructions for installing the Xtra can be found in the download packages. Please notice that WebXtra serial numbers are cross-platform: you can use the same serial number to register the software on both Mac and Windows.

After the Xtra is installed and registered, just select CREATE PROJECTOR from the FILE menu in Director, and choose a Director movie to be included in your projector.

The Xtra is automatically included in the Projector if your first movie contains a WebXtra cast member. If you are creating a "dummy" projector that will call your .dxr movie, you can include the Xtra in the Projector using the MODIFY->MOVIE->XTRAS menu, and adding the Xtra manually.

TIP: You can also deliver the WebXtra file in a folder named XTRAS, located in the same directory of your Projector, if you do not want to embed the Xtra file into your projector. This is recommended for faster startup of your program.