Windows Runtime

Status	Released
Release Date	2006
Available for
Purchase
Links	Support for Fusion 2.5 Support for MMF2 Support for TGF2

The Windows Runtime (sometimes called the EXE Runtime) exports creations into a single Windows Executable file. The file may be freely distributed to other computers and users where the software will run providing it is running Windows 98 or newer (for MMF2) or Windows XP SP3 or later (for Fusion 2.5).

All new projects default to the Windows Runtime and is probably the most widely used runtime, with the most extensions available.

History

The runtime could be considered old, as it is started with the older Multimedia Fusion 1.5 and has some bugs that cannot be fixed without re-writing code. For instance, the bug that adds a lot of white space to version details is still present in Fusion 2.5.

Formats

Since the début of Multimedia Fusion and The Games Factory, the runtime has been capable of creating applications, games and screensavers to one of the following formats:

• Windows Executable (.exe)
• Windows Screensaver (.scr)

Command Line Switches

The following command line switches can be used on your stand-alone application to change some behaviours.

Switch	Parameter
/DIB	forces standard graphic mode
/DIB3	forces standard graphic mode, 256 colors
/DIB4	forces standard graphic mode, 16 millions of colors, 24 bits
/DIB6	forces standard graphic mode, 32768 colors
/DIB7	forces standard graphic mode, 65536 colors
/DIB8	forces standard graphic mode, 16 millions of colors, 32 bits
/DDRAW	forces DirectDraw + VRAM mode
/NOVR	no VRAM in DirectDraw mode
/DEBUG	displays graphic mode in title bar
/MIS0	disables the Machine Independent Speed option
/MIS1	forces the Machine Independent Speed option
/NOF	runs in windowed mode
/NOC	prevents images from being compressed in memory (for internal test)
/NOX	disables Alt+F4
/NOK	disables the Keep Screen Ratio option (in full screen mode)
/VSYNC	forces V-Sync ON

Including External Files

The external files option is only available for the Windows Runtime, it can be selected under the Application's properties under the "Windows" tab (for Fusion 2.5) or the general tab (for MMF2). When checked, the final executable will also pack all the files external to the application. When the application starts, these files will be extracted using obscured file names to a temporary location with Fusion loading them when needed. All these files can be viewed in the Data Elements dialog.

Alternately, the developer may consider using Binary Data, also available in the Data Elements dialog. This makes porting the application to other platforms very convenient as this feature is supported on most (if not, all) platforms. Instead, the developer will need to specifically state which files to include, and can extract them as necessary (for some objects, data will be directly read, removing the need for extraction)

The external files feature cannot be used alongside Binary Data, as these options are not compatible.

Problems with distribution

Antivirus False Positives

In some cases, specific extensions or the compressed runtime flags an antivirus that the executable contains malicious code. This can be quite scary, especially for your users. Don't worry, the files themselves are harmless, and you are strongly recommended to send your file to the organisation behind your Antivirus to ensure this does not happen again.

A known workaround is to uncheck the "Compress the Runtime" option in your Application's properties. This prevents stdrt.exe from running and the antivirus does not trigger.

Extensions have a dependency

Some extensions may depend on certain software on the host system in order to work properly.

For example:

• The Superbar Progress Bar only works on Windows 7 systems.

• The .NET extension will depend on having Microsoft .NET Framework installed.

• The DirectShow object uses the codecs available on your system. If one is missing on another user's system, the video will not play.

Compatibility with Wine

Wine is a compatibility layer for non-Windows systems (such as Mac OS X and Linux). This technology translates Windows API calls to the native operating system, delivering near-expected performance for users on those systems. Despite Fusion's heavy Windows dependency, programs created by this runtime work on other operating systems with minimal problems. However, it is known that on some Mac systems, using the Direct3D runtime (default Fusion 2.5 feature or by using the HWA exporter for MMF2) will render graphical problems. Clickteam have expressed their interest in supporting Fusion under Wine, as their Mac Editor will be based upon a Wine wrapper. (Not to be confused with the fact the Mac Runtime exports native code for OS X systems.)

Contributors to this page

Advaith (12.5%), Lh37 (87.5%)