Keyword

Type

Description

platform

function

The platform function returns the name of the operating system LiveCode is running on. Possible values returned by this function are "Win32", "MacOS", "Linux", "iphone", "android", or "HTML5"
Here is a sample handler that could be used to check to see which operating system the program is running on at startup time:

on preopenStack
  if the platform is "MacOS" then
    --do Mac stuff
  else if the platform is "Win32" then
    --do Windows stuff
  else
    --do Unix stuff
end preopenStack

environment

function

The environment function returns the type of running environment the stack is in. The most common responses would be “standalone application”, “development”, and “mobile”. If the environment function returns “development” the stack is being run in the LiveCode development environment. If the environment function returns “standalone application” when the stack is being run as a standalone application. A LiveCode application running on a mobile device returns “mobile”.

machine

function

• x86 - Windows 32 bit based system
• x86_64 - Windows 64 bit based system
• iPod Touch - the device is one of the iPod Touch models
• iPhone - the device is one of the iPhone models
• iPhone Simulator - the device is a simulated iPhone
• iPad - the device is an iPad
• iPad Simulator - the device is a simulated iPad

processor

function

Use the processor function to retrieve information about the host system's architecture, either the host CPU or emulator.

The processor function returns one of the following strings:

• x86 - on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux running a 32 bit processor.
• x86_64 - on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems running a 64 bit processor
• i386 - on the iOS Simulator
• arm - on ARM 32 bit architecture (iOS and Android Devices and the Android simulator
• arm64 - on ARM 64 bit architecture (iOS and Android Devices and the Android simulator)
• js - on HTML 5 (in a web browser)

systemVersion

function

The systemVersion function returns the version number of the operating system.

This allows you to check for specific versions of the Mac and Windows OS. For example, on the latest revision of Mac OS X "Catalina" (as of December 2020) it returns "10.15.7". On Windows 10 systemVersion returns "NT 10.0".

specialFolderPath

function

The specialFolderPath function returns the path to directories that exist in all operating systems, but whose actual file path differs from platform to platform. Examples include the Desktop, Documents and Preferences folders. This function is discussed in more detail in the lesson on External File access.

lookAndFeel

property

The lookAndFeel property specifies which platform the user-interface controls resemble. It affects the appearance of scrollbars, object borders, checkboxes and radio buttons, and button menus.This property does not give an exact representation of the appearance and behavior of the stack on the target platform. For example, it has no effect on cursors, placement of the menubar, and default fonts.

The lookAndFeel is one of the following:
"Appearance Manager": standard Windows XP, Mac OS and OS X look and feel.
"Macintosh": emulated Classic Mac OS Platinum appearance, used regardless of current theme.
"Motif": standard Motif look and feel for Unix systems
"Windows 95": standard Windows look and feel

General settings.

Standalone Name: The name of the standalone application you want to create.

Inclusions. Here you can choose to include various types of resource in the standalone file. The first radio button ("Search for required inclusions...") will scan your stack and attempt to automatically include the required libraries in the standalone. Alternatively, you can check the"Select inclusions..." button to manually choose the libraries to include in the standalone. You can do this in the Inclusions tab. (See below.) What you check depends upon what resources your stack uses. For instance, if you have no animations in your stack you don't need to keep the Animation Libraries in the distribution. If you use the ask and answer commands in your stack be sure to check the Ask Dialog and Answer Dialog check boxes.

Property Profiles. A profile is a set of property settings for an object. You can create multiple profiles for each object in your stack in the Profile panel of the Property Inspector. In this section you can choose which profile will be used when building your standalone application. For example, you might create separate profiles for Macintosh and Windows that use different fonts for button or field objects. Here you can choose to either remove all profiles from all objects in your stack (in effect making the settings in Master profile the ones that are used), choosing a specific profile for all objects to use, or to include all profiles and the profile library, making it possible for users of your standalone to choose a profile.

Stack files to include.

Here you may select the stack files that are to be included in the distribution. There are buttons that let you add or remove stack files. The mainstack of the selected stack file will always appear first in the "Stacks in the selected stack file" list.

Advanced Options Section
   For the selected stack file checkboxes

Move substacks into individual files: Save substacks as separate files instead of as part of the standalone application.
Rename files generically: Renames substack files using numbers instead of the substack names.
Create folder for substacks: Here you can choose to have a separate folder for substacks or not. If you choose to have a folder, give it a name.

  Stacks in the selected stack file list

Lists all stacks in the stackfile selected in the list on the left. The mainstack always appears first in bold face.

  For the selected stack checkboxes

Set destroyStack property to true: If checked, the stack will be removed from memory when all of its windows are closed.

Encrypt with password: Allows you to require a password to enter the program.

Copy Files into the App

If you want to automatically copy external files—images, video or sound files,for example —into your standalone application folder, use this pane. The files that you add to the application will then be copied to a location that makes it possible for the standalone to find and use them.

For Windows executables and Classic Mac OS applications the files will be copied into the same folder as the standalone executable file.

For Mac OS X applications: Applications on Mac OS X are actually specialized folders called packages or bundles. Copied external files will be put inside this package so that they will not be immediately visible in the Finder. To see where the files are placed, Control-click or right-click on the application file and choose Show Package Contents from the popup menu. A window will open showing a folder called Contents. Open the Contents folder, then the MacOS folder. Here is where you will find copied files. (Note: If you have set the defaultFolder property in your stack to the folder that contains the stack file, when you create the standalone the defaultFolder will be this MacOS folder. On the other hand, if you never explicitly set the defaultFolder property in your stack, when you create the standalone the defaultFolder is set to the folder that contains the application package.)

Inclusions

If you chose to manually select inclusions on the General tab, this is where you make your selections. What you check depends upon what resources your stack uses. For instance, if there is no printing functionality in your stack you don't need to include the Printing library in the distribution. On the other hand, if you use the ask and answer commands in your stack be sure to check the Ask Dialog and Answer Dialog check boxes to include those assets in your standalone.

Likewise, if your stack includes widgets, you must select the needed widget libraries for inclusion.

Set OS Specific Settings

These six tabs are where you designate which platforms to build for. They also allow you to specify settings that determine how the standalone file will appear in the file system of the operating systems for which you are building your app. For example, in these tabs you can set things like the application icon*, version number, and copyright notices.

OS X Pane

Check the Build for Mac OS X box to save a standalone that will run under Mac OS X.

Build for: This refers to the processor types that Mac OS may run under. All modern Mac OS X systems run on 64-bit processors. You should only choose 32-bit if you are building for an older Mac running an old operating system.

Icons*: You can assign a finder icon to the application by choosing a previously-created .icns file with the Choose... button next to the Application Icon field.

You can assign a Finder icon to the application's documents by choosing a previously-created icon with the Choose... button next to the Document Icon field.

You can also specify a custom icon to be displayed in ask and answer dialogs.

PLIST: A plist is basically a specially-formatted preference file. Unless you are familiar with XML and plists in OS X, choose the first option.

Name, Signature, Document section:

Name: The name is the name your application will be saved under. It is important that you get it right here. If you create the application then try to change the name in the Finder, you may break the application.

Signature: Formerly, all Macintosh files had a creator signature that the OS used to determine which applications open which documents. For example, LiveCode's creator signature is 'RApp'. Creator signatures are no longer required, so you can use the default '????' or make up your own.

Document type refers to the type of document your application can create or open. It can be an existing type or you may make your own custom type.

Document extension refers to the extension that appears after the '.' in name of files your application may create. For example, if your application saves plain text files, set this to 'txt'. You may also use a custom extension.

Version Information section.

The information you provide in here will help you keep track of version, copyright and other information under Macintosh OS X. The Long Version and Short Version fields hold strings that describe which version of the application this build is. It is important to carefully increment your version number with each successive build to avoid confusion over which build is the latest.

The copyright notice appears in the Finder's Get Info box for your application. The bundle identifier helps identify your application to the OS. Typically a bundle identifier is in the form of a reverse URL, for example, com.mycompany.myapplication.

Windows Pane

This tab is where you may include Windows-specific information, such as which icons* will appear with the application, version and copyright information, and others. It is important to carefully increment your version number with each successive build to avoid confusion over which build is the latest.

You can assign an icon to your Application by clicking Choose... and navigating to a previously-created .ico file.

Linux Pane

Build for: Choose the version of Unix/Linux you want to run your application on.

Include: Unix-specific libraries you may wish to include in your application.

Bug Report Pane

If you wish to provide a mechanism for your users to report bugs and errors back to you, click the Include Error Reporting Dialog box. You can then customize the error dialog text, assign a custom error dialog icon, and allow the user to save the report, enter their own comments, and even email you a copy of the error to assist you in debugging.