How To Build A PC Release Using The Air/ASK?

2dguy

I'm lost, sorry, could I get someone to detail the exact steps how create a PC release from the air/sdk? I can create APK files no problem, but I need to create a PC release asap. I'm not asking how to create an install, I think I can just use one of the commercial installers available for that. Thanks for any help.

pol2095

Are-you created a bundle for Windows ?

Xabi

You would usually need to use something like InnoSetup (https://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php) to create the .exe from the exported project using "Captive runtime bundle" as the exporting option.

FliplineStudios

If you're using adt -package from the command line, you would package the same way as you would for Android, but using -target bundle instead of -target aab or -target apk-captive-runtime. On Windows this generates the project as a folder, which contains an exe as well as anything else you packaged with it. You can also add -arch x64 after the -target if you want a 64-bit exe instead of a 32-bit one.

https://help.adobe.com/en_US/air/build/WSfffb011ac560372f709e16db131e43659b9-8000.html

You would have to add your own logic to the project to decide how you want to handle window sizes or going full-screen, and you can adjust some of the initialWindow options in the application descriptor xml if you want the window to be resizable, minimizable, etc.

pol2095

An old Adobe tutorial to create a msi.

aureliendc

What I would do is to package your app to a native executable using this procedure: https://help.adobe.com/en_US/air/build/WS789ea67d3e73a8b22388411123785d839c-8000.html

Then, if needed, I would use InnoSetup to create an installer: https://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php (other alternatives also exist)

If you are publishing your game on Steam, you will only needed the first step - Steam will take care of the installation process for you.

FliplineStudios

Does the native target also include the AIR captive runtime? I was under the impression that the bundle target included the captive runtime and the native target did not (requiring the user to download an AIR runtime separately from Adobe/Harman) -- correct me if I'm wrong though!

aureliendc

FliplineStudios My bad! You are right, I'm actually using the the bundle target to package my game for Steam. I don't remember exactly the difference between those two targets.

For people willing to dig into that here is the link of all the possible targets: https://help.adobe.com/en_US/air/build/WSfffb011ac560372f20b57e08128cc91aa2f-8000.html

pol2095

native doesn't include the captive runtime, create first a bundle, and after create an installer exe or msi that install the bundle in C:\Program Files (only bundle include the captive runtime).

General

It is simple: in the MinimalAIRsetup (should be on email) first run Packager.bat, you,ll get .air file
And then run MyPackager.bat, you'll get a portable folder wil everything needed

2dguy

So I'm convinced I just need to edit these 2 .bat files, but I'm having no luck. If anyone can revise these .bat files to support a Windows .exe build, that would be awesome. I'm not trying to create a setup distribution file, I just want to run the app.exe from a folder. Thx for any help.

File: PackageApp.bat

@echo off

:: Set working dir
cd %~dp0 & cd ..

set PAUSE_ERRORS=1
call bat\SetupSDK.bat
call bat\SetupApp.bat

:menu
echo.
echo Package for target
echo.
echo Android:
echo.
echo  [1] normal       (apk)
echo  [2] debug        (apk-debug)
echo  [3] captive      (apk-captive-runtime)
echo.

:choice
set /P C=[Choice]: 
echo.

set PLATFORM=android
set OPTIONS=

if "%C%"=="1" set TARGET=
if "%C%"=="2" set TARGET=-debug
if "%C%"=="2" set OPTIONS=-connect %DEBUG_IP%
if "%C%"=="3" set TARGET=-captive-runtime

call bat\Packager.bat

if "%PLATFORM%"=="android" goto android-package

:android-package
if "%ARCH%"=="4" goto end
adb devices
echo.
echo Installing %OUTPUT% on the device...
echo.
adb -d install -r "%OUTPUT%"
if errorlevel 1 goto installfail
goto end

:installfail
echo.
echo Installing the app on the device failed

:end
pause

File: Packager.bat

@echo off

:: Set working dir
cd %~dp0 & cd ..

if "%PLATFORM%"=="android" goto android-config
`
goto start

:android-config
set CERT_FILE=%AND_CERT_FILE%
set SIGNING_OPTIONS=%AND_SIGNING_OPTIONS%
set ICONS=%AND_ICONS%
set DIST_EXT=apk
set TYPE=apk

:: which architecture?
echo.
echo Please select your target architecture for Android:
echo.
echo [1] armv7 ^(32-bit ARM devices^)
echo [2] x86 ^(Intel products^)
echo [3] armv8 ^(64-bit ARM devices^)
echo [4] Bundle
echo.
set /P ARCH=[Choice:]
echo.
if "%ARCH%"=="1" set OPTIONS=%OPTIONS% -arch armv7
if "%ARCH%"=="2" set OPTIONS=%OPTIONS% -arch x86
if "%ARCH%"=="3" set OPTIONS=%OPTIONS% -arch armv8

if "%ARCH%"=="1" set BITS=x32
if "%ARCH%"=="2" set BITS=x86
if "%ARCH%"=="3" set BITS=x64

if "%ARCH%"=="4" goto bundle

goto start

:start
if not exist "%CERT_FILE%" goto certificate
:: Output file
set FILE_OR_DIR=%FILE_OR_DIR% -C "%ICONS%" .
if not exist "%DIST_PATH%" md "%DIST_PATH%"
set OUTPUT=%DIST_PATH%\%DIST_NAME%%TARGET%-%BITS%.%DIST_EXT%
:: Package
echo Packaging: %OUTPUT%
echo using certificate: %CERT_FILE%...
echo.
call adt -package -target %TYPE%%TARGET% %OPTIONS% %SIGNING_OPTIONS% "%OUTPUT%" "%APP_XML%" %FILE_OR_DIR% -extdir D:/build/_ext 
::-resdir bin/res
echo.
if errorlevel 1 goto failed
goto end

:bundle
if not exist "%CERT_FILE%" goto certificate
:: Output file
set DIST_EXT=aab
set TYPE=aab
set FILE_OR_DIR=%FILE_OR_DIR% -C "%ICONS%" .
if not exist "%DIST_PATH%" md "%DIST_PATH%"
set OUTPUT=%DIST_PATH%\%DIST_NAME%%TARGET%.%DIST_EXT%
:: Package
echo Packaging Bundle: %OUTPUT%
echo using certificate: %CERT_FILE%...
echo.

call adt -package -target aab %SIGNING_OPTIONS% %OUTPUT% "%APP_XML%" %FILE_OR_DIR% -extdir D:/build/_ext  

echo.
if errorlevel 1 goto failed
goto end
:certificate
echo Certificate not found: %CERT_FILE%
echo.
echo Android: 
echo - generate a default certificate using 'bat\CreateCertificate.bat'
echo   or configure a specific certificate in 'bat\SetupApp.bat'.
echo.
echo iOS: 
echo - configure your developer key and project's Provisioning Profile
echo   in 'bat\SetupApp.bat'.
echo.
if %PAUSE_ERRORS%==1 pause
exit

:failed
echo APK setup creation FAILED.
echo.
echo Troubleshooting: 
echo - verify AIR SDK target version in %APP_XML%
echo.
if %PAUSE_ERRORS%==1 pause
exit

:end

2dguy

I REALLY need to be able to build a windows folder where I can run the .exe. If anyone can modify the above 2 bat files to add this option (I'm just currently building for Android only) please PM me and let me know how much you would charge to edit these bat files for me. Thank you.

pol2095

I think it would be easier to create another batch file for Windows ?

joshtynjala

Maybe I'm wrong, but your .bat file looks similar to the ones from FlashDevelop. You might be able to create a new project from a different FlashDevelop project template that is designed for desktop AIR apps instead of mobile, and it will probably give you a different .bat file that is better suited for building an Windows .exe instead of an Android .apk/.aab. Then, you can copy it into your existing project. If you're using FlashDevelop, give it a try!

2dguy

For sure, that would be ideal. Just a separate bat file for creating the windows folder build. I just don't have a clue how to do it. And I've tried... and tried. lol..

Reference page:
https://help.adobe.com/en_US/air/build/WSfffb011ac560372f709e16db131e43659b9-8000.html

Creating a captive runtime bundle on Windows:
To create a captive runtime bundle for Windows, you must package the application while running under the Windows operating system. Package the application using the ADT bundle target:

adt -package 
    -keystore ..\cert.p12 -storetype pkcs12 
    -target bundle 
    myApp 
    myApp-app.xml 
    myApp.swf icons resources

pol2095

A simple batch without ANE :

@echo off

CHOICE /M "Do you want to generate a captive runtime ?"
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 set debug= -debug=true

cmd /c mxmlc%debug% +configname=air Main.as -o main.swf
if ERRORLEVEL 0 if ERRORLEVEL 1 pause
if ERRORLEVEL 0 if ERRORLEVEL 1 exit

if defined debug GOTO one

cmd /c adt -package -storepass yourPassword -storetype pkcs12 -keystore certif.pfx -tsa http://timestamp.digicert.com -target bundle YourApp application-air.xml main.swf assets/
if ERRORLEVEL 0 if ERRORLEVEL 1 pause
exit

:one
adl application-air.xml

2dguy

pol2095 A simple batch without ANE :

First off, thank you for taking the time to help, I greatly appreciate it. When running the bat file I get an error..

"'mxmlc' is not recognized as an internal or external command,"

I tried to edit a few things, but nothing worked, stuck on that error. I'm using the Flex Air/SDK if that matters. Thx.

pol2095

what return
adt -version
and
mxmlc -version
?

2dguy

Thank you.

'adt' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
'mxmlc' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Press any key to continue . . .

Crazy because I'm building APK files daily and the packager.bat clearly calls adt. ? ? ?

And I'm running your bat and small test file checking version from the same folder that builds apks.