Direct access to the Windows and MacOS Operating Systems!

The new MacOS X compatible version is here...

DirectOS Xtra is a powerful cross-platform Scripting Xtra for Macromedia Director and Authorware which provides applications with direct access to the Windows and MacOS operating systems.

The Xtra provides more than 90 functions that perform identically on both Windows and MacOS and which Director and Authorware developers can use to: 

• Retrieve the operating system type and exact version
• Get and set the screen resolution, color depth and refresh rate as well as query for all available display settings on the system
• Launch external applications at a specified state with command line support
• Synthesize mouse clicks and keystrokes
• Create, display, and operate a message box
• Create, display, and operate file and folder selection dialogs
• Open or print a file using its associated application
• Find an application associated with a specific file type
• Log off, shut down, or restart the system
• Encrypt/Decrypt files and string variables
• Get and set volume and mute information for multiple sound channels
• Change the desktop wallpaper and pattern
• Search for files in a folder or drive with powerful wildcard support
• Check whether any one or more keys are being held down
• Set the cursor position or confine it to a rectangular area of the screen
• Query for all available printers on the system; set the default one as well as its properties
• Set the system time and date
• Retrieve a list of subfolders and files in a folder, with powerful wildcard support
• Create and resolve file or folder links/shortcuts
• Retrieve a list of all available disk drives on the system
• Retrieve information about disk drives, such as type, name, size and free space
• Un-mount and eject disk drives
• Get and set the current 'working' folder
• Retrieve the pathname of special system folders
• Check for the existence of files and folders
• Retrieve and modify file and folder attributes
• Get and set file date and time
• Retrieve the size and version of files
• Copy, move, delete, and recycle files
• Copy, move, delete and create folders
• Retrieve a unique pathname to a nonexistent file or folder that can be used as a temporary file or folder
• Read from, write to, and delete from INI files
• Get and set the system time zone information
• Check whether a sound card is installed
• Retrieve mouse settings
• Retrieve the processor speed
• Refresh the desktop items
• Query for all running applications on the system
• Manipulate external applications and their child windows
• Get and set the state, name, position and size of an external application's windows
• Switch between applications
• Block keyboard and mouse input events from reaching applications
• ... and much more...

In addition, the Xtra provides Windows specific functions that can be used to:

• Easily read, write, and delete strings, integers and binary data to/from the Windows registry
• Retrieve the command-line string passed to your application
• Install, enable or disable screen savers, get and set their time-out duration
• Convert long pathnames to short pathnames and vice versa
• Disable/Enable Ctrl-Alt-Del, Alt-Tab, Start Menu key and other system keys
• Get and set system and local environment variables
• Open Windows help files

The Xtra also provides MacOS specific functions which can:

• Get and set the creator and type signatures of files
• Check whether a specific gestalt selector exists
• Retrieve the value of a particular gestalt selector

DirectOS Xtra is available for Director 5 and above, Authorware 4 and above, and is compatible with Windows 9X, 2000, ME, NT, XP as well as MacOS 8, 9 and X.

You can download a 30 days trial version 3.5 of DirectOS Xtra,
PLAY WITH IT. ENJOY IT. DON'T USE IT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

If you want to develop with DirectOS Xtra, license the release version!
Click here to license the DirectOS Xtra

Please refer to the on-line documentation for further technical details and sample code.

Copyright © 1996-2004 DirectXtras Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WebMaster: tamar@directxtras.com
Last Updated: 12/20/2002 1:00:39 AM.