If you're like me, you've built lots of courses that have a single executable jumping to Authorware files packaged without runtime that are in their own folders. For the longest time, I simply included copies of the .u32's I was using in each folder. In time, this got to be a real pain, especially when Macromedia issued an upgrade.

Finally, I discovered the SearchPath variable. You can use this variable to tell Authorware to look outside of itself for other components it is using. To allow a piece to look one directory up for its u32's, you would use Searchpath:=FileLocation^"..".

It's worth noting, however, that when you use this notation, Authorware sees the folder as being much deeper than it is. This means that Authorware can come up against the path limit that it sometimes has for external files, and then it will show an error message when your piece tries to use a function in the u32. So make sure that your piece has a relatively short path. In other words, if your piece is in C:\Documents and Settings\Your Full Name\A Long Course Name\etc., you have a problem. Try to keep it short and sweet. Like me. Or not.

There's more than one way to set SearchPath. If you know the exact path you want searched when you create the file, you can set SearchPath in Modify>File>Properties. To look up a directory using this method, you'd add ".." to the SearchPath in File Properties.

You can also set SearchPath in the A6W.ini file (if you have a different version of Authorware than Authorware 6, this will be something like A65W.ini or A5W.ini).

You can't use SearchPath to find libraries, since, like Xtras, those must be loaded as the file launches.

There's lots more that can be done with SearchPath that I have not even touched on. Check out the entry for this variable in the Help files. You'll be glad you did!

I've recently looked at moving to a mailing list that does not pay for itself with a small SPAM in the header. The problem with it is that it does not support HTML messages. So, no more pictures of my cats, my dogs, or that snazzy red graphic at the top.

What do you think? Does the SPAM bother you, or do you like the HTML formatting? Take the poll at the Tip Archive. Tell me what you think.

If any of the subscribers are children of the 70's, you're probably cowering in terror that a Sleestak might come around the corner at any moment. Luckily, I'm not talking about THAT Land of the Lost.

What I AM talking about is websites that used to be on the webring but got lost when Erik did whatever that was he did. This is by no means a complete list, but lest we forget: Lucidum's Authorware website, Multimedia Madness!, and the AWARE Professional List.