Lesson 6: Running the Add-in from the Desktop

A handy way to start Maptitude with a custom application is to create a custom program icon. There are two types of custom applications, ones that have a completely customized user interface and others that add to the standard interface. Since you have created an add-in that adds itself to the standard interface, you can create a custom program icon for it, so the user does not have to do anything special to start the add-in.

To Create a Custom Program Icon

1. Choose File>Exit to exit Maptitude.
2. Close your text editor.
3. Copy the Maptitude program icon on your Windows desktop by holding the Ctrl key and dragging the icon to a new spot, or by copying and pasting a copy of the icon.
4. Right-click on the new program icon and choose Properties to display the Properties dialog box.
5. Click the General tab and type "Maptitude with Find and Zoom" in the edit box.
6. Click the Shortcut tab and add the following to the end of the text in the Target edit box:

-q -a lesson4 -ai lesson4 -n "Maptitude with Find and Zoom"

The -q option turns off the Quick Start dialog box, -a gives the name of your alternate UI Database, -ai gives the name of the startup macro, and -n gives the program window a new name.

7. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.
8. Double-click the new program icon.

Maptitude starts with your add-in as a custom application. If Lesson 4 had created a completely customized user interface, you could have used the -u and -i options to start Maptitude without the standard interface, but with your custom application. For more information on custom applications, see Installing and Running Custom Applications.