[Guide] Making a Custom Launcher

[damon160]

This Guide Will show you how to Create a Custom Launcher using Vb



Results -



Content
1 - Delete Cache
2 - Normal Realmlist or yours
3 - Get rid of the windows frame
4 - Extra


1 - Delete the Cache

1.Add an new button to your form and double click it so you get into the code window.

2.Enter this

      Dim installpath As String = String.Empty
        installpath = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREblizzard entertainmentworld of warcraft", "installpath", Nothing)
        If Directory.Exists(installpath & "/cache") Then
            Directory.Delete(installpath & "/cache", True)
            MsgBox("Cache deleted successfully")
        Else
            MsgBox("There is no cache")
        End If

2 - Normal Realmlist or yours

What i will explain to you now, is how to change so the launcher can switch peoples realmlist for them. Also, i will remove the code part that makes wow start with your realmlist when you click the button (In my previous guide i told you how to make it do so):
1. Go to "project" in the top bar.
2. Click "Add windows form".
3. Select "windows form".
4. Click "add"
5. You should now see a new form in the solution explorer the form will by default be named "form2.vb" By now, it should also display form2 in design mode.
6. Now make your form like you want it.
7. Add 3 buttons. 1 for engb, one for enus and one for your own server.
8. Double click the engb button.
9 Insert this code before anything els in the code window.

Imports System.IO

10. Insert code into the button click sub

              Dim installpath As String = String.Empty
        installpath = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREblizzard entertainmentworld of warcraft", "installpath", Nothing)
        Dim fs As New FileStream(installpath & "realmlist.wtf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
        Dim s As New StreamWriter(fs)
        s.WriteLine("set realmlist eu.logon.worldofwarcraft.com")
        s.WriteLine("set patchlist eu.version.worldofwarcraft.com")
        s.Close()

11. Lets do the same with the enus

              Dim installpath As String = String.Empty
        installpath = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREblizzard entertainmentworld of warcraft", "installpath", Nothing)
        Dim fs As New FileStream(installpath & "realmlist.wtf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
        Dim s As New StreamWriter(fs)
        s.WriteLine("set realmlist us.logon.worldofwarcraft.com")
        s.WriteLine("set patchlist us.version.worldofwarcraft.com")
        s.Close()

12. Now lets add some code to your own realmlist button.

        Dim installpath As String = String.Empty
        installpath = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREblizzard entertainmentworld of warcraft", "installpath", Nothing)
        If File.Exists(installpath & "realmlist.wtf") Then
            File.Delete(installpath & "realmlist.wtf")
            Dim fs As New FileStream(installpath & "realmlist.wtf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
            Dim s As New StreamWriter(fs)
            s.WriteLine("set realmlist your realmlist")
            s.Close()
        End If

13. Now go to form1
14. Double click the button you've used to start wow.
15. Delete

              Dim fs As New FileStream("realmlist.wtf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
        Dim s As New StreamWriter(fs)
        s.WriteLine("set realmlist your realmlist")
        s.Close()

16. You'r done!

Pew pew, lets take a 2 min break shall we?
--------------
Break over! Back to work

3 - Remove the windows frame

Now i will show you how to remove that ugly blue/silver/what ever bar on top of your application.

1. Go to form1[design]
2. Make sure you got the whole window marked (so that you edit the form and not an button)
3. In the lower right corner you will find the properties window.
4. Now find Font -> FormBorderStyle.
5. Change it to None.
6. Now you may notice that the border above your application is gone (:O) Lets start making our own.
7. Depending on what you want your user to be able to do add:
-Only close the application: 1 button.
-Close and minimize the application: 2 buttons.
-All the things you normaly can (minimize, maximize, and close): 3 buttons.
8. Double click the button you've added to close the appication.
9. Add this code

      Application.Exit()

10. If you have an button to minimize the application add this code

        Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized

11. If you have an button to maximize the application add this code

              If Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized Then
            Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal
        Else
            Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized
        End If

If you do chose to do this, i would advise you to do the same with the realmlist form. (form2)

4 - Extra

This is just some things you might want.
1. - Reshack: A program that allows you to get .ico(icons) from exe files, like wow.exe

Filebeam - Free Fast File Hosting

2. - Icons well, just some icons i had on my computer, perhaps you can use them, wow icon also there + ts, msn, xfire etc etc etc

Filebeam - Free Fast File Hosting

That's it! you're done!

This Guide was created by kolklik of ac-web credit goes to him

[Viter]

good job!
+rep x3
EDIT: cant rep now

[Anarchy [RD]]

wooo, great job +Rep x1

[gallopokoo]

??? umm im confused with the top bit add a new button to were?

[S-N-A-F-U]

this isnt his guide its the second half of a guide from ac-web by kolkik he just copy and pasted it so he ould get some rep

[damon160]

Uh i never asked for any rep and i thought it might be nice if there was a script guide in this section for creating a custom launcher. and i also gave credit to the creator of this guide.

[C-Death]

It gives me Directory is not declated

[Gili]

Same here, Name 'Directory' Is not declared.

[frkcoaster6]

same here, any help with this?

[Apoc]

Try adding

Imports System.IO

To the header of the source files. (File and Directory classes are stored in the System.IO namespace)

[Brutal Pink Panther]

he forgot something in those kinds

              Dim installpath As String = String.Empty
        installpath = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/blizzard entertainment/world of warcraft", "installpath", Nothing)
        Dim fs As New FileStream(installpath & "realmlist.wtf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
        Dim s As New StreamWriter(fs)
        s.WriteLine("set realmlist us.logon.worldofwarcraft.com")
        s.WriteLine("set patchlist us.version.worldofwarcraft.com")
        s.Close()

and in the others

[kitelight08]

If someone does manage to get this to work can they save i and send it to me as i cant get it to work.
thanks
i want the project folder in a .zip or somthing
thanks send it to:
[email protected]

Thanks

[kolklik]

nice to see that my guide is useful and have been read and to the poster thanks for giving credit, so far the guide is on(that i know off)
ac-web
mmowned
mmostatic
and some other one which i cant remember.
I guess my total views is like 25k or so (with part 1 and 2)