Build Now
Clicking the Build Now node on the Build window brings up the page where you set the main build options and command VBLM to build localized versions of your VB projects. As discussed in the build options overview, these controls set default options when no project is loaded, project-specific options when a project is loaded.
Click any item or scroll down for detailed information.
Project Name & Target Directory
Your entries here instruct VBLM what to name and where to build localized versions.
As long as the default project name is left blank (recommended), project-specific build names default to the names of their parent VB projects. You can, however, change them to any valid file name.
The target directory spec is the only build option where default and project-specific settings are substantively different. This is because VBLM doesn't simply copy the default spec into each project spec, as it does with all other build options. Before copying, VBLM examines the default spec for aliases, and substitutes project-specific values where it finds them. See Aliasing, Target Directories & Other Fields for more info.
When the default target directory is blank, project-specific target directories default to subdirectories of the parent project directory named for the currently selected language table, or "Multilingual" when more than one table is highlighted.
Retain Target Directory & Filespec Changes
Visible only when a project is loaded, this checkbox, affects how VBLM constructs directory names. When checked, VBLM stops changing the target directory as soon as you manually type something into the edit box. When this box is not checked, VBLM changes the target directory every time you change the language selection, IF the default target directory spec contains the %Language% symbol.
In all cases, VBLM will advise you before doing a build when the suggested target directory does not exist.
Note: The target directory must be different from the parent project directory, as otherwise VBLM would overwrite original source files. VBLM will not let you proceed if it is the same.
Use Language-Specific Directories
When this box is checked, VBLM maintains separate build directory specs for each language table, plus one more for multilingual builds. All changes made to the directory spec are stored with the currently selected language table, and restored when it is reselected.
The language table list displays all currently defined language tables, including the design language which is always first.
Your selection on the list tells VBLM which language table or tables to use during the build.
When building a new single-language executable (ie, the Build Runtime-Switched Version box is not checked), you may select only one table.
When building a runtime-switched version (ie, the Build Runtime-Switched Version box is checked), you may select as many tables as you want. See Runtime Switching Overview for more info about RSVs.
The language table list is empty (and the Build* buttons disabled) if no project is loaded or the loaded project contains no language tables.
Disabled until a project is loaded, the Build button commands VBLM to perform a build per the current build option settings.
Build New Language Database Only
Disabled until a project is loaded and the Build RSV box is checked, this button commands VBLM to build a new language database file using the currently selected languages and the format specified on the RSV Options page. Project files are not rebuilt.
The advanced build options are toggled off and on by checkboxes on the Build Now page, but are configured in detail via sub-options on other Build window pages.
Build Runtime Switched Version
When checked, VBLM builds a runtime switched version of your VB project. See RSV Build Options and Runtime Switching Overview. for more info.
Include Dimension Switching
Only applicable when building an RSV. When checked, VBLM implements runtime dimension switching. See Overview: Runtime Dimension Switching for more info about how to give each language table its own set of interface dimensions.
Enable Switching On-the-Fly
Also applicable only when building an RSV. When checked, VBLM builds an RSV that can switch languages while running, rather than just at start up. See Enabling On-the-Fly Switching for details.
Extract/Apply Dimension Data
When checked, VBLM preserves all dimensional changes made to previous builds. See Dimension Extract & Apply Options and Dimensioning Overview for more info.
Supply Font Information
When checked, VBLM provides and/or overrides controls' font properties when doing a build. This capability is intended to help translate across character sets; see Supply Font Options and Dealing with Fonts for more info.