Methods for distributing resources If you decide to store custom resources in the FC Resource Registry Putting resources in the FC Resource Registry Troubleshooting problems with distributed resources         Note This document just provides an overview of distributing customized resources. For greater detail, see the information about FirstClass resources in our administration and Internet Services help. Methods for distributing resources You can distribute customized resources to your users in several ways: •       put the resources on your server so that they are available to everyone who connects to this server Resources can be stored in the Multi-Site Setup/FC Resource Registry conference. They can also be stored in an individual container's Rules & Resources folder. •       make a resource file containing the resources available to users by mailing it to them or putting it in a container. Users can then use this resource file to update their settings files.         Note You must use a resource file to distribute custom sounds. Sounds can't be accessed from the server, except by database extensions.         Tip To make sure your users are seeing the most up-to-date versions of resources, we recommend using containers' Rules & Resources folders. FirstClass keeps track of the versions of resources in these folders, and automatically updates users' resources if they are older than the versions in the folders. This avoids the need for users to flush their caches to force the download of updated resources. If you decide to store custom resources in the FC Resource Registry We recommend that you store your custom resources in English Resources (or the localized equivalent), rather than the individual .rez files such as icons.rez. FirstClass upgrades don't touch English Resources, so your customization won't be lost when you upgrade. Caution If you do decide to customize resources in lang.rez, icons.rez, or pictures.rez, never just remove resources from these files, or FirstClass may not function properly. Only replace resources with customized ones with the same resource IDs. Top Putting resources in the FC Resource Registry To put customized resources in the FC Resource Registry: 1       Download English Resources (or the localized equivalent) from the FC Resource Registry conference. 2       Open this file in FirstClass Designer. 3       Update the resources in the file as required. 4       Upload the updated file back to the FC Resource Registry. 5       Protect the new file. 6       Unprotect and delete the corresponding old file. Top Troubleshooting problems with distributed resources Here are some of the more common problems with distributed resources: Problem Details Graphics display fine on Mac, but not in Windows. This error occurs if PICT files contain vector information. Use your graphics application to save the graphic in bitmap format. Graphics that are in my resource file don't show up at all. FirstClass needs more memory. Settings files created with the Windows version of FirstClass Designer open in Windows but not on Mac. To open a settings file created in Windows, a Mac user must: 1       Start FirstClass. 2       Choose File > Open. 3       Select the settings file. 4       Click Change It when prompted to convert. After the settings file is converted, the user can open it by double-clicking it or by dragging it to the FirstClass application icon. Some font styles appear on Mac, but not in Windows. Windows doesn't support outline, shadowed, condensed, or extended text. My custom resources aren't showing up on the web. If you created a custom form, you must also create an HTML template of this form. To render custom sounds or background pictures, you must use HTML code. Some buttons in older resource files no longer work. Certain FirstClass command numbers have changed.