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zOpen/zPrint for Windows

Click here for an example Director file that use zOpen to launch a PDF document (includes a drag-and-drop behavior you can use in your own project).

Check out the zOpen User's Guide in HTML format.

zOpen seamlessly launches external applications from Director to open or print documents. If you need to:

Launch other applications seamlessly from within Director
Open an external document with it's associated application
Print external documents using Acrobat, MS-Word and more
Pass a document to an open application
Locate an application associated with a file type, such as finding Netscape or MIE to open HTML files

Then zOpen is for you! And it includes zPrint at no extra charge!

Refer to our Needs Analysis FAQ to determine if zOpen/zPrint or some other tool is right for you.

zOpen facilitates launching executables and opening or printing documents from Director. zOpen is perfect for Acrobat PDF documents, Web Browsers and HTML files, and much more!

While the launched application is running, zOpen covers the desktop, similar to a Projector running in "full-screen" mode.

zOpen allows you to use Director as a front end to other executables such as demos, ReadMe files, Acrobat PDF files, or a web browser.

zOpen will:

Automatically locate the application associated with any type of file
Launch and wait for most applications without modification
Let you specify a document to open when launching the application
Return seamlessly to Director when your application finishes
Print files with external applications, such as PDF files with Acrobat, using zPrint (included free!)
Pass files to open applications, such as MIE or Acrobat.

zOpen is truly amazing and works with all versions of Director for Windows. It runs under all versions of Windows (although you should test it with your particular application under whatever versions of Windows you intend to support, as not all third-party applications behave the same under all version of Windows):

Pricing and Availability
zOpen Features & Benefits over the Lingo Open Command
Needs Analysis FAQ - determine if zOpen or some other tool is right for you.
zOpen FAQ - a lot more details on all aspects of zOpen.
zOpen User's Guide in HTML format
Tech Alerts - things to watch out for.
Praise for zOpen
Licensing Requirements
Place an Order
Visit our Download Center for demos, documentation and live versions for sale.

Pricing & Availability

zOpen works with all versions of Director for Windows under all versions of Windows, including Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP. Macintosh users should refer to zScript for Macintosh and zLaunch for Macintosh.

Platforms: All versions of Windows
Supports: All versions of Director, up to and including Director MX

Pricing:

zOpen for Windows $299 US

Bundle with zScript for Mac: $399 US

Unlimited Royalty Free License

Click here to buy any of our products now.

zOpen Features & Benefits

zOpen offers numerous benefits over Lingo's open command. Most notably, zOpen:

Locates and launches the user's web browser, or any application associated with a file extension automatically.
Pauses Director while the launched application runs and gives you greater control over the sequence of user interactions.
Covers the Windows desktop while the application is launched seamlessly without a disconcerting flash.
Traps mouse clicks while the application is starting up, while it is running and when relaunching the projector to prevent errant clicks from bringing other applications forward.
Keeps the border around the application covered (similar to a Director projector in "full-screen" mode) when the application is running.
Sets the working directory for the launched applications under Windows .
If the application is already open, in some cases, zOpen can pass it a new document. (zLaunch for Macintosh includes similar functionality) (the behavior of the application when passing it a new document is application-dependent)

For many more details, consult the zOpen FAQ.

Zeus Productions zOpen/zPrint for Windows