AutoPlay: AUTORUN.INF Basic Settings

An easy-to-use AutoPlay function from James Greene for your CDs and DVDs

Configuring AutoPlay

To enable a CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM or DVD-RAM to automatically run when it's inserted, all that you need to do is to place a file named AUTORUN.INF in the root-directory of the media. However, if you want to launch a document (e.g. "index.htm"), then you need AutoPlay.

When you burn a CD or DVD, just create the file AUTORUN.INF as described below, then place AUTORUN.INF and AUTOPLAY.EXE in the top-level (\) directory of the image.

AutoPlay now includes the AutoPlay Configuration Utility to help you create the AUTORUN.INF file.

Standard settings in AUTORUN.INF

    [AutoRun]
    OPEN=AUTOPLAY.EXE
    ICON=AUTOPLAY.ICO
    LABEL=My CD-ROM
    SHELL\ReadMe=View README File
    SHELL\ReadMe\Command=notepad.exe README.TXT
    SHELL\Browse=Browse this CD
    SHELL\Browse\Command=explore.exe /e

where

[AutoRun]	required	Identifies the beginning of the standard AUTORUN settings in the AUTORUN.INF file.
OPEN=path\AUTOPLAY.EXE	required	Specifies the path and file name of the application that AutoPlay runs when you insert the disc into a CD-ROM drive. If no path is specified, Windows looks for the file in the root directory of the CD. You can specify a relative path (no drive letters!) if the file is located in a subdirectory.
ICON=iconfile.ico [,index]	optional	Specifies a file that contains the icon for the AutoPlay-enabled CD in the Windows user interface. The file name specified with this command must be located in the same directory as the file name specified by the open command. Specifies a file that contains the icon for the AutoPlay-enabled CD in the Windows user interface. The file name specified with this command must be located in the same directory as the file name specified by the open command. You can also specify a .BMP, .EXE, or .DLL file. If a file contains more than one icon image, specify the resource number (index) of the icon in the file to use, e.g. ICON=AUTOPLAY.EXE,0
LABEL=LabelText	optional	Specifies a text label to represent the drive in the Windows user interface. Note that using the LABEL option can lead to problems displaying the selected ICON under Windows XP.
SHELL\verb\COMMAND=path\filename.exe SHELL\verb=Menu Text	optional	Specifies a custom command listed in the shortcut menu for the icon. The first line identifies the executable file that performs the command. The second line specifies the custom entry of the shortcut menu. verb Abbreviated form of the command. This parameter associates a command with the executable file name and the menu item. It must not contain embedded spaces. You will not see verb unless Menu Text is omitted from Autorun.inf. filename.exe File name of the application that performs the custom command. Menu Text Menu item text that can contain mixed case letters and spaces. You can also set an accelerator for the menu item by preceding one of the letters in the item with an ampersand

AutoPlay: AUTORUN.INF Basic Settings

Configuring AutoPlay

Standard settings in AUTORUN.INF

See Also: