Downloading | Installing | Registration | Using VMLmaker | Troubleshooting | Compatibility

Basic Idea
You get VMLmaker by downloading a self-extracting installation program called VMLmaker9x.exe (or VMLmakerNT.exe for Windows NT4, 2000 and XP users) from this web site. (In these pages when referring to either version it shall be referred to as "VMLmaker*.exe".)
Once VMLmaker*.exe is on your hard disk, run it from Windows Explorer to extract VMLmaker files on your system and launch the VMLmaker Installation Wizard.

Details
1. Go to the download page
2. If you are running NT 4 or Windows 2000, click on the "get VMLmaker for NT/2000/XP" button. If you are running Windows 95, 98 or ME, click on the "get VMLmaker for 95/98/ME" button.
3. When prompted for a folder, choose something convenient like C:\TEMP
4. After the download is complete, use Windows Explorer to browse to C:\TEMP
5. Double click on VMLmaker*.exe to begin extracting the VMLmaker files.
6. When prompted, click OK, click Unzip, then click OK.
7. You're ready to go on to the installation process.

Technical Notes
1. The self-extracting installation program VMLmaker*.exe places files by default in the folder C:\Program Files\VMLmaker.
2. It's possible to use the VMLmaker files with Windows' standard Add Printer Wizard later if you want to.

Basic Idea
The VMLmaker Installation Wizard starts automatically after the program you downloaded, VMLmaker*.exe, has finished expanding files onto your hard disk. The Installation Wizard guides you through the installation process and shows you your license agreement to use VMLmaker software. When you're finished, VMLmaker will be installed as a system printer driver in your Windows Printers folder.

Details
(We're following on from the details in the previous section - Downloading)
1. If you're a system administrator or you're in control of your own computer, click Next.
2. Read the license agreement which identifies your entitlement to use the software. If you agree with the terms of the license agreement, select Yes and click Next.
3. VMLmaker is going to appear as a printer driver in your Windows Printers Folder. The default name is VMLmaker. Click Next to use this name, or enter a new name and click Next.
4. Click Finish
5. VMLmaker will be installed on your system. The short instructions on your screen tell you where you go next to configure and use VMLmaker, and to buy license key(s) that unlock VMLmaker from evaluation mode.

Technical Notes
1. VMLmaker for NT/2000/XP only supports the following operating systems: Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP. VMLmaker for 95/98/Me only supports the following operating systems: Windows 95, Windows 98 and WindowsMe.
2. You must have access priviledges to install a printer driver on your system. If you get an error message during installation no matter how strange, check with your system administrator first to verify that you have adequate access priviledges.
3. VMLmaker files remain stored by default in the folder C:\Program Files\VMLmaker. If you later need to reinstall VMLmaker, use these files.

Basic Idea
VMLmaker is available for evaluation by download from this site. The download version is fully functional but includes a VMLmaker EVALUATION logo on each page of output. Once unlocked with a license key, VMLmaker prints without the evaluation logo message. Buy your VMLmaker license key(s) from this site with a secure transaction from Kagi Inc. You'll receive your license key code(s) by email. Enter your license key information directly into VMLmaker's About box to unlock your copy of the software.

Details
1. Go to the Buy Now page
2. To buy a single user license key, type 1 next to the first line item. OR, to buy license keys for more than one user, type the number of license keys you want next to the second line item.
3. Click Continue to reach the Kagi secure transaction page
4. Enter your credit card and contact information
5. Click Purchase
6. Kagi will process your credit card securely and send license key(s) to you by email.
7. When you receive your license key(s) by email, enter the code into the VMLmaker software on your computer: - Click Start, Settings, Printers - Right click on the VMLmaker icon - Select Document Defaults - Click the About/Help tab - Click Enter License Key - Enter your name and code, as they appear on the email advice you received - Click OK
8. Your VMLmaker software is now unlocked. It will print without the evaluation logo.

To access VMLmaker's online help
1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Printers.
2. Right-click on the VMLmaker icon.
3. Select Document Defaults.
4. Select the About/Help tab.
5. Click the VMLmaker Help button.

Note
For quick help on any VMLmaker setting, right-click on it, and then click What's This.

Look through this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). It contains the most commonly needed information for people in your circumstances.

Q1: I installed VMLmaker but now I can't find it. Where is the software on my system? Where do I configure VMLmaker settings?

A1: VMLmaker is installed as a printer driver in your Windows Printers Folder. To access your printers folder, click Start > Settings > Printers. If VMLmaker is installed correctly, you'll see an icon for VMLmaker. Right-click on the icon, and select Document Defaults to configure VMLmaker's settings.

Q2: How do I make a VML file?

A2: Print from a Windows program using VMLmaker as your selected printer. (Most Windows programs have a menu choice for File > Print). When VMLmaker prints, it will prompt you for a filename. This becomes the name for your VML file.

Q3: What page size should I use?

A3: It depends on how you want your output to be used. If you want viewers to reprint the output on a particular size of media (such as an E Size sheet, for example), select that size (the size you want printed) when you generate your VML file with VMLmaker. If you only want the output to be viewed in a web browser, select a page size which fills the amount of space you want in the web browser window. If you aren't sure what space will work for a particular web browser window (or video setting), start with a page size of 6 x 8 inches and experiment with smaller or larger sizes until you get the result you want.

Q4: How is text drawn?

A4: VMLmaker draws TrueType fonts as graphical objects using lines and fills. It does not require any fonts to be installed on the viewer's PC.

Q5: Can I edit the output from VMLmaker?

A5: VMLmaker produces standard VML language which conforms with the W3C submission from Microsoft, Autodesk, HP, Macromedia, and Visio. Any editor or program which reads standard VML is compatible with VMLmaker's output.

Q6: How do I change the thickness of a line?

A6: VMLmaker enables you to set a minimum line width for lines of each particular color in your drawing. Use VMLmaker's Color Associations control to configure the minimum line width for a particular color in your drawing.

Example: I want all Red lines in my drawing to be 0.35mm thick.

Actions:

1. Access VMLmaker's setup dialog from your Printers Folder (Click Start > Settings > Printers then right-click on the VMLmaker icon and click Document Defaults.

2. Expand the control for Color Associations.

3. Leave Color Association #1 configured with the default Source Color setting of AutoColor. VMLmaker will use this Color Association to print all non-Red lines; another Color Association will be defined, in the next step, specifically to handle Red lines.

4. Set the Source Color for Color Association #2 to Red.

5. Set the Minimum Line Width for Color Association #2 to 0.35mm. VMLmaker is now configured to print Red lines using a minimum width of 0.35mm.

Q7: How do I change the color of a line?

A7: VMLmaker enables you to change the colors which are used to output lines from your drawing. Use VMLmaker's Color Associations control to configure a new color for lines which are drawn in a particular color in your drawing.

Example: I want all Red lines in my drawing to be drawn Green.

Actions: 1. Access VMLmaker's setup dialog from your Printers Folder (Click Start > Settings > Printers then right-click on the VMLmaker icon and click Document Defaults).

2. Expand the control for Color Associations.

3. Leave Color Association #1 configured with the default Source Color setting of AutoColor. VMLmaker will use this Color Association to print all non-Red lines; another Color Association will be defined, in the next step, specifically to handle Red lines.

4. Set the Source Color for Color Association #2 to Red.

5. Set the Target Color for Color Association #2 to Green. VMLmaker is now configured to print lines which appear Red in your drawing using Green. If you want to change another color, configure Color Association #3 with the Source Color and your prefered Target Color.

Q8: How do I get VMLmaker to remember its settings?

A8: Sometimes when you configure VMLmaker from within an application program, it may appear that VMLmaker is not retaining its settings each time you access them. This can happen because some programs don't save the state of the printer driver each time they print. With these programs, you may be better off to configure VMLmaker directly in your Printers Folder, rather than from within the application program. Once you have configured VMLmaker settings in your printers folder, the settings become the new defaults which are loaded each time your application program prints.

Q9: How do I uninstall VMLmaker?

A9: 1. Go to your Windows Printers Folder (Click Start > Settings > Printers).

2. Right click on the icon for VMLmaker.

3. Click Delete

Q10: How do I get rid of the EVALUATION logo from my output?

A10: You have the demo version of VMLmaker. Upgrade your copy by buying a license key. Enter your license key directly into VMLmaker to unlock the software from evaluation mode.

Q11: Where do I buy VMLmaker license key(s)?

Q11: VMLmaker license key(s) are available online from this site (from US$99.95 for a single user license) with secure transactions from Kagi Inc. After completing your transaction, Kagi will send license key(s) to you by email with instructions for unlocking the software.

Q12: What operating systems does VMLmaker work with?

A12: VMLmaker for NT/2000/XP only supports the following operating systems: Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP. VMLmaker for 95/98/Me only supports the following operating systems: Windows 95, Windows 98 and WindowsMe.

If you don't see your question anywhere in this list of FAQ's, please tell us here