Website -> CD for Mac & PC?

May 8, 2006 10:39 AM

What's the best way to save a website to CD?

I've got a website composed of static pages with embedded flash, some quicktime video, and a bit of javascript. I'd like to place it on a CD so that someone could view it without an internet connection.

The obvious solution seems to be to dump the files into a folder and create an index.html file that sends you to the first page. The problem is several-fold. What if the person I send the CD to doesn't have Flash or Quicktime? How can I gracefully provide them with installers? How should I modify my embed code to direct them to the local installers rather than Apple or Adobe? The Javascript is part of a package that came with the flash I'm using (It's a gallery app). The CD viewers could be using Macs or PCs, what should I be considering?

I can work through all the links and probably get something that will behave properly, but I'm thinking there must be a better way? I'm thinking the standalone firefox install with plugins already installed might be a good idea. I could make the CD multisession so it'll appear differently on a Mac vs. a PC -- there's enough room to fit the content twice.

Anyway, I was hoping someone might know of a whiz-bang site presentation tool that would sort this out for me automatically.

Thanks!

posted by roue to computers & internet (3 comments total)

You may want to look into some software called Offline Explorer. With a little tweaking, I think you could accomplish what you want. It does neat translation stuff so that you can browse things ... well, offline.
posted by kuperman at 11:13 AM on May 8, 2006

Read too fast, answered too quick. More ...

You could likely burn the above site to a ISO9660 compatible disc and package some installers or whatever for support, one folder for Mac, one folder for PC. No multisession needed.

For Windows, you could do an autorun.inf, for Mac ... um, man it has been a long time.
posted by kuperman at 11:16 AM on May 8, 2006

for Mac ... um, man it has been a long time

For Mac, I think you give instructions on how to open "index.html", because by default, stuff isn't allowed to auto-run. There's a good reason for that...
posted by AmbroseChapel at 6:51 PM on May 8, 2006