DropTo->Gadget

One for the developers. Drag & drop gadget folders to this gadget to instantly package them into a .gadget file and place them in your output folder.A Sidebar Gadget that shows the latest headlines on Kotaku.com with the individual posts viewable in a flyout.

Signing gadgets replaces the "Unknown Publisher" message from installation with your developer name.

Features

  • Supports ZIP or CAB compression
  • Keeps your gadget files organized
  • Supports Gadget signing & timestamping
  • Persistant settings

Screenshots

DropTo->Gadget :: Choose File mode allows you to select the folder to build, or use drag and drop.
DropTo->Gadget :: The settings dialog allows you to change the mode (drag and drop or choose file), compression settings and add a signing certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I make a feature request/suggestion?
A. We're happy to hear all suggestions from our users, please post your suggestion in the relevant forum.

Q. Can you explain the different modes?
A. There are three modes altogether; Choose Path/Drag & Drop, Drag & Drop (instant) and Drag & Drop (confirm).  The Drag & Drop modes are almost identical - you drag the root folder of a Gadget onto DropTo->Gadget, if the mode is instant then the file is built immediately and output to your output directory, if the mode is confirm, a button will appear which you need to click to build the files.  Choose Path/Drag & Drop has input fields for the folder path and the output filename and a button to click for building.  You can still drag and drop a folder in this mode.

Q. Which compression ratio should I choose?
A. That depends on a few things.  CAB files have a better compression ratio than ZIP files and they also allow code signing.  ZIP files, on the other hand, don't allow code signing but are natively handled better by Windows.  This makes ZIP files a more accessible format - you can rename a Gadget extension back to ZIP and browse it using Windows Explorer as you would any other folder. 

Q. What does Gadget signing or code signing do for my Gadget?
A. Signing a Gadget has a range of benefits, but most importantly it changes warning messages that an end user is likely to encounter during the download & installation process.  For example, an unsigned Gadget would display "Unknown Publisher" and a security warning on install.  Windows Live Gallery also displays security-conscious warning messages for unsigned Gadgets, a signed Gadget has a "friendlier" download message.

Download

Download from Windows Live Gallery