Editing AddOn Studio for WildStar documentation (section)

== Getting AddOn Studio Running ==
''The installation and running of AddOn Studio for the first time.''

The instructions on the [[AddOn Studio 2010 for WildStar]] or [[AddOn Studio 2015 for WildStar]] pretty much cover all the steps you need and should be simple to follow. Its basically as easy as coping the folder in the zip and then just running the executable. Below is a more lengthy look at each installation step for anyone wanting more detail or help.

==== 1. Install the free Microsoft Isolated Shell ====
Installs a stand-alone version of the Visual Studio, the 'ISO Shell'. This is both free as in not costing you anything, and free legally for you to download and install for your own use.  The install should go without a hitch and is fairly friendly, especially considering that its a very low volume developer oriented install.  Most of what it installs are prerequisites that any other application might have already installed, so the install may go quite quickly.  You do '''not''' need Visual Studio itself, and installing this will '''not''' interfere with an existing Visual Studio install of any kind. You only need to install this once, ever, and after this step you won't need anything else, except AddOn Studio 2010, to get started.

==== 2. Install AddOn Studio ====
'''AddOn Studio 2010 for WildStar''' and '''AddOn Studio 2015 for WildStar''' have a very simple install process. It is however a slightly manual process.  All that is involved is downloading the .zip file from the download link, then opening the zip file, and copying the 'aswildstar' folder in the zip file to a folder on your hard drive. Yep that's it... that's all you have to do.  It's suggested that you create a folder like d:\apps and then copy the 'aswildstar' folder into that.  You should end up with 'd:\apps\aswildstar'. This avoids any mishaps in 'Program Files' and is a lot easier to find later.

This type of install is often referred to as a "Portable Install", and the program just runs from the copied files, where ever they sit.  There is no installer and no uninstaller.  You are free to place the files anywhere you like, and move or delete them at any time. You are also free to have multiple copies. You can start more than one instance of AddOn Studio, although I would only run one version at a time.  And again, you can also just delete the files anytime you want. Thus to install a new version, simply rename or delete the old one, and follow just this AddOn Studio the install step again.  You don't have to install the ISO shell, in step 1. again, ever.

==== 3. Run AddOn Studio ====
This will be the hardest part if you aren't used to starting programs manually, but only for the first time. Just open your newly copied "aswildstar" folder and find "WildStarAddonStudio.exe", and double-click. If you found it, that's all there is to it and the program will start. 

However, if for some reason you see a sea of files all named WildStarAddonStudio with no extension except one ".exe", then is because you have your Windows Explorer set to not show extensions, which is fine, and is how Windows usually comes by default.  In fact, one of the files is actually named "WildStarAddonStudio.exe.config" and with extensions hidden will look like the right file, but its not. To see extensions, "hide extensions for known file types" can be disabled. Another way is to click on each file and look at the status bar at the bottom or look top the right if you have detail view selected which will reveal the file type.  To disable "hide extensions for known file types: hit "Alt" > Click "Tools" in the top menu > Click "Folder Options..." > Click the "View" tab > Find "Hide extensions for known types" about half way down the list > Uncheck that option > Click "OK".

==== 4. Make a Shortcut ====
Now that you have found the exe you can make an shortcut. There are tons of ways to do this.  For Windows 7 and Vista probably the easiest thing to do is to just right click on the application file, the real ".exe" file, and then click either "Pin to task bar" or "Pin to startup menu". At that point you should see a pinned shortcut icon on either and you are done.  On XP (or Vista or Windows 7 as an alternate way) you can, using the *right* mouse button, drag the file to the taskbar "quick launch" menu, or the start menu or the desktop, and when you release the mouse button, select "create shortcut". And you are done :)