Create DMG package for client installs

God knows, I need to be held by the hand half the time…just think of your poor clients…! Senda Shallow took me by the hand and led me through this process. Now, it’s my turn to help you out.

In this article, we’ll go step-by-step to create a DMG file to make it way too easy for your clients to install their new, customized email templates.

1. Start by clicking through:
   1. Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > New Image
   2. Decide where you want to save your new DMG file
      1. Since this is one of my client instructions, that’s where I’m saving it

Figure 1. First step in creating your DMG file is to create a New Image.

2. Set up the DMG:
   1. Save As, name this emailTemplateInstall.dmg
      1. This will be the name of your DMG
   2. Decide where you want to save your new DMG file
      1. Since this is one of my client instructions, that’s where I’m saving it
   3. Name, name this YOUR Email
      1. This is the name of the drive, or, think of it as the package which contains both the emailTemplate file and the alias file which makes this whole process idiot-proof

   

   Figure 2. Displays the initial steps in for a DMG file: saving it (naming the DMG file), where to save the file, and creating the drive (Name).

   4. Size:
      1. Click the double-headed arrows
      2. Custom

      

      3. 4
      4. OK

   

   Figure 4. Cheating Disk Utility into a tiny emailable size.

   5. Disk Utility doesn’t want you to go as small as 4MB so it’ll allow you 10.5
   6. OK
3. Create

Figure 5. Well, turns out Disk Utility is onto us but it’s willing to concede to a much smaller image size.

Create an alias folder in Apple’s Mail

Creating the email template is confusing enough. I cannot imagine the instructions it would require and the exchange of phone conversations that would be needed to help your client install his/her email template. The DMG package—with alias—makes this installation fool-proof.

The key is making an alias of the exact folder where the template is to be installed. In this particular case, I want to my client to install this template inside the Stationery folder.

1. Click through Finder > Macintosh HD > Library > App Support > Apple > Mail > Stationery > Apple > Contents > Resources > Stationery > Contents > Resources
2. Select Resources

Figure 6. You want the Resources folder which appears AFTER you’ve chosen the template category.

3. You have two options for creating an alias:
   1. Finder > File > Make Alias
   2. OR
   3. Right-click on:
      1. Resources
      2. Make Alias

Figure 7. Two different ways to create an alias: the long way and the shortcut.

4. Re-name the Resources Alias, drag to me (’cause we’re tryin’ to make this fool-proof)

Figure 8. Creating the drag to me alias with the Resources folder is what sets up the fool-proof transfer of getting the customized email template into the desired email stationery category.

Set up DMG Package

Once you’ve created your custom email template and the alias folder, you need to package it up so you can email it to your client.

1. Assemble the DMG package by:
   1. Find the DMG file, emailTemplateInstall.dmg
   2. Double-clicking it opens the drive, YOUR Email, which holds the package
2. Double-click the YOUR Email drive (it should have appeared on the desktop)

Figure 9. Double-clicking emailTemplateInstall.dmg (left) results in YOUR Email appearing on the desktop (right).

3. Drag the yourclient.mailstationery file onto the package
4. Close this package
5. Email the package by dragging the emailTemplateInstall.dmg file into a new email message

Figure 10. The unadorned DMG package with the new email template and its alias.

Of course, I might not understand just what it is I’m supposed to do with this


Extra: Make it so visually obvious…

Make it so visually obvious that your client can’t help but install it correctly.

1. Open YOUR Email
   1. Double-click emailTemplateInstall.dmg
   2. Double-click Your Email from where it sits on the desktop

Figure 11. This just doesn’t give enough of a hint.

2. Create your visual
3. Drag the visual file onto the DMG package

Figure 12. Okay, I’ve dragged the file of the visual information onto the DMG package…why isn’t the picture showing up?

4. Set the picture file up as the background image
   1. In Finder > View > Show View Options
   2. In Background, click to select Picture

Figure 13. You have the option of adding a visual aid.

5. Drag the YOURemailInstrux.png onto Background > Picture > picture icon, Drag image here
   1. It should show up as the background

   

   Figure 14. With Picture checked, drag your visual aid into the background.

   2. The image is fixed, so you will have to play with the arrow and text to get the spacing right—you can move your file and alias to suit the picture

Figure 15. Oops…

6. Once your visual aid is laid out, arrange the email template file and the drag to me alias until it is obvious to your client.
   1. Adjust the YOUR Email window so that only the file, background picture, and alias are showing—a small image icon will appear below. Do NOT delete this as the image only exists on your computer. Simply adjust the window itself so the icon does not show.

Figure 16. The finished DMG package.

Assemble the Client’s Package

1. Find email
2. Click through Finder > Macintosh HD > Library > App Support > Apple > Mail > Stationery > Apple > Contents > Resources > Custom > Contents > Resources > Your Client.mailstationery
3. With Your Client.mailstationery selected, drag it onto the open YOUR Email window

Send the Email Template

1. Drag the .dmg file from Finder into the New Message OR onto the Mail icon in your dock bar

Troubleshooting:

I dragged the DMG package into my email message but there’s nothing there when I click on it.

Be sure that you have dragged the emailTemplateInstall.dmg and not the YOUR Email icon.

When I click on the YOURemailInstrux, the DMG package window doesn’t open.

It’s not the DMG package. You must:

1. Click the emailTemplateInstall.dmg file
   1. This opens YOUR Email on your desktop
2. Double-click this YOUR Email icon

My background picture doesn’t appear when my client opens the DMG attachment.

1. You must drag the file from your hard drive into the DMG package window first
2. Right-click on the package window
3. Choose Background > Picture
4. Drag the picture icon INSIDE the DMG window onto the small square to the right of White, Color, Picture
   1. The package window acts like a flash drive. It only shows what’s actually installed on it. By dragging the image file from your computer, the information about the picture does not follow with the package. You must install the picture on the DMG package for it to be displayed.