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HOW TO: Use Physics Illustrator on non-tablet PC


Published Sunday, February 5th, 2006 at 1:24 am
Note: Many people are having difficulty getting these instructions to work. Please read the comments below.

Thanks to Scott Pritchard the executible, help file, and examples are located here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip.html

If you have trouble running the application try installing this file here (thanks to Vik)

http://www.msgshit.com/download/445


Physics Illustrator

I recently discovered Microsoft Physics Illustrator for Tablet PC by Microsoft Research which seemed very interesting.  On your tablet PC screen you draw things like balls and brick walls and join them with joints, ropes, and rods. Add some forces and see what happens. Unfortunately it is for Tablet PC only.  If you attempt to install the application on a regular PC it will stop with a message saying “Application can only be installed on a Tablet PC”.  But as is my nature I didn’t just stop there.  I found that you can download the source.  The source comes will all the files you need to run the Tablet PC application on your PC… except for the actual Physics Illustrator executable.  That is easily solved by opening the source with the free Visual C# Express.  Visual Basic will automatically convert the C# 2003 source to C# 2005 with no problems.  Compile the application and then in your bin directory you can double click the PhysicsIllustrator.exe and start illustrating physics on your standard desktop.

This works great for getting the feel of the application.  Running the tablet PC application on your desktop can be a little quirky.  Sometimes the UI just stops responding.  You just need to close the application and start again.  Probably not much we can do about that. 

Another problem is that all the help files and many of the example files are not included in the source.  Without the help files this application is extremely difficult to figure out. Well we can fix this but it takes a little more work.  Go back and get the physics illustrator installation file (the one that won’t finish installing).  Start the installation.  When you get to  the “Application can only be installed on a Tablet PC” go to your temp directory (usually c:\temp\). You should see a directory named _is2E or something similar containing a file called Microsoft Physics Illustrator for Tablet PC.msi.  Copy this file to a new directory.  Press OK and Finish to cancel the installation.  You now need to extract all the files from the msi file.  You may have your own method but I use Less MSI’rables.  Download Less MSI’rables, extract the files from the zip file, and run lessmsi.exe.  Open Microsoft Physics Illustrator for Tablet PC.msi and extract all the .chm file and all the .physi files.  Do not extract the exe or dll files.  They are not the same as what you compiled with C#.  Place these files in the same directory as the Physics Illustrator executable and your good to go.  Enjoy.
 

99 Responses to “HOW TO: Use Physics Illustrator on non-tablet PC”

  1. Hi.
    I was hoping this was possible but I’m having problems following your instructions. I’ve never used VB before and am wondering how exactly to do this.
    I’ve downloaded all the nessasary files and installed VB express but don’t know what to do now… can you help me out and give more detailed instructions on how to open and convert it properly, and compile it as an application? Thanks.

  2. [...] more info from Hypercubed Blog Quantum Diaries windojitsu.com [...]

  3. Actually, you need C# Express, NOT VB Expres…

  4. 2 hours later… I got it working.

    Your tutorial left out a couple of steps, like the fact that you have to have visual c# express, not vb express (thanks algeron). Also, you can’t download the source code directly by the download link you provided. You have to browse through the downloads available by name. When I last checked, it was on page 7.

    Another thing is that you can’t convert the source files without changing their permissions. Right click on the folder you have the source files in and turn off read-only, recursively.

    Also, have to open both of the .csharp files and convert them before you can open the main vls file in the root.

  5. Here’s a link to download the end result (should work on most systems, but hey, if it doesn’t, don’t bug me)

    http://www.filefactory.com/file/48d08c/

  6. Oh yeah, and filefactory only hosts the file for seven days, so get it while you can.

  7. Algernon and Elderon,

    You are correct it is C# not VB.  I don’t know how I could make such a stupid mistake.

    The source files are supposed to be here but teh download link seams broken at the moment.  Also, Elderon, be aware that by releasing modified source files you have violated the license agreement you agreed to when you download the source…. otherwise I would have done the same.

  8. Yea i can’t get this to work. Whenever I try to run it after compiling in C# it gives me the error… 

     

    System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0×80040154): Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {65D00646-CDE3-4A88-9163-6769F0F1A97D} failed due to the following error: 80040154. 

  9. to solve

    System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0×80040154): Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {65D00646-CDE3-4A88-9163-6769F0F1A97D} failed due to the following error: 80040154. 

     

    just install http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=fad44098-8b73-4e06-96d4-d1eb70eacb44

  10. thanks the journal viewer seemed to work

  11. I never installed the journal viewer on my machine.  I must have has something else that installed the required COM object.

  12. Now, have you get it working? i really wanna try this out! (sry for bad english, im german)

  13. Hi there. Elderon, if you wouldnt upload the modified source, could you plz give a liitle tut how to do it?

     

  14.  It is easy to extract all the files from the .msi file using the command line

    version of the ms installer. Using the /a option causes the installer to

    uncompress all the files and put them in a directory so that they can be

    installed locally. 

    the installer program name is msiexec.exe 

    Here is and example of how to do it.

    c:\msiexec.exe /a C:\downloads\PhysicsIllustratorSetup.msi

  15. Even after installing Journal Viewer, I still get the COM exception. Any Other ideas?

  16. Man this is so cool :D Im finding this program a little hard to use. Anyone know of a site that shows simple tutorials on how to do simple things ?

     

    The help file is a little confusing for me. I love the little 4wd example.

  17. Elderon,

    Are you using XP Sp2? Hah, Im not bugging you, just wondering why it wont work on my machine. I try to open the .exe and it comes up with an error.

    Also, is it legal for someone who has the source code to upload it for me, since the download link from Microsoft is not working?

     

    Thanks in advance.

     

  18. This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. 

    He can’t run the program either. Everybody gets the COM error.

    You suck man! 

  19. Hello Sebs,

    Thanks for the “kind” words. I do have it running on my XP machine (the image above was taken on my desktop XP machine).  I don’t know why others are getting a COM error.  One of the points of the MS .NET initiative is that it should eliminate this DLL hell.  I plan on booting up a clean XP virtual machine to see if I can get it to work again but haven’t had the time. 

  20. Oh, sorry about that… I tried on somebody else’s machine and it works just fine. The problem is Windows and its Service Pack. If you don’t have SP2 you can’t install the journal viewer to not get the COM error.

    It seems that Journal Viewer has some dlls and stuff. What would a SP0 alternative to that be?

     Thanks, and sorry again :)

  21. can anyone post a working link again (ex. http://www.filefactory.com/file/48d08c/), you can use TurboUpload.com

  22. Well…i managed to get SplashScreen up-and-running, but that’s about it :( …

    exception:

    System.TypeLoadException: Could not load type PhysicsIllustrator.SmartTag.SmartTag from assembly PhysicsIllustrator, Version=3.0.2483.36936, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null.
       at MainForm..ctor()
       at Global.MainImplImpl(String[] args) in d:\PhysicsIllustratorSource\PhysicsIllustrator\Global.cs:line 105
       at Global.MainImpl(String[] args, Form splash) in d:\PhysicsIllustratorSource\PhysicsIllustrator\Global.cs:line 94

    aka. SmartTag problem…

  23. PhysicsIllustrator.SmartTag should be one of projects in the PhysicsIllustrator solution.  Try compiling that project first.

  24. The physics illustrator source code has moved here. Also, the new license expressly allows the release of derivative works as long as it is for non-commercial purposes and release under the same license. IANAL but I think that means we are free to post the compiled code.

  25. I know…but it’s not working, i’ll try to figure out where’s the problem…

  26. I got it…it’s working just fine…but i don’t know how to fix things for background :)…

     

    problem was in wrong SmartTag namespace, and reading stream from assembly…

  27. Hello! Can anyone upload the working files (in zipped or rar) to somewhere? rapidshare.de or something. it would be great. thanks!

  28. ok i got it working yesterday :)

  29. can some1 post the finished product that will work w/ a windows xp?

  30. Use right-click and save target as, or visit the rapidshare link:

    http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip.html

  31. I am a teacher but not a programer, so it is difficult for me to follow your instructions to use Phisics Illustrator in my portable computer (Not Tablet PC).  I coud see this software using in a classroon with an Interactive Board and it was awersome, so I wish to use it in my class showing other theacher how to usit.

    Do you know some link in which can I downloaded once compiled, so I sould use it in my portable PC.

    I used the link: http://www.filefactory.com/dlf/f/48d08c/b/3/h/321330a6d82f2da7

    but is limited.

    I would appreciate very much your help 

  32. Hi also got it compiled, but got one problem, i do not manage to “lock” objects, i think i missing a input, anyone got a work around?

  33. What do you mean by “lock” objects?

  34. I’m getting a nasty error:

     ”The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135).  Click OK to terminate the application”.

     I can’t connect my PC to the Internet, so I’m using a USB thumb drive.  No Internet means no compiler download, which means no compiling it myself.

     

  35. @Sjors Pals

     Just draw circle around the dot in the middle of the object, that should work.

    @Purple

     
    You don’t have .NET framework installed, or … i don’t know :) 

     

  36. Hi! Why I can’t fill my info in profile? Can somebody help me?
    My login is Kisakookoo!

  37. I constantly get the error “Parameter is wrong” when I try to draw something, and the menu is missing(i’m using Windows 2000 BTW).
     

  38. For all who have the bug “COM blabla” simply install ink redist, you can find it here:

    http://www.msgshit.com/download/445

     ++ :)

  39. Hey, i would just like to know if someone here has manipulated the code a bit. Because, i’m trying to add new functionnalities in the program but i’m having a little problem with the strokes.

    Here’s my problem. I’ve made new buttons which when clicked, automaticaly draw shapes (square, circle, etc.) using the EllipticalBody and PolygonalBody objects. The shapes appear on the document and they can be animated but, i can’t select them nor erase them. I think the problem is mainly because most of the functions use the stroke element, which i don’t use. How could I possibly make it work ?

    Hope i was clear and to get an answer..
    thanx

  40. SO CONFUSED…….i cant even figure out how to use the c# thing. PLEASE HELP

  41. I’m getting the same nasty error as Purple does:

     ”The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135).  Click OK to terminate the application”.

     

    No matter what I try I can’t manage to start the file. Any ideas? Thanks
     

  42. Ping back from Samiq Bits

    [... I came across this post on Digg that lists 5 technologies that in the future will change the way we go thru our normal shores. All from the way you interact with games and applications to the white board you use to teach classes on...]

  43. I’m now getting the error, “This app is not worth all the $#%&!* trouble it takes to install it.”

    - any ideas?

     

  44. Thank you Scott Pritchard for your link Oct. 30th 2006.

    KAA

    (Sheffield, UK)

  45. Ok i really need help on this ive done stuff like this before but im really having trouble with this. Can someone try and give me step by step or anything along those lines, thanks.

  46. i got about as far as downloading the source so yah……. help me….

  47. Can someone made tabletpccompositiontool for the normal PC? Please.

  48. any way you could write up step by step guide in very simple terms. ie what do you do when you hve this c# program. and whats the bin directory.

     

    thanks

  49. OK, guys. You need Windows XP SP2. you can check this by right clicking on “My Computer” and select properties.

     

    If you have Service Pack 2, Download the required files Elderon posted.  THEN, google and search Windows Journel Viewer. Install it, unzip the zip you just downloaded, click on Physics Illustrator for Tablet PC and enjoy.

  50. hi,

    is there anyone that can explane me in a very simple way, what do i have to do to get physics illustrator on my pc, what do i have to download and how do i have to do it….

    thank you very much..

    reply soon,

    oliver 

  51. How do we compile it?

  52. hi i just download the file from http://www.filefactory.com/file/48d08c/ 

    i have not had any problems on installation but when i try to start the program it gives an error:

    System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0×80040154): Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {65D00646-CDE3-4A88-9163-6769F0F1A97D} failed due to the following error: 80040154.
       at Microsoft.Ink.InkOverlay..ctor()
       at Microsoft.Ink.InkOverlay..ctor(IntPtr handle)
       at Microsoft.Ink.InkOverlay..ctor(IntPtr handle, Boolean useMouseForInput)
       at MainForm..ctor() in C:\Documents and Settings\tchapin\Desktop\PhysicsIllustratorSource\PhysicsIllustrator\MainUI\MainForm.cs:line 82
       at Global.MainImpl(String[] args, Form splash) in C:\Documents and Settings\tchapin\Desktop\PhysicsIllustratorSource\PhysicsIllustrator\Global.cs:line 94

    What must i do to use this program in my normal pc?

     

  53. hello i just got the illustrator working on my pc and i would like to know how i can add commands like autoshape or keyboard undo or stuff like that i read that people did it maybe someone knows and can help thank you

  54. I downloaded Physics Illustrator, and I used Visual C# Express thing on all of the files, but some still say they have an error and I can’t launch the program. Help me!

  55. please, somebody upload the NON-TABLET PC version of MS Physics Illustrator! Thanks! :)

  56. Wow, this program rules, i got it working, and i am 13! it ruels, but i still have a problem, i cant get any of the samples because when i install the tablet PC version and look in the TEMP directory, there is no file :( maybe someone could do it for me?

  57. Thanks Scott Pritchard! (Oct 30 2006) That’s what everyone has been looking for.

  58. Scott Pritchard FTW!!!

  59. can some one have a end product for it? The few links on top, the files are either expired or needed to be a premium. can anyone help me with my problem

     

  60. Thanks to Scott Pritchard the executible, help file, and examples are located here:

    http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip.html

    If you have trouble running the application try installing this file here (thanks to Vik)

    http://www.msgshit.com/download/445

  61. thnks hypercubed but i think there’s a problem with the link for the ap on top : http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip.html

    i mean it requires me to be a premium
    it is required to be a premium

  62. Click the link, click the Free button, type the captca, then click download via…

  63. sry hyper but it seems that i click the wrong link and it does not allow me to download again, it only allows one download for free right?

    sry

  64. could anyone place a link on another website? sry and thanks.

     

  65. I’ve been able to download that file from rapid share many times.

  66. You have requested http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip (910 KB). You have reached the download-limit for free-users. Want to download more? Get your own Premium-account now! Instant download-access!

    This was what i got when i tried downloading sry. Btw are you a premium?

  67. I click the link and I can download it every time.  I do not have a rapid share account. I think rapid share has a limit on what each browser can download not how many times the file is downloaded.  Try deleting your browser cookies.

  68. hold on when i refreshed and tried again this was what i received :
    Download session invalid. Please click here.

    Possible reasons:

    Download session expired. Direct-links last a few minutes for free users.

    You requested this download session from a different IP than yours. If you use AOL, try a different browser.

    If nothing helps, getting a premium-account will override the IP-check, which means it will solve this problem.

     

  69. ouh yea which link should i choose ( telia sonera, cogent, etc.)?

     

  70. i dont get how to do this its kind of complicated

  71. wow I feel bad for you hypercube…. bunch of noobs who can’t even figure out rapidshare.

  72. Wow, this program is amazing! Thanks for the link Scot! My bro thinks it’s a really neat tool, and if he’s not asleep then he’s playing it. :3

  73. most of you people are idoits hypercubed thank you for the instructions i have been wanting to use this for w while i mean come on people figure out how to use rapid share and read the other peolples commits they have a solyion to your problem

  74. also dont insult my spelling fools

  75. Hi, having trouble downloading the file since yesterday, is there a mirror?

    thanks

  76. Hi again, still no luck, rapidshare won’t let me download the file… tried IE and Firefox and still nothing :( help!

  77. can somebody please post a link for an online help thing for this program? im 10 yrs old.

  78. Hi, nevermind, found a working link:

    http://www.ovelho.com/files/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip

    this one has the HELP FILES included, no need to download anything else :)

  79. I CANT GET IT TO WORK CAN SOMBODY PLEASE GIVE ME IT FOR WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION!?!?!?!?!

  80. ME EITHER!!!

  81. I think you mean “me neither”. Follow the links at the top and have fun. It works great for me.

    http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip.html

    http://www.msgshit.com/download/445

  82. [...] few interesting comments.  Hypercubed blog has had it’s fair share.  There are the newbs that can’t seams to get a grasp of using rapid share.  The cheap skates that want free [...]

  83. Hey everyone. The above download links to rapidshare work. You just have to click download for free then wait, it gives you a virtual ticket. Then you choose where to download from.

    However, I can’t seem to open the illustrator, it just closes and asks if I want to send an error report. Is there something else I need to download?

  84. Someone please explain how to make axels for wheels? I can’t

  85. I downloaded the rapidshare ans that ink thing.

    When i click it it doesnt do anything.

  86. Thanks a lot for the rapidshare links! I wish someone has the source to compile all tablet pc “powertoys”. I have a drawing tablet, but i don’t have (and can’t buy (not for sale)) xp tablet edition (2005)).

  87. can someone please upload the finished programme for pc and place a link here so that nobody has to ask or to answer annnnnnnnnnnnnny D A M N     Questions annnnnnymore               PLEASE!!!!!!

    or send it to                manuelbaeuml@yahoo.de

    i begggg you

  88. Haha, so much fun. Thanks for taking the time to teach us how to get this program working on a desktop!

  89. To get a working program on XP, you must install http://www.msgshit.com/download/445

    and Microsoft .NET framework , version 3.5 (71 Mo)

    When it works, you can record the animation with Camstudio 2.0 (swf or avi) 

     

  90. Works great for me!

    1. I downloaded the file Scott Pritchard (Oct 30 2006) posted.

    2. I installed Inkredist like Pissant posted (Sept. 10th 2007)

    3. I installed NET Framework 2.0 because I had the same problem like Purple (Dec 13th 06)

    Then it worked.
    It’s easy to build simple stuff like marble games and so on but I havent found out yet if it is possible to e.g. simulate cirular motion with centripal force. Can anyone help?

    Thanks and Greetings 

  91. ok i tried this a while ago and before i try someone give me a video on exactly how to do it on your computer, email me at wiinick@yahoo.com.by the way i have an ibm laptop and a pc

  92. Ok! Step by step instructions!

     

    1.  Click here http://rapidshare.com/files/1284020/Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator.zip.html

    2. This image helps: http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7001/mspi1zo3.jpg

    3. Click on the circled button on the image above

    4. Wait until this: http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7531/mspi2on9.jpg turns into this: http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2377/mspi3nn1.jpg

    5. Type in the text in the circled part in the image above.

    6. Press Download next to the box where you typed in.

    7. Save file to desktop.

     8. Now download this http://www.msgshit.com/download/445

    9. Click on the download now button in the table to download

    10. unzip the scott pritchard file and install the file in step 8.

    11. If you do not have Microsoft .net Framework 3.5 (assume if you are reading this that you dont), then also download this: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E3715E6F-E123-428B-8A0F-028AFB9E0322&displaylang=en

    12. Assuming you did everything as mentioned above, open up the first file (Microsoft_Physics_Illustrator) and click on the icon with the picture of the gear.

    13. I strongly suggest you also read the help file, which is located in the same folder as the picture of the gear icon but it looks like a page with a yellow question mark on it.

    14. HAVE FUN

  93. Oh one more thing. You can email me at computer_llama at cox dot net (spam prevention) and thank me! OR visit my youtube page at youtube.com/Ioovius (Yea i know that was a shameless plug, but hey)

  94. Thank you Ioovius.  I’m afraid I couldn’t figure out how to make it any clearer.

  95. You are welcome :D. I got up and just decided that i should do a step by step for all the people who didnt get it. You are welcome to use it at the top so they dont need to scroll down to the bottom or whatever you want. 

  96. Has anybody converted any of the other Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition for us on a PC except Physics Illustrator?

    I’m particulary interested in : Art Tool for Tablet PC, Microsoft Phraseology PowerToy for Tablet PC, Puzzle Game, Tablet PC Music Composition Tool, Writing Recognition Game.

    Also did anyone get any luck creating a version of physics illustrator stored objects ? i’d like to have cogs?

     

    Many Thanks

    Louis

  97. Hey

     

    i have follow your step to step guide but still i gain a “send error report” when i click on the gear icon..

     

    Thank in advance 

  98. Software works but help does not.  Tried extracting the .msi with no luck.  I have tried all the various suggestions and downloads and no luck.  Anybody got this help in a nice simple Word  doc?

  99. It works like a charm.

    But, I can see how noobs don’t get it to work.

    ¬¬ NOOBS

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