Igor

Tom, Thanks for your idea regarding the player. You're right, the unique file extension for a resource file (.ptd) is preferable for future evolution of PicturesToExe. In theory we can release a slideshow player which can play all .ptd files by double click in Windows Explorer. Like we install Adobe Reader to read PDF documents. It seems that this way is recommended by Microsoft. Users have to confirm the installation of such player once. And then any slideshow (in .ptd format) will be played without any warnings. I think it also possible to play executable files, if you run the player and choose File -> Open dialog window to browse slideshows in old EXE format. Creating of a player is a alternate way to solve problems with unsigned executable shows. This warning will be shown *every time* when user launches an unsigned executable file in Windows 8. No. You can only configure Windows to turn off this warning at all (SmartScreen Filter).If a slideshow consists from two files - signed launcher + resources, Windows 8 will not show any warnings at all.

Thanks, Lin, I understood. You're right, it possible. If .dat files belong to same version (7.0.6 for example), it will not cause any problem. In case of different versions, a launcher shows the error message telling in details the exact reason of the problem. We can write a version number to the launcher and to .dat file with resources to validate compatibility automatically. I know this variant has inconveniences. But for personal use (files on DVD disc or USB drive) you can use single executables. I'm trying to find the best solution already 3 months. We didn't add any changes in this direction to PicturesToExe yet. I'd like to hear the opinion of the community. It also interesting to see what our competitors will do in this situation (if they aware). Indeed similar situation happens with unsigned single executables downloaded by Internet Explorer 9 in Windows Vista/7 already now. For this reason I recommend pack executables to ZIP archive. It solves the problem. But in Windows 8 it doesn't help.

Don't worry, it will work! "Run application" will work. What about Windows 8. I really don't like it. Microsoft removed Start button at the left-bottom corner. No Start menu anymore. Ugly Metro graphical design for desktop environment. No Aero graphical theme. The new interface is flat and very bright. You can read people comments here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/31/delivering-the-windows-8-release-preview.aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/18/creating-the-windows-8-user-experience.aspx

There is one difference. Windows suggests two variants - unpack one exe file or unpack all files. Users should make right choose. I'm afraid it complicated. Yes, same problem for Dropbox. For any executable file downloaded by any way from Internet. We can't modify a file of the launcher to keep valid digital signature. So digitally signed launcher (ABC.exe file for example) will search for ABC.dat file placed in SAME folder. You can even rename the launcher and resource file. The only condition - they should have same name and different extensions (ABC.exe + ABC.dat, or Myshow.exe + Myshow.dat). No problems with duplicates if they are located in different folders.

I need your advice for the following problem. Future Windows 8 will have an unpleasant restriction. When user launches an unsigned executable file (slideshow) he will see a warning message as shown on the first screenshot (1). If he guesses to click "More info" link he will able to launch it (2). Thanks to Microsoft. This problem will touch all slideshow software (WnSoft, Photodex, Aquasoft, etc) which create slideshows in single executable files, because it is impossible to add a digital signature to a single EXE file created by an user. This situation happens with EXE slideshows downloaded by any web browser, even packed into ZIP archive. This problem does not occur with EXE files created and launched on same PC, or transfered through DVD disc, or USB flash drive. Windows 8 will be released in September-October of this year. What we can do? A. Leave everything as it is. Users should guess how to launch slideshows downloaded from Internet. B. Separate the code from user data. Executable file contains only a slideshow player which has our digital certificate + user file with packed images/music/videos. For example: Myshow.exe -> launcher Myshow.res -> images/music/videos. Windows 8 will not show any warnings anymore. Publish menu contains a new option - "Create executable file for PC for Internet". This options creates a folder with two files or creates a packed ZIP archive. Example of such slideshow with two files: http://wnsoft.com/files/test/Myshow.zip Of course, if user forget to copy the second file, the slideshow will not work. Also it more difficult to launch such slideshow from a ZIP file, because it necessary to unpack all files from the ZIP. Impossible to assign an icon for executable show. Positive side effect - less problems with antivirus software. What you think and what way we should choose? I remind that this problem also happens with competing slideshow software which create single executable files.

Microsoft adds more and more obstacles for software vendors. Yesterday we renewed our digital signature for our software programs (a label "Publisher: WnSoft Ltd." when you launch the installation file). And now I see that SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer 9 shows then following message when I try to launch downloaded PicturesToExe 7.0.6: "SmartScreen Filter reported that this program is not commonly downloaded" and "Run" button is hidden under "Actions" button by default. It complicates the installations. It even despite the fact that software has a confirmed digital signature of verified software publisher. As I read on Microsoft's website, the only way to solve this problem - have as possible more downloads through Internet Explorer 9 of our software. At some moment SmartScreen will approve the program and will add our digital certificate to a "white list" for future updated versions. If it possible, please help me by downloading PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.0.6 again from our website http://www.wnsoft.com (not through the link on this forum) using Internet Explorer 9 and start the installation. This problem doesn't occur in Firefox, Chrome and Opera. Thanks in advance! P.S. That's not all. Microsoft Windows 8 will bring some restrictions for any slideshow software (WnSoft, Photodex, and others). So we have to solve new problems. I'll tell in details in another post:

Please let me know - do you have similar error message when you watch other shows created in PicturesToExe? I think it can be related with unstable work of your hard drive or flash drive (where you placed the launched AV show).

I posted final version 7.0.6 It has minor changes since the beta version.

PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.0.6 is available now Download: http://www.wnsoft.com/files/picturestoexe/picturestoexe-setup.exe (12 MB) List of changes: * Fixed problem with jerky playback of video clips on created DVD disc. On fast PCs this problem could appear also with HD output. * Fixed problem in video output (HD video, for YouTube/Facebook, for iPad and iPhone). Earlier created video file was empty (zero size) on some PCs. * Fixed problem with uploading to YouTube with some accounts. * Fixed bug in the timeline. Now the program adjusts the scrollbar position to keep visible current slide after work with several slides in the Objects & animation editor and Customize slide window. * Fixed problem with playback of WAV audio files in executable shows for Mac. * Fixed bug with incorrect work of "Go to slide..." command in shows for Mac.

Hello Jean-Charles, Wonderful shows! Also as the creator of PicturesToExe I'm very pleased to see usage of all main features. My congratulations.

Jose, This suggestion ("negative" mask) in our TODO list. Thanks. But Xaver is right. There are technical difficulties with this kind of a mask. It necessary to change the mask engine. Our programmer who is responsible for this code is very busy now with rewriting of the graphical engine for version 7.5.

Please try the updated version 7.0.6 Beta (NOT 7.5 yet, sorry). http://www.wnsoft.com/files/picturestoexe/picturestoexe-setup.exe It contains important fixes: * Fixed problem with jerky playback of video clips on created DVD disc. On fast PCs this problem could appear also with HD output. It was really serious problem if a project contained video clips. * Fixed problem with playback of WAV audio files in executable shows for Mac. * Fixed bug with incorrect work of "Go to slide..." command in shows for Mac. * Fixed problem in video output (HD video, for YouTube/Facebook, for iPad and iPhone). Earlier created video file was empty (zero size) on some PCs. * Fixed problem with uploading to YouTube with some accounts. * Fixed bug in the timeline. Now the program adjusts the scrollbar position to keep visible current slide after work with several slides in the Objects & animation editor and Customize slide window. P.S. Please ignore a possible warning from antivirus software ('unknown publisher'), this beta is not digitally signed. I'll do it in the final version 7.0.6. Thanks to Comodo/VeriSign for this delay with our new signature.

Lin,Yes for audio clips. Can't say about video clips yet. Xaver,Yes if you make an AVI file with our built-in video codec MPEG4-ASP. MPEG4-ASP is equals to XVID and DIVX. I just checked up this function and successfully created 2.7 GB AVI video file. Of course, it will be a free upgrade to version 7.5 for users of the old Standard edition. Excluding video output options which are part of Deluxe license.For the AVI output we did an exception to the rule, because AVI output always was a part of the Standard edition. So you additionally get for free fully reworked AVI video output with built-in video codecs. Creating a AVI video file is very simple now. I think about June-July for the first beta version. Not in this version, sorry.

We're working hard to prepare the new version - PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.5. When we finish the new timeline with audio editing we will publish the first beta version. Another new feature of the next version will be fully customizable toolbars on the main window of PicturesToExe. You can re-arrange buttons, hide unused ones, or add advanced buttons for the most used functions, move buttons between top and bottom toolbars. PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.5 will bring the following major improvements: 1. New timeline with audio editing (in progress) 2. New slide list (almost done) 3. New file tree (almost done) 4. Updated design of the main window (done) 5. Updated design of the Project options options window (done) 6. Updated design of the of the Slide options window (done) 7. New manager of transition effects with preview (done) 8. Editor of custom transition effects (done) 9. Customizable toolbars on the main window (in progress) 10. New AVI output window with same design as HD video output + built-in video codec (done) 11. Refreshed design of PicturesToExe (done) 12. New graphical engine for future improvements and effects (almost done) 13. New Settings of PicturesToExe window with all program options (done) 14. Improved playback of video clips and better support of video formats (done)

New user interface in Windows 8 - white, bright and flat. No shadows, no gradients, no reflections, no translucency, no Aero Glass UI: http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-release-preview-rip-aero-20032012-143133 http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/18/creating-the-windows-8-user-experience.aspx

Hello Isabel, Creating AVI file will be completely redesigned in the next version 7.5. This is already done in my internal alpha version. Now it really very simple.

I confirm the problem with this MP4 video file. The problem exists in current version of ffmpeg video decoder that we use for PicturesToExe. For the following version 7.5 we use the latest version of ffmpeg which plays correctly this MP4 video file. Regrettably we can't update version 7.0 because it was very significant change which may affect to playback of other kinds of video files.

Hello Jean-Claude, Thank you very much for this wonderful tool for AV enthusiasts! I highly recommend it. We plan rework the Objects and animation editor in version 8.0 (after 7.5) and I'll try implement at least some features and ideas of the OAK editor.

Tom, I forgot about this limitation, sorry. I'll prepare sample video file.

Tom, Thanks for good news. Indeed the created file is 1920x1536, not 2048x1536. But it better than 1920x1080 Can you please repeat same test in PicturesToExe? Choose output for iPad. And change "High quality" to "Custom". Then click the button "Show more option". Now set the resolution at 1920x1536. Create video file. Will it play on the new iPad?

Thanks for testing! Regrettably it seems that the new iPad 3 doesn't support H.264 video at 2048x1536. We will create video at 1920x1080. PicturesToExe can't create MPEG4 in MOV format.

Thanks for testing. Please try to import this video clip through iTunes and then play on the new iPad (HD).

Please try this video with a short slideshow I created in future PicturesToExe 7.5: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27544810/slideshows/ForiPad3.mp4 We added a new preset for iPad 3 with Retina display (2048x1536).

Thanks, but it's a standard behavior of the program in the timeline as well as in the slide list. Same in Windows Explorer. I'm not sure that we should change this.

Gary, Thanks for the confirmation! This v7.0.6 beta also has the following changes: * Fixed problem in video output (HD video, for YouTube/Facebook, for iPad and iPhone). Earlier created video file was empty (zero size) on some PCs. * Fixed problem with uploading to YouTube with some accounts.