Igor

Thanks for details! But I'm sorry, I still didn't understand where the main/chief show (which calls other shows). Also what screen mode you use for main/chief/menu show - fullscreen or windowed?

Hello Graham, Thanks for ZIP file with this project. I created DVD and masks objects work correctly. It seems that PicturesToExe was not able initialize Mask objects on your computer. What configuration of your PC? CPU, memory size, video card and video memory size? Please try also new version 7.0 Beta. It has reduced requirements for video card when you render video for DVD disc.

Thanks, I've added this suggestion to my TODO list.

I confirm this bug. Thank you! We'll fix it in Beta 5. You're right. I think it's a bug. But we will block video clips for Custom Windows in this version 7.0, because we prefer do not hurry and test carefully all main functions.

Bert, Custom preset should give exactly same quality. "Medium quality" in preset is equal to "Quality: 71" in custom mode. "High quality" in preset is equal to "Quality: 100" in custom mode. I'm not sure that 1920x1200 is a safe preset. Because it exceeds FullHD resolution (1920x1080). Probably some HD players or TVs will not able play correctly this file.

Cor, I fixed all 3 issues you've discovered in Beta 5. Thanks! Please tell me in more details: 1. Version of PicturesToExe used to build main show (menu). 2. Version of PicturesToExe used to build another show (to run). 3. Type of command to run the show - "Run slideshow" or "Run application"? Thanks in advance.

Hello, 1. Please try latest version 7.0 Beta 4. Will it work on your computer? http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-beta.zip 2. Do I understand rightly that when you click "Create" or "Preview" button you see the message: "Packing of PNG, BMP, GIF images... 1 of 3" on the status bar of the main window. And then it freezes and crashes with another error message you posted above? 3. Please download the following sample project I've created. Unpack ZIP archive and load in PicturesToExe 6.5 Then try create executable file or run Preview. Will it work now? http://www.wnsoft.com/test/SampleProject_Apr19-2011_12-30-05.zip (350 KB)

Hello, I apologize for this problem! We never faced with this case before. I searched in Google and I found similar reports on this error situation in different software including known games and Microsoft Office. Because of this I suppose it can be a hardware issue, or a combination of hardware with particular software. The common advice would be a fully check of PC with antivirus software, then please install all updates for Windows and updated drivers through Windows Update service or manually. Also it's better to install available Service Pack if applicable.

What configuration of these two PCs where slideshow with video don't play correctly? Video card and CPU. John, PicturesToExe uses built-in video codecs in slideshow engine. So if PicturesToExe plays correctly particular video clips on one PC, it should do on any others. The only possible problem - old video card which can't handle video playback.

Hello Graham, Thanks for photos! I've understood now. It looks as a bug in PicturesToExe 6.5 Could you please send me all source files of this project in ZIP archive? You can upload file on www.mediafire.com and then give me a URL through personal message. Probably this issue related with one this slide only. Try to save a project with another file name and leave one slide in the copied project. I suppose this issue should appears also in any video output, including "Create HD video file for PC". I think we will easily solve this problem once we reproduce this situation.

Gary, We don't change Navigation bar options if you load a project saved in previous versions. Please start a new project, or turn on the new navigation bar manually in your existing project. I'm not sure. Probably in this version.

Barry, We will write a list of hotkeys in the User Guide.

I've added Dutch translation of "A Guide to New Features of PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.0": http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/help/7.0/PicturesToExe-700-Gids-nieuwe-functies_NL.doc Thanks to Cor Van der Kinderen for the translation!

John, In following version. We still have a lot of work with video clips. Currently it's impossible, sorry. Mainstream video card can't do it well for video. We're looking for alternate ways. Please tell me in more details why you prefer hide the new navigation bar by default? We completely reworked the navigation bar in version 7.0. Now it has all base features (rewinding, duration of show, audio volume control, mute audio). These functions should be very useful for viewers of AV shows. Also if you include long video clips the rewinding control is only way for good navigation. And, of course, it possible turn off the navigation bar if you create a template and assign it as a main template for all new projects. Probably you concerned by a fact that the navigation bar "tells" every viewer that this AV show created in PicturesToExe and the shows losses its individuality? Bert, I'm not sure that I rightly understood this problem. Please give me more details and probably sample files.

Barry, nobeefstu, Thank you! I've reproduced this problem now. And we've fixed it in future Beta 5. Barry, H.264 video files directly from camera usually have file size at ~18 mbit (720p) and ~40 mbit (1080p) per second. This large size comes from the fact that camera doesn't use all power of H.264 format and use simple base encoding. Our convertor will get 6-11 mbit for 720p and 12-22 mbit for 1080p. So you get even less file size and in 3 times less CPU loading with almost same quality. If you make a final output as HD video file, you need not convert source video clips at all. You are free to use even H.264 at 1080p. Some restructions exist only for shows as executables.

Hello Graham, Sorry, I was not able reproduce this problem. I made a DVD with two slides. Each slide has one mask object. They had same look in EXE file and on DVD. Please could you take a picture with your digital camera from LCD display and from TV to show the difference?

We published Beta 4. Please try it.

Barry, I understand your point of view. The current conception is more complex of understanding, especially for beginners, but it gives a lot of creative applications. Simple slideshow products where you need not set aspect ratio of a slide allows put only one picture. If you put at least two pictures together (or text caption with picture) you need to set fixed aspect ratio. Slide is a container with fixed aspect ratio for pictures and other objects to keep their relative positions. Earlier in version 4.xx we had not aspect ratio that caused changes in position of objects when you run a slideshow on different displays (4:3 or 16:9). Any software where you can put several objects on one screen require fixed aspect ratio. Theoretically we could support two modes - simple with dynamic aspect ratio according screen and advanced mode with fixed aspect ratio. But it's one more option. And questions from users. And difficulties with code to write and support both modes. What we can do now? 1. We can add a global preset in the Project options: "Show mode for new pictures" ("Fit to slide" / "Cover slide"). And a button to apply choosed mode for all objects in a show. This will save a lot of time if you need to change this mode for all slides in your project. 2. Or an alternate global option of virtual editing (and local option for each picture object): "Crop picture to aspect ratio" (4:3, 5:4, 16:9, etc). This option also allows reach same result. This option could work like current "Canvas size" editing and give similar result. Both options can work together. 3. We can add a new button to Navigation bar to switch between two modes "Fit to screen" and "Cover screen". This option applies to entire slide and allows to remove black strips around a slide. This option can be implemented in following version(s). 4. Regarding naming ("Cover slide" or "Cover parent"). We can use dynamic name depending on parent of an object. If object lays on a slide we use "Cover slide". If object placed on a parent object we use "Cover parent". What you think?

PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.0 Beta 4 is available now. Download link in the first post above. List of changes: + Visual Improvements in Project options, Slide properties, Customize Navigation Bar window. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 3) with selecting of slides on the timeline with Ctrl key. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 3) with moving of several slides using mouse on the timeline. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 3) with removing of slides on the timeline using Shift+Del hotkey. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 3) F6 key to switch between Slides and Timeline worked, but didn't change the highlighting of the tab. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 1-3) with entering of some time values for Slide duration or Effect duration. * Fixed problem (v7.0 Beta 1-3) when the Slide list stopped work if slide(s) contained invisible Animated GIFs. * Fixed problem (v7.0 Beta 1-3) when "Edit image" (Ctrl+W) function didn't work for a main image of selected slide. * Improved compatibility with MOV video clips. * Improved stability of VideoBuilder.

Barry, It should be possible in all versions including latest 7.0 Beta 3. I didn't change this behaviour since version 5.51. Select all slides in the timeline 2. Press "Cut transitions" (Del key) 3. Click "Play" button. 4. Press Ins key to insert transition(s) at current possition. I'm ready to discuss this question if you want. Probably I didn't understood completely the problem you've raised. Hotkeys are highlighted in the main menu and in popup menu. Hotkeys are different when you call main menu or popup menu from the Slide list or from the Timeline.I've extracted a conversation on aspect ratio, slide and cover screen option into a new topic:

Barry, Sorry for my late response on your suggestions () Do you suggest rename "Cover slide" mode of an object to "Cover screen"? What about the second mode - "Fit to slide". Should it also be renamed to "Fit to screen". Mainly I agree with you. It's more easy for understandign. But strictly speaking this option works inside a slide, not entire screen. What other members think on this question? Please tell me more about suggested global option (Cover Screen). Do you mean "Cover screen" option which will be set by default for all newely inserted images? Or a global option for a slide to enlarge the slide to cover screen (and no black strips arround the slide). In other words: 1. Image covers slide. 2. Or slide covers screen. Currently there is a similar command line option -cover. Create a .bat file and type name of executable file with this parameter. For example: myshow.exe -cover Then run this bat file. Are you speaking about this mode?

"Recording News" (a magazine of British Sound Recording Association) has published an article about PicturesToExe. (Issue No. 129, Spring, 2011). Author of the article - John Willett. PDF copy of the article: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/articles/2011/recording-news-n129-spring-2011.pdf For more details please visit http://www.soundhunters.com/bsra

Barry, I'm not sure that it's bug. Same situation might occur in previous versions. You need to carry for correct transition duration and slide duration. Daniel, Video clip duration is a parameter of video object. You can place several different video clips with different durations onto one slide. For this reason duration of a video clip is not linked with duration of a corresponding slide. You need to adjust slide duration together with duration of video clip.

André, Sorry, but it never was possible in the Objects and animation editor. You have to pause a preview and then move necessary keypoint.

New translation. Dutch User Guide for PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.5: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/help/6.5/PicturesToExe_User_Guide_v65_Dutch.pdf