Igor

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

Thanks, we'll fix this issue in Beta 4. Regrettably we were not able resolve this problem. The decoder we're using (ffmpeg) reports wrong duration for this WMV video clip. Please tell in more details on this problem. I couldn't reproduce this situation.

Dave, Sorry, my mistake. I have strong headache today.

Dave, You need to convert such files if you output project as executable show. This is reality. I'm not a wizzard, sorry. Processing of video in real time with effects takes some limitations. If you render show as a video (DVD, HD video file, YouTube, etc.) you can use any source video files. Video for input and video for output. As I know other slideshow software also convert source video files.

Thanks! I just fixed this bug in the next Beta 4. OK, I'll check up. Thank you, I confirm this bug. We'll fix this bug in Beta 4. Thanks, I finally reproduced this issue with Shift+Del with your step-by-step instruction! It will be solved in Beta 4. I confirm this bug. I'll fix it in Beta 4. Thank you. Thanks! We'll fix it. I've reproduced this issue. Thanks! Will be fixed soon. Thanks, Lin! I'll check your MOV file today. Please send me one sample AVI file which has similar problem. It can be different issues.H.264 format (especially 1920 x 1080) can be heavy for PicturesToExe. Only modern PCs can handle this format with PicturesToExe 7.0. Other players might have better playback because they simply show video, whereas PicturesToExe have to apply much more complex processing using 3D capabilities of video card. Some players under Windows 7 can utilize full hardware acceleration for H.264 video if you have modern video card. But in PicturesToExe we can't rely on this function due to wide range of different video cards and need to use Direct 3D. So please convert video to DIVX, XVID or MPEG4. These formats give almost same file as H.264 but in 2-3 times less CPU loading.

PicturesToExe Deluxe 7.0 Beta 3 is available now. Download link in the first post above. List of changes: + Status bar displays duration of a video/audio file choosed in the File list of the main window. + Changed view of time values displayed in Slide list of the main window. For long duration Slide list displays hours and minutes. + It's possible to change height of Slide list in table view. + Removed 10 slide limit in trial version of PicturesToExe. + "Remove Slide" button ("X") has been moved to another place. + To switch between Slide list and Timeline press F6 hot key. + Reworked insertion of blank slide on the Timeline. + Advanced tab renamed to Control tab in Project options. + Improvents in the Main tab of Project options. + Improvements inSlide properties window. + Various small improvements. * Fixed issues (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with playback of FLV video clips downloaded from YouTube. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with memory leak on some AVI video files (MJPEG codec) which caused crashing of a show. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with muted sound in some AVI video files (Canon S80 and some others). * Fixed issue (v6.5.0-v7.0 Beta 2) with changing of filename for Image object to animated GIF image. Replaced picture had an incorrect view. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with muted sound of video clips in video output (DVD, HD video file, etc.) * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with loading of projects saved in previous versions of PicturesToExe. "Sharper/Smoother" parameter for Image objects was not set to optimal value. * Fixed bug (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with loading of slides in Slide list and building of preview when a project has masks. And there were several levels of embedded pictures inside a mask container. * Fixed visual bugs (v7.0 Beta 1-2) in new Navigation bar when slideshow longer than 1 hour. * Fixed problem (v7.0 Beta 1-2) with strong distorting of background music in case of complex audio editing.

We'll publish Beta 3 tomorrow.

Jean-Cyprien, I think I've understood you now. You're right. Can I suggest the next change: 1. If the cursor stays AFTER the last slide and we press Alt+S (or call "Insert Blank Slide" from a popup menu), it will be added after the last slide (ignoring triangle cursor position). 2. When the cursor stays between slides, the blank slide will be added at the point of the cursor. Right?

Please see my recent announcement:

Gary, You need to wait when we introduce a special feature for this in one of nearest beta releases (Beta 4 or so).