Igor

Thanks for your responses!

I forgot to mention that now we have to support two different graphical engines (two libraries of code) - for hardware acceleration and software engine (based on CPU).

Do you turn off (for some reason) the option "Use hardware acceleration" (in Project options | Screen tab)? I remember that was used for some menu like projects to call other slideshows and reduce loading for video card during parallel work of menu project and slideshow. Hardware acceleration (the mode by default) is required for smooth playback of slideshows. Masks, 3D transformations, Video clips on slides and Blur feature - all they require hardware acceleration. Should we still provide to authors of slideshows the possibility turn off the hardware acceleration? If you need this control on this option, please describe shortly the scenario how you use it. Thanks,

Thanks to all for your thoughts and comments! Jose, - Video files format accepted? At least all main formats. - Maximum length, if any? The limitation only with final size of EXE file (4 GB). But we're considering a variant to put video file near to EXE file (like folder of Mac slideshow) - Maximum video/audio bitrate? I think any reasonable values. - Variable opacity (video over a slide, fade-in/fade-out over slides on the back, etc.)? Video is object of slide. So you can apply any usual effects and transformations (3D, Masks, Pan/Zoom/Rotate, Opacity, Start time, Duration, Shadow, etc.) - Text over video? Yes, as another object over video object. - Mask effect (video inside a mask)? Yes, of course. - Border for video is possible? Thanks for good idea! Why not? - Creating a final MP4 HD file of finished project, no problem with such mix (slides/video)? Yes, no problem.

André, Please explain in more details why you think that audio features are not finished in current version? Version 6.5 has many new audio features that you can successfully use already now. It's infinite process - improvements of existing audio features and adding of new audio features. I have plans for many new audio improvements for at least several future versions. Video does not have more high priority than audio for us. Please see my two posts above.

Eric, It was our initial intention. But now it's dangerous to pause work on video clips support. We can forget about many important details related with video code if take a break for several months to make audio features.

We have a good progress with development of the next version 7.0 of PicturesToExe. I expect appearance of first public beta version in January. Support of video clips on slides took significant time. But we're trying implement this feature to PicturesToExe at highest level with smooth playback on wide range of PCs. It's a joy for me to see video in real time in PicturesToExe's slideshow with any effects - 3D transformations, Masks, Pan/Zoom/Rotate, etc. Due to complex work with video, probably we will delay advanced audio editing (global timeline with waveforms) for version 7.5. We didn't expect that video support will take so much time. Also version 7.0 will bring vastly improved picture quality. Two new features will appear for this. And they are already finished.

Will this problem happens if you open this project in version 6.5, re-save it giving another filename and then restart PicturesToExe to open again? If it possible please send us source files of original project which caused this problem in new version 6.5 Please use free www.mediafire.com service to upload ZIP file. Reply me in PM message through the forum if it's OK for you.

This problem happens because PicturesToExe supports WAV audio files which have sample size as 16-bit (standard value for all Audio CD discs). We plan add a support of these WAV files (32 bit and 24 bit) in the next version of PicturesToExe. I recommend you convert again MP3 to WAV setting 16 bit sample size. For some reason AVS Audio Converter converts audio files to WAV ignoring source values of sample size and sample rate and suggests 48 KHz and 32-bit by default. It better use original values from source files. All Audio CD has 44 KHz sample rate and 16 bit sample size. But if you have original file in MP3, I don't recommend convert this file to WAV.

Yes, in version 7.0 HD video clip inserted into Mask object with 3D transformations looks very cool. In real time and smooth playback We have a lot of work to finish it, but even first results are very impressive.

Please don't use email address support@wnsoft.com it's old email address which we don't use already three years and removed it from our website and PicturesToExe. It's neccessary submit a support ticket to contact us: http://www.wnsoft.com/support.htm

Next issue of "Recording News" (the magazine of the British Sound Recording Association) will include an article dedicated to PicturesToExe.

Please send me source files of project, picture and audio files (MP3). We'll check up for this problem.

I have a full backup copy of that first forum (in format Snitz 2000), but I didn't find any convertor to Invision Forum.

On November 29th, 2000 we started first official forum dedicated to PicturesToExe. Two years later this forum was restarted on Invision Power board platform.

I'm sorry about these problems! We had a fault in work of the license keys server. It should deliver all keys now. On Monday we'll re-configure it to make more reliable.

Hello, I apologize that you didn't receive in time your license key! I just sent you again the email with the license key. Please let me know when you receive it. Also I've sent you license key in personal message via forum.

Thank you very much for advices! We'll continue separate VAT from price and will add more clear and visible note regarding VAT.

I need to know your opinion on question with VAT (Value Added Tax). Please leave your comment or participate in voting. We announce prices for PicturesToExe without VAT on our website. But there is a remark: "Prices do not include VAT when applicable" on the order page. Before a customer enters his credit card details he can see final price with VAT. The problem in fact that some countries take VAT (EU) and some don't (USA) for software products over Internet. Should we separate VAT (as we do now) or include VAT into price of the product (increasing this price on our website)? Example 1. Separated VAT. Announced price on website = 75$ Final price for the user (when VAT is applicable) = 88$ Final price for the user (when NO VAT) = 75$ Example 2. Price includes VAT. Announced price on website = 88$ Final price for the user (when VAT is applicable) = 88$ Final price for the user (when NO VAT) = 75$ (I think so, but I didn't check, because I'm not from EU country)

Hello Bill, Thanks for sending project files to me! Yes, I see the described issues. 1. The MP3 file has a 25 seconds of silence at beginning of audio file. Alternate audio player (WinAmp) confirms this. 2. The show hasn't "Synchronize music and slides" option (Project options | Main tab). When it *turned off*, the music always starts from beginning even if you start show from 2nd, 10th, or 20th slide. I recommend activate this option. 3. Slide No. 32 has personal audio playlist. When show reaches this slide the audio file replaces the main background music and starts this new audio file. In this case it's same MP3 audioo file with long silence. Just remove this custom playlist from a slide. Call "Slide properties" window for 32nd slide, choose "Music" tab and remove audio file. I hope it will help.

This issue is completely resolved in the next version 7.0. I just completed all required changes. It will allow two or more users work with independent settings of PicturesToExe under one computer. Peter, Also this new version solves the issue with import of settings from previous versions if you're using Windows 7 64-bit.

Jim and Bill, Please send me this MP3 audio file. And if possible entire project sources. Thanks.

In the next version, we will keep the program settings in Application Data of current user. This will solve this issue. But you can modify any existing version from 5.0 to 6.5 to allow work under limited user account. Browse folder: C:\Program Files\WnSoft PicturesToExe\6.5\ Find the next file: UninstallCfg1.ini Set other folders: Config=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\PicturesToExe\Versions\6.5 ConfigCommon=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\PicturesToExe Save file. Restart PicturesToExe.

Thank you!

PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.5.5 is available now Download link: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-setup.zip (8 MB) Changes in this version * Fixed problem (5.5 to 6.5.4) with freezing of the main program of PicturesToExe under Windows 7 with Aero Glass user inteface on some PCs with quad-core CPUs. * Minor change in German language file.