Igor

Both options "Reduce volume of background music during sound comments" and "Fade out audio at the end of slideshow" will appear in nearest beta release (one-two weeks).

PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.5 Beta Download link: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-beta.zip (7 MB) Important Notes: We didn't finish work on this version yet. Key Features: Audio Editing and Manipulations Crossfading between audio clips. Multi-tracks and simultaneous playback. Tools for editing of an audio clip (start time, duration, fade in, fade out, time offset, etc). Animated GIF Support In addition to animated GIFs, professionals can use manually animated PNG/JPEG images specially processed in a graphical editor. New Features in the Objects and Animation Editor Better usability, special improvements for editing of 3D objects. Reworked a tree of objects with icons. Automatic naming of new objects. Video Output for iPad and iPhone 4 Watch slideshow in HD quality on mobile device. 1080p for YouTube Output FullHD quality for your slideshows now. Improvements in Slides A new feature "Insert blank slide". Name of slides displayed in the Slide list. Improved "Go to Slide..." of objects which can use a name of a slide in addition to a slide number. "Show Next/Previous slide" buttons in Slide properties window. A Full List of New Features: > Audio editing and manipulations: + New audio system. + Crossfading between audio clips. (See Project options | Music tab.) + Multi-tracks support. Click "Add track" and then insert an audio clip(s) to play simultaneously several audio files. + Each audio clip can be virtually edited (lossless editing): Start time, Duration, Fade In, Fade Out, Crossfading, Offset, Volume. + Use "Offset" parameter to add silence before an audio clip. + Sound comments also has same features for editing. + Added video output for iPad and iPhone 4 with amazing quality. + New feature “Insert Blank Slide” is available now. (See the main menu | Slide or popup menu of Slide list.) > Improvements in the Objects & Animation editor: + You can choose and save default font for new text objects. See "Save and Use by Default" link in Properties tab of Text object in the Objects and animation editor. + To rotate an object in 3D space hold Shift key pressed, put the mouse cursor slightly outside of a side of selected object, click left mouse button and move the cursor. + Added icons to the tree of objects. An each kind of object has own icon (image, text, mask, etc). + The tree of objects remembers a state of its sub-items (collapsed/expanded). + Improved drag'n'drop of objects in 3D space. + “Adjust Image and Border” is a floating window now. + You can create an animated sequence of pictures from one image file. Choose a number of frames inside one image file, time interval and other parameters to see a picture like Animated GIF. (See "Properties" tab -> "Adjust Image and Border" -> "Animation"). + Automatic naming of new objects in the Objects and animation editor ("Text1", "Text2", etc). + Improvements in the main window of PicturesToExe: New/Open/Save buttons on the toolbar under the main menu. And a new button to change a drive for the file list below. + Animated GIF support. + Improved function “Go to slide …” of an object. In addition to a slide number you can also point a slide name. Slide names should be declared in the Customize Slide | Main tab. + Slide list now displays names of slides (instead of file names of main pictures as it was earlier). By default name of a slide is equal to file name of the main picture but you can rename this name without renaming of real file on the disk. + Popup menu of Slide list has two separated functions: "Rename Slide Object" and "Rename Image File". + Added buttons to show Next/Previous slide in Slide properties window or use hotkeys Alt+PageUp/PageDown. + PicturesToExe remembers a last used image folder in the file panel and tree separately for each project. + Added support of 1080p output for YouTube uploads. + Vastly reduced size of an executable file of a slideshow which contains many text objects. + Added "Set Graphical Editor" and "Set Sound Editor" options (See Main menu | Advanced Options). + Vastly improved smoothness/fluidity of animation on a slide with large PNG, GIF or BMP images. ! Removed support of MIDI audio files. Please use MP3, OGG, WMA or WAV files instead of. A Full List of Bug-Fixes: * Fixed issue when saving of a project could fail and cause deleting of an previous version of this project file on a disc. * Fixed issue (all previous versions) with creating of AVI video files on some PCs. * Fixed issue with a slow playback of mono audio files in slideshows for Mac. * Fixed bug with a error message "Not executable file or file corrupted" which appears if call "Run slideshow" command and then terminate the show by Esc key. * Fixed bug with "Run application/slideshow on exit" commands which call a slideshow with a startup window. These commands launched two copies of a slideshow. * Fixed bug (v6.0-v6.5 Beta 6) with an incorrect view of a text object which contains some symbols in specific fonts. * Minor improvements in text renderer. Changes in Beta 2: * Fixed bugs of previous beta version: > Each call of Undo/Redo action duplicated tracks of music in Project options. > PicturesToExe crashed with an error message "29.97 is not a valid floating point value". > Slideshow in executable file crashed on a slide with specific text objects. > "Insert template" function in Comments tab of Project options didn't work. > Crashing of PicturesToExe on some broken Animated GIF image files. * Fixed bug of versions 6.0.x-6.5 Beta 1 with a wrong view of text objects in some combination of parameters in executable slideshow. For example two text objects with same words but different letter case: "TEXT" and "text". + Updated language files. Changes in Beta 3: * Fixed bugs (v6.5 Beta 1-2) with a slow performance on heavy slides in comparison to previous version. Changes in Beta 4: * Fixed bug with option "Repeat music after playing". It didn't work in Beta 1-3. * Fixed issue with playback of 22KHz audio files in executable slideshows for Mac. * Improved reliability of executable slideshows for Mac. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-3) with a tree of objects in the Objects and animation editor. Sometimes it didn't remember state of items (expanded/collapsed). * Improved reliability of the Objects and animation editor. Changes in Beta 5: + Added Play/Pause buttons and rewinding to a floating window of selected audio clip. * Fixed problem (Beta 1-4) with incorrect playback of some MP3 mono audio files in Mac executables under Mac OSX 10.6.x. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-4) with "Play songs in random order" option (Project options | Music tab). An order of songs didn't change in every run of executable slideshow. * Fixed bug with appearing of an error message during creating of a project template. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-4) when background music started in a startup window of a slideshow. Changes in Beta 6: + Improvements in the main window of PicturesToExe: New/Open/Save buttons on the toolbar under the main menu. And a new button to change a drive for the file list below. + The program remembers a state of the waveform on the timeline (show/hide) after restarting. + New key shortcuts (F11/F12) to go to Next/Previous slide in the Objects and Animation editor and in the Slide properties window. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-5) with waveform on the timeline if start a new project. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-5) when call of "Run slideshow" command might cause crash of a slideshow with a specific text objects. * Fixed bug (v6.0-v6.5 Beta 5) with a error message "Not executable file or file corrupted" which appears if call "Run slideshow" command and then terminate the show by Esc key. * Fixed bug (v6.0-v6.5 Beta 5) with "Run application/slideshow on exit" commands which call a slideshow with a startup window. These commands launched two copies of a slideshow. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-5) of loading of some old projects which contained audio files. PicturesToExe mistakenly loaded zero length for music files. Changes in Beta 7: + Added video output for iPad and iPhone 4. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-6) with zero length of WMA/OGG audio files as sound comments in projects created with previous versions of PicturesToExe. * Fixed bug (v6.0-v6.5 Beta 6) with an incorrect view of a text object which contains some symbols in specific fonts. * Fixed bug (Beta 5-6) with incorrect work of waveform of the timeline if a project has an option "Play songs in random order". * Fixed bug (Beta 1-6) when sound comment disappears if open Slide properties window and then click OK button. * Fixed minor bug (Beta 1-6) with "Set defaults" button in Slide properties window. It didn't clear personal music playlist. * Fixed two visual bugs (Beta 1-6) in Project options window, Music tab and in the main window (in some languages). * Fixed bug (Beta 1-6) with incorrect calculation of audio clip duration in Project options | Music tab. Changes in Beta 8: + You can choose and save default font for new text objects. See "Save and Use by Default" link in Properties tab of Text object in the Objects and animation editor. + Improved smoothness/fluidity of animation on a slide with large PNG, GIF or BMP images. * Fixed bug (Beta 5-7) in the floating window with properties of a selected audio clip. A sound "click" might occur at the beginning of playback. * An error message "A component named MusicPlayerFrame already exists" might appear in the Project options window | Music tab (Beta 7). * The up/down arrow buttons on the scroll bar in the Project options | Music tab did not function (Beta 1-7). * Fixed problem with some text object in an executable slideshow. An error message appeared during a show. * Fixed bug with preview of text comments in the Project options. It didn't display underline font style in preview area. * Minor improvements in text renderer. Changes in Beta 9: * The program didn't remeber style of waveform (mixed or stereo) in some cases. > Improvements and changes in VideoBuilder: - Ability to set custom filename for H.264 MP4 video file (PC/Mac). * Improved compatibility of VideoBuilder with DVD writers. It should solve problems with DVD burning on some PCs. * A bug with entering of custom width/height values for video in PC/Mac preset. Changes in Beta 10: + Envelope Tool and Waveform for a selected audio clip (Project options | Music tab or Sound comment). * Fixed an old bug (v5.5-v6.5 Beta 9) in the main window of PicturesToExe which caused "Cannot focus a disabled or invisible window" error message. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-9) with a wrong text color in a preview of Text comments tab, Project options. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-9) with a wrong start time of an audio clip when it's edited (Start time and Offset). For more details: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11802&view=findpost&p=77626 ! Removed support of Vimeo uploads. Vimeo doesn't accept direct uploads from slideshow software anymore. You can upload shows manually through their website. Changes in Beta 11: + You can choose and save default settings for new Image objects. See "Save and Use by Default" link in Properties tab of Image object. + Various improvements in the floating window with waveform for an audio clip. + You can disable show of the window with sound properties after adding of a new sound file to a slide. See the option "Show this window after adding of a new file". Changes in Beta 12: + Added Undo/Redo to the Envelope tool with waveform. + Various visual improvements. * Fixed bug of previous Beta 11 where created executables for Mac didn't play. * Fixed old visual bug (v5.6 - v6.5 Beta 11) with Mask object which used colored mask image instead of grayscale. Changes in Beta 13: * Fixed bug (Beta 1-12) in a floating window with properties of an audio clip. Changing of the Start time didn't affect to the Duration parameter below. * Fixed visual bug (Beta 12) with Mask object which has 32-bit image mask with alpha channel. * Fixed bug (Beta 1-12) with a floating waveform window. Duration value could be on 10-30 ms less than real duration of an audio file. Changes in Beta 14: + The floating window with proporties of an audio clip displays original duration now. * Various improvements in audio editing. * Fixed issue with reading of Comment field from EXIF date in some JPEG images. Changes in Beta 15: + Visual improvements in the main window of VideoBuilder. * Fixed issue (Beta 1-14) with the drive button in the main window of PicturesToExe on the toolbar. * Improved import of settings from previous versions when you install a new version. * Fixed old bug (all versions) when Copy/Paste for slides didn't work in the fullscreen view of Slide list (Lightbox) called from the timeline mode.

Beta 1 will be published on May 1st.

Background music described in the Project options, Music tab will be displayed on the waveforum. P.S. Beta 1 will be ready within a week.

Gary, It seems that plasma TV display doesn't recognize H.264 format or doesn't play H.264 video with B-frames technology. Please create a MP4 video file using "iPhone" preset in PicturesToExe, then choose "Show more options" and set custom resolution 1280x720. Will this file play on your friend's plasma TV? (iPhone preset doesn't use B-frames).

Peter, Thanks! There was a bug in slideshow engine for Mac. It incorrectly plays mono audio files. We just fixed this bug for the next version 6.5. As temporal solution please use stereo audio files as it recommended above.

Done. In next version 6.5

Xaver, Gérard, I agree - it is a very important feature, but regrettably we don't have time to implement it to a new version 6.5. We'll add this feature to future version 7.0.

Thanks for your ideas regarding default font! John, Yes, we did it today. For Text, Button, Frame, Rectangle objects.

Right, it's time to fix this mistake. Can we use already existed text comments parameters in Project options | Comments tab for default font settings of other text objects? Or we should create new page with default settings? Also please don't forget, since version 6.0 you need not care about unique fonts. Slideshow will correctly display any fonts on any PC or Mac.

Tom I hope yes, it's in my TODO list. Xaver Currently for new version we're implementing only a simple change of volume for an audio clip. I'll investigate your suggestion, thanks.Roger Yes, sound comment of a slide will be visible as a waveform on the timeline.

We're finishing works on version 6.5 and beta version should be available very soon. Of course, the key feature of the new version virtual sound editing: - Crossfading between audio files in two clicks - Multitracks for background and personal music - Virtual editing of audio file: start time, duration, fade in, fade out, volume - Ability to add silence between audio file or delay before first audio file. - Editing is possible for all kind of audio (background music, personal music, sound comments) - Option to automatically fade out the audio on last slide. - Option to automatically reduce volume of background music during sound comments of slides. Another new feature is ability to create animated sequence of pictures from one image file (simulation of video). You prepare a series of pictures in graphical editor and put all of them into one image file, then add it to PicturesToExe and specify number of frames (columns and rows), also set time interval between frames and number of loops for animation. Please see the attached screenshot. So it will possible to insert various funny small animated pictures like animated GIF using even PNG and JPEG images.

Yes, it's because different height of Slide list and Timeline.

Updated version 6.0.4 of PicturesToExe Deluxe is available http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-setup.zip (7.4 MB) Changes in version 6.0.4: * Added "Pictures" folder in the tree of folders of the main window for Windows 7. * Minor improvements in time edit control for the timeline.

Thanks for this information! Please let me know what screen resolution you're using?

Please try this new test version: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/picturestoexe-setup_Win7_Test2.exe Will it solve freezing on adding of slides in Windows 7?

Pierre, Please check state of the next option in the main menu | View | Advanced options - "Show real slide in Mini Player". It should be turned on.

This problems comes from a fact that rendering of layers/objects in PicturesToExe goes independently. If we set 50% opacity for two overlapped objects (text and its shadow) we see a shadow through partially transparent text object. It's like we take two semi-transparent glasses in real life and could see both glasses. To solve this issue we have to put a fully opaque Text object with a shadow onto Mask object and then change opacity of the Mask object. Please see attached EXE file and source files of a test project. OpacityOfObjects.zip

Ok, we'll rework this place in the next version 6.5

Thanks, we've finally reproduced similar issue with freezing on our PC.

Pierre, Thanks for your help! First problem with freezing 1) Could you please try another test with version 6.0.4. Set again checked "Show real slides in Slide list", and disable "Show real slide in Mini Player". 2) When these both options are turned on and you have this problem, does it happens with you just open a recent projects? Or freezing happens only on adding of a new slides? Issue with Open dialog 1) Do you always have this problem? 2) What exactly happens when you call "Open project"? You see nothing and can continue work with the program, or the main window doesn't responds on mouse clicks? 3) Do you work with one display or multi-display configuration?

Freezing of PicturesToExe under Windows 7 We've prepared a special test version for users of Windows 7 who have a problem with PicturesToExe (freezing of the program on adding of new slides). Please try it: Win7_Test1: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/picturestoexe-setup_Win7_Test1.exe ppenen, You wrote about the second problem with Win7 when Open dialogs in PicturesToExe. So you can't see any open dialog when you click "Open project" in the main window, "Add image object" in O&A editor, "Add music" in Project options | Music tab. Right? Please try this special second test: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/TestWin7Dialogs.exe (500 KB) Click "Button 1" which should show Open dialog if it works normally. Thanks in advance!

We've sent a request to Symantic regarding this false positive with PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.0 slideshows.

We tested v4.48 for false positives on http://www.virustotal.com/ru and AVG shows nothing. Probably they've fixed that issue in the latest update?

It's a sad news for us. We have lost our friend. I can not imagine PicturesToExe without great contribution of Jean-Pierre Dollangère.