Igor

PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.0 Beta 3 is available to download: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-beta.zip (7 MB) This beta includes Mac output. See Create menu in the program. Temporal limitation of Mac slideshows in this beta release: - Startup window doesn't work. - Protection options (password, number of runs and etc) don't work. - No Print slide dialog in slideshow. Changes in Beta 3 + PicturesToExe Deluxe now can create executable file with a slideshow for Mac. See Create menu. + Improved view of Open/Save dialogs under Windows Vista and Windows 7. * Vastly optimized work of MiniPlayer when slide contains Mask object(s). Earlier added masks caused permanent CPU loading even when MiniPlayer stayed paused. * Fixed visual defects (v5.6-v6.0 Beta 2) in Sky style of Navigation bar. * Fixed problem (v5.5-v6.0 Beta 2) with crashing of VideoBuilder if there is no installed DVD writer in PC. * Fixed problem of slow run of a slideshow with text objects on some PCs. * Fixed an old bug (since v1.00) when Save and Create features didn't work after you choose New project and gave a name which contained some specific symbols: ? < > | \ / * : " * Fixed issue (v6.0 Beta 1-2) with very slow run of slideshow which contains text objects. * Fixed bug (v6.0 Beta 1-2) with appearing of error message when you choose created screensaver in Windows. * Fixed issue (v6.0 Beta 1-2) with quick flash to desktop between slideshows when you use "Run slideshow" action. * Some other changes.

Today is 10th Anniversary of PicturesToExe. First version 1.0 was published on July 2nd, 1999.

Could you please illustrate the problem you've encountered in simple example with two text objects? Two screenshots and two projects each with one slide, please. On the attached screenshot I just see that one text distorted horizontally. Auto font quality couldn't cause this problem.

Tom, I confirm this bug. Under Windows XP too. It seems that there is a mistake in screensaver mode. We'll cure it in Beta 3. Thanks! This option can be useful if you create an usual slideshow (not screensaver) and need same behaviour with the mouse cursor.Scorpion, Thank you, I've reproduced this issue. It also should be fixed in Beta 3 soon.AbdolReza, OK, we'll try fix this issue. Thanks.

Dominique, When you choose color for the border you see Color dialog. At the right part of this window you see R, G, B components of color and below "A". 255 means fully opaque. 128 half of opacity.Dave, Yes. Because it is impossible to set client height of Startup window as 1200 due to height of caption and border PicturesToExe automatically proportionally reduces the window to show this window entirely visible on the screen. For example, your display 1920x1200 and you try to set width/height of Startup window as 1920x1200. Client height of this window is 1200 and height of caption + border is about 30 pixels. Total height of this window should be 1230 pixels. But your display is only 1200. So PicturesToExe decides proportionally reduce width and height of the window to fit the window. Sorry, we can't avoid this flash of desktop because we need to de-initialize DirectX mode used in Startup window and prepare for exclusive fullscreen DirectX mode for slideshow.

Dave, Dominique, It is not a bug. Same behaviour exists when you are setting width/height for a windowed slideshow. We assign width/height for internal client area of a startup window, excluding border and caption of this window. If we will set width/height for whole window (with border and caption) it will cause serious problem - appearing of black strips arround slide - because thickness of caption and border of a window are different on each PC depending on version of Windows and used graphical theme (Classical, XP, Aero).If you need to have fullscreen startup window please consider using of first slide as some kind of a startup window? Dave, I just tested and observe same thing with the startup window from previous version 5.6. But please could you specify exactly - do you see flash to background of the desktop or flash to Windows Explorer from which you started this slideshow?nobeefstu, We're experiencing technical and logical difficulties with implementing of this function on a first slide. Please give me more time to think about it.

Carol, We have tested PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.6 (and 5.7 Beta) on Windows 7 (Release Candidate, build 7100) and didn't experience same issue Probably the problem comes from an antivirus which you might use? Please let us now the name of this antivirus software. I'll try to reproduce this problem under my PC.

endevil, Could you please provide me more information on this issue? - PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.7 didn't work under Windows 7 on your PC without setting a compatibility option (Windows XP SP3)? - What video card do you have installed? - Did you install newest video drivers through Windows Update? Thanks in advance!

PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.0 Beta 2 is available http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-beta.zip (6.4 MB) + Additionally improved visual quality for small text objects. + Updated language files. * Removed size limitation for width and height of Startup window. * Fixed bug of v6.0 Beta 1 with Startup window when after clicking of Run button a slideshow didn't start. * Fixed bug of v6.0 Beta 1 with Startup window if a slideshow had music it played already in Startup window. * Fixed bug of v6.0 Beta 1 in Mask editor when it was impossible to enter values directly from keyboard. * Fixed bug of v6.0 Beta 1 with opening of a project created in v5.6 and earlier which has aspect ratio of slide different than 4:3. * Some other changes.

S.Bidouze, I can't reproduce this problem. I tried with "calc.exe" and it works fine. Please could you send me small one slide test project to illustrate this issue? And where you call external application: action of an object or at the end of slideshow? It is in our plans.Cor, We just fixed the bug with adjusting of Scale parameter for Navigation bar in PicturesToExe. Please wait for Beta 2. Thanks. I just fixed this bug.John, Opposite CPU loading at 100% indicates that PicturesToExe fully utilizies two cores of CPU during video encoding (H.264). If software is not optimized for multi threading CPU loading will not reach 100%.Dominique, I can't reproduce this issue - I put two images on a slide and after selecting both ones I can cut and the paste them. Is it specific for v5.7 Beta or same for previous v5.6? Yes, I configured this behaviour because when you're editing already existing Mask it already can has unique name named by user.

Barry, Dominique, We finally reproduced the issue with Startup window when you press Run button and you don't see a slideshow. Please wait for the fixed version.

Dominique, Thanks, I'll correct WhatsNew.rtf file in Beta 2. And here on the forum. OK! Please could you describe in details what happens when you click Run button in Startup window - you don't see slideshow at all? And what version of Windows you use. Do you use effect of animation for minimizing/restoring of opened windows? Also will be fixed. Thanks! It will require write new code with new formulas for these shapes. I don't know if it really necessary, because I think that currently Mask editor should cover 90% of needs for Masks and for more complex shape better to use graphical editor with brushes, pens, lines, etc.Anyway I have to leave something for future versions If you adjust Time range values for an Mask object (see Common tab), PicturesToExe will not spend video card time for rendering of a Mask when it is hidden.Dave, I confirm both bugs. Will be fixed in Beta 2. Thank you.Lin, I just checked up and URL in Help window works fine like any object with same action type.Probably you forgot to update URL of action in the text field below of "Open Web page..." button? Absolutely - I forgot that both properties "and" common tab need the update. I only updated the "text".. Lin Barry, Thanks, definitely it is a logical bug. We'll fix it in Beta 2. It seems that you and Dominique discovered same problem which I still can't reproduce. Please let me know your version of Windows.

Tom, I didn't try but probably yes. At least it should work in windowed mode. And turn off "Pause show when a window is inactive" option.

WnSoft announces PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.0 Beta Important notes: - Please take in attention that it is a BETA release and it may contains bugs. - This beta intended only for experienced users who want try new features of future version of PicturesToExe. - We plan add some other new features which are not included to current beta release. Download link: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-beta.zip (7 MB) User Guide: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/help/6.0/PicturesToExe_User_Guide_v60.zip Presentation of new features in version 6.0: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/show/Pte-v5.7-Demo.zip (1 MB) What's new in this version: + PicturesToExe Deluxe now can create executable file with a slideshow for Mac. See Create menu. + Added 3D transformations for objects. See Objects & animation editor | Animation tab | 3D parameters button. + Multidisplay support: > If you have connected two displays and click Preview button the program will ask you the desired monitor for the fullscreen preview of your slideshow. > To run already produced EXE file with a slideshow on second display use a command line parameter -display 2 For example create Runme.bat file in Notepad with the next content: MySlideshow.exe -display 2 + You can use any unique fonts for EXE file of slideshow now. PicturesToExe automatically will vectorize text objects and text comments and show text with highest quality at any display resolution. No need to use "Rasterize to PNG image" option in Objects and animation editor anymore. + Vastly improved quality of text rendering. + Customizeable windows in slideshow. It is possible to use Objects and animation editor to customize these windows. See Project options | Main tab | "Customize windows" button. > New view of Startup window. > New view of Help window. > You can add any number of custom windows to show them in a slideshow. See a new action "Show window" in properties of an object in the Objects and animation editor. + Improvements in Objects and animation editor: > Added "Adjust Image and Border" tool window. See Properties tab of Image object. It's possible to add color border to an Image object and set canvas size for an Image object. > Added simple editor of presets for Masks. It is possible to create simple mask image right in PicturesToExe. > Added "Edge antialiasing" option for Rectangle objects (Objects and Animation editor, Properties tab). + You can assign any icon for your created executable file of a slideshow (including large icons with alpha semi-transparency). + Improved font combo box in Objects and animation and in Project options. + Added optimization for Mask objects when you set Time range. + Improved view of Open/Save dialogs under Windows Vista and Windows 7. + Added new option to Shadow properties window - "Shadow for 3D mode". + Improved compatibility with Windows 7. + Reworked "Download User Guide in PDF" function in the main menu | Help. Now it download PDF file directly from PicturesToExe. + Added support of Korean language. * Vastly reduced memory usage for Undo/Redo system. Earlier long work with very large slides could cause "Out of memory" error message. * Fixed bug of previous versions when in spite of "When show ends keep last slide in show on screen" option enabled the first slide might appear again on the screen after last slide after several minutes. * Fixed visual defects in Sky style of Navigation bar. * Fixed problem with crashing of VideoBuilder if there is no installed DVD writer in PC. * Fixed visual bug with statusbar of the main window under Windows 7 in some cases. * Improved compatibility with some DVD writers in VideoBuilder. * Fixed visual bug (v5.5-v5.6) with blurred picture at 150+ ppi screen mode in Windows Vista/7.

Gary, Trial version will not allow call Preview feature for a slideshow with 11 slides and more. I can send you special temporal license key to help you and SystemSuite solve this issue. This key will work during a month. Please write to my email address.

Here is information from Order page on WnSoft website: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/order.htm So expired key for Deluxe features (VideoBuilder) doesn't mean that VideoBuilder will not work. It is an experied key for new free upgrades. You can continue use previously released version of PicturesToExe Deluxe. Date of a version shown on the Download page, or on our forum, or see date of "picturestoexe-setup.exe" file from ZIP file downloaded from our website. Please take in attention that VideoBuilder will not able open .pte project files from newer version of PicturesToExe due to compatibility issues. You need to use same or older version of PicturesToExe together with VideoBuilder. I'd like to explain why we decided do two years of free upgrades for VideoBuilder. You know that almost all software products require pay for upgrade to newer version when new version comes with new significant features. For example from version 2.0 to version 3.0 with 1-2 year's interval between versions. Initially we suggested all new versions of PicturesToExe for free. But now I think it was not a good solution for evolution of our company in future. Keeping our promise unchanged we've separated some new feature of v5.0 (DVD) into new Deluxe edition of PicturesToExe. Another reason was that we had to buy DVD library and pay royalty per each sold copy. Because we publish new versions every 5-7 months we couldn't require pay for the upgrade for every version. So we decided use another variant - two years of free upgrades. It means that we release 3-4 new versions for this time period. With other products we have to wait sometimes because if you buy SomeProduct v2.0 and a month later they release SomeProduct v3.0 you have to pay again. In our case we give two years since date of your purchasing. Base program of PicturesToExe still suggests lifetime free upgrades.

Ken, Yes, v5.6.4 is officially released. I posted announce in description of the topic: "Pinned: Topic has attachmentsPicturesToExe Deluxe 5.6 Build 5.6.4, May 14, 2009" You can see this first topic in this current forum: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showforum=2 Also I added post #109 to that topic: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index....ost&p=64943 And version number shown on Download page here: http://www.wnsoft.com/download.htm Initially I forgot update Download page, but after your reminder I did it, too. Thanks. Because it is minor update (not major version) I didn't post large post, just comment about availability of an updated version. Every beta version comes with remark "Beta" (as usually). I avoid mention "final release" or "final version", because I don't like these phrases Sorry.

Ken, Version 5.6.4 already released. Probably do you mean v5.7?

Thanks for your responses! Ken, Of course, but not in first beta release. I'm sorry for the issue with second display option. It seems that there is a bug with this mode when we use startup window. We'll cure this problem in first beta. Dominique, Thanks, I'll check up tomorrow and probably will write you for more details. Probably this version 5.7 will include 3D transformations for objects. Slideshow engine for Mac executable file is almost ready. We're still didn't find a solution for one final problem which happens on Intel video cards (under Mac) on a slide with many objects using many Masks objects. This point delays Mac output for PicturesToExe. I hope we'll solve it soon. Also I would like to answer on a recently raised question regarding v5.7 on DiaporamaForum. We've re-worked code of audio engine and will include this change to future v5.8 the most likely together with simple management of audio tracks. At least it is in my TODO list.

Some new features of PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.7 http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/show/Pte-v5.7-Demo.zip (700 KB) Beta version will arrive soon.

Tom, Exactly! Beta testing of v5.7 will begin in June.

We're finishing a feature for nearest version PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.7 which will allow to run a slideshow (and preview) on second display. I'm glad to say that performance is very good and playback of a slideshows on second display is perfect. Currenly we've added: 1) You can choose display for fullscreen Preview in settings of PicturesToExe. By default it is a primary display. And it's possible to choose second display when you press Preview button in the main window of the program. 2) Command line parameter for any EXE file with a slideshow (since v5.7) to point a desired display. For example: MySlideshow.exe -display 2 What we can make more?

We're finishing a feature for nearest version PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.7 which will allow to run a slideshow (and preview) on second display. I'm glad to say that performance is very good and playback of a slideshows on second display is perfect. Currenly we've added: 1) You can choose display for fullscreen Preview in settings of PicturesToExe. By default it is a primary display. And it's possible to choose second display when you press Preview button in the main window of the program. 2) Command line parameter for any EXE file with a slideshow (since v5.7) to point a desired display. For example: MySlideshow.exe -display 2 What we can make more?

Gary, Thanks for good news! I thought about this possible reason, but really didn't expect that because it happened only with particular projects. Could you perform one more test, please? Turn on this protection option again and just try to copy this EXE file in Windows Explorer. Will the antivirus software lock the copied file in this case? I think it should do that and in this case we can send this EXE file developers of this antivirus.

Gary, It's an unusual problem. This message comes from PicturesToExe and happens only when the program can't delete old EXE file of this project located at same file path. 1) If I understand rightly, after reboot and first successful creation of EXE file you can't delete this EXE file even manually in Windows Explorer? And you even do not run this EXE file? 2) Restarting of PicturesToExe doesn't solve the problem? Only rebooting of a PC? 3) Do you change icon for this EXE file? 4) Is it possible to use Create As output to assign another filename for EXE file. Will it work? It is really strange, because even if a program mistakenly locks just created file, it should be automatically unlocked after closing of a program which has created this file. Probably the problem in RAM as you wrote. I don't remember similar reports on this issue during past 10 years.