Igor

Excuse my long absence, just I've fully absorbed in work on new features The main task is light table view. And many another your great ideas which I've added to the todo list. This light table view (or thumbnailer view) should be available for file panel and slide list with full functions. The old view, of course, also will be possible, as usually. I think we'll discuss view of light table once again after a time, to make it as it maximally possible in best view.

Thank you for very interesting thoughts! I just printed this topic and I will work with it on the paper.

Your opinion is very important to find the most important features which should be added now in the next version (or in difficult cases at the nearest releases). I'd grateful if you could suggest your 3 the most expected new features.

Very interesting discussion! Thank you. Bill, I'm not sure about auto beat detection, probably! You're right, often it difficult to find necessary peaks. Ok, I'll leave wave form visualization after completing of another important features. Let me suggest to discuss another important theme. Please see new "The next most important features" topic.

Do we need in Wave display on time-line in the "Customize synchronization" window? We were requested several times about this feature and probably it will help to set transition points more exactly and quickly. We already have some code for this when we've wrote new music player. 1) Is it really necessary or just external program (like Audacity 1.0) will wholly enough? 2) So which priority it has?

Thanks for nice ideas! I've added the idea with shifting of several points on time-line to my todo list, too. p.s. I just tested PicturesToExe with future version of Windows, codename -"Longhorn" Alpha Preview for developers which is dated by October of 2003. This totally new future version of Windows is scheduled to be released at the beginning of 2006. The previous Windows XP was released at October of 2001 (2,5 years ago) as you know. So following by results of the first tests PicturesToExe fully workable under Windows Longhorn, AVI video output works OK. I've tried 5-7 different slide-shows and they all worked fine. Of course, Longhorn is far away of its final state and Microsoft will add very innovative technologies during the next two years of development such as new 2D/3D interface (something like as in MacOS X and even much more powerful, as expected).

Thanks for reminding me about option which will embedd external .exe files into one .exe file! I'll try to make it. The second ability to run several differents apps could be added, without a problem, I think! About separated parameter field. Please give me example to see how it can be used. Usually I can specify parameters in the one RunApp field. E.g., notepad c:\todo.txt

Who have difficulty with Ulead DVD MovieFactory2 please try the next test: a) Download AVI MPEG4 encoder: http://www.wnsoft.com/beta/mpeg4.zip (136 Kb) After downloading unzip into some folder, click right mouse button on mpeg4fix.inf file (in Windows Explorer) and select "Install". Confirm. c) In AVI video dialog, click "Video codec" and select "Microsoft MPEG-4 V2" and choose maximal bitrate in "Options" window. d) Now PTE will create fully stand-alone AVI file, which please try to add to Ulead DVD MovieFactory2 and encode DVD. (Also to save your DVD-R/RW discs, just set to create ISO image of a disc.) It's not best way to encode DVD disc with maxiamal quality, but this as a test. Also, please I very don't recommend to distribute slide-show as this AVI Mpeg4 video file, please take usual .exe file with slide-show. p.s. I've quickly checked up newest Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 Trial recently and it works OK as previous version 2.0 with PTE.

PicturesToExe v4.20 is released http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr.zip (1,4 Mb) Dear friends! I very much grateful to you for all help! And I happy to work together. With kindest regards, What's new in v4.20: + AVI video output feature. Now you can produce your presentations as AVI video file and then (using special software) burn DVD-Video, VCD, or SVCD disc. (Please read chapter in the help about work with video output.) + Improvements in transition effects: > Added new transition effect - "Advanced hour hand" (with variations). This effect has special "Offset" option for fine customization. > Added new "Push" and "Slide" transition effects. We recommend to show these effects or quickly (500 ms.), or slowely (3,5 second and longer). > Vastly improved quality of smoothing line in all effects. For existed projects please increase thickness from old 40 to 60 points. > Vastly improved "Mosaic" transition effect (old name "Hot blocks"). This effect has new smooth view. Available 3 parameters for fine customization. (Note: with "Appearance:" parameter as 100 and "Parts:" 26 x 20 it works exactly as "Hot blocks" effect in previous versions of PicturesToExe.) > Added "Show first transition effect from desktop" option (Project options | Screen tab) > You can quickly select/deselect groups of effects clicking on title of effect (see Project options | Effects tab). > Fade effect works on 20%-50% more smoothly now. ! Fade effect is turned on by default now (in Project options). + Improved synchronized mode of presentation. Now you can fully control presentation in this mode; go to any slide; use Navigation bar; Pause feature. To activate this mode set checked "Permit the control" (Project options | Main tab). + Vastly improved MIDI playback on old PCs (Pentium 150 - 400 Mhz). + New improvement in "Customize Synchronization" window: > Added auto scrolling when you move transition point outside of visible part of time-line; + It's possible to adjust thickness of smoothline in the personal settings of a slide. (E.g. you can set 40 pixels of smootline for 1st slide and 80 pixels for 2nd slide). + Added customizable shadow for picture objects (Visual editor | "Properties" window of an object). + Improved Print function (in presentations). Picture or slide fits on full page now. + Added support for 32-bit .bmp images with alpha channel (for use as objects). + Added "Disable mouse wheel" option (Project options | Advanced tab). + Added .wma and .ogg support in sound comments for slides. + Various small improvements. - Removed "Use smoothing" option, because smoothing is always turned on now. when if it's necessary to fit large picture on the screen. * Fixed two bugs in Visual editor of objects which caused show of messages about error. * Fixed rare bug of v4.10-v4.14 with incorrect work of "Print slide" feature. * Fixed old small visual bug in "Customize synchronization" window. * Fixed several minor bugs. p.s. please don't forget to check up for presence of opt_FastFade=1 string (in the apr.ini file after pte_SoundInitDir= string), because this option will be turned on by default only in the next version automatically. This option will make Fade effect in two-three times more smooth especially on old PCs. Before editing of apr.ini file please close all copies of PTE.

Thanks, I've understood now. I think it can be realized in the next version when we will work on it.

It doesn't any matter.

Yes, I'll turn on it by default in the first beta of the next version. Harold, Did you mean synchronized mode with choosed "Permit the control of show" option? I tried with my slide-show and pressed Left and Right buttons many times and within several seconds all requested slides were shown and no problem with correct synchronization of slides and music. Let me know please, if I didn't understand your question rightly.

We didn't buy newest Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 yet. I'll try with it when it will possible, I hope soon! It seems that PTE couldn't detect 3rd version Ulead DMF. Please visit folder where you have installed PicturesToExe and look for PteVideo.vio file. In case you find this file (it means that PTE was not able to automatically detect Ulead DMF3) you should to manually place this file into Ulead DMF3 folder. Usually this path looks so: C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3\vio\PteVideo.vio

It's a strange problem, because I remember that I didn't change anything in this part of PTE. However we must solve this problem. I've understood the problem comes now and with one old version which earlier worked fine? So probably, I suppose the reason not in beta #8. Those two added lines to apr.ini file *absolutely* can't call such problem. Please remember which new programs you've installed (or added some changes in Windows) recently? Check the hard drive with Scandisc and with antivirus. 1) This problem occurs when you try to open any earlier created .pte projects files? 2) Change the folder in the file panel (left panel in the main PTE's window) and then try again to open some project. 3) Restart Windows if you turned it off to Hybernate or Sleep mode for a long time (weeks). Maybe it will help.

PicturesToExe v4.20 beta #9 is released http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr_beta.zip (1,4 Mb) It's a Release Candidate. What's new in beta #9: • Updated Italian and Swedish language files. • Fixed old small visual bug in "Customize synchronization" window. • Minor corrections.

I've posted in another thread recently that it will be added to the next version (4.30). Probably already in the first beta.

I agree and this reason why I didn't turn on the SmoothFade option by default currently. Algorithm for smooth showing of this effects requires more time of show because Fade effect should ends more smooth and insensibly. But I'll try to find more optimal formula visually. Also I agree with you that in case of visual speed difference this kind of Fade effect shouldn't be applied for existed projects, precisely only if author will enable it manually. I didn't see difference with this option or without in case of long duration of the effect (something like 3500 or longer). Otherwise with SmoothFade it reaches a better visual impression when Fade effect ends, especially for 1500 ms duration.

Yes, I'll add this option in the next version!

Thank you, Harold! I just corrected this misprint in English.ini file. Guido, Harold: I've removed this small image logo and will think how to make "Permit the control of show" option more noticeable.

Using both new options for Fade effects apr.ini file contains the next two strings after pte_SoundInitDir= opt_FastFade=1 opt_SmoothFade=1 I recommend to add them both. (Please don't add another words such as "rem_feb 25 04", because apr.ini isn't .bat file with batch of commands.)

New optimizations of Fade effect and effects with smoothing line are very much stable and carefully tested. I'll turn on them by default in the next version soon. Of course, if we find a good way to optimize Push effect too, it will be added immediately, but I never add unstable variant even as option.

OK! p.s. please try new opt_SmoothFade=1 too! Michel, Yes, I've tried several variants to optimize Push/Slide effects and one gives a well improvement, but that variant worked unstable and it depended on video cards. Because of this I'm looking for another ways.

I'd like to suggest you try another new experimental improvement for Fade effect. It's exceptionally great idea suggested by think(box). And realization of Aleksey, my friend. You should have installed newest version - beta #8. As with opt_FastFade=1 option (which increases smoothness and visual quality in two times), close all running copies of PicturesToExe, open apr.ini file where located in PicturesToExe folder, and after string: pte_SoundInitDir= add new string: opt_SmoothFade=1 Now PTE will produce slide-shows with Fade effect which ends more smooth and invisible, so you can't catch a moment when an old slide fully disappears. Also probably you will need to increase duration of effect in 1.3 times. (e.g. 2000 ms. instead of 1500 ms.)

Michel, if you install newer version over older, then this option will remain. But if you will install PTE into new folder you need to add opt_FastFade=1 manually. (As I said earlier I'll include this option by default in the next version.)

LumenLux, Not a problem! In the last resort, I'll return ability to use previous variant of code. As I've understood you have a difficulty not with effect with smoothing line, but only with "Fade" effect? So probably you forgotten to enable opt_FastFade=1 option in apr.ini file in the new beta #8 as you did earlier in beta #7? I just checked up speed of Fade effect in beta #7 and beta #8. And beta #8 has on additional 9% more smooth Fade effect under Windows 98. If flickering comes (not with Fade effect), but with "Circle", "Hour hand", "Page", "Gates" effects. Will the flickering disappears if you set back from 60 to 40 thickness of smoothing line?