Igor

PicturesToExe v4.20 beta #2 http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr_beta.zip This beta improves stability and compatibility with various AVI to DVD/SVCD encoders.

Please try beta #2 which probably will solve this problem and let me know about result: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr_beta.zip

After many discussions, we've choosed the next way of work with AVI video output feature. It requires keep started PTE while you use AVI file and burn video disc. Of course, we could suggest you to use any available AVI codec on the market (e.g. DIVX - $39), but it requires to download and install this large codec, pay for it, long wait of encoding of AVI file, and finally losses in quality, especially of picture. Microsoft doesn't support MPEG4 format anymore. We've tried their ASF format (in using Media Player 9 and special utility ASF in AVI), but it had terrible quality and large size. (However, if you prefer, you are able download any possible video codec and use it with "Create custom AVI file" option. Which gives fully stand-alone AVI video file, but with much losses in quality). Also we couldn't write all frames uncompressed. In this case 60 minutes of presentation could take 60 GB of disc space! Of course, probably we could create own video codec with compression, but it's a long and arduous toil for many months and not guaranteed result. We prefered way when PTE renders frames on-the-fly it takes small disc space and gives NO losses in quality of picture. Also sound written as PCM audio stream without any compression, too.

Yes, it better to use DVD-R discs. Don't use DVD-RW/+RW disc - they will not play on old DVD players. Also I have excellent result with SVCD (max volume about 30-40 minutes) which created on usual CD-R disc (700 Mb)! So you even needn't in DVD writer, and CD writer will enough.

It will be possible in the next beta versions. Also AVI output will work for not synchronized presentations, too.

I also would be very glad to find more number of such programs to recommend them. I heard that TMPGenc plus can prepare DVD-Video files, which can be written using Nero. http://www.pegasys-inc.com/e_main.html Probably Sonic MyDVD (as wrote me another user). p.s. even Nero 6 doesn't create DVD-Video disc. I have Pinnacle PCTV Deluxe TV tuner which captures in MPEG2 format and Nero discards my .mpg files and asks to buy special license just to burn DVD disc with already prepared MPEG2 files.

I have to say that AVI video output couldn't be possible without great help of many people! Especially Sergey Malyshev, my friend and programmer, who wrote a half of this code. To ADB Please let me know your version of Windows and exact name (and also versions) of these MPEG2 convertors. We recommend to use Ulead DVD MovieFactory which has simple interface and works great. Also Michel recommends to use TMpegEnc (encoding into MPEG2) + Nero Burning Rom (writing a disc).

How to create DVD-Video disc Using newest PicturesToExe v4.20 you are able to produce AVI video file which can be easily burned as DVD-Video disc with help of any special software (read below). Even it is possible to create SVCD disc on usual CD-R disc with high quality of image and sound (almost as DVD-Video). PicturesToExe provides fast and lossless transferring of video and audio for converting into DVD-Video format. This allows to keep excellent quality of your presentations and very smooth transition effects. We highly recommend to use EXE files for playing on PC, and DVD-Video disc for playing on DVD players. 1) Preparing of AVI file file in PicturesToExe: Start PicturesToExe; open your project; and then call AVI video output dialog ("AVI button in the main window of PicturesToExe"). Choose "NTSC" TV system, if you live in United States, Canada, Japan, Taiwan or South Korea. Choose "PAL/SECAM" TV system you live in Europe, Australia, Africa, or in any other country. Select "DVD-Video disc", if you have DVD-Writer or "SVCD disc" if you have usual CD-R/RW drive. "Interlaced for TV" option is highly recommended to get excellent quality and smoothness of transitions on TV. You can click "Preview" button to immediately see the resulting presentation playing as video file. In this mode, please ignore that transitions may be shown not so smooth. But on burned DVD-Video disc all transition effects will play excellent as in usual EXE file. Also we recommend to make sure that text fonts are enough large to be readable on the screen of TV. Now click the "Create AVI file" button and PicturesToExe will produce video file within 10-30 seconds. Important note: Please don't click "Finish" button until you didn't fully burn the DVD-Video disc. 2) Converting and burning AVI video file into DVD-Video disc: PicturesToExe can not burn DVD-Video, so you need to make use of any special software which can convert produced AVI video file into DVD-Video format and burn the disc. We recommend you to use Ulead DVD MovieFactory2 http://www.ulead.com/store/dmf/runme.htm which can do it. Also you will able to make simple DVD menu. (In this program, please don't forget to choose NTSC or PAL/SECAM in the Preferences window. To call this window, press F6 key). Please click the "Finish" button in PicturesToExe when the disc will be fully written. (Temporary AVI video file will be automatically deleted, because it is intended only for converting into DVD-Video format.) Enjoy with your recorded DVD-Video or SVCD discs! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Advanced users can use "Create custom AVI video file" option for various purposes. This allows to produce AVI video file with necessary audio and video codecs (MPEG4, MJPEG, etc).

PicturesToExe v4.20 beta #1 http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr_beta.zip (1.4 MB) (Alternate download link on Bart & Cindy's Web Community: http://community.barcin.net/forums/dload.php ) Let me introduce *first* beta version which is far away from all features which are scheduled for final release. Currently added new features look near to be fully done. And another (new effects, new nav. bar) are hidden yet, because they are not ready to be shown. Also I continue work further on many small new features you've suggested earlier. Please wait a little bit more. What's new in v4.20 beta #1: + 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 concerning work with video output.) + 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). + "Customize Synchronization" window. New improvements: > 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. + 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.

Dear Peggy, I'm sorry for the delay with the key! I just sent you letter for your full name or Order ID to send you your registration key.

Thank you!

This ability will be possible in the next version (4.20). Please wait for the first beta! Produced AVI video file can be easily burned as DVD-Video or miniDVD (on usual CD disc!) using special software, e.g. Ulead DVD MovieFactory2.

Thank you, James! Nice photos and "video" effect! To all by the way, you can find more info about vivid auroral displays on the famous Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031030.html

Sorry, I missed your message dated on October 25. Thanks for unusual idea with customizable buttons in the Nav. bar! I plan to closely work with Nav bar in the nearest time. Also we've recently discussed your second idea about embedded .exe presentations in the .exe of main show. This is possible, and we've found a lot of new capabilities for in this direction (possible ideas for future versions). So I think embedding could be added in the new version. I'll try. But the only limitation - all these .exe files should be produced in one version of PTE (e.g. in v4.20). Only this limitation fine solves difficulty with deleting of temp files if second app is still running, and the main app is closed.

Dear Ron, 1) Tell me about configuration of your PC and version of Windows. 2) What exact version of PTE do you use. 3) Please read advices (in a message, above). 4) What place the problem occurs (e.g. at 3 min. 10 sec.)? Is it constant place? 5) Try to temporary replace your mp3 music file with another one and let me know concerning result.

Al, thanks for advices! Dear Eric, What CPU is installed in your PC? Fade effect may works slowely for pictures at 1024x768 size on PC with 700 Mhz or lower. But good news, we will vastly improve (in 2 times) smoothness of this effect in the next version! So it will provide much more better work for this effect even on such PCs.

OK, I think it will possible in v4.20 By the way, also what about optional disabling of keys for next/prev. slide (cursor arrows, Space, PgUp/PgDown, BackSpace)?

Hello Ron, Please couldn't you let me know: 1) Installed version of PicturesToExe; 2) Configuration of your PC (CPU, memory size, video card, sound card and version of Windows); 3) What size of your JPEG pictures (in Kilobytes and in pixels); 4) Will the problem occurs with another effects or only with Fade in/out effect?

Dear Al, We're grateful for your great work you've done! That's so wonderful to see such detailed and full tutorial for PicturesToExe and even created in PicturesToExe! Also I with pleasure watched and listened your advices and descriptions We'll recommend to our customers (including our Web site) to use your tutorial. With kindest regards!

Hello! Please let me know exact version of PicturesToExe. The newest released version is 4.14. This problem happens with different mp3 files? What file size of such mp3 file, and its duration, and bitrate (128 kpbs, 196 kbits)? Will the problem occur on another PCs? And what configuration of your PC (CPU, memory size, version of Windows, sound card and which CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive)? Does the problem come for the places in show where no change of slides for a long time (20 sec. or more) - only playing of music?

The only future possibility - running of produced AVI video file of slide show on the Mac. You will able to place .exe file and AVI file to the CD disk.

Also I'm improving the Print feature (in a presentation) now. The picture will be automatically fit (rotated if it is necessary) into whole page (not half of page as earlier). Also I set changeable space of border parameter. Print Dialog also will be available (to set quality and other parameters). p.s. it's a obviously to have these capabilities, which should be much earlier.

Dear Barry, We're working now and on AVI video output feature. I can suppose that we'll complete it in two-three months or so. Produced AVI file can be easily written as VCD, S-VCD or DVD-Video disk e.g. using the Easy CD Creator 6 or Nero Burning Rom 6. The only limitation - there will be no interactive DVD menu, but linear playback. (We make only AVI output because it adds only 30-50 Kb to the size of the program. But own MPEG2 encoder and CD burning features fully are not suitable, because they increase size up to 4-8 Mb and higher.) Retail sales look interesting, but we have no current plans concerning this. Maybe in the future Thank you!

In the next version you will able to fully control show in sync'ed mode.

1) Please inform me about version of PicturesToExe; current screen resolution of your display; and size (in pixels and in kilobytes) of Jpeg images. 2) Couldn't you try to run this presentation under another PC? 3) Will the problem still occurs if you temporary create this presentation with 2 slides only? 4) Will the problem happens if temporary remove the music files? 5) And finally, please try to reduce all pictures with graphical size not more than 1024x768 pixels (or 1024x960) and file size up to 300-500 Kb.