LumenLux

Not having that kind of need, I have never thought about what you suggest Ron. Sounds like a useful idea. Is anyone out there using PTE that way - ie. "live" with the program instead of with the resultant .exe file?

My understanding: Do your best to predict the most likely display of your show. PC, projector, etc. If that display resolution is 1024x768, you will consistently get your best quality picture by sizing your photos to that size before they become slides in PTE. If you make the photos smaller than that, you will very likely see some lower quality on some, if not all your slides. If you make the photos larger than that, you may also see some lower quality in some circumstances. If you just want a show good enough that most people won't notice, you can leave the photos as they come if they are 800x600 or larger. Frankly, the worst quality I can make in PTE is usually so much better than what casual viewers are used to, they think the PTE presentation looks spectacular!

I succumb very easily to that kind of sentiment! Thanks

Thanks Granot and Ken & Wife for your continued work. Yes, Ken, the idea of the .jpg background as a preview of the highlighted show. The photo would correspond to the specific text that appears as each show is highlighted. Granot will probably have it done in a new version before I even finish this and try it.

We read, we sometimes learn, we often forget. Thank you FX for your explanation.

A very nice testimonial Ken.

Well Granot, when you're hot you're hot. If you want to consider a further nice little touch - You could expand the background image idea. In the "Slide Show Information" window, where now you can show txt.jpg as background - Could you use multiple .jpg images - one tied to each show? So the "background" could be specific for the same show that is being described or explained by the text on the background. If there is no show-specific jpg the window would then show the default background.

Thanks Ken. I just downloaded again with same result. No go. But - I noticed the name of the exe file included an apparent attempt at a French charactor/letter. I changed the name of the exe file and it now will run! Always something to learn.

Daniel, I was excited to see how you could do a presentation that would not be artistic. The Guery.zip file downloaded fine, but the .exe will not run for me. A messape pops up: "Incorrect resources." Side note: I understand why you say "sno picnic" is out of your dictionary. However, you do have a very good command of our english language. I, for one, really appreciate the extra effort it takes from you and others to share as you do with us "foreigners."

Michel and Michel, thank you. Your show is very convincing. Yes, excellent in all its facets. I did not understand the "2" as you used it twice as flash on screen. Is it explainable or is it a point for the viewer to either understand or not?

When Igor first made DVD option, users of Ulead DCD Movie Factory 2, soon knew all too well this message: Failed to convert video file. Error: 80041c21 It was soon learned that the message is very generic and covers a large range of causes. Igor, dedicated as he is, exchanged multiple test versions of the program and test sequences with me. We never did really pin down the cause in some of my attempted PTE to DVD shows. We spent hours over weeks trying to isolate factors that might be the cause. I don't use DVD feature all the time, so have not fussed about the on-some-shows-only problem. Now, with 4.40 Beta 5, I ran into the problem. Back and forth between other versions, it seems to occur equally. I can not systematically go through the extensive trials I made before. I have tried a few simple changes such as one mp3 vs another. Short music vs. long, sync vs non sync. Large number of slides vs. small number, etc. So far the only "common ground" I may have found is the size the .jpg files may be a factor. If I make a show of only 12 or so slides that are 2000 -3000 kb, the above error is produced. This does not seem logical that this should be a problem when converting for DVD. Has anyone possibly observed similar? (In case it matters, I have saved some "trial" time by using Ulead to convert to an .iso image (learned from Igor) instead of trying to actually burn the DVD.) I also have tried Roxio (6?) DVD builder on the same PTE problem show. DVD builder will also fail on the same PTE show.

Thank you my friends in France! I always respect your thoughts and your thoughts here helped me smile instead of frown.

Lots of useful tips and thoughts. I must agree with Barry on the trap of over-working an organization tool. And personally, I want my organization software/setup to be totally without any manual descripting done by me. To write even the simplest note on the numerous photos I take, would end my chance to do any photography.

MultiShow and the related MultiShowTOOL are both very good products from Granot (boxig.) Having been somewhat involved in the original testing, I am a "fan" of the program. I don't have occasion to use it as often as you do Ken, but it has proven to be very good and even flexible beyond presenting PTE shows. (More about this later, perhaps.) As for the message about installing to HD - I'm not sure your suggestion is yet the optimum solution. (see also boxig's reply in other recent thread.) I think perhaps a careful "re-wording" of the message might be a solution. I know I have included additional explanation on occasion in attempt to clarify to the recipient what is "best" for them. I will try to take a look and bring back a possible wording/action. Maybe you can consider whether such an approach would solve the confusion.

As I always welcome comments, I was curious about this one I received via email. I tried an online translator which produced this:The class of international level as regards diaporama (slide show) is to make without comment. Photographs and music only. And especially not of vertical photographs with the authors. That made idiot So a little help from forum members would be appreciated here. Is that translation accurate? Beyond the translation, if anyone can shed further light on the message, that too might be interesting. The email subject was "Machu pichu". Although, I am quite well acquainted with Machu pichu, I have never made a presentation of such, but only a couple of photos included in other posted presentations of Peru. Finally, does the email seem to say that some presentation of mine was submitted to "the" competition? If so, the entry did not come from me. If any of you can shed some light, it might be fun - otherwise I guess I just have to have a good laugh in the dark.

You're right ronniebootwest - but as Granot himself has confided - even he can not keep track of all the utilities he has concocted! Also, I think it is always a good policy for any user to bring attention to all of us, any thing that might be useful. And in this case you and Granot remind us. All is good.

Thanks Ken. Made quick little test here - looks useful.

Robby and Ron, you are so right. And I don't care how often it is said. We all have to repeatedly ask ourselves the reason for any given effort we make. I have made and posted shows that might be in some regard embarassing but I feel reach very well their purpose. And this is a battle I still go through with myself. Sometimes an image is 10 percent "wrong" and 90 percent "perfect" and we have to decide whether including the image results in any "net" benefit to the presentation. I hope over the years that I make the right decision more often.

I'm glad you all sorted this out. It had me worried as I knew the first sequence I ever posted years ago was a little demo of how cool and easy it was for PTE to play the two sounds simultaneously as needed.

I could hardly wait to tell you how much I enjoyed this clever production! My initial reaction is - this is an instant classic. When you shared your production ideas here in the forum, I was interested. When I saw your implementation of the ideas, I could not stop enjoying. Your narrative is absolutely inspired or you had a lot of practice in the olden days. Your vocal track is the ultimate hook of this show. Had to chuckle, had to laugh, had to really appreciate. Thank you.

Thank you Terry, that title does now ring a bell. Thanks again. Thank you Ken, I have not yet tried the "Autostich" but remember everyone was impressed with what it did. That "Paint Studio Lite", I couldn't remember close enough to come up with it in the forum search. Or maybe it was in the "old" forum archives that never returned.

From time to time we have had a nice ongoing thread of useful programs that PTE users suggested. From that list, there is a program I tried briefly in February or March 2002. I would like to find the program again and see what it has become. (That is how I came to be a fan of PTE, when Igor added the one feature I was looking for - after an initial look at PTE a year earlier.) Ken may be able to pull this program right out of his well-organized library of information. But if he "fails" I am asking all of you for your help. The program at the time, was a narrow use program, that would blend two photos to various chosen degrees and preferences. Select two photos, use the slide bar to increase or decrease the dominance of either photo. I don't remember what little features may have made the program intriguing. It is possible that the program, like PTE, came from Russia. Does anyone remember this besides me?

Peter, I acknowlege the need you express, but the fact is, it is really more fun to get your information here in the forum. Further more, I think there are fewer and fewer computer "users" who read a manual anyway. I know, I can't tolerate reading a manual like I did 10-15 years ago. My preference has evolved to see how much of the program is intuitive and then use the manual as a resource but not as a first source. I do like a program to have samples available of the features so one can be aware of what is possible. Of course we all know also of some manuals that do nothing more than print the definitions of things you see on the screen! They explain that the button that says "open" can be used to open something!

Ron, I'd also be interested in how you are using the invisible buttons.

I think you understand now that the custom slide settings do take precendence, over the the project settings. The way I see it is that it is easier to have it the way it is. This way, when you customize the slide, you don't have to remember to uncheck the project option. The project settings have a default setting and customize slide does not require you to mess with the project settings whether at default or not.