Conflow

Hi Folks, I wonder if anybody knows of a facility to convert the PTE/Avi File to VTR Format for replay on PAL TV's ? Now before anyone gives me a lecture on the merits of DVD - the application I have in mind is not critical and only has to be 625 Line-Pal-TV Quality and Mono Sound would do - Any ideas would help - Regards to all - Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Robby, In your case it was the best procedure you could have done - This is the "classic case" I mentioned in my recent post about SP-2 Upgrade and NTvdm. In your case the XP-SP2 went mad trying to resolve an "un-resolvable issue" with its NTVDM.Exe Dos Engine - It ties up some 97% of the Processor resources consequently the PC was deaf,dumb and blind to anything else asked of of it. I accept Igors point about "important improvements" in SP2 - thats all very well and fine, but would you step on board a Prototype Aircraft that only has a few hours flying on it ?? And to ask PC Owners to "Uninstall and Re-Install" Programs before they work again is taking things too far.... Microsoft will need to go away and think again - For those who are interested 'log-on' to Google and type in SP2 Upgrade or type in NTVDM....... see for yourself.... Our sister Company www.bsl.ie repair between 80-100 PC's per month and right know we are driven daft with this incredible "put on"... Brian Kelly.Conflow Services.

Hi Igor, We also are having problems at our Workshops with XP-SP2 (Upgrades) As you are aware the SP2 Version of XP no longer supports MS.Java but more than that there are now major issues with 'NTvdm.Exe' - the virtual Dos Machine implanted in XP to handle 'old Dos' Programs. This is giving major problems in the "field" by locking up the CPU Processor with inordinate loads.. Also the SP2 Upgrade "kick-outs" on established Programs such as Nero 6.0 and many other programs like Photoshop 7.0. We had a Bulletin on this, it seems that MS have upgraded their Security Encryption to 1024 bit consequently other programs using 128 or 256 or 512 Security Encryption simply won't run. I know PTE should not be effected by these issues but you going to get "complaints" from PTE users who are running XP-SP2 and when the PC "kicks-out" they will blame anything except their PC.Operating System May I suggest that you insert an "ADVISORY NOTE" in the new "PTE 4.30 Release Notes" to warn people of possible problems with XP-SP2 and give a link to the Microsoft Centre thats dealing with this problem. It would make life a lot easier for you and the Team- Brian Kelly.Conflow Services.

Paula, Q1...After attempting to run the 'Test Shows' is it still stalling after the 1st Slide ? Q2...Is the 'Error Message' still coming up after the Show stalls ? Q3...Have you Checked your 'Sound Mixer Controls' to see if Digital Playback is On & Turned Up Q4...Apart from Programs Pre-Installed on the PC have you loaded other Programs since then? Q5...If so, could you List them ? A simple Yes/No to each would help, example:- Q1..Yes/No etc... Apologies for being so terse, but you may have a System fault so lets try and 'Check that' Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Hi Mike, That's a highly unusual fault because a '98 will play virtually anything and when 2 x '98 PC's give you the same "kick-back" something really is amiss- I agree with Al Robins, try the CD on a 'non '98 PC' but for the moment however I would forget about the CD contents - first issue is to get the CD running, other issues later. By any chance did you burn that Show on to a "Re-Writable CD" ? if so, what burn speed ? Have you tried 'Opening the CD' and dragging the File across to the Desktop - did it copy across to the Desktop ? I ask those 2 questions to determine if it's the CD or the PC' that are at fault - Brian Kelly.Conflow.

FreeRam Uninstall Bob, Ken, David, Al, and ALL I posted "Uninstall" instructions in "Picturtes To Exe" section of the Forum on the 13-8-04 at 20:39. Reviewing the subsequent Posts on the subject I was surprised that none of you picked up on my "Uninstall Post" which is clearly visible about 3/4 entries under the origional submission to try out the "FreeRam Lite Program". Just seems that you have gone to a lot of trouble to "Uninstall" - "Restore" - "Clean" etc; when it simply wasn't warranted in the 1st instance. I'm absolutely baffled about that !!!! Brian.Conflow.

Ken, Just saw yours, I acknowledge your comment about "obselete" Heres how to test FreeRam:- 1...Open up FreeRam and it shows you on its Window the amount of RAM Installed. 2...Now run a 'Sweep' and note the amount of RAM that it freed up. Subtract each. 3...That difference is the amount of RAM being used by your Start-Up Programs etc. 4... Ideally that difference should be less than 15% of installed RAM. Next Move 4.. Now run a PTE Show and afterwards open FreeRam again (don't run it) 5...Take a note of the available RAM after the Show and subtract that from 2 above Thats what you used. But this difference is vastly greater when you are in the process of constructing a Show or for that matter any other Program. When making very long complex Shows the differences are greater - but don't forget its MAIN PURPOSE is to keep the memory free of debris, lost fragments, ghosts and all the other rubbish that we generate when making a Show, so by keeping it clean there is less risk of anything being accidentally picked up as the "build" progresses. Brian Kelly.Conflow

Memory Cleaner If you have downloaded FreeRam XP Lite V1.03 - Hang on to it - If you want to pay for it O.K. The word "obselete" is open to interpretation, how can it be when it's right up to date for use on '95 - '98 - '98se - ME - NT - XP - 2000. - Come on guy's are these 'obselete' also ? It's quite obvious that the demand for it has now 'put a price on it' - quite rightly so. Obselete ? - it certainly is not, it's in daily use on thousands of PC's Worldwide - and more to the point, Have any of you guys actually tried it yet ? Roll on clean Memory Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Memory Checker Uninstaller OOpp's Guys, don't Panic, The Uninstaller for "Freeram Lite" is actually in it's Program Folder. If you have installed the Folder in "Programs" ---> open Explorer--->find "Programs" then find it's Program Folder-- now>Dbl.Click to open and the Uninstaller is like your Recycle Bin Icon - just click it. If your version has no Uninstaller simply find the "FreeRam Folder"---> open it---> you will see 1 File therin' - its Exe - (Like PTE) - Rh.Clk and delete it. Then re-start your PC. Another way is to delete the Folder and then Restart your PC - It doesn't give problems. I have been using this Program for nearly 6 years, without fault ! Brian Kelly.Conflow.

To: Michael/Avignon/France Michael, many thanks for the RegEdit Tip - Your suggestion is very worthwhile for many highly experienced people who can actually manage a 'RegEdit' function - its not for all. For the great majority of our mutual 'Forum Members' who are not Computer Experts a 'RegEdit' operation is a highly dangerous exercise and not to be recommended. Most Forum Members simply want little 'Program Utilities' that make life easier for them, such as "Freeram Lite" - it work's very well, and you can keep an eye on Memory usage and for the reason that PTE works exceptionally well with nothing in its way. To Al Robins, Hi Al, its no so much the Exe Creation as the contineous use of the...*pte File...when you are building the Show. You of course know that it takes a lot of Computing resources when in the pre-prep stages of a Show, particularily when you are using Save..and Save As. This uses a lot or User/Ram and an amount of debris is built up which starts to slow down the PC. I have found from experience that 'systematic cleanouts' during the building stages are highly effective in removing...broken links..ghosts..file fragments...phantom error's and all those things that we mortals create for ourselves. It also gives the PC a 'clear run' when that critical stage is reached...Making the Exe. Useful Tip "Freeram Lite" can be used at ANYTIME within any Program process and is very effective when on the WEB - it cleans up the Web Cache as you go along. Hope this helps, Brian.Conflow.

Hi Phil, You might like to have a look at my Post - just above your origional entry in this section "Transition Problems Unsmooth" by Conflow. And in "Pictures ToExe Forum" - "Memory Checked"Cleans out your Memory by Conflow. You may find a solution in these - Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Hi All, Over the past months I have read numerous Posts about lack of PC User Memory while attempting to present PTE Shows. User Memory or RAM Memory is utilised by all your Start-Up Programs, Your Keyboard, PTE Shows, Word Documents etc. When it gets low,its only then that the PC decides to 'free-up' a bit more space to get on with various jobs including PTE. A 'Catch 22' dilema develops. The PC only claws back sufficient RAM for the "immediate" demand placed on it. As it can't see the future memory demands of your Show a subtle starvation situation develops - this greatly impacts on the Quality of Show. FREERAM XP LITEis a Memory ClearOut and Monitor utility which will vastly improve the operation of ANY PC no matter how hard it's worked. You can operate it in the middle of any running Program and particularily just before you create an Exe. Its available from: www.Yourwaresolutions.com - its FREE but you can make a donation. Post some feedback- Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Hello Al - How are things in Ottawa ? Just read your Post. If you remember some time ago I mentioned it would be a good idea to have a 'Sliding Stop Bit' on the end of the 'Music Time Line' which would make things a lot easier when 'Synchronising PTE Shows". It looks as if Igor is starting to 'beta test' or play around with this idea and I can see his reason for putting a 'Synched' section at the beginning of a small Show. Lets not foget that the 'Trial Version' of PTE is limited to 10 Slide and this would enhance the trial version greatly - perhaps thats the idea ? - irrespective, its great to see work progressing ahead in that critical section of the Program. Brian Kelly.Dublin.

Hi Johny, (Problems with Laptops) This may help you and other Forum Members reading this thread. Most Laptops have a very basic 'Plug-In CD Drive' - particularily those aimed at the Low and Middle end of the Markets. These 'basic drives' suffer from a common problem in that they depend on the internal Ram Memory (User Memory) of the Laptop itself, and this Memory is quite limited in capacity when compared to a Desktop PC. The transfer of data to the Laptop Memory is extremely slow (speed of the CD) consequently you get 'micro-gaps and jitter' when trying to run the CD live to the Laptop Screen. In comparison,modern CD-Drives fitted to Desktop PC's have large Buffer Memories fitted internally within the CD Drive Enclosure. There is also a 2-3 sec. in-built delay to allow time for data input streaming (like streaming Audio on the Web) This pre-delay and the superior transfer speed makes the whole 'Show' look seamless to you and virtually 'flicker free' when viewed on your Desktop. I'm afraid it's the way most Laptops are designed and built - Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Pushu. (Sunday 1-8-04 @18:30 Hours Can you contact me "off-list" at conflow@iol.ie so we can resolve this matter faster than "On-List" When we get a "cure" I should like you to Post this on the Forum. Brian Kelly.Conflow. conflow@iol.ie

Pushu, We now have to go this way - 1,2,3,4, etc in that order 1) Have you got rid of 'Desktop Copy of PTE' - the entire File ? 2) Are there any other Copies of PTE on the PC, except Version 4.3 ? 3) You must make absolutely sure of this before we can proceed - 4) You must make a 'search' for "apr" in the Find/Search facility- The reason for all this is to "localise" the fault without pre-empting other things which give the same symptom's. Its important to find this fault,otherwise you could end up replacing expensive Hardware which might not need replacement. Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Pushu, No, dont go mad, just 'ditch' that File from your Desktop - delete it or burn to CD or just put the 'apr.Exe' part of it on a Floppy Disc, ditch the rest - its only 978kB, the Floppy holds 1.44mB The recent versions of PTE are quite good, I have tried them, there should be no need for an absolute 'clean sweep' just yet - and if you did you would certainly need to use a RegCleaner afterward - more about that later. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes to do this- Get back to me. Brian Kelly.Conflow

Pushu, Anything on the Desktop is 'real time' live on the 'primary tree root' to the Computer (it has priority) now any other Folder inside the 'Program Folder' is on the 'secondary tree root' to the Computer via the H.D. and it has secondary priority. Look at the Folder Tree when you open Explorer, in the Left hand window pane. In fact you are setting yourself up for a problem given the right conditions - if my hunch is correct - I can now see whats happening. You are involking the 'Object Editor' the PC immediately 'baulks' because it see's a a near 'mirror program' stuck in its face and it has no command to ignore the old file (put simply) its saying:- "What the hell is this" - as I said 2000 is very un-forgiving, just remove that File and lets see if that was the culprit ? Brain Kelly.Conflow. conflow@iol.ie

Pushu, Just read your Post after I sent mine - it seems very likely to be a 'version conflict issue' as the re-load works 1st. time but not the 2nd. time - I just wrote an explaination for this, but lost in when getting on Line. Suffice to say that this is 'normal' for any 'New Re-loaded Program' - the fact that Windows need to run it to establish its...File of Types, and its Registry Key, and its Applog (Appication Log). Should there be 2 'mirror' Applog's on the same PC you have a potential conflict. Parking the "Old" Programs into a Folder is a very "Iffy practice" - you may "get away with it" but with 2000 it's not very likely - better to remove them from the System completely. Did you know that you can park any "Old Pte *.pte File or Exe inside a Word Document inside a Folder, close it, go away - then come back, open your Document and 'click on' the PTE Object within it and it will open its Show for the *.pte once it finds the Images or it simply opens the Show if the 'Object' is a PTE.Exe ? Believe me, 2000 will 'baulk' if it finds old INI's or EXE's remnants in you System - its that razor sharp !. Pushu, I hope you get the point- Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Pushu, Thanks for getting back to me. From your previous correspondance I had anticipated that in all other respects (except object edit) that the PC was O.K My experience with 2000 and 2000pro is that they are superbly accurate Operating Systems' but with a very high intolerance to minor 'system and software glitches' - much more so than 98se or XP which are quite tolerant to wildly conflicting commands - no such thing with 2000. I had narrowed the 'defect' down to the following:- 1...Display Driver Problem ? 2...Graphic Card Driver Problem ? 3...PTE version issue conflict ? 4...A command line conflict ? 5...Orphan File conflict ? We can eliminate items 1 and 2 - otherwise the PC would not work properly - which it does ! NEXT Because you have used PTE for a few years, I assume that the origional Show was made with V4.14 ? (correct me on this) and you have downloaded the "Old" *.pte File and re-opened the Show to get at your Menu Image with its Button Objects ? - correct me again ? - and now the problem appears ?. . It must be this way because you can not edit the Show.Exe File. Let me know your re-edit approach path ? NEXT Now I need to ask you:- How many versions of PTE have you installed on your PC ? If you dont know go to 'Start' -> Find/Search -> Files&Folders and when the Search Window opens, type in 'apr' (lower case no commas) make sure it searches in th HD Drive. Each version of the program has an 'apr icon' with an 'ini.file' like Notepad with a gearwheel. There must be 2 files for every version installed. If you have more than 1 version get rid of the additionals or burn then to CD and then Uninstall the old Programs and (cold) Re-Start the PC - see will this cure the problem ? If not,next - NEXT Graphic Drivers for Graphic Card's can develop 'soft errors' and the fact that you have been in and out of the 'Display Properties' may have upset something. 1st...Look at Display Properties with a fine 'toothcomb' make sure the 'refresh rate' is set at 80 or default, and its at least 24bit True Colour - try again. If that dont work go to next. 2nd...If you have the Graphic Card Disc, re-load it, it usually 'over-writes' the Files installed. 3rd... If that don't work - its very likely that you have a "dud Comms.Buffer" on the Graphic PCB. It doesn't always show up until the Board is put to damn hard work - which PTE demands and knowing 2000 it will 'baulk' if the 'check sums' are not correct. It will hang there because it came across a system error which it can't correct. It causes a complete-lockout as if the 'Operating System' had gone down. (if you have a 'Reset' button hit it) - no need to re-start. Its my wish for you that it doesn't come to that. Brian Kelly.Conflow.Dublin conflow@iol.ie

Pushu, I have been following this thread about the apparent Object Editor fault - Firstly, would you have a small PTE Show to hand, say about 3-4 minutes without Objects but with a Navigatoion Bar with Exit, Pause, and First Slide, Buttons. Do not use the Show you have problems with. Will you do the following in sequence- 1) Can the PC replay your Show from beginning to end - do no touch Navigation Buttons. 2) Now repeat the Show again - but this time USE the Navigation Buttons. Q1) How did the PC perform in Test (1) above - (Sound & Vision) ? Q2) How did it perform in Test (2) above - (Sound & Vision) ? Q3) Could you answer the Following:- *Before the 'failure' had you downloaded any Programs ? *Were you using any Photo Editor? or a Thumbnail Maker ? *Had you opened the 'Display Properties' in the Control Panel ? I do not want to pre-empt anything just yet - but we may get pointers once you do the Tests. Brian Kelly. Conflow. conflow@iol.ie

ZMan, AL Robins is correct about the 'Object Editor' mode of PTE, of course you can Cut,Copy,Paste and Modify the imported features of the 'Object Editor' - you have already done this and you say it works perfectly - Then you said...when I edit an Object in any Copy Slide ...it all goes wrong. I had 2 concerns about this:- Concern.1. (a) That you may have inadvertently changed the 'command line' in Button Properties within the window....."Action on Mouse Click"....There is a choice of 2 commands to open another Show (1).... 'Run Application or Open File' - or number (2).... 'Run Application and Exit'... and furthermore you must make sure that the path to the selected Show.Exe is correct. If the origional was changed you need to re-select it - just check to make sure ! Concern.2. If you have opened any of the the 'embedded' J.Peg Copies with some Photo-Editor and made changes and then re-installed it to its prior position. I am afraid it simply wont work. In this case you have to re-open the show and re-install the modified J.Peg and re-edit with the 'Object Editor. I hope this clears up any confusion. Brian Kelly.Conflow.Dublin

Hi Zman, You say that you are 'editing' objects in one particular slide - and thereafter certain functions will not run - thats normal, there is no bug, let me explain ! When you open the 'Object Editor' and make 'Button Objects' you must 'double click' on the Button to bring up its Properties Window - then select -"Action on Mouse Click" - then select a function for the Button in question. It is 'saved' when you press O.K on the top Toolbar. What you have done, is to make a "command function" or a micro-mini Exe. which points to a selected function and prompts the run-command for that function. (Simple explaination) Thereafter,if you open the Object and start to 're-edit' it you are effectively 'over-writing' your origional embedded command - so what is the Program supposed to do ?? When you 're-edit' an Object you MUST re-assign the origional or a new command to it, then and only then can you 'Copy' and 'Paste' an Object to another Slide, but no re-editing. Hope this helps you, Brian Kelly.Conflow.Dublin

Sliding Stop Bit...New idea to Synchronise. If Igor could insert a "Sliding Stop Bit" in the Music Timeline - Now when the user imports a background Music Track longer than the total Slide/Transition durations - the user has the choice of moving the "Stop Bit" along the Music Timeline to that point where automatic synchronisation is acceptably achieved consistent with the Slide durations they want. To overcome the abrupt stop in the Music they could do an audio 'Fade-out' with Audicity to coincide with the selected "stop point" - an auto-fade could be incorporated in PTE ? I do this with 'Nero Wave Editor', its extremely accurate, and also slashes my production time by at least 50% -and- I still preserve my origional Soundtrack in the Nero Folder should I wish to add more Slides+Transitions at a later date. Brian Kelly.Conflow.

Sliding Stop Bit...New idea to Synchronise. If Igor could insert a "Sliding Stop Bit" in the Music Timeline - Now when the user imports a background Music Track longer than the total Slide/Transition durations - the user has the choice of moving the "Stop Bit" along the Music Timeline to that point where automatic synchronisation is acceptably achieved consistent with the Slide durations they want. To overcome the abrupt stop in the Music they could do an audio 'Fade-out' with Audicity to coincide with the selected "stop point" - an auto-fade could be incorporated in PTE ? I do this with 'Nero Wave Editor', its extremely accurate, and also slashes my production time by at least 50% -and- I still preserve my origional Soundtrack in the Nero Folder should I wish to add more Slides+Transitions at a later date. Brian Kelly.Conflow.