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How do I reload the encoding codecs from P2E? Dave

Just recently (like since 5.6), I've been having problems with having no sound. I create the DVD using my usual settings, pop the disc into a DVD player and I'll either get only 1-2 seconds of sound or nothing at all. If I take the disc to a computer, it will play. This DVD player plays all of my older presentations (made with 5.5), just not the newer ones (made with 5.6). I have created the audio files in both Audacity and using the LAME converter with the same results. I also tried OGG with no change. Any one have any ideas? Dave

(I tried to search for SWF, but that term is too short, so I have to ask.) Yes, here is that questions again: Are there any plans to export directly from P2E to SWF any time soon? Yes, I know the quality of SWF is rather poor, but for a website "rotating image" banner it would be fine. I'd rather not have to buy yet another software tool and I like Pictures2EXE. Thanks. Dave

I can wait for the next beta. I never installed v5.5. I've been using 5.1. Dave

Wow, thanks! Dave

I'm using 5.6 Beta 8 and trying to create an AVI video file. If I try to create an "HD-1280x720p 60 FPS" file, I get this error message. If I try to create an "HD-1080" file I can generate a file, but the video and audio are no longer synced and I have no transitions (just quick cuts).

AVIDeMux is free (http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/) and does conversions to FLV Dave

Good questions. As a programmer who has dealt with this exact issues, let me explain what I would do. How it fits into PicturesToEXE, I don't know. Either the logging code gets included in all EXE files (only if it is small enough) or it is included in the EXE optionally when the EXE is created. The logging would be off by default if always included in the EXE files. In addition, the logging could be enabled by either a command line switch or a secret keyboard press on the first slide (or something like that). Log messages ("audio data lost" or "transition shortened to catch up with music" or whatever) would only be generated only when an error (seen or unseen) has already occurred. Log messages could either be written to the hard disk as generated (could create other speed issues) or maintained in memory until the presentation ends. The latter could take very little memory if done correctly (< 100 bytes per message). As how to handle development on one machine and showing the presentation on another system, you could either generate two EXEs (one without the logging code and one with the logging code) or have a command line switch to trigger the logging only when you need it. Just my thoughts... Dave

I don't want to complicate anything, but might it be possible for an EXE presentation to OPTIONALLY write out a log file when video card memory usage is too high or CPU utilization is too high? Basically I'd like PicturesToEXE to warn me when a presentation may be compromised (jerky transitions or movements or audio skipping) because of hardware issues. Information like what slide number and what the issue is would be very helpful. Thanks. Dave

I recently went on a 4-week trip with a older single-core Dell laptop. In practice before we left all was well. But as things go from our first presentation on the road I'd get a minor audio glitch every minute or so. Once we got back home I did a little sleuthing. I suspected the week video card as it was only a typical 8 MB video card built on to the motherboard. However, in running Windows' Performance Monitor ("perfmon"), I discovered a different story. Disk activity was quiet as I expected so it wasn't the hard drive. Pages/sec (which indicates a lack or system memory (not video memory) was non-existent so I wasn't running our of memory. CPU utilization however was averaging 90-100%. I saw no correlation to the spikes and the audio loss. I turned off the anti-virus and a few other running programs/services and got a few more CPU cycles freed up. The audio skipping occurred fewer times per minute but never went away. I tried the same presentation on a newer laptop (dual-core). The CPU utilization was between 10-20% and I never had any audio problems. In short, close as many apps down as you can, run PerfMon and then your presentation. You just might see the problem. Unfortunately, PerfMon can't show video card memory usage.

While I am hesitant to add my voice to this issue... It would be nice to be able to had the EXE show the presentation on both monitors of a dual setup. I frequently show my presentations on dual setups. So far I've used systems I could switch to "clone" the main screen on the secondary screen (usually a video projector). But someday I may not be so lucky (some laptops don't do this easily). If all else fails, perhaps a command line switch? Then I could use a shortcut for the secondary screen. Thanks. Dave

Since I mentioned this program... You "Open" the file, then under "Auto", you select FLV. Now you have a "Configure" button that you can use to change the bitrate. Dave

I completely agree. It's amazing to find such a diamond in the rough, but frustrating that documentation can sometimes be so poor. However, since I am a programmer, I realize that sometimes you create a program for limited uses and by the time your are done with it, you are beginning to hate the program now and the thought of spending more time on documentation is a rather hateful idea. This program is strictly a converter and a little bit an editor. It outputs no supporting HTML. I used the fine JW FLV Player (available here) on my website.

I don't know what version of Flash it is using. I don't have any programs that indicate this. Avidemux appears to be an English only program. But it seems to work well and it's free. Documentation is pretty much non-existent. Dave

To answer my own question ("May I ask what you folks are using to convert your movies to FLV..."), I had previously used FFmpeg (available only on Linux) and my results were rather poor, but I didn't know any better. Yesterday I converted a PtoE AVI file to FLV using Avidemux (http://www.avidemux.org). I converted it at 375 Kb/sec and am very happy with the result. The file I created with Avidemux is about the same file size as the FFMpeg and the quality is so much better. An example can be seen here: Flowers of the Eastern Highlands in Papua New Guinea Yes, it's kind of small, but I didn't want to lock out the people with slower connections. I'll be converting the rest of the "videos" on my site through Avidemux in a few days. I just want to say I am quite happy with Avidex (and it's free).