Lin Evans

Hi Dave, The reference to the applied style(s) is in the dot PTE file so to program a backup of this would just mean parsing additional parts of the PTE file to determine the style(s) being used then exporting them to the zipped archive. I really don't think it would be that difficult to accomplish. Once the dot ptestyle file(s) is in the zipped archive then it would be extraneous if the folder were unzipped on the same system, but when an error message about (style missing) is encountered, the user could then simply copy those unzipped ptestyle files to the appropriate folder and all would be well I think.. Even this import the styles could easily be automated by a tiny program which read the current user choice folder and imported them automatically. Of course this assumes that a duplicate style name file wasn't already resident, but even that could be circumvented by comparing the dates of creation on the two files then prompting the user for a decision. Best regards, Lin

Hi Denis, Yes I remember - but actually there was never a resolution to the problem. Of course there is the issue of "where" styles are stored because it's a user option, but at least copying the style to the zip archive would insure that the style and associated files were available if not actually exported by PTE to the correct folder. As it is now, when the backup is opened on a different system which doesn't have that style - the internal files (if any) which are germaine to the style are lost and there is no way to make the show play properly. Were the style(s) included in the zipped archive, at least the user could install them and the show would then work normally. In other words we presently have no correct "backup" when the slideshow uses styles. It's only a true backup when the necessary style is resident or when there is no style in the slideshow. How difficult would it be for the PTE "Backup files to zip" feature to export the styles associated with the show and referenced in the PTE file and include them in the zip archive - problem solved I think.... Best regards, Lin

Thanks! That would be great and thanks for sorting this out for me! Best regards, Lin

Hi John, I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work - it's only for the snow styles - the rain styles can be adjusted to any length of run without affecting the appearance. I actually tried this, but it's not very satisfactory because there is a perceptual change when the second (and third) slide appears since the png file is "random" in terms of where snowflakes are at any given moment. I think I'll have to pick a time and stick with it for the style.. Best regards, Lin

Hi Igor, Yes, that worked very well. I created a style with an "illegal" name and when I tried to export PTE renamed it using legal characters (underscore) and it was successful... Now if we could just fix the problem with PTE not copying the components of a style when doing a "create backup in zip" I think everything would be great!! Best regards, Lin

I'm not finding that to be the case. I create a show using an applied style. Then I do a "create backup in zip" and the constituent parts are not gathered up, that's the problem. Perhaps this is limited to my XP system - I'll have to try it on my Win-8 system, but on my XP system there are only the main image and the PTE file. The various png, animated gifs, etc., inside the applied style are not included in the "create backup to zip" zipped archive. I just tried it in my Win 8.1 system - same result. Try it for yourself. Create a backup in zip with PTE with an applied style then go open that zip archive and see what's inside. It only works when you unzip it into a new folder because the PTE file loads the style and components but if you were to transfer this zipped archive to a system which didn't have the components resident nor the style, then it wouldn't work and that defeats the backup purpose.... Best regards, Lin

Hi Eric, Changing the timing for snow animations to less time definitely speeds up the snowfall - the png files are traveling the same distance in less time. For rain it doesn't make any difference because I build animated gifs which repeat automatically and their speed is constant... Yes I remember the steam gif. The issue problem with steam in terms of a style is that it would have to be created in such a way as to be amenable to being moved, placed into a mask, etc. Probably just easier to create a few as avi video with alpha channel and let people use them as they see fit, but not really amenable as a style. Best regards, Lin

Hi Carolyn, This may or may not be relevant, but DVD players have a definite "life span." I use to make lots of DVD's commercially and we were lucky to get 500 burns on many good machines from variously Hewlett-Packard, Plextor, LG, etc. On a few we got 1000 burns before failure but the hardware is definitely life-limited for burns. This is not true for "reads" but if you burn lots of media you may want to at least try a different burner to see if you are experiencing hardware related issues... Since most people don't use their burners on a regular basis, they never reach the limits. We had our in use constantly making around 20 DVD's per day per burner. After purchasing over 10 units in a year, we learned that there is a definite life span for these things. At least that was the case some 10 years ago. Best regards, Lin

I can do that now that I can export styles, but it seems that it should probably be part of the "create backup in zip" feature? If not, doesn't it defeat the purpose of having that feature.? Those who are computer literate can, of course, include the style or "styles" as the case may be, but people who don't really have a firm grasp about what is happening would have to know that the style would then have to be "imported" on the system where it wasn't resident. Actually, to be correctly backed up, the styles used should be included and they should be automatically installed then when needed and not found the first time the PTE file is opened by PicturesToExe. Otherwise there are going to be major issues down the road when PTE users have and use multiple styles. At least, as a former developer, that's how I would do it... Best regards, Lin

This topic was extracted from (SOLVED) - user error - An interesting Problem With Export Styles... (Igor) __________ Hi Igor, The problem with exporting styles is corrected totally - however the may be a problem with the "create backup in zip" feature when styles are used. No matter which style is used, when create backup in zip is performed, the components of the style other than the image being used, etc., is not included in the backup... I understand that inside the PTE file the style is being "called" and applied, but what if the style no longer exists? Wouldn't it be prudent to include saving the style ini along with the other components? Otherwise doesn't it make it impossible to transfer a show from one computer to another if the second computer doesn't have the style installed? Best regards, Lin

Thanks Igor - it's easy enough to rename so that will solve lots of issues!! Thanks for sorting this out... Just renamed and everything working PERFECTLY --- Thanks again !!! Best regards, Lin

One of the issues with creating "styles" is that the creator must decide about the time of display. Years ago when I first began creating snow and rain animations, I always displayed the slide for a minimum of 30 seconds. In the case of Snow Globes in cooperation with Panos (of PanosFX) I created 60 second snow animations for the globes. With a snow animation, by the very nature of the components used, if the timing of the display is changed from the default, the snowfall will either be faster or slower. That is if the default timing is increased, the snow will appear to fall slower and if the default timing for the slide display is decreased, the snow will appear to fall faster. The reason for this is that the animation uses keyframed timed moving PNG files. What I would like to know from interested forum members is how long would you like to see your slide with one of these rain or snow animations? I originally decided on 12 seconds, but I believe that may be too fast for the viewer to really appreciate the scene. Now I'm thinking perhaps 20 seconds or even 30 seconds. Please let me know what you think so I can properly time the snowfall and set the style output time accordingly. Thanks, Lin

Hi Dave, The "secret" to getting small exe files with your project is to output a video, convert the video with PTE then load the video into a new project, sharpen it a bit then export as an exe. PTE will then only add a tiny bit to the size of the video and there is virtually no quality loss. Best regards, Lin

Hi Dave, Looks very interesting - I love the idea of timelapse and the ability of some of the new software to manipulate them in very interesting ways such as adding multiple frames to smooth the appearance such as frame blend motion blur - that GoPro is going to be fun!! Looking forward to seeing more! Best regards, Lin

As soon as I deleted the one style in the second User styles folder, the folder disappeared and hasn't returned. I think it's a "fix" for the duplicate folder issue Igor.. Best regards, Lin

Thanks Igor, This type animation is an example of why it was (is) important for those who want to create this type scene to have alpha channel video capabilities with PicturesToExe. There are several software packages (I use Particleillusion) which let the user create some amazing alpha channel videos with particle generation algorithms. These type programs make it very easy to create and manipulate flames, water, clouds, vapor, and so on which are used by the movie industry to create special effects for major motion pictures. By providing this feature you have opened up PTE to many other possibilities. PTE has tremendous power for manipulating elements created in specialized software and lets those with artistic inclinations become very creative. I don't have much in the way of artistic skills, but I understand how to demonstrate some possibilities so that those who have real creative talent can get a clue for the power inherent in your program. The fact is that it's much, much easier to create many amazing animations with PTE than even with some of the very expensive Adobe professional tools. Tools like Adobe AfterEffects are extremely powerful, but difficult and tricky for most to use and many things can be done much easier and more intuitively with PicturesToExe. Best regards, Lin

O.K., Ken, Here's a sample with clouds moving - this image is much more amenable to doing that type of animation. So here you get moving clouds, water running over the window, water drops on the glass (sweat on the inside, I guess), lightning, rain and such.... Sorry, still no witch on broomstick - LOL http://www.lin-evans.org/rain/waterrunningcloudsmoving3.mp4 Best regards, Lin

My favorite "witch" has deserted me and took her broomstick with her. Maybe I can coax her to come back for a couple days and help me with the "witch on the broomstick" or at least hold the water hose while I shoot some video through the window..... LOL L

LOL - to do it right would take a lot longer, but here's a quick preview: http://www.lin-evans.org/rain/waterrunningcloudsmoving.mp4 L

John, here's a first sample... Water running down window.... There's lots of water in this one - LOL.. If you just want a few drops, I'll have to wait until I can get someone to help me with a garden hose and one of my windows so I can get some video to work with. It's easy enough to convert for use in PTE but the original has to be amenable and that takes a bit of work to get correct. It has to have uniform light and color so I can manipulate the video file for best results in PTE. http://www.lin-evans.org/demo/waterrunning.mp4 (use back arrow on browser to return here after watching) Here are high quality Mac and PC links http://www.lin-evans.org/rain/waterrunningpc.zip http://www.lin-evans.org/rain/waterrunningmac.zip (about 13 meg) Best regards, Lin

Hi John, Robert ... I'll work on trying to make a "water running down window" simulation soon. I hope to have all the styles promised completed by the end of the week. I have much of the work done but have run into a bit of a stumbling block exporting the styles so it's taking a bit longer than I anticipated. I have finished a quick tutorial showing how to use the components I will be distributing along with the styles so that users can create their own versions of the simulations. They are fun to work with and not nearly as difficult as most think. It's really more a matter of thinking outside the box and combining creations from other programs to be manipulated in PTE. Six years ago I made a rain simulation which I posted to YouTube. It was actually very realistic but took a long time to create and lots of "trial and error" in getting it just right. Now I'm using other tools which work very much better to create the components, especially for the rain simulations and it's much, much easier and faster. The "styles" feature with PTE is incredible indeed. It's made it exceedingly easy to share ways to achieve different animations and will greatly help catapult PTE into the limelight soon. Best regards, Lin

The PicturesToExe Facebook Group has just been made public. Any member can add new members which will be approved immediately by the admin. Likewise posts will be approved as they are made. The only reason for the admin approval is to prevent spamming which is a MAJOR problem on a number of the compeitions groups... Best regards, Lin

Hi Igor, Perhaps the reason you don't see two folders is that there was nothing in one of them. I just deleted the one style which was in one of the User styles folders and the folder disappeared and didn't return when I exited PTE and reopened. So consider the first problem solved as long as there are no styles saved into the extra folder. The problem remains with the "can't export" some styles - I'm in the process of sending you the packed zip archive link now - check you email.. Best regards, Lin

Hi Igor, I just installed 8.0.15 but still have two User styles folders.... I'll try to send user styles, but I don't know if that is possible because I can't export them. I can "use them" to create an exe file but they will not export nor can I actually "find" them using Windows search which I have set to reveal system and hidden folders. I will create an AVI file to show you what is actually happening... Best regards, Lin

Hi Igor, Inside one of the two "User styles" folders there are multiple styles. Some of the styles can be exported while other can't be exported. Sometimes I can't see the styles which can't be exported but it "never" works O.K. The styles which can't be exported are always the same ones and they are ones which I have created, not ones which I have downloaded and installed. Styles which I have imported can always be exported. Styles I have created can't and also when I use the PTE "create backup in zip" only the main image appears inside the zip file with the PTE file. None of the components of the style which are located in the sub-folders and ini file appear in the PTE created zip backup archive. I only have Microsoft's Security Essentials running actively. I also have the freeware version of Malwarebytes but it is "only" active when I run it manually so I don't think there is a problem with it. I will try version 8.0.15 but if it removes one of the User styles categories, it will likely also remove the styles unless it transfers styles from one to the other folder??? Best regards, Lin