Lin Evans

Hi Dave, I suppose the down side would be if one wanted to take the show to a friend or relative and play it on their TV and couldn't be sure that it was compatible with a USB device. I think some of the earlier TV's had HDMI capability, but not USB and with the player I suppose one could connect it even though the TV had no internal video player. But as long as it was a question of spend the money for a player or spend it on a TV it would depend on their relative costs. If I could afford it, I would love to have one of the new Samsung 3D TV's with Active 3D. Here they start at about $800 for plasma and about $1000 for LED. Best regards, Lin

Hi David, Actually, any USB drive should work regardless of capacity as long as there is sufficient power from the TV's USB connect to drive it. I use a 750 Gigabyte Western Digital drive with my Samsung 40" LED TV and it works fine. It's "easier," however, if the drive doesn't have lots of folders which have to be navigated to get to the videos so an inexpensive and very small and light USB drive is ideal. Amazon has some for under $28 USD. Best regards, Lin

Hi Colin, It would be exceedingly difficult to "guess" about this. Perhaps the "best" way to compare times would be for several of us to use the identical file and each compile the same way. That "seems" exceedingly long to me, but rather than "guesstimate" why don't we pick a file which is a bit shorter and perhaps post the PTE file and several of us can perform the same operation then we can compare notes. I do know that the "speed" of the DVD and type of media play into the overall compile/burn time so we would need to all agree on a "type" for comparison. What you might do meanwhile is twofold, first check the write speed of your DVD (so many "X") and then compare to the speed of the media you are using. I suspect that the answer will be perhaps a combination of the actual media speed and the DVD writer speed, but we may not know until we can test with several operators. I know that I have widely different write times depending on whether I'm using one of my internal DVD drives or an external USB drive and also whether it's a "portable" combination burner such as my combo BluRay, DVD, CD writer (very, very slow) or one of my conventional CD/DVD internal writers. If there is a bottleneck, it's more likely to be there than with either your video card or your PC. Both appear more than adequate for optimal speed. What is the differential between "write time" to the MP4 and "burn time" for the DVD? If you have a PTE file which is somewhat smaller that you could post, perhaps several of us could burn a DVD and then post both the total time, and differentiate the MP4 write time from the actual burn time. Best regards, Lin

Hi Dawn, You don't need any further license to use Xara Web Designer, once you purchase it you can use it to make zillions of dollars and I hope you are so lucky! Like any normal software license, what you create "with" it is your intellectual property. Not to answer for Robert, but in case he doesn't get back quickly, I think his idea is very good. What he is suggesting is that you buy a small quantity or "rewritable" DVD's. There are essentially three types of DVD the DVD+ and DVD- types which are WORM (Write Once, Read Many) and the RW type which are rewritable. That is they act somewhat like a hard disk in that they can be erased and rewritten multiple times. So if your first attempt fails, the software will simply "erase" the DVD and you start over as if you were using a new blank but without making "coasters" (DVD's which have failed and are only good to set your coffee cup on).... When you go to the store to buy some more DVD's just tell the clerk you want "Re-writable" DVD's. Best regards, Lin

Hi Dawn, Just a couple things to consider. There are multiple ways to display your shows for others to see. The first way is to create an executable file in either Windows format or MacIntosh format and then zip the show and use either your own website or perhaps use Beechbrook (http://www.beechbrook.com) where Bill Hines has been so kind as to host shows from hundreds of users of PTE. At Beechbrook, you upload your zipped exe or native MacIntosh zipped files and links are provided which you can then give to friends who can download your shows and watch them on their computers. It's also very easy, if you have your own website, to use freeware FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software to upload your zipped files to your own server and provide your friends with a link to download and extract to watch on their own computer. The above are ways to display your executable slideshows. Now let's consider video either embedded on your own website or uploaded to Youtube, Facebook, or other social media site. Uploading to Youtube or Facebook is exceedingly simple. You establish an account with Youtube, output your slideshow in MP4 h.264 (just use the HD output feature in PTE) and upload to either Youtube or Facebook. Then provide your friends with the link and they can watch your slideshows by just clicking the link. Embedding your shows on a web page is not difficult, but there are several considerations which you will want to ponder. First, in general, when you embed your slideshow on your own website, it will "usually" need to be in less than HD format. That is most web hosts do not have the bandwidth to easily support HD formats without lots of "start, stop, etc." This means that to watch your show in real time in High Definition such as 1080p or 720p format, the viewer will have to wait extended periods for the show to download because of bandwidth bottlenecks. So generally, for embedding shows on your own website, it's best to use 800x600 or smaller format so that the show can be watched without undue delay. Because Youtube and Facebook have greater bandwidth and faster servers, this is not always a problem. Sometimes, depending on the time of day and server loading, even Youtube can be sluggish. The "easiest" way to embed your videos on your own server is to buy a reasonably inexpensive web software which supports direct embedding. Personally, I use Xara Web Designer which in the MX version can be purchased for about $50. USD here: Web Designer Xara Web Designer allows you to simply drop in your outputted PTE video as an MP4 h.264 in whatever output you decide (I use 800x600) and then in about 2 minutes it creates all the code which you simply upload to your website. When it's all done and you have uploaded to your website, the video is available to anyone you send the link to. It's really easy to simply put a "hyperllink" into your webpage which calls the "index.html" file created by Xara Web Designer. You can even create the page to do this with in Xara. Obviously, other web creation software can also do this, but I've found none "easier" and quicker than Xara Web Designer. After uploading a video to Youtube, you can click on "Share" then "Embed" and then choose the size you wish to be defaulted. The code to place in the body of your web page will then be displayed and you can copy it and paste it to embed the Youtube show on your own webpage. The problem is that you also need to create a rectangle and placeholder of appropriate size and in the proper place on your page. There are also freeware programs which can output the necessary code to allow you to embed your video to a web page, but believe me, it's "much easier" to simply spend the $50 and get "good" software like Xara which does all the "thinking" for you. I can do it either way, but I still choose Xara because it saves me time and patience. Again - the least expensive ways are to upload your zipped exe or zipped Mac files to Beechbrook or upload your videos to Youtube or Facebook, etc. But if you want your videos on your own website, consider using a product designed to help you such as Xara Web Designer MX. Best regards, Lin

Hi Dawn, First to be on the safe side and this is probably "not" the issue, be absolutely certain you have a DVD and not a CD blank. It really matters not whether DVD + or DVD - I'm thinking Eric was probably on the right track. There are two "standards" which are relevant. One is called NTSC and it's designed for the U.S. among a few other places. The other is called PAL/SECAM and I "think" it's the "default" for PTE so in order to burn DVD's which will play on "some" but not all US made or "sold in US" type equipment, you "should" make these DVD's in NTSC format. The procedure is this. First open you PTE file then click on "Publish" then choose "DVD Video Disc". Next click on the Project Options tab at the bottom left and from the Project Tab change the default of PAL/SCEAM to NTSC. Next just take all defaults and go ahead with the burn and let's see what happens. Best regards, Llin

Which OS? Works fine in my XP - Be certain you click O.K. after making change. Best regards, Lin

Works fine in XP - must be OS specific... Lin

Click on the "Tools" button then put a check beside "Ignore Objects Not Selected." Best regards. Lin

Hi Eric, Why is it that you can't simply download the latest version of PTE like everyone else and try it for yourself? Seriously, it's unrealistic to expect others do your homework for you simply because you are being rather hard headed about this. The desktop flash "bug" is not with PTE, it's a Windows issue which has been adequately explained to you on several occasions. All shows need to be made with the same version of PTE and as Barry has explained, even thought PTE can be used to create menus, there are products made specifically for that purpose which may better serve your needs. Scrolling text is essentially no different right now that it has been in the past since the introduction of vector type text and has absolutely nothing to do with mipmapping. There will be improvements in the area of text handling as PTE matures, but I'm unclear on what you mean about "video editing" being on your "wish list for ages?" You've only been using video a very short while with PTE and the amount of video editing capabilities in this program right now are better than the vast majority of other similar software which are available. After all, PTE is not a video editor nor is it an audio editor. It's a presentation tool with some video and audio editing features. Both video and audio features have continually been improved since their introduction in the product. There are reasons why things are done in the manner they are, and many times these reasons are beyond your or my ability to understand because we are not privy to the developers code, issues and problems. No one is being "defensive;" you are assuming such because your questions can not always be easily addressed. Nobody is trying to avoid your questions and issues, but often your questions could easily be answered by "you" if you would simply download the latest versions and learn how they work. We all have other things to do in our lives and understand that you have other interests too. On the other hand we must all make choices about what is important to us. If understanding how to use the software is important enough to you, you will download the latest versions and keep up with development changes. Instead, your methodology as I perceive it, is to ask for help before you've even tried to find the answers for yourself. Most people on the forum have bent over backward to help you and often while shaking their heads and wondering why you ask questions that almost everyone who has actually "used" the latest version already knows the answer to. Wouldn't it be nice to see the answers to your questions revealed by your own experimentation? Try it, you may be completely and pleasantly surprised! Best regards, Lin

Very interesting effect Igor! When we have "blur" capability with PTE, perhaps it would be possible to define an area to blur slightly such as the slight line where the top and bottom of the 3D transforms join together in the clouds. This could add more realism to the effect? Best regards, Lin

Hi Douglas, I'm afraid other than by modifying the PTE file with a text editor (there is some danger in doing this if one is not thoroughly familiar with it) that there is no way to quickly remove keyframes. It would have to be done on an image by image basis. Best regards, Lin

Because of this: "* ..... Otherwise we are left forever pressing Left/Right button too many times to get through to the middle / end of the presentation. " It's assumed you have at least a keyboard. And because PTE is a Windows "computer" based program, it's assumed you have a mouse. Since you are also assumed to be a new user of the program - new to the forum at least - the assumption based on your question and request for a "poll" was that you were not aware of the feature (navigation bar) which already allows you to navigate nearly instantly to the middle or end of the show. Sorry if the direction of the thread got off-track from your original intent, but that's sort of how these things go. When you ask for a "vote" you are giving implicit consent for discussion pro and con and why... You now only have provisions for a "yes" vote so it will be difficult to know how people really feel about such a feature without counting the total number or thread reads. For a feature to be seriously considered for inclusion in a software program, it must have utility for enough users to warrant the change. Remember, changes do not just affect the actual functionality of the software, but also require documentation changes, etc., so any changes are quite more than "an insignificant change to the application." Of your four posts to the forum so far, three have been suggestions for "changes." Best regards, Lin

Hi Dave, Yes, the "home" page was essentially what I was referring to. A few years ago I created a template with numbers representing slide positions. I posted it but I don't think at that time anyone was really interested because they had to name their slides according to the template (slide1, slide2, etc.). It was a matrix probably much as your "home slide" in which one simply clicked on the "number" and the show would jump to that slide. Essentially it was just a matrix of invisible frames in which each referenced the associated slide to "jump" to. The user just needed to program each slide to jump to the index slide. The other problem associated is that one needed to arbitrarily choose a number of slides on the index. If the user accidentally clicked on a non-existent slide number an error would ensue. I suppose it could be a problem as you say "scrolling through 99 slides" but it sure is "quick" with the video navigation bar - almost instantaneous to go from slide 1 to slide 100. Best regards, Lin

Hi Dave, The problem is in how to approach this. In the past we have been able to easily program going to a particular slide number or slide name, but what happens when the show is changed by adding more slides or substituting slides and the naming convention is not followed? For example, we can now easily program a mouse click to "jump" immediately to a slide name. We can create a "master slide" with slide numbers and jump immediately to that slide then from there to any slide programmed, but that is difficult when we have hundreds of slides in a large manual show. I don't believe that having an arbitrary number such as "jump ahead five slides, etc" would ultimately be beneficial. From a programming perspective it would be possible to jump forward or backward by an incremented number on the keyboard, as you point out, but then the user would have to create a "key" such as a "cheat sheet" to know which slide was represented by the number and then make no subsequent changes to the relative positions or it wouldn't work. Right now, a user who truly understands PTE can easily program and quickly "copy" to each slide a means of jumping forward or backward so many slides. This could be done by creating "dummy" slides called (for want of a better word) index1, index,2, index 3, etc. Then by first inserting these dummy slides, clicking anywhere on the screen such as bottom right, top right, bottom left, top left on an invisible object (frame, etc) immediately jump to that position from any other slide. Then rapidly move forward or backward from that indexed slide to the desired position. Obviously, this would not be as useful as just typing a number and jumping immediately to that slide's position. I see the possible utility of being able to type a number on the keyboard and jump immediately to that relative position, I'm just not certain about all the implications involved in programming such a feature. Perhaps it would not be all that difficult. Probably Igor could comment here.... Best regards, Lin

Hi Ale, Yes, you can continue to use Video Builder as it is presently implemented in Version 7.5.4 forever. Only if there is a new version of Video Builder after your present expiration date and you upgrade PTE to that new version which uses the new version of Video Builder which you have not paid for would there be a problem. Your Version 7.5.4 and the version of Video Builder associated with it will "always" work just as it works now. New customers can apparently only purchase the deluxe version now, but customers who purchased PTE before Video Builder was an option can upgrade for a reduced price to get the latest Video Builder along with the Free For Life latest version of standard PTE. In other words, the new features of PTE which are not part of Video Builder are and will always be free for life upgrades, but if you want to use Video Builder WITH THE NEW VERSIONS OF PTE after your expiration date of Video Builder, you will have to pay for the upgrade of Video Builder. Your paid for version will never quit working as it is right now. Only after the expiration date, newer versions will not work with newer versions of PTE. Best regards, Lin

That's not necessary if you use the new Navigation Bar. You can Drag the pointer and move almost instantly to any point in your slideshow. Just take one of your present shows with say 100 slides and change your current settings to include the default video type navigation bar. Go to "Project Options" "Control Tab" and left click the mouse in "Show Navigation Bar." You have a choice of having this navigation bar always visible or visible when you move the mouse, etc. You can then simply drag the slideshow just as you would a video to rapidly go forward or backward..... Best regards, Lin

Hi Ale, The Deluxe portion of PTE is what is called "Video Builder." Video Builder allows you to automatically upload your videos to Youtube and Facebook, output videos suitable for many portable devices (iPhone, iPad, etc), make high definition videos (HD Videos) in mp4 h.264 format and output AVI videos automatically using an included built-in codec (code/decode), output Native MacIntosh executable code and burn DVD's. These features which you have today will not stop working when your two year renewal date comes and as long as you continue to use the version of PTE which you now have nothing will ever change. However, as time passes, new features are being added to Video Builder and these new features will only work with the then "current version" of PTE. By "current version" I mean you now have version 7.5.x and Video Builder as it is now, will "always" work with 7.5.x (the x represents, for example 7.5.2, 7.5.3, 7.5.4, etc.), So, say in a year from now when PTE version 8 is released and you upgrade free, everything which is not associated with Video Builder will continue to work, but if your Video Builder version has expired, the parts of Video Builder associated with version 8 will not work until you pay for the upgrade. Version 7.5x and Version 7.5x Video Builder will continue to work as it always has with Version 7.5x of PTE. Without Video Builder at all (if you didn't purchase the deluxe version of PTE), you can still create AVI files and Windows Exe files, but you must manually choose the codecs for AVI and it is more difficult for some than the automated way with Video Builder. However, without Video Builder, you can't output MP4 h.264 so you can't output HD videos or videos which will work with portable devices and you can't create MacIntosh Native exe output. You can still add videos to your shows and output Windows exe files which will play those videos, but you can't create high definition video versions of your PTE show or versions compatible with portable devices. Hopefully I haven't missed anything, but welcome any comments or "corrections" to my assumptions about the upgrade path. Best regards, Lin quote name='ale53' timestamp='1359466233' post='105218'] Hello everyone, I have a question I am asking myself for some time (I have PTE DELUXE since version 5.5.2, and I have continued to update the program every two years), but still I don't understand the difference between the version DELUXE -that costs more- and the STANDARD version (which costs less) but it did not need to be updated every two years (and I don't see more as listed to purchase). If I no longer had the ability to update PTE (which I do not think it will ever happen, TOO BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM AS), I would still be able to use it to create and burn DVDs of my slideshow? I would be very grateful if a moderator explain to me good ideas. Thanks in advance for your answers and again thanks to Igor and all the programmers for the excellent program they have created. P.S. I have done already purchase two of my friends two verioni PTE, by having them positive feedback pier program. Ale 53.

Hi Steven, You "clone" a keyframe then move it to the point along the timeline when you want to "hold" some image for a period of time before making further changes. For example, let's say you have done a zoom in and you want to keep the zoomed in image stationary for a period of time. You create a keyframe, select that keyframe then do your zoom. Now "clone" that key frame and move it further along the timeline for the length of time you want that particular zoom to remain as it is. When you create a "new" keyframe the "expectation" is that you want things to change, but if you manually enter the same zoom, rotate, etc., values for the "new" keyframe, it will function exactly as the "cloned" keyframe did. The "clone" feature just automatically copies everything except the "time" and saves you the trouble of entering the values again. Remember - all animations, etc., happen in time and happen "because" of differences in zoom, rotate, pan or 3D transform values. The distance along the timeline between adjacent keyframes determines "when" animations start and end. The "values" in the pan, zoom, rotate or 3D transform determine "whether" there will be be changes. The "clone" feature just copies all of the existing values associated with a keyframe "except" the time and makes it convenient to essentially "stop action" for the period of time represented by the distance between keyframes relative to the display time for that slide. Best regards, Lin

Hi Ray, Leave the "Synchronize soundtracks and slides" checked then click on "Slides" (at the top of your screen) then from the choices choose "Fit all slides to soundtrack"... There have been slight changes over various revisions, but the "Synchronize soundtracks and slides" really has never extended the time for slides to match the time of the audio. In past versions that was accomplished in the timeline by "Timed Points" "Arrange all Points" Best regards, Lin ]

Hi Guys, If you use a camera which "only" has an LCD for framing or focusing, or if you use your dSLR for video and on a tripod, you will eventually find that you absolutely need something to allow you to see the LCD in bright sunlight, or with sunlight to your back. I use a wide variety of dSLR's and digicams and for many years have used the Photosolve "Xtend-a-View" sunshade and magnifier to allow me to see the LCD for framing, precise focus and also even to make menu changes. The Xtend-a-View line has served me well, but in recent years my eyesight has changed and I really need a diopter adjustment to compensate. I have been using foam tape to extend the distance from the LCD to the housing on my various Xtend-a-View devices, but I have found a single solution which works with virtually "all" my cameras. In looking for a solution, I tested the Zacuto Pro (very expensive), the Carry Speed VF-3 and several "Hoodman" devices. The Carry Speed was my favorite. I specifically wanted something to work with my tiny Sigma DP2 Merrill fixed lens camera. The DP2 Merrill is an incredibly high resolution fixed 45 mm (35mm SLR equivalent) jewel which I use primarily tripod mounted. Like a rangefinder camera, it doesn't have an optical viewfinder or an EVF (electronic viewfinder). There is an optical viewfinder available from Sigma, but it uses the flash hotshoe and parallax prevents its use for serious closeup photography. The Carry Speed VF-3 isn't "perfect" for the DP2 Merrill because there is a 7.8 mm "gap" between the LCD and the rear boot of the viewfinder when mounted, but it isn't a deal killer and it works "perfectly" on all my dSLR's including my Nikon D7000, Sigma's with battery accessory plate mounted all my Canon dSLR"s and my Olympus E3. The designer of the VF-3 is working with me to improve the design so that it perfectly fits the Sigma DP2 Merrill (DP1 Merrill, DP3 Merrill, DP2, DP2, DP1X, DP2X, etc.) as well as the Sony RX-100. It's a rather large device, but since people who use the Sony RX-100 for serious video work, I think the value of having such a device is well worth the $129.00 price. Here are links and some pictures I took of the device mounted on my DP2 Merrill. I might say that the "gap" between the LCD and the rubber boot on the rear of the VF-3 housing has not prevented me in any way from seeing the LCD clearly regardless of sunlight position, but as I said, the designer is working with me for a solution which "should" work also for numerous other small cameras. All buttons, controls and the battery and SD access port are available on the Sigma with the device and camera mounted on the tripod. The large eye cup is easily reversible for those who use their left eye. There is a built in "switch" which activates an internal "lens" cap and prevents sunlight from damaging the LCD when the device is not actively in use. The diopter is easily adjusted with a large "ring" and it takes only seconds to remove the device to gain access to the optical viewfinder on your camera. A note for users of the Sony RX-100: The battery and SD card access will not be available with the device or base-plate mounted on the camera because of the rather unusual off-center location of the tripod access on the RX-100 which is immediately adjacent to the battery/SD card access. So if shooting video with an RX-100 and using this device, a freshly charged battery and large SD card would be recommended. It doesn't take long at all to remove the base-plate from the camera. A coin or the provided hex wrench will allow it to be removed in a few seconds, but it is less convenient than having the access readily available without removing the camera from the tripod. In all, I find this to be a valuable addition to one's "kit' for closeup, video work or just to see the LCD with bright sunlight behind you. It's also very easy to use while wearing glasses. Best regards, Lin Carry Speed VF-3 Link

Hi Peter, Yes, you are correct, the warning is only before using Video Builder for various video outputs. It probably "should" be extended to include exe files, but with the "option" of overriding so in case the exe is to be created only as a trial for further experimentation. Best regards, Lin

Go to "Settings" "Preferences" "Project tab" and you will find auto save is set by default to 7 minutes. You can change the settings to suit yourself or disable as desired. It is necessary to click in the box beside the feature to enable. Usually there is a warning before an exe is created asking you to "save" the work first..... ============== Peter corrected - the warning is only before using Video Builder to create video formats. It probably should be extended to exe files except sometimes users want to make "trial" exe's to see how things function. So there probably should be an option for that feature as well.... Best regards, Lin

Some data on your new monitor would help. Is it LCD or CRT, what is the refresh rate, which type transitions flicker? What size display and which resolution are you now using? Is this different that what you were doing? What is your video card? Best regards, Lin

Hi Tom, It's not on my PC where Xvid is much smoother, it's on my 40" Samsung Television. My card supports PureVideo and hardware acceleration is enabled but the violet colored box motion is jerky on both the 30 and 60 fps sample. Best regards, Lin