Marcovelo

Igor, I totaly agree with Robert. Simply add a category related to AVI and video output discussions. A new "video" forum category is required in my opinion, and questions/comments/experiences about AVI and video issues should be posted in this new separated "video forum". Members will get used to it quickly. I count already 42 separated TOPICS now since you release 4.20B1, only about AVI/MPEG/DVD/SCVD and more than 290 posts... Please think all users are not interested in AVI today (maybe later, and yes, some are still creating .EXE !!!!)... Most posts now are about Ulead Movie Factory, TMPGenc, Pinnacle, Roxio, Nero 5 vs Nero 6, StudioDV, IrfanView, WinDVD, video codecs, Sony, Pioneer, MPEG 2, SVCD/VDC, and video encoding issues...etc... I understand this very well because AVI output is rising many questions, but... a little bit far from PTE and slideshows in my opinion... I see no problem in having a separated category, where everbody will be sure to find all informations about PTE and AVI, third party softwares, and video encoding... Marco

Mike, This is not really true. It depends on hardware configuration (disk controller). For example, I have SCSI disks and adapter, and I can choose to boot on separated disk (not partition), at SCSI Bios level (I have W2000 on Disk 0, and Win NT4 on disk 1). Also, some specific IDE controllers allow this feature. Robert, If your hardware does not allow to boot on separated drive, I suggest you to consider to not install 2 different OS on same drive AND same partition. You will have to reinstall all your application and get in a big mess... If it is just to run one application (Adobe Photo Album 2, BTW it's strange it is not compatible with W98...), this is not worth the future mess on your hard drive and file organisation... This is very difficulut to maintain correctly dual boot configuration on same disk (especially if main OS is W98). I suggest you either: 1) stay with Adobe Photo Album v1 or 2) remodel your PC by a fresh XP installation (and reformat your disk), and reinstalling all your applications and settings. Anyway, you will have to do it one day or another (for informatation, W98 is not maintained anymore by Microsoft, since September 2003). I see no big advantage in your case to have dual boot configuration. If you plan to buy new PC soon, I suggest you to stay with your current W98 configuration and your Adobe Photo Album v1. Marco

Pete, I also noticed it with 4.12 and 4.14 (I don't remember with previous versions). I failed to reproduced this problem, but may be linked to Copy/Paste slides (as far as I remember, just a feeling, not sure...). I use Win2000. Marco

Hi Bill, Welcome to the forum ! FlashMe does not create Flash animation, it is a player for animation already created. You need special software to create animation (like Swish or others...). As Boxig wrote, Swish 1.5 is probably one of the easiest and cheapest. I suggest you to read attentively instructions included in FlashMe package (run FlashMeReadme.exe). A configuration tool is also provided to help you step by step in configuring how your animation will be played in your show. You can also have a look on my demo show "FlashPTE" available for download at Beechbrook Cottage. Marco

Hi Igor, I just sent you a full report by email. According to all my tests (in v3.80, v4.10, v4.14, v4.20 and special debug version), the problem is linked to "new improved music player" introduced in v4.10. (shows created with 3.80 are running without any problem). I can help to find what's wrong in further testing you suggest me. Is there other members experiencing this problem (or not) on Windows 2000 Professionnal ? Thanks. Marco

Igor, Thanks for your reply. 1) I currently use PicturesToExe v 4.20 Beta 2. I noticed same problem with 4.14 (and I don't remember for earlier version) 2) I will try to reproduce the problem with "Per aspera ad astra" show and report. As I wrote in my first post, the problem appears randomly, not systematically. 3) Ok. I will try to remember exact condition to reproduce the problem, and report all details. Thanks. Marco

Igor, I noticed on my computer a problem with PTE shows (with music): when I reached the end of the show (or if I press ESC), the show hung (is blocked). I have to kill it manually, impossible to exit. This occurs randomly (about 50%), even on shows I'm sure they worked fine on other computers (shows downloaded on Beechbrook Cottage for example). Also, it occurs on my own shows (from PTE preview, or even executable files) as with shows made by other members... I know this problem is more likely linked to my configuration (W2000 Professionnal, dual P2 350 Mhz), but I have absolutely no problem with all other applications, even with sound and images, other multimedia products (other slideshows software with sound) , etc... Everything goes smooth and fine, except PTE shows at exit time ! My OS installation is recent, and I don't want to reinstall Win2000 and all my applications. I suspect a problem with "audio". Is there a way to fix this problem ? Thanks, Marco

Bubba, I'm glad you achieved it. May be we will see soon your production on Beechbrook Cottage ? Regarding Flash special effects in PTE show, you can download and test my demo at: Flash PTE demo Have fun ! Marco

Hi Craig, Welcom to the forum ! The answer to your question is... no ! (unless you use a hardware MPEG2 encoder card, not related to PTE specificaly and quite expensive). Please keep a backup of your original source file .pte in a safe place. Marco

Hi Bubba, I agree with Granot, it's better to use FlashMe to do what you want (full control on button). You can easily accheive this using FlashMe: 1) create Show 1 for your intro: - Slide 1 launch your Flash animation (option "Run external application" in Customized slide dialog box). Duration of slide = duration of your movie. - Slide 2 displays a PTE button (object editor), and this can be a "customized button". Action for this button will be "Run application and exit" and must run "Show 2" 2) Show 2 is your "real" show, and it can be a synchronized show. Other way to do this is to create your "start" button directly in your Flash animation (can be a customized and even animated button !), that will start your PTE show. And finally, you can also decide to not have a "start button" at all, and to chain up your Flash intro and your PTE show. Marco

Hi Bubba, Until Granot answers you, please check if you have the file "Flash.html" in your folder where you test FlashFullScreen. ("Page cannot be displayed" internet explorer message is displayed when "Flash.html" is missing). On my computer, FlashFullScreen works fine, like you expect. Can you describe what was your hesitations ? Just call the utility "FlashMe.exe" from your first slide of your show (option "Run external application" in Customized slide dialog box). I also suggest you to use FlashMe utility for your intro, because you can control accurately your animation: duration, number of loops, position... With FlashMe, the Flash dimension is not limited to 660x380. Marco

I totally support Granot's suggestion: new separated forum category (like the one for "Presentations") is required for AVI issues, questions, comments... It is an emergency !!! Please !!! Marco

Thank you Igor (and Sergey) for this new release ! Great work ! To Igor's question: "What's about another new features of v4.20 beta?" I too second Al's suggestions, and also add 2 others: both are to improve "Run external application" feature (Customize Slide/Tab Main/Advanced options). 1) allow "Run external application" to accept one parameter (argument): just add a text field to be used as argument to the external program called. If this field is empty, no argument will be passed to the external program (like today's behavior). This will be really usefull for users calling external programs from PTE shows (like me). For example: MyUtility "filename.ext". 2) add a new option to "Run external application" to allow PTE to wait until external program completes. This can be a check box (for example something like "pause show until external application returns"). When the external app is launched by PTE, the execution of the show is suspended (like actual "pause mode") until external app exits. This can be used to help in building menus (in this case externals app can be others PTE shows, without the need to use "run application after last slide" to come back to the menu). Also, it is usefull to display a movie (or whatever) in the midlle of the show, and then continue PTE show when the movie is finished. In "non synchronized shows", it would be really great if the music can continue to play during external app execution (can be an option too). Of course, in "synchronized shows", the show would be in "pause mode" (thanks to the new feature "Permit the control of show": great !). In a programming point of view, this requires the use of only 2 functions of Kernel32.lib: "CreateProcess" and "WaitForSingleObject" (for example). Thank you. Marco

Hi Al, No, no, I'm sorry I wasn't clear: I don't want to compare 2 programs (dissolve in Flash is horrible, and PTE is the best). You talked about quality of image and compression needed. I give you an example: Imagine we want to display an image (appearing with a nice fade) and then zoom in it, keeping quality: 1) add on Slide 1 in PTE a 800x600 image (100-200 KB, or like you want to have a nice fade). Transition duration: 2 or 3 seconds for example. 2) copy Slide 1 in Slide 2, no effect (cut), and set "run external application" launching FlashMe. Adjust duration to fit with movie duration. 3) prepare your Flash movie sized to 800x600, zooming on the same photo but in higher resolution and with less compression (for example 1600x1200 or higher). Just set a 50% scale factor in the flash at the beginning to display the whole image, then animate it to reach 100%. You are displaying now a part of your image at maximum quality. 4) Slide 3 in PTE should be the same than last image displayed in the movie (snapshot). Of course this is not a zoomed image of the 800x600 of Slide 1, but a part of the 1600x1200. It works because the processor has time to uncompress the 1600x1200 image (or higher) while PTE already displays the 800x600 version after the transition effect. Also, we can use uncompressed images in the movie (like bmp), it has no impact once loaded. Animating a compressed image in Flash does not take less CPU power than animating an uncompressed image: this is just the time to uncompress a Jpeg when loading it (and quality and file size, of course, but not an issue here as we use only one image). In this example, I think the problem is not the compression level of the JPEG image, but more likely a "moiré effect" due to the animation itself. It also depends on the type of photo you use (details, contrast, vertical sharped object...). I know some sofwares are able to limit this problem by adding some small "blur" during the zoom/motion (like Imagematics StillMotion Creator). I would be very interested if you can create your own test with your high quality image, and probably a faster CPU than mine. And report your exeprience to us (if you are interested too, of course). Tell me if I missed something or was not really clear in my explanation... Marco

Hi Robert, Thank you for comments. I will try to reproduce the problem you reported (with the phone !...), but I have no idea on it for the moment. Because it uses external graphic utility and external Flash technology (with several existing version), we cannot be sure it will work perfectly on all systems. But I agree to say that it must be reliable if we want to use it. I will try to investigate this problem (may be there is other "minimum requirements", like RAM, Flash versions, etc...). Also, may be other users will report on it... I want to tell you I agree with you (on "over present" and so...). My demo is just a demo, this is just to "open the door..." as you said, may be to give some ideas for some shows... And yes, I confirm that building Flash animation (with Swish) is not difficult at all, really easier than using Photoshop or PSP with layers, masks, filters, and many options. I think it is far more "difficult" to obtain nice photos, nice dissolves, nice synchro, etc... And I consider Flash like just a "funny" small part of the show (if I use it in my shows), I prefer to put all my effort on the photos and transitions and synchro. I hope you won't be afraid in giving a try to Flash, if you are interested, and may be find other new idea in how to use it in our PTE shows ? (you can download a fully functionnal trial version of Swish at http://www.swishzone.com/) Thank you again. Marco

Al, Ron, Thank you for testing and for your feedback. Be sure I don't take any feedback and reply from this forum as negative criticals. There is no problem at all for me, and I totally agree with Robert (I will reply soon, sorry) and Al about their comments. Of course, I understand very well that using Flash in PTE raise many questions, problems, and comments. And I'm not to promote in using Flash, and not saying everything is perfect. Ron, I had never created a Flash movie before Granot released its first version of its utility. Text effect like "Star Wars" is very easy to build (5 minutes with Swish). I'm not sure this forum is the one to discuss on Flash creation, so I will send you an email. Thanks again for your feedback. I hope we will see your creation. Al, I agree with you on almost all points, and you raise important questions. I will try to answer and apologize for my bad english or if I'm not clear (please tell me). Distinction between "Transition" and "Animation": Well, I was also in the same process than you when looking for a Slideshow program: I choose PTE because it provides the best dissolve (fade) transition I ever seen, and it is the most important point for me (with also audio synchronization and the ability to produce 1 exe file that runs on almost all PC, even old/small configurations). PTE is the best for all of us, and it is getting better day after day, and I will use it for all my shows. But I was also curious to find a way to add some animations (not many, just 1 or 2...) in my show, sometimes (and not always), especially a "panorama effect" or "zoom". PTE does not offer such possibilties today, because it cannot move objects or image (and I hope it will do it one day). That's the reason why I tried to check if it was possible to use Flash animations in PTE, but only for small animations, not for transitions. I thought I can: - use PTE for what is doing best: transitions, nice dissolve, audio sync, handling hundreds of slides in one show, etc, etc... - use Flash for what is doing best: animation of objects, specific text effect. Thanks to Granot's utility, it was possible to use both simultaneously. But, (and this is important to say), there are many limitations in using Flash, for example: - animations can be really demanding in CPU power (depending of complexity/size/weight of your movie) - rendering frame rate is not guaranteed on every computer (so final result can differ from on PC to another) - optimizing the movie in order to not overload the CPU is not so easy and requires to be a Flash "expert" - there is no communication between PTE and Flash - we cannot seriously use Flash in synchronized PTE shows. - and many other things... And also really important: I think animations are not really necessary in our show, and even can make us to wander off the subject. But it can be funny to explore this way too, I think it's open... Pan and Zoom: "The pans and zooms, however, are still not quite good enough for my needs as they depend on the use of fairly highly-compressed images in order to achieve smoothness of operation." This is a very important point. But did you make your own tests with your images ? In my demo, I have to say I used bad quality images because I haven't high quality images ! I'm a bad photographer (I ensure you !), have only a modest compact camera, a flatbed scanner to scan slides (with blur !), and I'm not expert in Photoshop too (anyway, my photos will stay bad because I had to use a much better camera). About compression: you're right too, but...: I think (I hope) other users should try to play with Flash and build new tests with: 1) better images (like yours), and less compression 2) test on recent computer (with 1 Ghz and higher). Mine is only 350Mhz, so I was really carefull and used "high" compression level to allow my demo to be played even on "small configuration". Of course, 350Mhz is not fast enough for nice and smooth animations. In my demo, I put a 1600x1200 image in a Flash movie (effect Pan & Zoom), compressed in 450 KB (50% in Photoshop), and the motion is quite smooth on my old 350 Mhz. So I can imagine it is possible to use better quality image on better computer. The idea is to use: - one image in PTE for the transition (using all your advices to obtain nice dissolve: compression, darkness, etc...) - another high quality image in Flash (can be the same photo than the one already displayed by PTE), if your CPU can handle smooth motion on it (should be tested, I have no idea about the limits). It would be great if you build a small test on this point (if you have a better computer than mine). Transparency: "One limitation in using Flash overlays is the lack of a true transparency" Yes, FlashMe does not support transparent background. But you can simulate it by using the same background image in both PTE and Flash movie, like in my demo. However, if you need real transparency, some commercial products (Flash projector's builders) allow transparent background, and even semi-transparency (only for W2000 and XP). They also compile the .swf file in an independant .exe that can be also launched from PTE. They also provide a preview of final transparent movie in W98 and Win2000/XP modes (W95/98 does not support semi tranparency at system level). These softwares are very exepensive, and I think we are then far from PTE. I think we can do some very interesting effects using FlashMe, even if we have to say: "this show requires 1 Ghz CPU minimum". More details on effects on the demo: May be the easiest way to understand is to try to play directly the animations with FlashMe in stadalone: go to each subfolders of the demo, and simply run FlashMe.exe (without starting the demo itself). You will see the animation on your desktop, the image background, etc... So all other effects are done by PTE. FlashMe does not create effects (except its ability to scroll itself, demonstrated only once in Animation/Scrolling), as it is a Flash player. All effects were down in Flash using Swish, and PTE was used to display menu, and for each effect, PTE displays first slide (with dissolve), launch FlashMe, wait, and then displays last slide (with eventually a fade transition too). Tell me if you need more details. I hope it can help, and also I would be very interested if someone want to test and play with FlashMe, especially in building a nice panorama or/and zoom effect, with better image quality than mine. Sorry to write too much ! And thank you again. Marco

Hello, If someone is interested in using Flash animations in PTE shows, I've uploaded a demo show ("FlashPTE Demo") on BeechBrook site (http://www.beechbrook.com/pte/). The purpose of this demo is to demonstrate how it is possible to harmoniously integrate animations in PTE, including 3D text effects, pan and zoom on image, and others. It uses Granot's utility: "FlashMe" (donationware: http://www.thailandphotoalbum.com/#programs). This demo is 5 MB and is optimized for 1024x768 resolution (it's OK in 800x600 too). It requires 350 Mhz CPU minimum, and Macromedia Flash player to be installed (otherwise, FlashMe will propose you to download and install it). Granot and me are really interested in your comments. Marco

If you're interested in adding 3D text effects, Pan and Zoom on image, or fullscreen animation in PTE show, download and try FlashPTE demo on BeechBrook Cottage site (http://www.beechbrook.com/pte/). It uses Flash and Granot's utility FlashMe (donationware: http://www.thailandphotoalbum.com/#programs). Granot and me are really interested in your comments. Marco

Hi Ron, Just go to http://www.beechbrook.com/upload. You have also to prepare a small image (120x80) of your show. I hope this can help you. Marco

Jim, Thanks for your help ! But I'm not sure I understand very well your trick (from RonWill): Is your "main show" (with 1600x1200 image) is a windowed show with fixed size 1152x864 ? I will make several tests and may be it will appear clearer to me.... I'm not a PTE expert, but I was very disapointed when I used Objects in PTE with different screen resolution... (Igor, please fixe this issue ! Thanks). So now I will try your idea... Many thanks. Marco

Thanks Jim ! Building shows with objects that run OK for all resolutions is very difficult...! (I know Igor will release a new version that fix this problem). Thank you for testing and reporting ! I will try to build something better next time. Marco

To Andreas (and all), I fixed the problem Andreas described (for 1024x768 users) with "reduced working area on desktop" after running the demo. Andreas, I send you the fix by email (14KB). FlashPTE Demo on Beechbrook Cottage will be updated. I really apologize for causing troubles with this version. This is fixed now. To JRR: Thank you for testing the demo ! Can you tell me where exactly ? and also your screen resolution ? It should be Ok in 800x600 and 1024x768... To Al: Thank you. The last version of the demo is available on Beechbrook, but please wait until it is updated, because there is a small issue in hiding the taskbar in 1024x768. Or I can also send you the fix by email (14KB). Tell me. Marco

Andreas, (and Granot) I finally reproduced the problem you described (I didn't noticed it before on my computer !): when the show ends, a small area (same height than the taskbar) is no more accessible on the desktop. The "working area" on the desktop is slightly reduced. Rebooting the PC restores normal working area on the desktop. It's a "small bug" in the starter utility ("show.exe" in the demo), which hide the taskbar during the slideshow (to avoid the taskbar to be displayed when Flash animation is played). I will fix it. Nevertheless, this should not occur when running directly "demo.exe" (without the starter "show.exe") as I described in previous post (by renaming "show.xyz" in "demo.exe"). I'm really surprised when you report you have same behavior by only starting "demo.exe": can you check it again and re-test ? Be sure I'm very sorry to cause this trouble, and will try to fix this as soon as possible. I'll keep you informed, and release a fix. But if you're interested in using FlashMe utility for your show (FlashMe will be soon released by Granot), please do it, you should not have this problem (but you will see the taskbar during the show if your Flash movie is smaller than current screen resolution: we are working on this problem and will give you a solution). Sorry again. Marco

Andreas, It seems that calling FlashMe from the show disturbs the display on your computer. (The demo uses "Run external application" (Customize Slide) to start FlashMe.exe from the show.) I don't know why. Granot, any idea ? Marco

Andreas, Very strange problem... Have ever seen this when running other FullScreen PTE shows on your computer ? Can you make another test: 1) restart your computer (to be in a clean state) 1) go to "Text" subfolder 2) run FlashMe.exe It should only play one Flash animation. Problem still here ? Marco