bharkins

I don't think I am destined to create an autorun CD! To review the previous suggestions: 1. The CD/DVD player has always been enabled in Device Manager. I don't have a problem with the device, just the autorun files on the CD. I don't see anything in the CD/DVD properties about turning Autorun on or off. 2. I notice that Al shows 2 other files in addition to the PTE.exe file: "autorun.dat", "autorun.exe", "autorun.inf", and "MySlideShow.exe". In running the Autorun CD Assistant, it did not create a .dat or .exe file, just the .inf and the .ico. 3. I then downloaded and tried the RJL utility. The files that created were: autorun.dat, autorun.exe and the PTE .exe file. Once I "test" the autorun project and the green light goes on, I don't get a warm fuzzy feeliing about what to do next to get the files to a CD. So I did my usual copying througn Explorer to a blank CD, then run the Wizard to write the files to CD. That occurs, the files show as on the CD but no autorun when inserting the CD. My question is: other than the PTE exe file, what are the required files to create an autorun CD??? Bill

I tried the autorun utility, but it didn't work for me. I have one of the .ico file from the utility, the autorun.inf file and then the PTE exe file. When I install the CD nothing happens. The exe file runs fine it I go to Start/Run and click on the exe file as I have done for all the PTE files that I have copied to CD. I have tried many ways of getting an autorun to run, but no luck. What information is the CD missing to make it run automatically? I also don't understand what the purpose of the icon file is. Bill

This utility looks good, but where do I find an icon to make an autorun CD? Bill

Great comments on Pan & Zoom. It's interesting that with the wide range of transitions in PTE and I assume in other offerings, most users stick with fade. Will Pan/Zoom be just a passing fancy? Conflow's comments on some of the other programs with Pan & Zoom does not cause me to rush into another program at all. I am very happy with PTE as is now, and if there wasn't all the excitement about 5.0 over the past few months we probably wouldn't be talking about it so much in anticipation. Another issue for me, I will stay with PTE until Barry Beckham goes to a different program! Bill

Along the same line of thought, for an upcoming PPT talk to several computer clubs on the topic of DAVs (and demoing PTE), I researched the market of slide show software. After finding 14 offerings I stopped although there are many more. The point it that several of these programs claim to feature Pan and Zoom. If that is the case, then PTE is not the leading slide show software anymore. However, I for one, will stick with PTE as I have invested a lot of time in learning the program, but we are now about 4 months late from the initial beta release date. Of course, if one doesn't want P & Z, it's still a great program. Bill

Also, as you probably know, you can pick up the eyedropper, select any color within the image which changes to the forground color. Then do the Shift-click on the paintbucket as above. Cool! Bill

We are all waiting with baited breath for 5.0. I'd rather have it robust rather than too early. Fortunately, it's not a MS product! Bill

I agree with Al, ACDSee is a terrible program. It wants to consume the system. I recently tried MSMaxView - another Picasa-type, and I deleted that too. I just go back to Photoshop everytime, and easily retrieved from in PTE.

Thanks Den for that great tip! I have been looking for this for a long time, was even going to post a "for next version" message. Here it's already there and it works. Fortunately this Forum is greatly helpful. Bill

Lin, thanks for the reference on AnyDVD - looks promising! Bill

I also support the use of Photoshop with PTE for some great digital audio visuals. (I'm following Barry Beckham's term, to upgrade from the old "Slide show" term). Of course, using layers takes more time than a straight vanilla use of PTE alone, but my viewers see the difference as far superior to the "old way". One effect that I am hoping that could be done in v.5.0 is the credits "crawl" as used in every opening of Star Wars movies. It's a bit more than just panning as it is done in perspective. In fact, it wasn't that easy at Lucasfilm with all their powerful equipment and talent. Bill

I have been following this thread. In PTE 4.44, following results of Igor's last message: 1 pte_prev1.exe - error message on black screen 2 pte_prev_synced.exe - same as above 3 ptemusic1.exe - plays OK 4 ptemusic_synced.exe - plays OK 5 ptemusic.pye - plays OK, shows music duration as 51 sec Computer: WinXP Home, ASUS P5ND2 MB, 2Gb RAM, Intel P D 3.0Ghz Bill

In Audacity, silence can be placed for any number of seconds in any part of an audio track. As I indicated in a prior message, creating an "all silent" track allows the use of the timeline to start organizing the images in time before setting up actual music. Incidentally, I have not seen much commentary about setting up multible audio tracks in Audacity. It's a bit tricky to add another sound to the second (or n track) but it is possible. Then with the horizontal icon cursor you can slide the tracks into any position. When ready to save, click "Export as MP3" and you will get a window message stating the all the tracks will be mixed down to a single MP3 file - just what you need for PTE. Be sure to save the .aup project so you can get back to the original for adjustment as needed (and it will inevitably be needed!) Bill

OK Igor, we are all waiting v5.0 anxiously, so when is "the moment" for beta #1??? Bill

I found that the easiest way to look at the Timeline without setting up any music is to fool PTE by creating a length of silence in Audacity or Audition of the length of time that you expect the total time the slides to take up. That will get rid of that "personalized music" message. Then you can introduce sound into a section at a time, keeping the silent section in place, but adjusted for the total slide time minus the initial sound section that you introduced. Works great. This is covered in JW Evans tutorial "A User Guide to Timeline Functions", a very well done teaching tool Bill

I have been using Barry Beckham's guidelines of setting up a directory with all the properly sized images in landscape and portrait formats, all the PSD files if using PS layers for creating the AV, all the music tracks, all the PTE sequence files, the .pte project file as well as the .exe file. Nothing gets lost. Bill

I like the idea of the "time ruler". Of course, that's more programming for Igor & Co., maybe for v5.1? The ruler will have to adjust to any changes to the image and transition duration so that the ruler remains accurate. We are all used to the Photoshop rulers - the time ruler would be a nice feature for PTE. Alexander's time ruler model looks good if it could be realized. Bill

Brian, thanks for that great website for the wide variety of font selection. I bookmarked it for future use - great ideas for PTE titles. Bill

As Bruce mentioned, check for Barry Beckham's tutorial CDs. I have used his material for many months and all my PTE projects are now all processed through the Photoshop layering technique. I recently mastered the "clipping mask" procedure - a bit tricky, but provide great effects. IMHO, PTE and Photoshop go hand in hand if one wants to get beyond the "basic" slide show. Of course, v5.0 should add even more sophistication to creating great Digital Audio Visuals. Bill

Well, I will keep trying it - I'm always up for "starting over", as all the images are safely secured. Very glad to see that v5.0 will have a more user friendly Timeline - almost as good as zoom and pan! Bill

For me, the main problem of PTE is setting up the Timeline and synching music. For instance, I am building a new project to present at our computer club. I have added music and then deleted music as part of the various configurations that I am experimenting. With the slides in place, if I run Preview I get an error message "Playlist is empty, please add musical files(s)" This implies that any slide show must have music, but that is not the case in first setting up a project. Second, when I do set up a music track, which plays OK in the Timeline window by clicking Play, if I try to go to preview I get an error "You should disable personalized music of slides to activate synchronization of music". I think I need a translation of that message. All my music is "personal" - what is the disable the music mean? Further, I would like to have an initial black slide which would stay for several seconds while an intro music track plays, ie to customize the first slide. I can set the timing of the first slide, but the Timeline pushes all the slides into the length of the music which makes a mess. I'm sure I'm doing something dumb and I'm hoping some of the experts can help. Bill

I found this site recently which I like. The Mp3 downloads are not free, but can be puchased on a track by track basis: http://www.allofmp3.com/ for a few pennies in some cases. You can also select the sound quality of Kps. I downloaded some music after sampling it in Windows Media Player and then purchased for use in a PTE project. Bill

Ken - I would like to recommend that you get Barry Beckham's CD tutorial "Pictures to Exe Starter". (He is also on the Forum). He walks the user through the process of putting together a PTE slide show and very clearly synchronizing slide timing to music, right on the beat if desired. Then later you can get his later PTE tutorials Vol 1 to 4 and watch a master at work! (I'm only a customer, not on his sales staff). Bill

Thanks Ken for the URLs for Photoshop shortcuts. There are a few that I have memorized but it's nice to have a complete list. I haven't checked them all yet to see if they work in PS CS, but I expect most are still valid. Bill

I would like to see Igor allow some users to experiment with an "Alpha" version to get quick feedback on any problems. I hope this isn't like a Windows release which is touted for a year or so in advance (like Vista) and then miss the release schedule! I'm sure many Forum members would love to try v5.0 as a separate program even if not everything works. Microsoft will eventually release a beta of Vista which I would also like to test. Bill Harkins