Igor

Geoff, Please tell me when this feature can be useful.

The first beta of version 5.2 will be published in two-three months. Can't say at this moment, most likely this feature will be added later.

Dominique, I remember about "Mask" feature. Sorry, I can't promiss it for version 5.2, but we'll try. I dream about this terrific feature, too. I have large TODO list for this version, but I'd like to tell only about several features now: - Timeline mode in main window of PicturesToExe. - Real preview of a slide at right-top corner of a main window and real picture of a slides in Slide list. - Quick preview of whole slideshow as in video player (in main window - preview panel). - We're reworking fullscreen mode to solve problem with starting second slideshow from current one (without flashing of a desktop). - Various improvements in Objects and Animation editor. In version 5.2 we'll vastly rework code of PicturesToExe and slideshow's engine to make possible many future improvements, including Masks. V5.2 is a key step in development of PicturesToExe. This work is invisible outwardly, but it will open new horizonts for PicturesToExe. Exactly this we want to implement. Real preview without delays on preloading, like high-quality playback of a slideshow in EXE file.

I'm so happy writing code for next version 5.2. Right now I'm working on feature I dreamed to implement many years ago - unified Slides/Timeline mode and real preview of a slideshow at right-top corner of the main window (like in video player). Excuse me for possible delays with replies, I fully concentrated on development of version 5.2.

ATI understands and confirms this bug, but these new drivers with partial solution is all that ATI suggests right now. Thanks for letting me know about result. So, I'll continue work on my own solution for all ATI video cards and with any drivers.

Thanks, It's pleasant to receive so many emails and messages. And Merry Christmas! p.s. I'm working on version 5.2 and today one more part of the important program code is written.

Dear Guido! I'm glad to see you again! We wish you and all members of the forum Merry Christmas!

Today ATI released a new version of drivers 7.12 for Radeon videocards where partially solved an old problem with incorrect gamma settings in slideshows created with PicturesToExe 5.0 and 5.1 and if you use Adobe Gamma Loader (or another color calibration software). This problem caused by a mistake in ATI drivers. Only on Radeon videocards and only under Windows XP. Unfortunately ATI didn't enable this fix by default (probably in future versions). But ATI provided us a special parameter which enables unified gamma settings for desktop and fullscreen 3D mode which is used in slideshows. And this problem will be completely solved. 1) Download latest drivers from ATI website (7.12 or newer): http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html (Radeon 9500 or more new video card and Windows XP are required). 2) Please download this utility we've prepared, click the button and restart Windows: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/ATIGammaFix.zip (160 KB) p.s. I've almost found my own alternate solution which will work with any versions of ATI drivers without special actions from side of a user. But it will work only for new slideshows created with next version of PicturesToExe (probably 5.11 or 5.2). A way suggested by ATI works for all slideshows created with any version of PicturesToExe.

Please download the ZIP file again. It seems that the file not completely downloaded.

This problem seems to be fully solved now. I just checked up - no problem with Internet Explorer anymore.

I'm sure no virus in downloaded file from WnSoft website because it's located at another server with disabled PHP and disabled other active content technologies. But there is still temporal problem with the forum. Recent reply from developers of Invision forum where we use their hosting for the forum: I hope that they will solve it ASAP.

At last I have seen this warning from my NOD32 when I unloaded firewall and opened forum in Internet Explorer 7 instead of Firefox. Strange problem. I've sent these new details to Invision company, developers of the forum's engine. I apologize for this problem.

It's just impossible, we use NOD32 antivirus before uploading files to the server. and I check up files with AVG antivirus on a second PC.

I've contacted to Invsion and they said that they cured this problem:

We're pleased to present a new version of PicturesToExe: PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.1 Download: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr-deluxe.zip (4 MB) I would like to thank all who helped us with creation of this version! And this and all previous versions were released only thanking support and participation of these people. What's new in version 5.1 + VideoBuilder: > Encoding of DVD-Video disc (and AVI) works in 2-4 times faster now due to optimization for dual-core CPUs and using of hardware acceleration for video post-processing (if modern video card installed). Exactly same video quality as in previous version. > You can choose a number of items per page in DVD menu. > MPEG2 files can be added to a project. For example, you can encode your slideshow(s) to MPEG2 video file(s) and then use it again in new projects without re-encoding of it again. > Music for DVD menu (with "Fade in" and "Fade out" parameters). > Color adjusting of DVD menu (Hue, Saturation and Lightness). It allows very quickly modify a view of DVD menu and find your own individual style. > Adjusting of a background image parameters (Tile, Stretch, Fit) > Support of all kinds of AVI files imported to a project (including AVS video file scripts). > A new tab in the Project options window - "Program" (customizing of priority mode for encoding and temp folder). * More exact calculation of required disc space. + "Wait for a key press to show next slide" option in Project options available again. You can overwrite global value in a properties of a slide. + Adjusting of colors for Text/Button objects in hover and pressed states activated again. + PicturesToExe starts much faster now. + Timeline window remembers current position of a cursor and selected keypoint when you switch between Timeline window and main window of PicturesToExe. + Added support of multi-line default text comment for all slides (Project options | Comments tab). + Visual improvements in Music tab of Project options and Customize slide windows. You can visually re-arrange files in the playlist. + Slide list shows a hint what to do, when no slides added. + Added "Offset" parameter to "Advanced hour hand" effect in properties of a slide. + Small improvements in Create AVI file window (it displays filename of created AVI and browse button to open folder with AVI). * Fixed bug with too large controls in Drop shadow dialog when 120 dpi graphics mode used. * Fixed bug of previous versions when you couldn't create AVI file and "catCantCreateFile" error message occured. It happened when name of project contained a dot symbol ("Project 1.1" for example). * Fixed bug of previous versions with renaming of image filename in Slide list if there are two or more slides with same image file. * Fixed bug of previous versions when mouse wheel didn't work in Open/Save dialogs. * Fixed bug of previous versions when "Load last used project" option in fact always was enabled. Updated build 5.11: + Updated language files. * Fixed small bug in VideoBuilder when slideshow on DVD had chapters only for first 9 minutes.

Please check up value of "TV System" parameter in Project options of VideoBuilder. If you live in USA, Canada, Japan set "NTSC". If in Europe set "PAL". And try encode DVD again, please. VideoBuilder automatically sets this parameter, but probably it incorrectly detected this time or probably you mistakenly changed it. Please let me know about result.

I just sent again a request to Invision. I'm sorry about this problem!

The secret in a nature of AVI video file. DVD-Video disc or AVI file can contain 30 frames per second or 60 virtual frames mixed in 30 frames. For maximal smooth playback of transition effects we have to use 60 FPS (interlaced mode). Because of this PictruresToExe renders 60 FPS interlaced video in AVI file. The problem that AVI file and authoring software don't do difference between 30 FPS video and 60 FPS interlaced video. And interlaced video may be processed incorrectly. Only Ulead products and TMpegEnc correctly processed interlaced AVI video files. In other product you should specify that you add interlaced or progressive AVI video file. Some authoring program doesn't allow set this parameter. It's not bug of PicturesToExe, but limitation of AVI video file. For this reason we created VideoBuilder to simplify creating of DVD-Video.

Did you add PicturesToExe's project files (.pte) to VideoBuilder or AVI video files? For best result you need to add PicturesToExe's project files. Where you played burned DVD-Video disc - on PC or stand-alone DVD player connected to television?

Jean-Claude, I see a lot of improvements for the next versions, and I'm impatient to realize these many ideas. Version 5.2 should be a major step in evolution of PicturesToExe.

Bruce, I'm grateful you for this wonderful news! Please can you advice on-line store where I can order this issue? Amazon suggests only annual subscription.

Dear Ken! Get well as soon as possible! My best wishes,

It should be an old file, before updating of the forum.

All these problems should be fixed now.

Finished.