Igor

PicturesToExe v4.20 is released http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr.zip (1,4 Mb) Dear friends! I very much grateful to you for all help! And I happy to work together. With kindest regards, What's new in v4.20: + AVI video output feature. Now you can produce your presentations as AVI video file and then (using special software) burn DVD-Video, VCD, or SVCD disc. (Please read chapter in the help about work with video output.) + Improvements in transition effects: > Added new transition effect - "Advanced hour hand" (with variations). This effect has special "Offset" option for fine customization. > Added new "Push" and "Slide" transition effects. We recommend to show these effects or quickly (500 ms.), or slowely (3,5 second and longer). > Vastly improved quality of smoothing line in all effects. For existed projects please increase thickness from old 40 to 60 points. > Vastly improved "Mosaic" transition effect (old name "Hot blocks"). This effect has new smooth view. Available 3 parameters for fine customization. (Note: with "Appearance:" parameter as 100 and "Parts:" 26 x 20 it works exactly as "Hot blocks" effect in previous versions of PicturesToExe.) > Added "Show first transition effect from desktop" option (Project options | Screen tab) > You can quickly select/deselect groups of effects clicking on title of effect (see Project options | Effects tab). > Fade effect works on 20%-50% more smoothly now. ! Fade effect is turned on by default now (in Project options). + Improved synchronized mode of presentation. Now you can fully control presentation in this mode; go to any slide; use Navigation bar; Pause feature. To activate this mode set checked "Permit the control" (Project options | Main tab). + Vastly improved MIDI playback on old PCs (Pentium 150 - 400 Mhz). + New improvement in "Customize Synchronization" window: > Added auto scrolling when you move transition point outside of visible part of time-line; + It's possible to adjust thickness of smoothline in the personal settings of a slide. (E.g. you can set 40 pixels of smootline for 1st slide and 80 pixels for 2nd slide). + Added customizable shadow for picture objects (Visual editor | "Properties" window of an object). + Improved Print function (in presentations). Picture or slide fits on full page now. + Added support for 32-bit .bmp images with alpha channel (for use as objects). + Added "Disable mouse wheel" option (Project options | Advanced tab). + Added .wma and .ogg support in sound comments for slides. + Various small improvements. - Removed "Use smoothing" option, because smoothing is always turned on now. when if it's necessary to fit large picture on the screen. * Fixed two bugs in Visual editor of objects which caused show of messages about error. * Fixed rare bug of v4.10-v4.14 with incorrect work of "Print slide" feature. * Fixed old small visual bug in "Customize synchronization" window. * Fixed several minor bugs. p.s. please don't forget to check up for presence of opt_FastFade=1 string (in the apr.ini file after pte_SoundInitDir= string), because this option will be turned on by default only in the next version automatically. This option will make Fade effect in two-three times more smooth especially on old PCs. Before editing of apr.ini file please close all copies of PTE.

Thanks, I've understood now. I think it can be realized in the next version when we will work on it.

It doesn't any matter.

Yes, I'll turn on it by default in the first beta of the next version. Harold, Did you mean synchronized mode with choosed "Permit the control of show" option? I tried with my slide-show and pressed Left and Right buttons many times and within several seconds all requested slides were shown and no problem with correct synchronization of slides and music. Let me know please, if I didn't understand your question rightly.

We didn't buy newest Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 yet. I'll try with it when it will possible, I hope soon! It seems that PTE couldn't detect 3rd version Ulead DMF. Please visit folder where you have installed PicturesToExe and look for PteVideo.vio file. In case you find this file (it means that PTE was not able to automatically detect Ulead DMF3) you should to manually place this file into Ulead DMF3 folder. Usually this path looks so: C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3\vio\PteVideo.vio

It's a strange problem, because I remember that I didn't change anything in this part of PTE. However we must solve this problem. I've understood the problem comes now and with one old version which earlier worked fine? So probably, I suppose the reason not in beta #8. Those two added lines to apr.ini file *absolutely* can't call such problem. Please remember which new programs you've installed (or added some changes in Windows) recently? Check the hard drive with Scandisc and with antivirus. 1) This problem occurs when you try to open any earlier created .pte projects files? 2) Change the folder in the file panel (left panel in the main PTE's window) and then try again to open some project. 3) Restart Windows if you turned it off to Hybernate or Sleep mode for a long time (weeks). Maybe it will help.

PicturesToExe v4.20 beta #9 is released http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr_beta.zip (1,4 Mb) It's a Release Candidate. What's new in beta #9: • Updated Italian and Swedish language files. • Fixed old small visual bug in "Customize synchronization" window. • Minor corrections.

I've posted in another thread recently that it will be added to the next version (4.30). Probably already in the first beta.

I agree and this reason why I didn't turn on the SmoothFade option by default currently. Algorithm for smooth showing of this effects requires more time of show because Fade effect should ends more smooth and insensibly. But I'll try to find more optimal formula visually. Also I agree with you that in case of visual speed difference this kind of Fade effect shouldn't be applied for existed projects, precisely only if author will enable it manually. I didn't see difference with this option or without in case of long duration of the effect (something like 3500 or longer). Otherwise with SmoothFade it reaches a better visual impression when Fade effect ends, especially for 1500 ms duration.

Yes, I'll add this option in the next version!

Thank you, Harold! I just corrected this misprint in English.ini file. Guido, Harold: I've removed this small image logo and will think how to make "Permit the control of show" option more noticeable.

Using both new options for Fade effects apr.ini file contains the next two strings after pte_SoundInitDir= opt_FastFade=1 opt_SmoothFade=1 I recommend to add them both. (Please don't add another words such as "rem_feb 25 04", because apr.ini isn't .bat file with batch of commands.)

New optimizations of Fade effect and effects with smoothing line are very much stable and carefully tested. I'll turn on them by default in the next version soon. Of course, if we find a good way to optimize Push effect too, it will be added immediately, but I never add unstable variant even as option.

OK! p.s. please try new opt_SmoothFade=1 too! Michel, Yes, I've tried several variants to optimize Push/Slide effects and one gives a well improvement, but that variant worked unstable and it depended on video cards. Because of this I'm looking for another ways.

I'd like to suggest you try another new experimental improvement for Fade effect. It's exceptionally great idea suggested by think(box). And realization of Aleksey, my friend. You should have installed newest version - beta #8. As with opt_FastFade=1 option (which increases smoothness and visual quality in two times), close all running copies of PicturesToExe, open apr.ini file where located in PicturesToExe folder, and after string: pte_SoundInitDir= add new string: opt_SmoothFade=1 Now PTE will produce slide-shows with Fade effect which ends more smooth and invisible, so you can't catch a moment when an old slide fully disappears. Also probably you will need to increase duration of effect in 1.3 times. (e.g. 2000 ms. instead of 1500 ms.)

Michel, if you install newer version over older, then this option will remain. But if you will install PTE into new folder you need to add opt_FastFade=1 manually. (As I said earlier I'll include this option by default in the next version.)

LumenLux, Not a problem! In the last resort, I'll return ability to use previous variant of code. As I've understood you have a difficulty not with effect with smoothing line, but only with "Fade" effect? So probably you forgotten to enable opt_FastFade=1 option in apr.ini file in the new beta #8 as you did earlier in beta #7? I just checked up speed of Fade effect in beta #7 and beta #8. And beta #8 has on additional 9% more smooth Fade effect under Windows 98. If flickering comes (not with Fade effect), but with "Circle", "Hour hand", "Page", "Gates" effects. Will the flickering disappears if you set back from 60 to 40 thickness of smoothing line?

This improvement is exceptionally work of my friend - Aleksey. He've created optimal and quick algorithms for this effect. I'm glad that it possible now. Please try to create new slide-show. Add several pictures, turn on "Show first transition effect from desktop" option (Screen tab), then select "Circle" (from center) effect only for the first slide with 7000 ms. duration and 400 points of thickness of the smoothing line. Now run produced .exe file!

PicturesToExe v4.20 beta #8 is released http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr_beta.zip (1,4 Mb) What's new in beta #8: • Vastly improved quality of smoothing line in all effects. For existed projects also please increase thickness from old 40 to 60 points. In all effects such as "Hour hand", "Circle", "Rectangle", "Page", "Gates" this line looks very smooth and on large values of thickness it may give amazing smoothness of transition. Earlier you can observe a viewable borders of this smoothing line especially on contrasting slides. • Small optimization for Mosaic effect. • Updated language files.

Exactly! I plan to start this long work which allow these and another kind of interesting features in the future.

Thanks for your quick responses! We're trying to optimize Push/Slide effects, too. Harold, Pushing of a main picture only is *a very difficult* effect. But, of course, it will be added as soon as it will be possible!

Thank you very much! Can we recommend your CD disc on our Web site and in the Help file? Please send to my email address necessary text (several strings) and hyperlinks. Also I will grateful to learn about another useful discs related with theme of PicturesToExe.

Thanks for letting me know about this difficulty. I just sent you a letter to your email address with request about testing.

Please remind me names and hyperlinks of all useful resources concerning PicturesToExe: 1) Tutorials; 2) Utilities; 3) Articles; 4) Forums; 5) Web site/pages. which should be added to the Help file (of v4.20) and to Web page of PicturesToExe. Thanks!

If it can be interesting, you can try new optimization of Fade in/out effect. We've added this code in beta #7 in test mode, this improvement will work in the next version by default. I will glad to hear how it works on your PCs now. If you want to test it, please close all running copies of PicturesToExe, then open apr.ini file in PicturesToExe's folder and after line: pte_SoundInitDir= add new string: opt_FastFade=1 Now PTE will produce .exe files with much more smooth Fade effect. It will work in 2-3 times (on 100-200 percents) more smoothly than in earlier versions.