Igor

I think that we could add checking when presentation runs from hard drive or from CD-ROM, and in last case copy music into temp folder.

Tripstrilles New mp3 player plays and should show length correctly of VBR mp3 files. We tested it on several files. think(box) Yes, new mp3 player can play mp3/wav/midi files directly from .exe file of presentation (we'll make it optionally on choose of author). So any presentations starts instantly. I shall test how it will work on the slow CD-ROMs (600 Kb per second), but they are enough for smooth playing, because playback takes 16-32 Kb per second only.

We have completed new mp3 engine for the PicturesToExe. Now it requires a long period of careful testing. And we finally add this player into PTE *only* if it will not cause any problem. This player should solve all known problems, because it has maximal compatibility with all mp3, wav and midi files under any version of Windows (even first version of Win95 without IE, without MediaPlayer, without DirectX). It provides excellent quality of playing, because it uses high quality MP3 decoder. Also only this engine gives ability to add video output feature (for the sound channel). For maximal stability and compactness of the code it doesn't use DirectX, and there is one difficulty with it. Because WMA music files support not included. It requires to use DirectSound for playing of such files. We wouldn't wanted to add this support, but if it really necessary, we could write special separate code for the WMA support. Currently PTE supports WMA format. Please let us know about your opinion about this.

Many thanks for your replies! Third variant (displaying of file names) will be used by the default settings. And, of course, an ability to set previous view with full file path.

Let me know, please, what you think about displaying of items in the Slide List. Currently it may happens file name can be shown because of a long picture's file path: www.wnsoft.com/SlideList_FullPath1.gif And I have two ideas how to improve this situation. This way provides ability to always see file name of a picture and beggining of the file path: www.wnsoft.com/SlideList_FullPath2.gif And final variant I like it more, - it is to display file name only, without full path where located the picture. Anyway user can look at the full path below when he selects the slide: www.wnsoft.com/SlideList_FilenameOnly.gif We can add ability to set any one from these variants, but which is better by default settings? Just I'd like to make more comfortable using of the Slide list.

To alrobin Preparing of thumbnails (on my Athlon XP 1600+ for pictures at 1024x768) takes only 300 ms. (1/3 of second) or so only 1/30 of second per each image. And it load in another thread, so interface is responsive anytime. Because for small thumbnails we can load large JPEG image with scaling - 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 or 1:8. So loading can be in 8 times faster. In PTE v4.00 we've added this algorithm for the preview of pictures in the main window and Cust. synch. window. To Dana Yes, I also plan to work in same sequence. Thanks.

Because of this, I very appreciate this forum and your opinions to make right decision. p.s. the idea of thumbnails page in a presentation is interesting. Thanks! But I'll think about this.

Thanks for your first and prompt responses! This thumbnailer is also intended and for our another future products. I usually work simultaneously on several features for the PTE. This thumbnail view of the Slide list could be shown exactly instead of current Slide list or at the bottom part of the main window. In both cases, the thumbs will be shown in one row horizontally. But you right, it's only 5-7 visible thumbs at 1024x768. I wouldn't want to make it as an separate window with multi-rows. So maybe it better to freeze it for the PTE and concentrate for another more important features? Because thumbnail view on the stage of an earlier test.

I'm experimenting now with a Thumbnail view of the Slide list, which may be useful for PicturesToExe. Thumbnail list is presented in the main window of PTE (with ability to have two-three views). It has multi-select feature (while to change an order of slides only). Please let us know what you think about this feature. Is it necessary or not? And your suggestions. p.s. also while there are no plans for thumbnail view of file panel. Only for the Slide list. And, of course, classic table view of the Slide list is available. Thank you,

I have received a response from developers of Norton Antivirus. They're apologizing for this trouble and promised add the fix in update of NAV during two days. Maybe even tomorrow on Wednesday. As temporary fix, please don't use PTE v3.60 (released more than 2 years ago) and recompile your presentations with v4.01 (or v3.80) p.s. I think that different mistakes may happen with any software, not only with NAV.

I've checked up my PC with newest update of Norton Antivirus and it marks presentations created with PicturesToExe v3.60 as "a virus". But it's a mistake, of course, no viruses there! I just sent a mail to the internal email address of Norton Antivirus developers and post here about their response.

I excuse for this problem! In previous case (it was v3.65) we've received a quick fix and apologizes from Symantec (authors of NAV). Please, as soon as possible let me know three points: 1) Is it the newest update of Norton Antivirus? 2) What is PTE's version of produced presentations? Will our examples of presentations (e.g. http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/starwars.zip) created in v4.00 labeled as "a virus"? 3) What is the "virus" name? Luckily now we have direct email address of the NAV developers and I hope to solve this problem quickly. p.s. my newest update (May 24, 2003) of Kaspersky Antivirus don't show any false detectings.

Please write me in details how to reproduce it. And I'll try to fix it soon. p.s. by the way, these short DOS file names is not a problem for PicturesToExe - because Windows understands equally and usual long file names and short DOS file names.

Thanks, I'll talk with our team about this moment today. Maybe better to prepare pictures in default RGB color mode, because anyway all current video cards (maybe except Matrox Parhelia in the future Windows Longhorn with his 10 bits per each color channel) and most of CRT/LCD displays show only 16,7 billions of colors.

PicturesToExe uses color settings assigned in Windows. So if you change Brightness/Contrast in parameters of video card or gamma, white point in Adobe Gamma, so it will be applied and in the PicturesToExe's presentations. But PicturesToExe uses (in general use) RGB color model for pictures, so embedded color profile into Jpeg file will be ignored.

"...a simple old DOS icon..." We have vastly improved default icon in the newest v4.00. But of course, you're free to assign any own icon.

To jupiter Thanks for your first posting on our forum, but we consider that it's not best way to announce new version of another software (especially giving a large "what's new" list). So please correct your posting. No problem, if it was logically required during discussion where member of course in right to write about another product (e.g. in context of an interesting feature).

Thanks for good news

JanieB I really apologize for this strange problem! Please let me know: 1) Did it ever work quickly? 2) Please can you temporary turn off (5-10 minutes, during time of testing) all resident utilities such as Norton Anitivirus, Norton Internet Security, Norton Utilities? And check up PicturesToExe again. 3) Can you allow us to send you special test variants? My email address is igor@wnsoft.com Thanks,

I just thoughted I could add simple protection in this situation when resolution of a source picture in several times greater than it's really necessary. In preview of picture (main window and cust. synch. window) we use wonderful option of Jpeg format when it allows to load picture scaled as 1:1 (full size), 1:2, 1:4 or 1:8. So that 1200 dpi's picture (7000x4000 pixels) will be loaded in 8 times faster and with lesser memory usage (for example in case of 800x600 screen resolution). p.s. one only moment with printing - it will require to reload main picture with original full size to be able print it in maximal quality.

I find interersting idea about Hotspots in Visual editor of objects. Thank you. We'll discuss scripts support, highlighting and sound effects. Optional "Thumbnails" view of Slide list in our plans. Now we're near to finish work on the new mp3 player, and probably OGG Vorbis support can be added in the future.

Sorry for this problem! Please could you send your presentation (if it's not more than 4 Mb) to my e-mail address - igor@wnsoft.com And we'll try to fix it as soon as possible.

To think(box) Yes, you was right about the slow startup with 4000's slides presentation. It still takes a lot of time to be loaded. About 10 seconds on my Athlon XP 1600+. But "JukeBox" presentation which has 16000 lines of .pte file (and same size - 670 KB) starts up in 0.3 of second. Now we found a reason of it. It happens because first kind of show has 4000 sections on .pte file. One section for every slide ([slide1] Picture=abc <...> [slide4000] Picture=abc) and second ("JukeBox") has only 37 slides and 37 sections in its .pte file, but with a lot number of objects. So now we able to fix this problem with a presentations which have more than 300..500 slides. It will require to add special optimization. And even 14000 slides will be loaded during short time. Thank you again for finding of this interesting problem! With kindest regards,

Dear Harry, Of course, I remember you! Was "My Home Town" your presentation? I just sent you the registration key. p.s. we always examine all requests, even difficult cases.

Ok, I also will check with similar PC configuration, you've described (P-150). I remember that Jukebox which has 600 Kb of .pte project file starts on the notebook PII-233 in 3 seconds when produced in v4.00. And more than 2 minutes if v3.80. Anyway, that is really interesting subject for the exploration! We plan to add slide control, and I hope about v4.10 This suggestion in our TODO list.