goddi

==================== Ronnie, The first box is checked, 'Turn on DEP for all programs and services only', and nothing is in the box below the two radio buttons. Gary

=================== Ok... I installed the 6.5 Beta 15 on my Windows XP PC and played your test slideshow and had no problems. Gary PS And when I go to make an MP4...no problems.

======================== Ronnie, I'm not sure if this will help. But, I played your slideshow on my Windows7, 6.5 Beta15, and had no problems. I then tried opening it on my WindowsXP PC that has 6.0 Final and 6 Beta24 on it. In each of these two versions, I get an error "Sound Files Not Found" (it shows up 5 times in its error message window). I thought what I downloaded was created in 6.0 and it should have worked in my versions on my XP PC, but maybe I misunderstood your posting. Not sure what to make of this. Gary

==================== Peter... You are right, again! This morning, I did another Search for the 'apr'. For some unknown reason, they finally showed up. Maybe, I had accidentally stopped the completion of the search process before it was finished. Windows7's Search feature is so 'quiet' that maybe I thought it was done. It doesn't seem to show something like an hourglass or something that is obvious that it is still working. Anyway, I found a whole bunch of them, from Beta15, back to Beta1. Thanks... Gary

============== nobeefstu... Actually, I think I used 'apr*.ini', with the '*' wildcard and the 'period'. I did both with apr.ini and apr*.ini because Peter had some text in his files after the 'apr'. Doesn't Windows still recognized the '*' wildcard??? I am old enough to have been a fan of DOS! Gary

Greetings, I don't know if this 'problem' is a Beta15 bug or I am still confusing apples and oranges. Here goes: Today, I have been doing a lot of testing/trying difference options to create MP4s. I was always under the impression, from what I've seen in this Forum, that when you choose Screen/Fixed Size of Slide, you are making it so that when you happen to play your MP4 on a larger monitor/TV, the slideshow will not 'expand' beyond the Aspect Ratio you had set. In one of my experiments, I created 2 MP4 slideshows at a 4:3 Aspect Ratio, but one had Fixed Size checked, and one was unchecked. The slideshow that had the Fixed Size checked, was shown on my 40" LED (1920x1080, 16x9) retaining the 4:3 ratio. However, when I played the 4:3 MP4 slideshow that had the Fixed Size unchecked, I expected the show to just expand to just do a best-fit on the LED's screen but not go beyond it. What happened, though, was that the slideshow really expanded way beyond the LED's screen at all sides, losing lots of each image. Is this normal??? If this is normal, it seems that you would want the Fixed Size to always be checked? I always used the 16:9 Aspect Ratio before so I never noticed this 'problem'. Gary

============= Peter... Under Folder Options/View, I have 'Show Hidden Files' checked and I have unchecked all "Hide..." options. So all should be found, right? I am using Windows7 and it does not give me any further options in the Search options, so I think if I had an apr*.ini, it would have found it. Have I missed anything...? I remember I used to see an apr.ini file. Gary

================== Peter, Igor... I concur that it is still not picking up previous settings, in Beta15. I did several searches for the 'apr*.ini' and I don't have any such file. Is this a problem??? Gary

========================= Igor, To give you some feedback on your Nearest2.zip example: The Nearest portion (right side) of the slide looks sharper than the Bilinear (left side). However, when the zoom starts, the Nearest side creates many fuzzy vertical (and horizontal) lines as it zooms. Gary

================= nobeefstu... I am slowly putting my brain in gear. In NGOptimizer, it has a place to tick to keep the original size of the image when I reduce it using '80'. I had totally forgot that that option does not actually work. Even if ticked, the image comes out as a 3 x 2 dimensioned image. So that is why the file size is so much smaller than InfanView, which keeps the original size of the image. Ok...with that said, PTE seems to be doing a fantastic job because I can not tell the difference between the small image and the larger image when displayed as an MP4 show on my 40" LED. No, I have not tried optimizing for the web in PS. NGOptimizer was just so easy to use. For what it's worth, I have attached the two images. Gary Two Images.zip

====================== Peter and Dave, While it is obvious that I can't tell the difference between apples and oranges, it is still a wonderment in my mind that PTE can show the same images that have different resolutions but appear to be identical in quality in the slideshow. You mentioned the pixel dimensions. I thought by giving the different file size of each image, that might be a clue. The pixel dimension for the 97Kb image is 1000 x 750 and the pixel dimension for the 854Kb image is 4000 x 3000. And both look identical in PTE. What else puzzles me is if both were reduced using the same '80' setting, why are both so different in final file size? I would think they would both end up the same size. Maybe each software has their own '80' algorithm? I would stick with my old software that gives me the smaller file size without any difference in quality when viewed in PTE when compared with the larger file sized image. But it seems that the different pixel dimension would give some kind of quality difference in PTE...but I don't see it. If none of the above makes any difference in the final quality of the slideshow, what does when you are trying to reduce the size of the final PTE slideshow (given the same image)??? Both were created in PTE at 1920 x 1080. I just created an MP4 of the slideshow and I could not see any quality difference between these 2 images when played on my 40" LED TV. Gary

Greetings, I have a question that has to do with reducing the file size of images I use in PTE. I have been using a program that is no longer available, but it has been an easy way for me to batch-reduce the file size of my images I use in the slideshows. The program I have been using is Net Graphics Optimizer. I use it to batch-reduce the images at ‘80’ and I tell it to keep the original dimensions. However, I recently discovered that, when I look at the image size in Photoshop, it indicates the image’s Document Size is 3.333” x 2.5”, not 13.333” x 10” as is the original size. I did a test using InfanView and also reduced the same image at ‘80’. But InfanView kept the Document Size at 13.333” x 10”. Both are at 300 resolution. So here is my question: I put both of these images in PTE and I cannot tell the difference. How can a 3.333” x 2.5” image (97Kb) be as good (sharp) as a 13.333” x 10” image (854Kb) in PTE? Thanks… Gary

==================== Dave, I had tried that because I had a problem before when the bar was moved too far to the left and it was hiding the Drive list, but Igor fixed that some time ago. I tried moving the bar to the right but it did not make the Drive drop-down list appear. It only appeared after I just happened to move my mouse over that area and then it showed up. You can now move the bar all the way to the left as far as it will go and you will still get the Drive drop-down window (after it showed up). So Igor did a good fix, but the Drive drop-down menu was not there after I first installed the Beta 14. Gary

======== Igor, I notice a little thing that still has to do with that thin red line in the floating waveform. When you have played the audio and the red line is completely at the end of the waveform, and then you stretch the waveform to the max, the red line is not visible on the far right end. If you already know how to find it, it might not be a big deal. But it might cause concern for those who are just starting to use it, and wonder where it went to. This is another reason for putting a red handle on the red line. It would really make it easier to find...and move. Thanks... Gary

============== Thanks, Igor, for the quick response. Gary

====================== Igor, It took me quite a while before I figured out where and how to click on the red line (in the yellow space) to be able to move it, especially when it was at the far left or the far right. Now, I get it. But my suggestion was to put one of those little 'handles' (in red color) that you have placed on the other lines, such as the Fade In line, to make it more obvious and easier to click on. I put the source files on Mediafire: http://www.mediafire.com/file/4voacmnnpfkdxmq/Kayaking The Soca_Jul20-2010_10-07-31.zip Gary

==================== Thanks, Peter and Yachtman, Yes, if my memory is correct, both are "2 ms.". Gary

================== Igor, I made a suggestion in another another very recent posting with a similar request, but got no response. It was not intuitive on how to move the red line back to the beginning of the audio clip. I finally figured it out but my suggestion was to put a 'handle' on the red line. Wouldn't this help make to more obvious and easier to move the red line? My other confusion with the audio clip has to do with the very end of the graphic, which I have posted but got no response yet: If I expand the waveform and look at the very end of it, I see that there is a very small gray section at the end of the audio clip. When I play the audio clip and watch how the thin red line moves, it stops just before this gray section while it is still in the 'white' section. Then, if I hit the play again, the thin red line moves to the right to the beginning of the gray section. Why does the thin red line stop before end of the 'white' portion actually ends? And why is there any 'gray' section at the end of the audio clip? I see this happening in two different audio clips I have. Image is attached. Thanks... Gary audio clip.doc

Greetings, I am thinking of upgrading my CRT to a flat screen. I am looking at a 23" Samsung XL2370 that is 1920x1080. My other choice is a 23" Dell SP2309W that is 2048x1152. I am not sure show their different screen resolutions will affect my PTE shows. I now make my PTE shows at 1920x1080. So I would expect the PTE show to be full-screen on the Samsung. However, what would happen on the Dell? If the show is created with the 'Fixed size of slide' checked, I am assuming it will be fixed at the 1920x1080 size and have a black boarder on the Dell. If I don't select the 'Fixed size of slide', then the show will fill the entire screen in the Dell? If so, will it be 'stretched' in proportion? Any opinions or suggestions??? (I like the Dell because the screen is more adjustable, up or down to your height. But I just saw today at Costco, they have the Samsung P2370 which looks to be exactly like the XL2370 but has an HD TV tuner for $279.99!) Gary

Peter, I just noticed a couple of other things I don't quite understand: If I expand the waveform and look at the very end of it, I see that there is a very small grey section at the end of the audio clip. When I play the audio clip and watch how the thin red line moves, it stops just before this grey section while it is still in the 'white' section. Then, if I hit the play again, the thin red line moves to the right to the beginning of the grey section. Why does the thin red line stop before end of the 'white' portion actually ends? And why is there any 'grey' section at the end of the audio clip? I see this happening in two different audio clips I have. Gary

Peter, Thanks... I had fiddled with the 'Offset' thinking that might do it, but it didn't seem to do the job. But after your instructions, I got it to work as you explained. I figured out also the problem I was having getting the audio clip to 'replay' or 'reset' back to the far left so it would play again. I found out that you have to click in the yellow portion of the 'Wave form and envelope tool' graphic to get the thin red line to move. And it is hard to 'grab' the red line when it is at the end of the clip on the far right hand side. I might make a suggestion to Igor to put a handle on the thin red line so it is more obvious where to grab it to be able to move it. Thanks for the quick response. Gary ==============================

Greetings, I am trying out the new Audio Clip Properties (Beta 12). I don't seem to be able to make it do what I think it should be able to do. I added an MP3 audio file in Track 1, using the Auto Spread function. I then added a 9 second wav file in Track 2, the sound of water in a stream. When played, both audio tracks start at the same time, right at the beginning, as expected. However, I want the Track 2 water sound to start 4 seconds after the start of the slideshow. So I highlighted this Track 2 sound clip in the Audio Clip Properties and changed its Start Time to 4 seconds. But the Start Time did not change so that Track 2 started at 4 seconds. Both audio files still started at the beginning of the slideshow. Shouldn't the start of Track 2 be delayed until 4 seconds after the start of the beginning of the slideshow??? Also, I noticed that after changing some of the times for Track 2, I can not get it to play again when I clicked on the 'play' icon in the Audio Clip Properties or in its floating wave graphic. Is this a bug??? What might I be doing wrong? Thanks... Gary

========================= Igor, And while you are at it, please make it bolder or larger. I made this suggestion a long time ago because when you have many different music tracks, and you try to scroll to find where the beginning of any particular one is, it is too easy to miss the thin blue lines. Great opportunity to make it more visible. Thanks... Gary

Igor… I don’t understand why the ‘Auto spread slides along music’ functions the way it does. Let me explain and let me know if my suggestion makes sense: The way it works now, when you select ‘Auto spread slides along music’, the ‘Timeline’ and the ‘Waveform’ are greyed out and the slides are NOT spread along the music in the Timeline graphic. They are spread only according to what the default Time Interval was set to. However, you can still manually make adjustments to the slides along the Timeline in this greyed out mode. If you want to visually see the results of the Auto Spread function in the Timeline (while in the Auto Spread mode) you have to click on the ‘Arrange All Points’. It seems to me that if you can make adjustments to the slides in the Timeline even though the Timeline and Waveform is greyed out, the Arrange All Points should be automatically triggered when the Auto Spread function is selected. This would automatically give you the proper visual representation of how the slides were spread along the music in the Timeline graphic. If you want to go back to undo any adjustments to the slides you might have made under these conditions, all you have to do is re-select the Arrange All points and all the slides are reset. Another benefit of making the Arrange All Point automatically triggered when the Auto Spread function is selected is that, when it is played in the Mini-Screen and looking at the Timeline/Waveform (still greyed out), the transitions are visually where they are expected to be, and it plays correctly in the Mini-Screen. I am looking at this from more of the viewpoint of someone who would not be using the Timeline function. It makes sense to me to trigger the Arrange All Points automatically when the Auto Spread function is selected because it will give you a visual result in the Timeline that matches what you are expecting. I don’t think most beginners would understand that Arrange All Points would be needed to be selected to actually see the slides correctly spread along the music in the Timeline graphic, even though it is greyed out. I would suspect those who go straight to using the Timeline might not see the benefit of this suggestion. But the way it works now has always been a wonder to me since I am a heavy user of the Auto Spread function. Since it doesn’t affect the Timeline users, why not make it easier for the Auto Spread users? Gary P.S. I had forgotten but I now see that I brought up this suggestion back in April but it just died on the vine with no response from Igor. Well, let’s see what happens. Thanks... Gary