nobeefstu

Merlin, The image scaling you make reference to is achived by using the screen options checkbox Fit to Screen (Enlarge images to fit screen) If this box is not enabled ... your images wont be stretched to fit larger screens ... and will maintain their original value. New Feature in the works is not available yet:

Grumpy, Once you open your .pte file and receive that file error not found message ... this means the files are missing from their original setup location and cannot be found. They either have been moved or already trashed. You can still salvage the the .pte file by removing those referenced files (name & path labeling) from within the .pte file ... and resave the file. When you reopen the .pte file ... the error not found message will not appear.

Welcome, Vikki If I understand your post correctly ... (believe it or not) your 800x600 image will always be 800x600 on another users screen even if their screen size is a different size. It may appear to look a different size on those different screens ... but the image itself is still 800x600 ( the border may appear on larger screens ). As a simple test to demonstrate ... do a save picture ( not save slide) while viewing your 800x600 show on 1024x728 monitor/screen setting. Look at the saved image properties ... its still 800x600. Are you using the setting Fit to Screen in your options when making your show?

Boxig, Im impressed with the function and simplicity of this tool ... I would think it be quite useful to alot of users that dont have such programs PS,PSP, etc. Plus the user can keep adding to their collection of frames and borders to choose from and not be locked in to just what you have samples of. So its also updatable and flexable too.

Actually this issue has been in all versions if I recall correctly... even now in version 4.14 This issue only happens when you test in preview/designer mode... and not in a compiled executable. For the link to work correctly in preview/designer we actually need to place the file to be launched in a relative path of the PTE program folder itself (as we have labeled it). If nothing is in the designation path ... it really seems to load nothing ... of which theres no escape except to terminate ( and loose all work if not previously saved). So as JRR somewhat suggests ... we need the preview/designer mode to react to missing or mis-labeled designation paths as the same way as the compiled executable does. That is ... it should do nothing.

Cindy, It possibly may be just the limitations of your video card ... most E-machines of that vintage have pretty basic (bah-hum-bug) video cards. First Check: Do a DX diagnostic test (accessable in your System Information) ... see what version of DX Drivers you currently have. Perform some of the tests just to be curious. Your DX Draw file may be way out dated or your you may require a entire DX version update. Make sure your also running the proper/latest releases of drivers of your brand video card. It just may be that your video card is not capable to give silky smooth transitions ... and always make sure you have no additional/unnecessary background processes stealing from your what your system already may lack.

Thanks Al , for the translation ! Oleg , I think with Igors scheme of : I believe this is a wise move ... this actually may not have any affect on the pte runtime executable size we produce for the normal slide show itself. The 30-50 kb size will probably only affect the Pte (menu interface) program setup. Since Igor is only making available Output to AVI .. I believe the user has to deal their own available MPEG encoders and it settings and limitations. Plus encoders are forever changing and updating. So I think our show runtime executable will fair well with the new addition .. and at the same time enabling video users some means to produce their DVDs a little easier

Welcome, Sunflower I personally like to use 800x600 screen size. The jpg images are usually end up not more than 125-150 kb. Keep Slide timing and Transition timing not too demanding ( fast slide timing and extreme fade transitions are demanding on slow PCs). I assume you also distribute your shows via CD Disc ... CD Discs are slower than hard drive speeds ... so here again use caution on image size, slide speed and transition timing. (The above settings work rather well universally for most users PCs) Also remember, the viewing qualitiy of jp images on screen need not be printing quality ... as some of your users will inevitably try to capture them without purchasing them. Add watermarks or other protection to your images if you really want to safeguard them. Note: As for music ... ! always avoid use of the WMA file format

Another word of Caution in using Protected WMA files. Just because you enabled the unlock feature to play or have the permission file to play the WMA music on your PC ... it will not play on another users PC if you want to distribute your PTE Show for others to see and enjoy.

natyrose, I dont believe not having the registered version has any effect if you use WMA music files. What will give you problems is if your WMA music files are protected. Here a quote from a recent new user that had WMA problems:

Phill You need to read this as posted from Igor : If you cant wait ... you need to do a search in this forum for previous DVD-VCD postings ... giving you alternative ways to produce/convert your PTE show to play in a Video player.

Quite true, Guido I guess I was naturally jumping the gun and thinking Phils intentions were for VCD playback.

Phill, Are you saying it wont burn or play it ? If you burn PTE to CD Disc for Pc play... just use DATA CD Mode. Plus ... you cant burn a PTE.exe to play in DVD. The exe needs to be converted first to the proper format for this to work. Do a search on DVD in this forum ... there lots of posts relating to this subject.

Grumpy Do your .WMA files open and play ok in your windows music player or what ever player you use just to play music ? The .WMA files should play just fine on your PC if the music file is not protected. If it is protected ... and you have the permission file to play it ... I think it should play ok on your PC and PTE. If you dont have the permission file to play a protected WMA file ... it will lock -up your PTE show cause it cant proceed to play the music. Keep in Mind : Using WMA (that are protected) files wont play on another users PC if you intend to distribute your Show. They wont have the permission file that enables it to play. Best to stick with MP3 and avoid WMA altogether is my advice.

I guess I should have mentioned after entering the Text Object : Select both your new image object and the new text object and right click your mouse. Select Group. Grouping objects together will maintain their relative position to each other. This way your balloon image and text will be consistant on various screen sizes encountered. However, Grouping does not maintain screen position relative to your slide when various screen sizes are encountered. To maintain correct postioning of all objects in all screen sizes encountered ... you must make a windowed mode show ... or create a single image containing all your objects and slide. As Bill mentions ... new features are on the way to resolve this postioning issue when viewed on various screen sizes using full screen mode.

Welcome, Graham This can be done. ____________________________________________ First though ... you must create/edit your image objects (ballons) in some paint program (Ms Paint, PS, PSP etc) ... PTE does not create them for you. During the creation of your image object ... give it a solid color background. Save image as jpg,bmp, or gif. Using/Inserting into PTE: _______________________________________ Insert this new image object ( your balloon) using the Object Editor button on your selected slide. Now insert your image object using the Picture button ( in top left of interface) Once you place this new image object where you desire on the screen ... right click the image to set the properties. Set properties of the image's background color to transparent. Now you have just the shape of your balloon visible. Add text to your balloon using the Text button in the Object Editor Good to go !

jcsdmd, Heres your problem : You cannot manually control a synchronized show. User access and mouse actions are disabled in the sync mode ... so as not to interfere with the flow of the sync operation. At this time ... if you want to manually control your show (buttons, links, etc) ... youn must create a manually controlled show and not a synchronized show. Future releases of PTE may enable such functions ... but not yet. Plus ... you may want to get the latest v4.14 ... it has a few fixes

Boxig, You are one busy man ! Im sure some users will find this very useful ... I may even need it oneday myself As Guido commented ... I have to aggree

Bill, Great idea ... and a great tool asset to help users who have lost copies of their PTE keys ! Sounds to be simple, quick and painless

pushu, Ralph's example is a great tool for you to learn from ...as it has all the ingredients and parts to get you started. As for: You can use any image editors to create the menu page as Ralph has done. Or you can make it alot easier on yourself by using a photo from the clients wedding as the background ... then just use PTEs Object editor and make generic Buttons ... this way would be real fast to do. Give it a little time to think it out ... as it will soon become real easy once you get the basic idea.

Chuck, It was almost at the same time too ! I guess great minds think alike !

While this topic is still open for discussion ... Since the ability of move to any slide is in the works ... I believe the addition of a visible Slide Counter on each slide (a check box option) should be implemented to help aid users. This Slide Counter would automatically advance or reverse pending current slide position and show total slide count. Example : Slide 1 of 125 or 1 of 125 Options/ Properties would include : CheckBox to enable/disable view of Slide Counter Size and Color of Text within a outlined box placeholder Basic screen position/ locations (as in setting Comments) I know in COMMENTS we already have to ability to set the Slide Number among other comments ... however it does not show a Total Count. Also many users (myself included)would benefit of both options ( Comments and Slide Counter) if viewable in the same slide. The Slide Counter would be a great addition if incorporated right into the new expanded Navigation Bar ?. Plus I think the Navigation Bar needs a bit of new face lift Food for thought

Ron, Im not sure if this procedure is exactly what you are looking for ... but if you want to create a invisible HOT SPOT to click within a Photo or another Object : Create a single color bitmap (jpg or gif) file . Size this bitmap file to the dimentions you require. Add this new bitmap to your slide as a Object. Make the properties of the bitmap transparent and set your clicking function to whatever you require. This gives you a invisible, clickable button or as I call them HOT SPOTS.

Larry, As to the exact name of the KEY file ... I believe this has changed. PTE.KEY use to be the normal name and extention used. However, with all the mail attachment config restrictions people are setting ... alot of users are blocking and not receiving their keys as in the past. A sure fire location is your REGISTRY. Open Regedit.exe search for this key name : [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PTE] "Key"="#*************" Once you find this location ... just export this key value as a filename to your desktop or someplace ... then copy it to disc for later use. All you have to do then is dbl click it to re register PTE when the time comes. Of course your actual key digits will vary than the example shown above ("#*************").

Welcome, Bill I understand your concern here ... since your using personal multiple pcs. Individual usuage is somewhat a grey area on multiple computers when it comes to selecting a particular license. I believe Igor addressed this issue in some posting long ago. IMHO, if you clearly are the sole and only user ... and have no other employees or multiple users actually using the program (as in corporate, govt, business) , I believe Igor qualified just a Business license was acceptable. However, if you have multiple users using it ... you clearly need a Advanced Business license. I currently have PTE on 2 pcs using a Business license. I always keep a older version on one pc and the latest version on another ... this way I can always instantly go back if the need arises. Hopefully Igor or Support will address this grey area again ... so we can archive it in the forum posts once again.