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Hi John, Igor has already indicated that v5.7 of PTE will take a completely different approach to the handling of Text objects. Instead of rasterizing them, they will become vector-graphic objects. I don't profess to understand all the detailed intricacies of this change, but I do know that it means they should look sharp and crisp at all sizes and throughout zoom animation. Given that a new "text-handling" feature is to be part of v5.7, it doesn't seem unreasonable to me that the development team have put no further effort into resolving any remaining text-related bugs in v5.6. regards, Peter

Hi Andrew, There's an Audacity User Guide here on the forum: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7979 regards, Peter

Dave, You've just gone along the learning curve that I went along when building "Kaleidoscope" - but then I forgot everything I had learned until Xaver reminded me in one of his posts above. The use of Frames (sometimes as nested Frames) is a great technique for controlling two or more overlapping animations on the same object. Now, if only Igor would give us the option of declaring Opacity as an inheritable setting for a child object, I'd be totally happy! (But that's another story and another subject) regards, Peter

Hi Guys! Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I should have thought of using Frames myself. That was how I solved some of the complex animation problems in my sequence "Kaleidoscope". Although adding the extra object (the Frame) feels like adding more complexity, it actually makes the programming easier by keeping the two different motions separate. I really must try and remember this little "trick" of using Frames. Once again, thanks fellas. regards, Peter

I'm struggling to achieve the effect that I would like with a pan. I want the object being panned (a PNG file) to accelerate toward the end of the motion. I have programmed the keyframes as follows: A - Start position (Pan -65,-30; Zoom 60%) B - End position (Pan 90,0; Zoom 9%) I then inserted keyframe C approximately 1500ms before keyframe B and let it take the pan and zoom values that appled at this point on the timeline. At this stage all three keyframes are coded as Linear mode. I want the acceleration to occur only between keyframes C and B. So I changed keyframe B to be Accelerate mode. But this caused all the keyframes to assume Accelerate mode. How do I get the Accelerate mode to apply only to the motion between keyframe C and keyfame B? Can it be done? Or is this a "New Requirement" request? Hope somebody out there can help me! regards Peter

Kieron, You could try a couple of things (I give no guarantees that either will be of any real value!): Option 1 Try building some intermediate images by taking adjacent pairs into Photoshop and blending them together using 50% opacity on each Option 2 Do the same thing in PTE by bring two images together in O&A and adjusting their opacities regards, Peter

DaveG, During v5.6 beta programme I did a comparison of memory usage and published the results in a discussion thread here on the forum. Speaking from memory, each version of PTE that I looked took memory as follows (all measurements approximate and taken before loading any project file): - v4.49 - 190KB - v5.10 - 240KB - v5.60 - 320KB I believe these numbers to be meaningless because I suspect the bulk of PTE code is in dynamically loaded libraries and only shows up when a function is invoked. I feel that it would be very difficult for a non-technical user to get a truly consistent set of data. I had kept v4.49 and used it regularly for Menu sequences because of the well-known and well-documented (here on the forum) problem of "desktop flashback" when running v5 of PTE under Vista. The new features of "Run slideshow" and "Run slideshow with return" in v5.6 eliminate this problem. I no longer need v4.49 but I am keeping it installed (along with v5.04, 5.10 and 5.52) as a means of readily testing problem scenarios reported here on the forum. (In that respect my "need" for old versions of PTE is not representative of a typical user) My "two-pennorth" for what it is worth is that I think v4.49 should now be offered as "freeware". Adobe let their old versions of Photoshop Elements get bundled as "free software" with digital cameras and scanners. There is no support for these old versions when so bundled - but they encourage the user to look into getting a more up-to-date version. Has Igor thought of using v4.49 in a similar manner to try and create some extra revenue stream? regards, Peter

Brian, I'm surprised you're sober enough to be posting at this hour. I thought you'd be celebrating the Grand Slam! (I can understand DaveG being "off air" he's probably drowning his sorrows. So near and yet so far, eh, Dave?) regards, Peter

Avie, I've come to this thread rather late, so I'll not offer any advice at this stage. As DaveG said above, you're in good hands (Brian's) now. I'll continue to monitor this thread so, Brian, if you want to draw on my knowledge and experience of PTE v5.6, just post and I'll spot it and respond. Good luck to you both with the problem diagnosis. regards, Peter

I agree with you both, too. regards, Peter

Den, What you ask about suggests to me that you are using a two-page menu. You want a particular sequence that you launch off page 1 to take you to page 2 when it comes to an end. Am I right? If so, why not build the two pages of the menu as two one-page menus? Then, when the sequence that you want to use to do the page change comes to an end use the Project Options...More...Run application/slideshow at exit to do the Run Slideshow = MenuPage2 This is essentially the same solution as Xaver's but without using the "-slide nn" command value. regards, Peter

Mike, Further to Xaver's and Brian's replies: IF you adopt a rigorous discipline of keeping all files for each project under a folder specifically for that project then all you need to do to copy the project from one PC to another is to copy the project's folder. Each of my projects has its own folder: e.g. AVProj1, AV Proj2, etc. For each project, all the image files and the sound files are stored under that folder. The saves of the .pte file also go into that folder and so do the exe files created from that .pte file. When I want to copy the project to another PC I just copy the folder (e.g. AVProj1) to a USB memory stick, take the stick to the other machine and drag the folder on to the hard drive of the receiving PC. This technique is simple to use but does require absolutely rigorous adherence to the "everything under the one folder" discipline. The screenshot below shows the expanded folder structure for one of my sequences. As you can see I actually use sub-folders in which to keep the images, sounds and other bits and pieces. regards, Peter

Ron, As I understand it, this tool is not intended to be run manually. I believe that it is part of Microsoft's suite of "we'll take care of your system for you" programs. If any Microsoft product encounters what it believes to be malicious software, then this tool is run automatically to remove the offending item: all without you being aware that anything has happened. regards, Peter

Brian, I admit it is several months since I last did it, but I have successfully uploaded a PDF file and linked to it in a PTE forum post. See here: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index....ost&p=49793 regards, Peter

Vesa, Yes, you can open a project built under v5.5 into v5.6. But, if you then exploit any new v5.6 function, you will not be able to open that project under v5.5 without losing that new function. It is best to either create a copy of the project and use that under v5.6 or open the current project file and then immediately do a File...Save As... and give it a new name. regards, Peter

Isn't a button going to be an active object in any case? Where's the point in having a button that does nothing? regards Peter

Just click on the Timeline button on the lower toolbar of the main window. This button now acts as a toggle between Slide List view and Timeline view. regards, Peter

Ed, I have made my views on this subject known several times recently on this forum. I'm in complete agreement with you that the "auto-save" feature, as currently implemented, has some severe limitations; particularly the over-writing of the current project file. I, too, would like to see the file saved under a different name. Further, I feel that we, the users, should have total control over not just the frequency of saves, as now, but over the choice of folder, the format of the file name and the choice of file extension. Where-ever feasible, desirable and technically possible, PTE should work the way that we, the users, define and not solely in the way provided by Igor and his team. regards, Peter

Igor, I confirm that this beta has resolved the "false positive" detection by Norton Anti-Virus during the installation process. regards, Peter

Tom, It sounds to me as though your problems lie not with PTE itself but with your "use of folders" disciplines. I'll try and explain things for you, but if you still do not understand, then perhaps you would be best off by finding a locally run "Computers for beginners" course in order to gain some basic understanding of your computer system. Now let's start afresh; ignore everything you've done so far. Start by creating a new folder in which to keep everything associated with your sequence. Next, copy all the image files that you want to use into this folder. Then copy all the sound files that you want to use into this folder. Now launch PTE and use the tree structure panel to navigate to this folder. Then within PTE do File...New... and give your project a name. Now add the images that you want by dragging them from the File panel (the middle section of the main PTE window) down into the Slide List section (the bottom part of the main window) Now do File...Save As... (before clicking on the Save button, make sure that the Save dialogue window is pointing at the folder you created above). Finally close and re-launch PTE. It should open your project file for you and you are all set for your next session of editing your project; choosing transitions, adding more images, adding sound, whatever. regards, Peter

To add to that list, I've also had problems with sequences that started with or included the character string: setup regards, Peter

Hi Igor/Xaver, I've just investigated this myself. I'm using PTE 5.6.1 latest beta. I operate with Load Last Used Project de-selected. I have my own, customised template (called My Template) which is set as the default template. The customisation includes setting the Effects to just Fade in/out. I launched PTE v5.6.1 beta. The Slide List was empty. I added three images to the Slide List and then investigated what Project Options...Effects was set to. It was set to show all transition types. This is not what I have set in my default Template. Therefore PTE is not using the template that I have declared as my default template. It is using "factory defaults" set by WnSoft. I then closed PTE without doing any save. Then I launched PTE v5.6.1 beta a second time. Again the Slide List was empty. I added the same three images and again checked the Project Options...Effects. It was set to show just Fade in/out. PTE was now using my declared default template. If I understand correctly this confirms Xaver's findings. The same sequence of actions can yield a different result. PTE is not behaving consistently! It is not always using the declared default template. Why it uses it on some starts and not on others baffles me completely! regards, Peter

Peter, I presume that you are using the "Run application or open file" option on the menu item you use to launch the sequence. If so, in the Properties of the object that is causing the problem, what exactly is coded in the "Enter program name" field. I suspect you might have something like a space between the sequence name and the exe file extension, or a leading space, or some other unwanted character(s). regards, Peter

AbdolReza, In order to add the music to the sequence, it has to already exist as a saved file. regards Peter

Dave, I don't think any of us are trying to find a way around a legal requirement. What I think we are doing is trying to improve our understanding of just what the legal requirements are on us (in respect of our equipment) and on our "hosts" (in respect of the safety of their premises). I'm aware of one or two premises in my own area (all council run) that do ask for evidence of PAT. I'm also aware of one or two venues (not operated by local councils) where I feel the age of the electrical equipment has the potential to pose a risk. I'm finding this an informative discussion, the more so as some of the contributors are qualified (I hope!) electricians and are therefore speaking with a degree of authority on this subject. regards, Peter