think(box)

Great Jim - We may have the culprit; and a SLOW SYS PERFORMANCE NOTE to forum members: GENERAL FORUM SLOW SYSTEM PERFORMANCE NOTE! When I had MusicMatch V6 app active, but doing nothing, mouse response was very slow - the system was apparently doing some polling and/or other activity like CD drive monitoring. Nothing of significance shows in System Monitor displays, so you might not suspect MusicMatch, yet it was the cause. It looks like good advice to run that app only when you are using it, then shut it down. Jim - I forgot that even my Win98SE system recognizes audio CDs and starts a player, so of course WinME will do it. The only scenario I can see to explain the Internet attempt is that MusicMatch Jukebox sees your CD loading and tries to go out on the Internet. I hadn't run MusicMatch for quite some time but just did. I have MusicMatch Jukebox V6 (not Plus version though that shouldn't matter). There are two reasons why MusicMatch could be the app going out to the Internet. One is if you've checked the box to allow periodic checking for software update on the Internet. This is in Options->Settings "General" tab, "Permission to communicate with MusicMatch server", "Periodically check for updated versions of MusicMatch" checkbox. If you haven't updated in a while then anything that causes MusicMatch to start, like possibly loading your CD, could cause Internet access. The other is that if in the MusicMatch Options->Settings "CDDB/Connectivity" tab you've checked the box "Enable CDDB CD lookup service" then every time any CD is inserted and it remotely resembles a music CD of any sort, MusicMatch goes out looking for song info on the Internet, and needs to dial. Freely using Internet is the MusicMatch default - you have to stop it. Does Internet access still happen with both of those boxes unchecked when you load show CD? Also it looks like others who use dialup Internet will likely experience the same in some cases. With DSL or Cable the connection is always there, so users may not even know. One thing you could do to deal with this (and more) is use Firewall software, or enable more protection if you already have it. Any attempt by an app that you have not previously allowed to use the Internet will result in a warning about the offending app and request for your permission before dialup. Firewalls should be used on ANY Internet access machine, but can be a nuissance. And - this may end up truly being a quirk about "ftp" in a filename as it originally appeared to be. I hope not. Cheers,

That's a good one Jim! Software certainly does quirky things at times. I tried to get my Win98SE system to do the same just now, but it didn't start the Internet connection. I've been using DSL for 2 years but disconnected it and enabled "Dialup when no network connection is present" as I used in the past. I confirmed that starting Internet Explorer 6 caused immediate dialup attempt, but the Autorun CD testing wouldn't do the same. I tried "ftpgsfront.ex" - this ran properly under Autorun with .exe named this way & in Autorun.inf (no dialup) I tried "ftpgsfront.exe" - this ran properly under Autorun with .exe named this way & in Autorun.inf (no dialup) This is just a datapoint to add to a list of findings. I have a potential explanation of the problem that you may be able to confirm or disprove. I know that WinXP has "AutoPlay" in addition to "AutoRun". Does your WinME have both of those? If you put a simple data CD with MP3 or other media files on it in your CD drive does WinME automatically start up something like Windows Media Player to play MP3 even though the CD has no AutoRUN.inf file on it? It is AutoPlay, not AutoRun, that does this media file recognition in XP. If also in ME then maybe if you have the most recent Windows Media Player V9 an MP3, WAV, MPG, AVI or other media file that happens to be visible in the root of your CD may be AutoPlay-activating WMP. In WMP V9 there is a checkbox for "Connect to the Internet (overrides other settings)" that could cause it to start your dialup just as soon as media files are found on CD. I think Autorun and Autoplay can both activate. If WMP dialup could possibly be the cause, try disabling WMP Internet access in every way they give you and see if problem persists. FYI they check stuff on the Internet when you play music if you've enabled dialup through that or other checkboxes. Good luck and please share findings.... Cheers,

You're welcome Bob! I have edited my first reply post to help on this topic and see if Granot can make it possible for ME/XP and all users to see similar listings using his All_files utility. The database method is to catalog all strings and sort by incidence or source. In this manner you could search millions of documents or other items by contents instantly (because searches are in the relatively small catalog and not in millions of files). Or you could do something else like I did. By the way, as an OS function XP can catalog searches just as I've described, only not for .exe files. XP may be obnoxious in some ways, but it is quite advanced in others. Glad to hear it helps! I had a similar finding of duplicates, some expected because they are work in progress, some not expected and indicating that housecleaning is needed.... Cheers!

Hello Brian, You are getting a response similar to that of WinXP - all .exe files found when this shouldn't happen. From your findings WinME and WinXP are in a class by themselves, it appears, in that they do not work correctly while earlier versions of Windows are fine. Did you try the XP instructions on your ME machine? If you can confirm that ME works just like XP then I'll edit the topic post to say so. Thanks! And to Granot, Your All_files utility is REALLY NICE! I know I will have many uses for it - thank you! In the Windows-app procedure method that I described you are able to distinguish between P2E .exe files and others (98 to 99% accuracy) and have an instant menu-based listing of P2E shows alone for easy opening (non-XP/ME only for menu-based open). If you set the Find files window to "Large Icons" before you do "Save Search" ("View" menu, click "Large Icons") then you get a view of dozens of shows per scrolled screenful, all with their full-sized icons next to show name. The access to shows is fantastic! While I have 1,500 non-P2E program files on drive C:, for example, if I have only 100 P2E .EXE files I can't find the P2E .exe files with All_files because they are way out-numbered by non-P2E files. Could you make your All_files utility optionally narrow-down a listing of .exe type files by the same string-search method I used, or perhaps a 100% accurate method? This would make a .exe list that is 98% or even 100% P2E shows only. A view of the .exe file icon would be a great addition to the display. Thanks! Cheers!

Great idea Igor! Would it make sense to display a warning flag about excessive picture pixel count (resolution and file size considerations) to the show creator, so that when we make a mistake we find out early? We should be free to continue, but be warned that a CD-based, or even HD-based in the extreme, show may have performance difficulties. I can't wait to have the next PTE release! When is it scheduled to happen? Thanks and Cheers!

Bob, Granot, David and all, this is in response to another topic where Bob (LumenLux) made the request: Do you want to figure out what .exe files are P2E shows (and not other applications) on your hard drives and list them all for easy access? A little "think outside the box" anyone? If you make a database of strings found in all .exe files on your system, and separate those unique to P2E shows, then you have found a string that can be used to search *.exe (all .exe files) to find P2E shows. There is a string that is 99% unique that will find 100% of P2E .exe files and only 1% of any other .exe files. Not many in the world are likely to have database software to do this, or know how to use it, so I have saved you the trouble! That elusive string is "timesetevent" SYSTEM-WIDE P2E SHOW LISTINGS WITH UPDATE - INSTRUCTIONS: Most of this procedure has to be done only once. There are only a few steps needed to update or change what drive or drives you list. I suggest that you print this topic for handy reference before proceeding. Do this by RIGHT-mouse clicking within topic text, and select "Print". Here is how to find all P2E shows in Win95, Win98, Win98SE (probably for WinME too; XP procedure is in next section): Press/hold the "Windows" keyboard key (flag graphic, between Ctrl and Alt keys) and then "F" key to get a "Find Files" window. Or start "Find Files" in your favorite manner. 1. Make "Find files" window full-screen sized by clicking middle of three top-right window graphics. 2. In the "Name & location" tab, in the "Named" text window type these characters: *.exe 3. In the "Containing text" text window type these characters without any spaces: timesetevent 4. In the "Look in" text window click the little down-arrow box at right and select hard drive letter(s) to search. 5. Click "Find now" button and in a very short time you will have a list of all P2E shows and locations. 6. You may open any show from this view by clicking or double-clicking, depending upon how you have windows set to operate (default is double-click to open as Windows is originally). 7. Although you can't save the list of shows to a hard-drive text file you can save this search for instant, click-to-open show access at any time from your desktop, or even from menus, as follows: Start after step 5 above, doing the following additional steps. 6. In "Find files" window click "Options" menu and "Save results" if it doesn't have check-mark next to it already. 7. In "File" menu click "Save Search". This will place a find files shortcut on your desktop that you may open at any time to see show list and open a show. Be sure to make the view full-screen as before to be able to see all of the shows listed. There is no need to "Find now" again unless you have changed what shows are on the hard drive. 8. If you want to rename the find files shortcut to a better name it is best to not do this because it is special and is best left alone. Instead create a shortcut that you can name as you please and move freely to menus and other places. Create this shortcut by right-mouse clicking on the find files desktop shortcut and then select "Create Shortcut". A standard shortcut will appear on your desktop. 9. Right-mouse click the standard shortcut and select "Rename". Type a name like "P2E Shows" and press enter. 10. If you want to change from the boring icon to your own, RIGHT-mouse click on the standard shortcut and select "Properties". Then click "Change Icon" and browse for your own. Ok all of the windows. 11. To place in Programs menu, RIGHT-mouse drag the new standard shortcut to the Start button and hold it there for a few seconds, but don't let go of right mouse button yet. The Start menu will appear. Continue to drag the shortcut up to the "Programs" menu and then drag it to where you want it to be in the menu. Now let go of the RIGHT mouse button and select "Move Here". This will move the new, standard shortcut from your desktop to where you want it in the Programs menu or any sub-menu. You can even put it in the top section of the Start menu. 12. From now on you have it easy! You don't need to do earlier steps over again. If you know you've added shows or removed shows and want to update, just click P2E Shows (or your name for it) in the menus and when it opens, click "Find now". Wait for search to complete and then do the following: 1. Minimize the "Find files" window. 2. Locate the "Files named..." special shortcut on your desktop. RIGHT-mouse click it and select "Delete" and click "OK". 3. Restore or maximize the "Find files" window minimized in step 1 and in the "File" menu select "Save Search". Now your list is updated. When you click menu "P2E Shows" later on you will see the updated list. You can even change what hard drives, including ALL of them, that you want when you update. Here is how to find all P2E shows in WinXP (not sure about WinME): The "Search results" feature is WinXP's name for "Find files". Sorry, but Microsoft made it incapable of searching for more than a single character in .exe files, so you can't use "Search results" (Find Files) feature. Microsoft hasn't left you totally in the cold though. The following works, just not as nicely as in earlier versions of Windows: 1. Get a command prompt window by clicking Start->All Programs->Accessories->Command Prompt 2. Click on the "full-screen" button to make command prompt window larger (taller) 3. Type the following and press enter: cd \ That is the letters "cd", then a space, then a "backslash", not forward slash. 4. Type the following exactly this way and press enter: findstr /S /I /M "timesetevent" d:\*.exe Note that there is a space between slash-letters, and that "d:" is where you enter the drive letter you want to search. 5. In a very short time you will have a list of all P2E shows and locations, but you can't click on them to open. 6. Next either enter the drive letter, folder path and P2E file name exactly as you see one of them and press enter to run show, or open a Windows Explorer and navigate to the location so you can double-click to open the show, or you can make a printable list of the shows as follows, in a file: 7. For list file: Type the following and press enter: findstr /S /I /M "timesetevent" d:\*.exe > c:\shows.txt where c:\shows.txt is the list text filename and location where you want it to be created. 8. Find the shows.txt file in Windows Explorer, double-click to open, and view or print for reference. 9. Repeat this procedure from step 7 for each drive that you want to have in a (separate) list file. 10. Repeat entire procedure to update at a later date. For all versions of windows, a general note: Do keep in mind that there will be a few non-P2E shows listed. You can usually recognize that they are not show files by their name and ignore them. Cheers!

OK Bob, let's take your cue. And I don't think existing Windows temp folder contents matter unless they are leaving insufficient free space on drive C: for Windows to run software. I have a way to be sure about data match between the burned and copied-back .exe files. In case Jim or others using this file comparison process do not know how to use MS-DOS, I will give detailed steps (for those already familiar with DOS syntax simply do a DOS FC/B file comparison). Following this description I have a link to a free windows application that is clickable and that you can use instead of DOS FC/B if you prefer to just install a utility: Rename one or both files to be compared using names with 8 or less characters (it's easier this way). Put the files to be compared at root folder (top folder of drive - it's easier this way) Start an MS-DOS window, or in XP a "command prompt" window I believe. Type drive letter where files to be compared are, followed by ":" as in C: and press enter. The command "prompt" should now be something like: [WINDOWS] C:\WINDOWS> Type these two commands, pressing enter after each (that is CD<space>backslash, not <slash>): CD \ PATH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND Now the prompt will look like this, except that it may be D: or E:, etc. as you are using for your drive: [WINDOWS] C:\> Finally enter this file comparison command (this one uses slash, not backslash, as in FC<slash>, where FILE1 and FILE2 characters are replaced with your two file names: FC/B FILE1.EXE FILE2.EXE If you get a response that ends with this then the files are EXACTLY the same in every byte: FC: no differences encountered If instead you get a (possibly very) long list of numbers in three columns, then the files are different. Enter as many compare commands as you want and when you're done close the DOS window. There are many utilities around to compare files, but "FC/B" (binary file compare) should be on everyone's windows machine already. FC/B does a known-accurate binary comparison of two files up to 2GB in size each. If the FC application isn't on your machine, then you have to use some other utility to compare two existing files. Here is a known-good windows application to compare files (free): FC32. Goto the "NoNags" site to download it (this is a good freeware site without nagging ads in the software): http://www.k7v.com/nonags/index.html Scroll down to "Download categories" and click "File Synchronizing" Scroll down to FC32 and click "FC32 1.0 for Win 9x/NT" link and download, then install and run. This app may not work on XP if you use NTFS file system, in which case you may have to find another free utility. Others may be able to point to a free XP-compatible utility, or if not Granot may even write one. He kindly makes mini-utilities in a flash. Are the files found to be identical by one of these binary file comparison methods? Cheers,

Jim, Have you positively confirmed that your music plays completely and flawlessly outside of the show? There have been corrupted original music file problems behind the difficulty in the past. You might want to check that your image files are flawless as well by viewing them separately from show. If that is not the cause: I am wondering if maybe the music "buffering" is not large enough when there are large pixel-size images in the show on CD. Since the default music playing mechanism for P2E shows is Windows Media Player through an application call, would you please try an experiment to gather a bit of debug information in the following steps? Make a show with the same large picture content yet with no sound, and burn to CD. Open your MP3 file from hard drive with Windows Media Player. Usually this is done by double-clicking the MP3 file, unless MP3 is associated with another player type. If that is the case open Windows Media Player directly and then open the MP3 file from the File menu. While a track known to skip is playing, open your picture show from the CD drive. Does the music now play flawlessly? Please reply to the forum with your findings and we'll try to help. One other thing - how are you using the music in your show? Is it free-playing or synchronized, and is it wav or mp3? Thanks! Forum members: If the show plays with built-in music successfully from Jim's hard drive, then couldn't he use one of the utilities that seemlessly copies show to hard drive before playing it? Kind regards,

Welcome to PTE and the forum, Sid! Yes, you can arrange for your show pictures to be saved or printed by viewers as follows: 1. In the Project Options, Advanced Tab check the box "Show Navigation Bar". 2. Next, click the button next to that checkbox labeled "Customize Navigation Bar". 3. Choose the buttons that you want to provide to your show viewers in a navigation button bar, and be sure to keep the default "Print" button in the set. To minimize buttons visible to viewers in your pictures provide just the "Print" button by clicking on "First Slide" in "Selected buttons" mini-window and then click "Remove" button four times. This should leave only the "Print" button in your shows. Finally, select the screen location for nav bar by clicking in the "Position" mini-window and I suggest using "Right-top" if you are providing full-screen pictures, else what works for you if you have a background (border) surrounding pic's. Now click "OK" in the "Customize Navigation Bar" window. 4. Back in the Project Options, Advanced tab check the box at bottom of tab labeled "Allow to restore pictures (via "Print" button on Navigation bar)". 5. Click OK and create your show. Test-play and you will notice a printer-like graphic in top-right of screen. Click it and you will automatically pause the show with a "Print" control pad offering four buttons that work as follows: Print slide - This prints your photo with background Print picture - This prints your photo without background Save slide - This gives viewer a "Save as" window for saving photo with background as a .BMP file Save picture - This gives viewer a "Save as" window for saving opriginal photo in the original format, usually .jpg After the viewer prints or saves, the show will automatically continue (pause is ended). You may want to save your show format as a "Template". Near top of forum web page click "Search" link and enter the word template in "Search by keywords window, and enter the username think(box) in the "Filter by member name" window, then click "Perform the search". Check out all found topics, but first look at "Screen effects" topic. I have a complete "how-to" reply. Every instance of the word "template" will appear in Red color since that was your "Search by keyword" string. Also check out other users' topics and replies (click "Back" to get back to topic list), especially the utility created by Granot (boxig) in topic "Templates manager". His utility puts handy PTE start/template buttons in taskbar. You're all set - enjoy!

Check my note on PCI Bus mastering. Can you put both cards closest to processor? It may require some shuffling of less important cards. I see that either card works fine in the lower-numbered slot. Cheers,

OK Bob - The mainboard may be slower than others. Mine has 82371AB/EB chip set from the start of UDMA. Have you ever added a PCI IDE adapter card? I doubled disk-to-disk transfer speeds to about 15MB/sec (most commonly) by adding that card. That is about 1GB per minute when copying large files. It also creates four more IDE ports (gray ribbon connectors for HD and CD drives) for a total of eight in the box. I have 5 HD's (100,100,120,120,250GB) and 3 CD/DVD drives at once. I had to change to a more powerful power supply to go beyond 2HD+2CD in my system. That can be a breeze, and it can be a pain if supply has proprietary connectors and/or wiring instead of AT or ATX standards. I was blessed with "proprietary" and had to splice in a new supply. The PCI IDE adapter also improves Windoze and other application performance because disk-based performance is faster if from a drive on the PCI IDE card. I suggest a card manufactured by Promise Technology, and ATA-133 speed is the most recent and fastest. If you buy a hard drive that has very high capacity, many are sold with a Promise Tech IDE card in the hard drive retail box. Maxtor, for example, uses Promise cards with their own Maxtor name on them. Look at the chips on the card and they say Promise. It works great. Note that as others have posted notes about PCI-slot fussiness, the PCI-IDE card needs to do PCI Bus Mastering. That is usually the reason for slot fussiness. You have to put any such card nearest the processor to be sure it is a PCI Bus Mastering slot. Cheers!

Thanks Al! And I have used the "two Windows Explorer" technique too. That brings up a good general point to mention. You can drag things around between just about any two windows in any two applications. It is also good to mention use of the clipboard. Whatever it is, if it is highlighted (even a filename in a "Save as" box), right-mouse click it and select "Copy" or just press keyboard key "Ctrl" and "C". Then where you want to deposit the file, text, etc., just right mouse click and select "Paste" or click a paste button if window has one, or just press keyboard key "Ctrl" and "V". You can even "Paste" a name in when you've just created a new folder in a "Save as" box by right-mouse clicking the "New folder" that is highlighted and waiting for you to name it and clicking "Paste", or just press "Ctrl" and "V" without the menu step. Cheers!

Good point Guido! Bottom line is do side-by-side comparison at retailer before you buy and check ratings and especially owner comments at sites like CNET and many others. Cheers!

"Windoze" Win98SE at 768MB memory You know Bob, I have a hunch that Windows may not be handling memory properly. I had tried expanding my Win98SE system beyond 512MB and found that the memory handler went into "very slow" mode yet all 768MB were usable. I took the extra 256MB out and it went back to normal speed. I know that for beyond Win98SE (XP for sure, don't know about ME) you can have 2GB of memory without performance problems. The cause for my system's slow performance could very well be the hardware memory controller and not Win98SE. I couldn't determine. Does your system's manual say it is designed for up to 768MB? Mine said only 512MB and in practical terms this was true. Sometimes they give limits that are not true once technology improves. So, by any chance did your system seem slow right after adding memory beyond 512MB? Cheers,

The Explorer vs. Exploring question is easy - "Explorer" is the "parent" that closes all others: In the "Close Program" dialog box, for every instance of "Windows Explorer" you will see an entry saying "Exploring - C:\Windows" where C:\Windows is an example of what folder you may have open in that Windows Explorer instance. You can open as many Windows Explorers as you need. "Internet Explorer" is also an Explorer instance, only Microsoft chose to display the web site you are exploring, then "Microsoft Internet Explorer", in the "Close Program" dialog box. They did this because the box doesn't have a large enough text window to show anything else after the big, long name "Microsoft Internet Explorer". Any Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer window may be transformed into the other by simply clicking "View" menu, then "Toolbars" and/or "Explorer Bar" and selecting things you want or don't want, like "Standard Buttons" or "Address Bar" in "Toolbars", and "Folders" in "Explorer Bar". It's so easy to just start a Windows Explorer rather than transforming an Internet Explorer that you never bother (press and hold the "Windows" (flag) keyboard key between "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys, and then press "E" key for a new Windows Explorer, or "F" key for "Find Files", or "Break" key for "System Properties" (Device Manager), etc.) Sidebar: Wnsoft's WinNavigator is a nice alternative or supplement to Windows Explorer that offers some nice improvements. Windows Explorer shows two window panes (pains), the left being the folder list and the right being the contents of folder selected, consisting of files and/or folders. WinNavigator shows two complete views into your drives and files, with folders and files navigable in each. In Windows Explorer to move or copy a file you have to open the destination folder's parent folder on the left pane by clicking the "+"(s) to expand upper folders. Either before or after that you have to click your way in left pane to the parent folder containing the source file(s)/folders(s) to move/copy and click to select the parent source folder on left so that its contents are visible in right pane. Finally you can select file(s)/folders(s) to copy/move in the right and drag/drop (best to use right-mouse button so you can cancel for oops wrong folder rather than "undo") and you're done. The Edit menu, "Undo" is handy for goofs. This entire process is cumbersome, and you can't simultaneously see the contents of source and destination folders. You often have to scroll all over the place in the left pane to get to source and destination parent folder graphics. Note that there are countless variations on Windows Explorer navigation. I've mentioned a common one. As an example of variations, when you drag something to the left if you hold it over a folder for a few seconds the folder will auto-expand without you clicking the "+" to expand it. By contrast, WinNavigator lets you see two complete views without scrolling back-and-fourth. You easily navigate to source on one side of screen and destination on the other side, and drag/drop your file(s)/folder(s) for move/copy. Simple. And there are many other handy features and usages. I'll reply to your Windoze slow response question in a new reply. Cheers!

LCD/TFT has the best image hands down. In comparable size price is moderately close to same. Plasma has the best brightness but LCD/TFT is getting better. Plasma is subject to image memory burn if you have a graphic that is always in the same place on screen. In large sizes they're both very pricy. Plasma is available in larger sizes but it won't be long before LCD/TFT catches up. The only negative besides high cost that I have ever read about TFT displays is that as a computer monitor they can't track fast-moving gamer action quite as fast as a video display tube. If you plan on using your monitor for fast-moving gaming I would sample it in a store to confirm this (or look for reviews that say not to worry for the model you select). I'm a perfectionist. I would go LCD!

Hello Bob, Ken, That is hilarious! I couldn't stop laughing when I read it. Bob, I am sorry that I didn't read your post about icons any earlier. I have encountered that problem countless times and could have immediately told you what to do. When you have a valid Autorun.inf in any root directory and the icon to which it points is valid, then when Windows starts it assumes a removable device and makes Explorer display that icon for that device. It won't go away until you both delete Autorun.inf and restart system or refresh icon cache. Anyone looking for a great icon builder that can coincidentally also refresh the icon cache, check out Axialis Icon Workshop (not free). I wouldn't get it for refreshing the cache - get it for building icons to use in P2E shows!: http://www.axialis.com/axicons/index.html I learned more about Autorun than I ever cared to know at microsoft.com when I was figuring out how to make a P2E show CD have an Autorun feature that works across ALL windows platforms. Windows XP wouldn't work when others would. With microsoft.com's Autorun spec I got past all platform troubles, though in finding this help I found it confusing that they have Autoplay to try to mimic Apple, opening files intelligently on removble media for a change. And on your other subject "Windoze" being slow on large directories, I have some experience and test results that may help. In making mega shows I have of course placed thousands of JPEGs in single directories. There are many sources of delay when you do this, but it *does* work acceptably if you so choose. You were given good advice to keep the file count down though. Here are some measurements on my 400MHz P2 Win98SE system, all made both after copying files and after a restart in case that matters (it didn't), all in FAT32 file system (XP's NTFS is different): Case 1: 8,700 JPEGS in one directory (about 633MB total space) This takes from 2-5 seconds to display when I click on folder to open in Windoze Explorer. In the past this has been as long as 20 seconds. Case 2: 8,700 .EXE files in one directory by renaming JPEGs (freeware Bulk Rename Utility is great!) This takes from 2-5 seconds to display when I click on folder in Windoze Explorer and these .exe files have no icon within. There is nothing magic about .exe file type except that it is registered as "Application" in Windoze. Case 3: FOLDER with 1,286 .EXE files WITH icon in app files for about 90% of them, 1.23GB total space This takes just under 1 second to display when I click on folder in Windoze Explorer. Case 4: ROOT directory with 1,286 .EXE files WITH icon in app files for about 90% of them, 1.23GB space This takes just under 1 second to display when I click on folder in Windoze Explorer. I think the historical issue with large file count in root dir was with FAT file system under either Win 3.1 or Win95. LARGE FILE COUNT DELAYS: In Win98, Win98SE (no others tested) once you've deleted hundreds (or more) files whether or not in same folder, things like deleting or renaming slow down dramatically. This is a known "feature" that Microsoft has chosen not to fix. To work around you do Ctrl-Alt-Delete ONCE, click on Explorer, click on End Task and then the shutdown screen appears. Click on Cancel, then wait until hard drive activity subsides. This restarts Explorer and empties the "Undo" list that had been getting oversized. A restart of the system will fix the delay "feature" as well. One caution: Most of your lower-right taskbar icons go away when you restart Explorer, even though their applications are still running. You may find this inconvenient. They will be back the next time you restart the system. Copying folders with multi-thousand file count takes much longer than copying several folders that together have the same file count and size. This is because Windoze is slow at manipulating large directory files due to FAT and FAT32 file system characteristics. Cheers!

Wow! A lot of input about this. I was confused after reading it and wondered how well I really understood the performance metrics. The only way to answer this for me was to make measurements that map out all cases and analyze the results. To do this I started with a set of 800x600 original size, 24bit color photo JPEGs and made a comparison duplicate set of same photos resized to 1024x768 and unsharp-masked to increase detail before saving. All were saved at Photoshop's 10 on a scale of 12 quality. Then I made four test shows in PTE, splitting by resolution in JPEG file (only 800x600 or only 1024x768 test sets) and by doing "Fit to screen" or not doing "Fit to screen" in PTE screen tab checkbox. I created the four shows with no transition effects so transition is immediate, and measured how many pictures per minute were displayed by the created P2E shows at three different screen area monitor settings, 800x600 (4:3), 1024x768 (4:3) and 1280x1024 (5:4 ratio FYI). I then created the four shows with 1 second simple fading transition between pictures to test fading smoothness. I used PTE V4.01 for all shows. I have one special PTE finding noted in results with an asterisk (*): When an image is too large to fit on screen, P2E show software reduces it to fit whether or not I check the box "Fit to screen". This is an inconsistent P2E function but clearly the right way for shows to work. If reduction of oversized pic's wasn't unconditional then a picture larger than screen would display as a blown-up fraction of pic when we do not check the box, "Fit to screen". P2E performs correctly, but in considering performance measurements sometimes image is resized even though "Fit to screen" is not checked. File size info: The 800x600 photos average 130KB in JPEG file size The 1024x768 photos average 245KB in JPEG file size Test shows, key: 800x600 JPEGs not F.T.S., then "Fit to screen", 1024x768 JPEGs not F.T.S., then "Fit to screen" Without fading, key: Pictures displayed per minute on a 400MHz P2 system used for all measurements 1 second fading, key: SF=smooth, RF=getting jumpy (visible screen repainting), JF=very jumpy (worst) 800x600 display, 24bit color (480,000 pixels, 1.37MB bitmap to paint full screen): 180 SF --- 180 SF --- 120* SF --- 120 SF 1024x768 display, 24bit color (786,432 pixels, 2.25MB bitmap to paint full screen): 177 SF --- 147 RF --- 129 RF --- 129 RF 1280x1028 display, 24bit color (1,310,720 pixels, 3.75MB bitmap to paint full screen): 171 SF --- 117 JF --- 141 RF --- 93 JF Analysis: Michel - you are correct in that JPEG image size is important, but it is not the only factor. JPEG image size dictates display time performance as it relates to decompressed JPEG bitmap size, at least in terms of non-faded pictures displayed per minute. Pixels in JPEG content relate very closely to image display bitmap formation time. The relationship pixels to time is close to proportional. If I understand correctly, Tripstrilles has found the same result. However I had made the remark about decompressed bitmap size in reference to fading jumpiness: Test results show that P2E forms a bitmap for a picture only once before displaying it, as is sensible. Then for image fading the screen area setting and percentage of screen filled by image indeed are the only two things that matter to fade jumpiness, along with computer speed of course. So for an image that fills the screen it is correct that fading "jumpiness" is less at smaller display monitor screen area settings. Guido (guru) - you are correct in that performance suffers a little when P2E has to reduce, and more significantly when P2E has to enlarge. P2E's size-change quality is legendary, although that's another story. In conclusion, the higher your screen area setting and screen percentage used, the more performance you need from the system to do unjumpy simple fade effects. Further, the larger your JPEG image is, and the higher your screen area setting and screen percentage used, the more performance you need from the system to display images at a high rate per minute. Given consideration of this by a show creator, PTE can make shows that play almost the same for everyone on any machine. That is really cool. Thanks go out to all for input on this question. Cheers!

I am drooling all over my keyboard. Any plans for a Fibre-Channel attached 2TB storage subsystem? Heck, I can beat that. I have a really, really big cardboard box in my garage that's almost completely empty! (It's the only space in my garage that isn't 100% stuffed w/junk). Talk about valuable storage! :-) OK, make fun of my 700GB data store.... You know, size isn't everything! Maybe some day when I grow up I'll have a PetaByte as you must. Of course if I can figure out how to make boxes of junk worldwide store valuable data I'll be telling Bill Gates what I would like to have him do next. Hmmm, let me see... I'll sign this ((think)box)

Looks like everyone has answered Jerry's question fairly well. You can generally bring your pictures down to between 30KB and 200KB depending upon just how "high-res" your photos are, how "high-res" you want to display them on your computer monitor and how much space for the show. I have a display performance finding to include: If you set your PC monitor screen area to 1024x768 and find that fades are jumpy, try using 800x600 monitor screen area setting. Each painted frame at 24-bit color setting involves about 2.25MB of screen data at 1024x768 screen area display. Screen data is only 1.37MB at 800x600 screen area display. The CPU workload decreases by about 40% for 800x600 screen setting. This can help and won't cost the non-perfectionist viewer too much in lost viewing resolution. In "light" of Al and Bob's previous three replies about visible image quality here is a general forum question: I have used dozens of photo app's that can compress for JPEG files. I have yet to find any that match Adobe's tools for file compactness at a given visible photo quality, and hence that match Adobe's compression goodness. Adobe is fairly kind to us in that their software compresses just as well whether it is a bundled product like PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, or a paid product like Photoshop Elements or the best, Photoshop itself. It was nice of Adobe to not water-down the compression goodness in low-end products the way they do their general feature set and user interface. I'm sure many of us have compared compression "goodness" between photo processing app's, that is "the ability to get the same visible image quality in the smallest possible JPEG file size". Please share your comparison results! I have downloaded Irfanview, but haven't yet made this comparison. Al says it matches Photoshop and we know many are using it. What app's are the best, using Adobe as a comparison metric? Are there any that are even close to Photoshop and Irfanview? Thank you for sharing your findings! Cheers,

Wow - you're the greatest Igor! That was a fast discovery and fix. You've made my day. Thank you! And to Dana, two replies ago, and the many others who've asked - I am making a small show with large show features that should be ready soon. I lost some critical time this past weekend to a bad sector failure in my 700GB redundant data store. Thanks to the redundant storage and some utility software I was able to both fix the bad disk sector on a relatively new 120GB drive and recover my data. I never knew you could sometimes repair bad sectors on a hard drive. By the way I do not use PCI IDE Raid to manage the redundant storage. I don't have the extra PCI slot for that card. The bottom line is I'll have to post my show later than expected. I've developed a new special effect to debut that provides a view from infinity. Thanks again to all,

Thanks Luigi for a beautiful work and some cultural enrichment, and to Michel for your hosting on http://www.fanaphot.com/Invites/Masques/masques.htm from Luigi's site http://utenti.lycos.it/lusar/index.htm Sometimes I feel guilty or anxious for stopping the mad rush to do everything I must do, to simply watch and enjoy a show. But then if we do not enjoy the collective fruits of our labor, what is life? Cheers!

And thanks again Boxig for an instantly-made and very handy application! I just installed it. Your taskbar icon will be very handy for PTE. Now we don't even have to click File -> Templates -> <my_template> in PTE to get going on a show! Before long the shows will make themselves Cheers!

Thanks Boxig - I have indeed encountered the missing font problem. You are correct that Igor can give us the cleanest long-term fix. I have a nice way to hide such actions as font installations from the user that can be used for any number of special, hidden tasks: I make a mini-P2E show with one picture and short music selection from a template format with button definitions. I call this short P2E show from Autorun.inf to install the show to HD, remove show from HD, run show from CD only, or provide installation help. Those are the four buttons in the one-screen installer P2E show. A specialized help file is part of the template. Since the "Install" and "Preview Show from CD" buttons run a DOS .BAT file in a Programs folder on the CD, I can put whatever supporting actions may be needed in those .BAT files. The .BAT files are parameterized so that content never changes. I just list parameter values in a unique .PIF (shortcut to .BAT file) as the only unique work to make a given show. The .PIF shortcut specifies to close the DOS box upon completion so that the user isn't left wondering what to do with it. Things like font installation are just a command in the .BAT file that the user never has to worry about. One caution to anyone using .BAT procedure files, be sure to use only commands that exist in command.com, like copy, delete, rename and more (see help). If you do this your show installer will work on every windows platform, including 95, 98, 98SE, ME, XP, 2000. Until Igor adds "Run app and goto next slide", your font installation application will be handy - thanks for all of the nice helper app's! Cheers,

Greetings Jeff, Have you tried adjusting the "Wave" volume under Windows "Volume Controls"? Maybe the sound gain for that first-in-sequence control is high enough that sound will have same high distortion at any master volume control setting. You could also try shutting off the special 3-D sound features (if enabled) in an "Advanced" sounds menu somewhere, usually found with sound hardware controls. These features often cause subtle distortion, and sometimes it's not so subtle. I agree that Notebook system sound hardware is often very poor in quality. However I do in fact make professional quality sound recordings for CD productions at classical and popular music live concerts, using my Notebook computer. I too have so-so built-in sound. The way I make the sound top CD quality stereo without noise is by plugging in a Dazzle Digital Video Creator (an undemanding USB device) and using the Dazzle in "Audio Clip" mode to make top-quality WAV recordings that never touch the notebook computer's sound hardware. The Dazzle DVC also does hardware-compression MPEG-2 movies. This is Dazzle's low-end device as movie-making goes and it is not very expensive. The reason I mention the Dazzle DVC is that in addition to recording, it plays back sound or movies at top quality too. You can use the Dazzle to make your Notebook system sound as good as a desktop even if you never make sound or movie recordings with it. There is one caveat that may or may not be a problem for your show sound. The Dazzle is not a "sound card" that your notebook can "pipe" sound into. You have to play your music .WAV files through the Dazzle, independently-timed (by you) with your P2E show. NOTE to PTE Forum members: Has anyone yet found a PC card plugin sound card for notebook systems? This would really be a direct fit for good built-in sound from PTE shows. The last time I looked there was no such PC card on the market. Thanks for any tips you may have. So this gives you some options Jeff. Good luck! Cheers!