Menu Construction (Solved)

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Yesterday I tested my menu for my first public presentation of 2013 & was devastated to see the dreaded desk top flash back had returned. When I asked the question last year "when would this be sorted" I got a flip answer telling me to try the latest version 7.5??? for myself to see. I still haven't downloaded 7.5, this being one of the reasons. The reason for the desk top flash back in my current menu I believe was that I had left the hardware acceleration box ticked in project options. This particular menu was made adding video clips & 3D transitions, which cannot be done with HA switched off in 7.07, so I'm between the devil & the deep blue sea, do I have a bog standard menu with HA off, or the all singing & dancing menu with flash back with HA switched on. I campaigned long & hard last year for this to be sorted, with, as far as I know no action from the management. For those of us presenting public shows with multiple exe files, this is a basic requirement & a retrograde step that was brought in as far back as 7.03.

Maybe now Peter has relinquished his moderator role, he could give us a more candid less partizan view of the problem & its progress in 7.5.

I would finish by saying I am sorry to see Peter go, in the 5 years I have known him, we haven't always seen eye to eye particularly on the moderation front, however his dedication to PTE & its development has been steadfast & comitted & in my opinion will be sadly missed. :(/>/>/>/>

Yachtsman1

[Barry Beckham]

Eric

I can't help having this thought, whenever I read your frustrations with PTE as a menu. I understand how little things can sometimes get under your skin, but with the amount of shows you do, perhaps you should consider a dedicated menu maker. Are we not expecting PTE to be what it really isn't. It allows us to create a few buttons and works reasonably well, but on a menu front its not in the same league as a dedicated product. The term Jack of all trades master of none has been used on this forum in similar circumstances and some menbers are nervous that it will spread its wings too wide.

Collectively we want a top notch slide show maker, we want a top notch sound editor, you want it to be a full blown menu maker, others want their image editing done, others want detailed video editing, phew, its enough to have Igor selling to the highest bidder and taking off to the Bahamas, or somewhere even better like the Sunshine Coast of Australia :lol:/>

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Eric

I can't help having this thought, whenever I read your frustrations with PTE as a menu. I understand how little things can sometimes get under your skin, but with the amount of shows you do, perhaps you should consider a dedicated menu maker. Are we not expecting PTE to be what it really isn't. It allows us to create a few buttons and works reasonably well, but on a menu front its not in the same league as a dedicated product. The term Jack of all trades master of none has been used on this forum in similar circumstances and some menbers are nervous that it will spread its wings too wide.

Collectively we want a top notch slide show maker, we want a top notch sound editor, you want it to be a full blown menu maker, others want their image editing done, others want detailed video editing, phew, its enough to have Igor selling to the highest bidder and taking off to the Bahamas, or somewhere even better like the Sunshine Coast of Australia :lol:/>/>/>/>

Barry

For you to reply to my post in such a codescending manner is only to be expected. However I will bite my tongue & reply as this. If the developers would answer one of my queries with a definitive answer to the menu bug made over the past 12 months it would at least clear the air one way or another. If there is no intention to correct the anomoly in the system present after version 7.03 where i was able to use Exe files from any series in a menu, and have no intention of doing so for the forseeable future, one would know how to proceed, It's like have all the goodies in the shop window but finding they are not for sale.

When I referred to partizan in my initial post, I class your reply as "Partizan" in that you have a financial interest in the product, & I would expect a similar response from the moderators & developers who tend to be very defensive when critisims are voiced. However, the fact remains, PTE cannot be used to create a menu using the current features such as 3D & video in 7.07 & nobody will confirm or deny it can or can't be done in 7.5???, I may be a lone voice on here, but I can assure you that many others would throw their hats in the air if they could use it to create their menus the way they want to.

While we are on the subject of getting PTE to do what I would like it to, scrolling text, & video editing has been on my wish list for ages, scrolling text has never been the same since mipmapping became automatic. Video editing without conversion would be a boon.

If none of these 3 items are to be addressed in the near future, I may take a look at your suggestion to use a separate programme for menu construction, but that would be a sad day for me & PTE & may force me to look elsewher for my basic AV software.

Finally, on the subject of Igor selling up, I predicted that to one of the moderators a couple of months ago.

Yachtsman1.

[stonemason]

Eric

I use PTE created menu's to run all my slideshows, using the "Run slideshow with return" option. There are no desktop flashbacks using this method. However the one problem with using this method is that all the menu's and slideshows have to be created using the same version of PTE. I am using version 7.5.4, which meant that I had to go through all my slideshow and menu files and recreate the exe's using that version. Sounds a bit of a chore, but I have about 50 shows, and am reasonable well organised, and the whole process took about 20-30 minutes. I would recomend version 7.5.4 as soon as you are able as the recent developments have improved the software considerably

Geoff

[PGA]

I use PTE created menu's to run all my slideshows, using the "Run slideshow with return" option.

That's the way I work, too.

As I understand it, because PTE takes exclusive control of the graphics hardware in order to play our sequences so smoothly and flawlessly, it has to wrest this control away from Windows. Using "Run Slideshow..." to transfer control from the MENU.EXE to the TARGET.EXE ensures that PTE never relinquishes that control over the graphics hardware between sequences. Using "Run Application..." instead gives Windows a chance to grab control back in between the Menu.EXE and the TARGET.EXE and then PTE has to wrest control back from Windows again.

My understanding is based on information which Igor posted on the forum back in the days when Windows Vista had just been launched (possibly around the time of PTE v5.0 or v5.5). We have had to live with this ever since the days of Windows Vista. Way back then Igor introduced the option of "Run Slideshow..." as the solution to the problem. It is a solution that works if you are showing sequences you have built yourself.

PGA

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Geoff & Peter

Thanks for replying, however have you tried using 3D transitions & video clips in your menus in 7.5.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[stonemason]

Geoff & Peter

Thanks for replying, however have you tried using 3D transitions & video clips in your menus in 7.5.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

Do you mean in the menu Eric, or in the slideshows themselves. If you mean in the slideshows, then yes to 3D transitions, but no to video.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Do you mean in the menu Eric, or in the slideshows themselves. If you mead in the slideshows, then yes to 3D transitions, but no to video.

Hi Geoff

Just knock up a simple sample menu in 7.5 & use a 3d transition & a video clip, & if it is needed in 7.5 hardware acceleration ticked in the "screen" tab in Project Options. See if you can use 3D & Video in the menu.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[PGA]

Thanks for replying, however have you tried using 3D transitions & video clips in your menus in 7.5.

Hi Eric,

No I have not used 3D transitions or video clips in my menus. To be honest, I wouldn't want to. I want the audience to remember me for the main sequences and not for a "gee whizz" menu sequence. In any case, because I use "Run Slideshow..." I would not expect any problems whether I had a "gee whizz" menu or a simple vanilla one. Are you implying that you do use "Run Slideshow..." and still have problems if you have a "gee whizz" menu? If that is the case, I'll do some tests over the weekend and report back.

regards,

PGA

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Eric,

No I have not used 3D transitions or video clips in my menus. To be honest, I wouldn't want to. I want the audience to remember me for the main sequences and not for a "gee whizz" menu sequence. In any case, because I use "Run Slideshow..." I would not expect any problems whether I had a "gee whizz" menu or a simple vanilla one. Are you implying that you do use "Run Slideshow..." and still have problems if you have a "gee whizz" menu? If that is the case, I'll do some tests over the weekend and report back.

regards,

PGA

Yes.

Regards Eric

PS there was a long thread on the subject back in late summer when it was thought 7.5 would be the cure all. If it isn't I would know how to proceed.

[PGA]

A very quick test using v7.5.4. Single slide menu sequence. Set to repeat show at end of slide and show cursor always. Background is a video clip. Two thumbnail images (one to launch Rubik's Cube sequence, one to launch Tocketts Mill sequence). Rubik's thumbnail rotates 360 about X axis, Tocketts thumbnail rotates 360 about Y axis (a weird effect during rotation of both but that's another matter). Using "Run Slideshow with Return" on both thumbnails. Publish the menu and both target shows using v7.5.4. Launch the menu sequence, then launch Rubik from the thumbnail and then Esc out of Rubik, followed by launch Tocketts off its thumbnail and Esc out of Tocketts. No problems at all with any desktop flashbacks. Totally professional appearance to the audience.

Haven't time to do more: it's NE AV Group meeting night and must dash.

PGA

[Lin Evans]

Hi Eric,

Why is it that you can't simply download the latest version of PTE like everyone else and try it for yourself? Seriously, it's unrealistic to expect others do your homework for you simply because you are being rather hard headed about this.

The desktop flash "bug" is not with PTE, it's a Windows issue which has been adequately explained to you on several occasions. All shows need to be made with the same version of PTE and as Barry has explained, even thought PTE can be used to create menus, there are products made specifically for that purpose which may better serve your needs.

Scrolling text is essentially no different right now that it has been in the past since the introduction of vector type text and has absolutely nothing to do with mipmapping. There will be improvements in the area of text handling as PTE matures, but I'm unclear on what you mean about "video editing" being on your "wish list for ages?" You've only been using video a very short while with PTE and the amount of video editing capabilities in this program right now are better than the vast majority of other similar software which are available. After all, PTE is not a video editor nor is it an audio editor. It's a presentation tool with some video and audio editing features. Both video and audio features have continually been improved since their introduction in the product.

There are reasons why things are done in the manner they are, and many times these reasons are beyond your or my ability to understand because we are not privy to the developers code, issues and problems. No one is being "defensive;" you are assuming such because your questions can not always be easily addressed. Nobody is trying to avoid your questions and issues, but often your questions could easily be answered by "you" if you would simply download the latest versions and learn how they work. We all have other things to do in our lives and understand that you have other interests too. On the other hand we must all make choices about what is important to us. If understanding how to use the software is important enough to you, you will download the latest versions and keep up with development changes. Instead, your methodology as I perceive it, is to ask for help before you've even tried to find the answers for yourself. Most people on the forum have bent over backward to help you and often while shaking their heads and wondering why you ask questions that almost everyone who has actually "used" the latest version already knows the answer to.

Wouldn't it be nice to see the answers to your questions revealed by your own experimentation? Try it, you may be completely and pleasantly surprised!

Best regards,

Lin

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Lin

Still getting 2 emails of the same reply from PTE of yours.

Can't answer you posts yet, back later. Quickly read Peter's reply but did see a set 3D transition, just a 3D animation mentioned.

Regards Eric

Back after Silent Witness & Graham Norton.

Yachtsman1.

[Barry Beckham]

Well, that's a relief. I was worried there for a minute thinking you might miss Graham Norton.

It's such a relief you know you didn't.

Thanks for the post, I was able to sleep without worrying.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Well, that's a relief. I was worried there for a minute thinking you might miss Graham Norton.

It's such a relief you know you didn't.

Thanks for the post, I was able to sleep without worrying.

I've told you before, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, you won't win friends & influence people by adopting that attitude.

Nortons starting now but I may come back when you've gone to bed. Any more & I'll block you from posting on my threads as well as PM's.

Yachtsman1.

[Barry Beckham]

Well, I don't think you can complain about my sarcasm, not you of all people.

My original post to you, believe it or not, was sincere, I have been doing a web project myself recently where similar small frustrations grow into something annoying because it seems we don't have control of them, but they affect what we are doing badly. So my original suggestion wasn't made in a condescending way, implied or not. I was making a real suggestion and in some way commiserating with you. I was also making the point that most of us don't want our software to even try to be a master of everything. I am just happy if it does the core job and gets that right, which PTE does.

The fact that you seem to find offense in EVERYTHING I say is a little baffling from my end. Lighten up and don't try so hard to be the stubborn old Yorkshireman that you are. Most of it comes naturally anyway. Now that was sarcasm :P/>

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Well, I don't think you can complain about my sarcasm, not you of all people.

My original post to you, believe it or not, was sincere, I have been doing a web project myself recently where similar small frustrations grow into something annoying because it seems we don't have control of them, but they affect what we are doing badly. So my original suggestion wasn't made in a condescending way, implied or not. I was making a real suggestion and in some way commiserating with you. I was also making the point that most of us don't want our software to even try to be a master of everything. I am just happy if it does the core job and gets that right, which PTE does.

The fact that you seem to find offense in EVERYTHING I say is a little baffling from my end. Lighten up and don't try so hard to be the stubborn old Yorkshireman that you are. Most of it comes naturally anyway. Now that was sarcasm :P/>/>

You are now fully barred, life's too short to read idiotic remarks.

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Lin & Peter

I've just trawled back through my previous posts on the matter from 2012.

Peter, the menu you describe is not what I use, whether that is the problem? I use a manual system system to advance through the slides in the system, whether this is the difference? In my previous posts with Stu, he mentions there could be problems using manual alone & suggests mixing auto & manual advance.

Lin, we've said it all before & beg to differ, I don't have your knowledge of computing & the reasons why I could be having the problems I have. Specifically, my scrolling text worked fine with mipmapping, without it, it glitches, I've been using video since July last year in practically every show I've made since then (over 40), I made the suggestion about manually disabling the conversion side of PTE's editing/conversion function at the beginning of this year I think, Peter at first disagreed, but then saw the advantages to users of none home made clips such as YouTube.

Re the flashback. It doesn't happen on my desktop, only my LT which I use only for the public shows. You may recall when I bought it I was having trouble with it handling more complex PTE shows & eventually contacted the builders support & found out it had two graphics cads, one being bog standard that comes with the LT chassis & the other the hi spec NVIDIA, & that I had to authorise the NVIDIA each time I used PTE. To wrap this session up, I have again contacted the builder, when I spoke to them last year, he said the LT could be configured to use only the NVIDIA, but wouldn't advocate it due to increased battery drain & possible overheating. So I left things & each time I start a menu I right click the DT & select the NVIDIA to run. This is the only difference in spec to my DT, so whether the LT is switching back to the standard card & causing the flash I don't know. So I will let things lie until I have spoken to PC Specialists support., this is last years thread with Stu's comments on the matter.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[PGA]

Re the flashback. It doesn't happen on my desktop, only my LT which I use only for the public shows. You may recall when I bought it I was having trouble with it handling more complex PTE shows & eventually contacted the builders support & found out it had two graphics cads, one being bog standard that comes with the LT chassis & the other the hi spec NVIDIA, & that I had to authorise the NVIDIA each time I used PTE.

At last, the key piece of information in the context in which we need it. (Eric, I'm not implying you never provided it before; simply that you never mentioned in connection with this Menu thread until your recent post)

This problem, with laptops having both on-board graphics and a higher-spec nVidia dedicated graphics card, is now well documented in the AV fraternity in the UK. Wilmslow Guild AV Group bought a new laptop last year. They specified it should have nVidia graphics. Once they took delivery of it they discovered that it couldn't handle all the features of a PTE-created executable file. This was eventually isolated to this need to "Authorise" each and every executable file that was to use the graphics card. Their experiences were published in the latest edition of AV News (Issue 191 February 2013). The need to "authorise" the executable file to allow it to play using the nVidia is an acceptable solution for "traditional" software such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc. wwhich execute the same program no matter what you are doing within that program. The problem comes when software like PTE is used to create a whole variety of different executable files. The solution for your laptop has already been explained to you: have the machine re-configured to use the nVidia all the time.

The solution for Wilmslow Guild...? Return the laptop to the supplier on the grounds that it was not "fit for purpose" and get a full refund. They then got a mini-tower system built by someone who understood exactly what they required and, more importantly, understood how to build it so that it worked as required.

PGA

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Peter

So, are you saying when Wilmslow used their new LT with a PTE generated menu system it didn't use the NVIDIA card throughout the menu programme, even though initially authorised via the PTE menu icon. If so, that fact may be well documented elsewhere, but no one on here has mentioned it in my threads until now. I will mention this to my builder support when they make contact.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[PGA]

Eric,

A further thought... Why not post a link to a "backup in zip" of the menu exe that is causing you this grief? Then others can try to recreate your problem on their systems. We will also be able to inspect the inner working of the menu and might, who knows, find something wrong in the way you have set things up. As your own tag line states "A picture is worth a thousand words".

PGA

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Eric,

A further thought... Why not post a link to a "backup in zip" of the menu exe that is causing you this grief? Then others can try to recreate your problem on their systems. We will also be able to inspect the inner working of the menu and might, who knows, find something wrong in the way you have set things up. As your own tag line states "A picture is worth a thousand words".

PGA

Hi Peter

Just back from an expensive visit to B&Q to get the fittings to plumb in the new dishwasher. Just checked the menu & it's only 9MB so I'll post a link when I've finished my Bob(Eric)The Builder antics. See your new alter ego hasn't got a tag line yet?

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Peter & anyone else interested, the link is http://www.mediafire.com/?2b2jvcaez9gb2mj back to the plumbing.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[PGA]

Hi Eric,

Now that I see the features that you have used I'll try and set up something similar. Be back later.

PGA

[Guest Yachtsman1]

BTB has finished plumbing in the DW & the first wash is in progress, wish menus were as easy to sort.

Thanks Peter

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.