can't make proofing CDs

[bethh]

I am a professional photographer and I have made countless proofing CDs in P2E for my clients. I now can't make it save properly and create the correct .exe file type. there are 2 different types of .exe's my computer will make in P2E, one works, the other doesn't. I do not know what I am doing wrong but it won't work properly anymore. Please help and walk me thru this from step 1.

[Lin Evans]

Hi Beth,

I need a bit more information. I understand correctly you want to place an executable file on a CD for your customer. There is only one "exe" file, I'm not certain what you mean by "two different types of .exe's".

All you need is to place the executable file on the CD along with the necessary autorun.inf file. If you can fill me in on exactly what you want to achieve, maybe I can walk you through it.

Best regards,

Lin

I am a professional photographer and I have made countless proofing CDs in P2E for my clients. I now can't make it save properly and create the correct .exe file type. there are 2 different types of .exe's my computer will make in P2E, one works, the other doesn't. I do not know what I am doing wrong but it won't work properly anymore. Please help and walk me thru this from step 1.

[PhotoPhil]

I am a professional photographer and I have made countless proofing CDs in P2E for my clients. I now can't make it save properly and create the correct .exe file type. there are 2 different types of .exe's my computer will make in P2E, one works, the other doesn't. I do not know what I am doing wrong but it won't work properly anymore. Please help and walk me thru this from step 1.

We're test driving PTE 5.0 for making proof CD/DVD's. During our brief testing it isn't obvious how to display each image's filename on screen during the slideshow. This is used for clients to specify which image they'd like to order for printing.

Are we overlooking something simple somewhere to display each images filename during the slideshow?

[Lin Evans]

From either the main screen or objects & animations screen click on the "Project options" button then the Comments tag then "Set text comments for new slides" the click the Icon at the far right then choose "Picture name with extension" and then click on "Set for existing slides".

Lin

We're test driving PTE 5.0 for making proof CD/DVD's. During our brief testing it isn't obvious how to display each image's filename on screen during the slideshow. This is used for clients to specify which image they'd like to order for printing.

Are we overlooking something simple somewhere to display each images filename during the slideshow?

[PhotoPhil]

From either the main screen or objects & animations screen click on the "Project options" button then the Comments tag then "Set text comments for new slides" the click the Icon at the far right then choose "Picture name with extension" and then click on "Set for existing slides".

Lin

Got it! We knew it had to be in there somewhere. Thanks Lin!

[bethh]

Hi Beth,

I need a bit more information. I understand correctly you want to place an executable file on a CD for your customer. There is only one "exe" file, I'm not certain what you mean by "two different types of .exe's".

All you need is to place the executable file on the CD along with the necessary autorun.inf file. If you can fill me in on exactly what you want to achieve, maybe I can walk you through it.

Best regards,

Lin

Hi Lin,

When I get to the create part and click that, the .exe file, what shows up in My Documents looks like a box with a blue border across the top, white in the center and 3 little dots on the upper right corner. That one does not work. P2E previously would create an .exe file (that I am assuming is your "logo") with a musical note in the box and light blue, green and yellow imaging on it. That one does work. I have never added in the autorun.inf file to make it work. it just worked.

[Lin Evans]

Hi Beth,

What you are describing is the "icon" which you click on to run the executable file Icons can look many different ways but are not the file itself, just a "link" that can be clicked on to run the file.

If you click with the left mouse button when the cursor rests over that box, does the slideshow then run? If so, then it will also run from a CD, but to run without someone having to click on it, it requires another file called "autorun.inf" which tells Windows to "executed" the file named in the autorun.inf command.

If you will tell me the name of your file I will make an autorun.inf file for you which you can then copy and edit to substitute the name of any slideshow you make. It's a very simple little file which looks like this:

[autorun]

OPEN=myfilename.exe

ICON=myfilename.exe,0

The name of the file above must be "autorun.inf"

where the "myfilename.ext would be the name of your executable.

This file goes on the CD along with the executable file itself. When Windows sees an "autorun" file it automatically looks for the file named in the autorun.inf and executes that files commands. In this case it would run the slideshow.

Please click on the icon produced by PTE and tell me if it runs the show on your computer.

Best regards,

Lin

Hi Lin,

When I get to the create part and click that, the .exe file, what shows up in My Documents looks like a box with a blue border across the top, white in the center and 3 little dots on the upper right corner. That one does not work. P2E previously would create an .exe file (that I am assuming is your "logo") with a musical note in the box and light blue, green and yellow imaging on it. That one does work. I have never added in the autorun.inf file to make it work. it just worked.

[Davidh12]

Just one thing to be aware of as I discovered.

My Security software (F-secure) won't allow me to run an exe file from my CD drive.

When I disable it it runs fine otherwise it either won't run or hangs the system (XP).

David

[Conflow]

BETH and Photo Phil,

Following on from Lins excellent Tutorial on Autorun ~should you still have difficulties ~ here under is a "Link" to a small Auto-Run Program and a Screenshot of same. This Program will autorun virtually anything even Pdf's.

Also for your Clients you can create an "Intro Splash Screen" with "Intro Music" about 5-8 secs duration which announces your Clients Proof CD ~ it add's that professional touch ~ simply dump the lot on the CD, thats it !

Brian.Conflow.

Link:-

http://www.rjlsoftware.com/?autorun

[alrobin]

I would like to second Brian's suggestion re RJL's autorun utility. I was having intermittent problems getting the simple autorun to work on my pc, but on Brian's advice I installed the Autorun program from RJL and have not had a problem since.

[sinbad15]

Why should it be necessary to download another program to get this one to work?

[Conflow]

Why should it be necessary to download another program to get this one to work?

Craig,

Because simple 'Autorun Scripts' (like the example shown) which should Autorun a CD don't always

work and can be erratic for many reasons. Also 'Script Autoruns' are NOT part of the PTE Program.:-

Example:

[ autorun]

OPEN=filename.exe

ICON=filename.exe,0

A simple space error before or within [autorun] like above, will stop it, so will Font errors ~ so will

errors in the National Language used by the creator.

Not everyone uses a TT Font and not every Font is 'unicode' compatible in all National Languages,

also dropping the full-stops or comma will also stop it.

These are all simple errors and very human to make.

Better to use a 'structured' Program guided by Windows to do this critical but simple job with elegance !

Brian.Conflow.