ReadMe for MIDI Genie 0.92 copyright (c) 1997 Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen Purpose of MIDI Genie 0.92 -------------------------- MIDI Genie 0.92 is a MIDI file playback programs for Windows 95 (Windows NT? It's possible, but I'm not sure.) Features including: * CD player like control buttons * Sequential playing of multiple MIDI files * File box to select the MIDI file on your harddisk and add them to play list * Arrange and sort the order of songs in the play list box easily * Save the path and name of songs in the play list box to paly list files (*.mpl) and retrieve them later to paly * Four playing modes supports: Auto, Repeat, Loop and Random * Convenient interface including pop up menus and speed buttons * Flexible display: can showing fully or partly, can also stay on top of windows of other applications * Save options to store your prefer options of playing modes and display, your favorite list could be auto loaded when the program starts System Requirement ------------------ Windows 95 A Pentium equivalent or better CPU A soundcard (Wavetable is much better than FM) Installed MIDI driver (shoud have shipped with every soundcard) Installation ------------ Simply unzip MIDIG092.zip and run setupex.exe. The user of ver. 0.9.0 need to uninstall it before install ver. 0.92. Differences between ver. 0.9.0 and ver. 0.92 -------------------------------------------- Not many differences... I have: * Fixed a bug happened when showing the about box (It was covered by the main window and couldn't be seen), no stay-on-top when it's full size now * Fixed a too obvious bug in codes of 'display control only' button * Added a menu check item 'Menu' under 'Display', you can hide the main menu by unchecking it. * Added a pop up menu on control buttons, you may restore the hiding main menu by checking 'Menu' under 'display'. (So many menus!) Cost ---- This version of MIDI Genie is a freeware. It means you may use it with no charge, not even one cent! Beware: This program is not, and will never be a Public Domain. The author plans to release a version 1.0 shareware with fully bug fix and more features. However, if you feel happy in using this program, you're welcome to help the author in any following ways: Distribute it to your friends, FTP sites, WEB sites, BBS, the more the better Submit a bug report Suggest for improvements and new features Teach me a few tricks in programming (DOS, Windows, C++ Builder, Visual Basic) Correct my spelling and grammar mistakes Help me to get a job (It's really sad to be unemployed!) Any small amount of donation...one cent? :-) etc, etc... How to Contact Me? ------------------ You may contact me at my E-Mail Address (soon expired!): hljyen@socs.uts.edu.au my postal address PO Box 230 Kensington NSW 2033 Australia Help ---- No help file is available at the moment. * You may keep the mouse pointer over the same button for a while, then you'll see some hint text. * You may click right mouse button on the file box, list box or control buttons, you'll find three different pop up menus. * You may double click at the label of play modes besides the counter to toggle their status. * Want to autoload a play list you like when the program starts? Easy. Just choose 'save options' in options menu or click the 'save options and layout' button when that list is playing. This will also save the names of current file box directory and the last directory where you have saved or opened a MIDI play list file. Problems -------- The digit counter is not accurate any more after the user pressing the 'forward' button. Other bugs? I hate them, but they like me. So please submit bug report to me. Thanks List ----------- Thanks to people in Borland C++ Builder Newsgroups: Kent Reisdorph, Michael McDonough and many more... Thanks to Ylian Saint-Hilaire for his free sharing of Digitbox component. Thanks to Alan GARNY for his free sharing of Threaded Timer component. Disclaimer ---------- I've tested this program for many times on my Cyrix 686-166 with 32 MB RAM and MAUI Soundcard. It never caused any problem to my software and hardware. It shoud be preety safe because the MIDI Play List file (*.mpl) including only normal file and path name in plain text. But I still have to insist here: I will not be responsible for any damages caused by this program, no matter to whom, your computer, your wife or your dog. It's your business. You run your own risk in using this freeware program.