ADVISORY:Diamond Stealth64 -------------------------- Diamond Stealth64 (was reported with S3 968 VRAM) users with bios version "U" may experience video driver-related problems. Upgrade your Windows video driver. Get 964133.EXE (self-extracting) or later, from Diamond http://www.diamondmm.com (at CIS, GO DMNDONLINE). ADVISORY:Mach32/64 ------------------ Older Mach64 drivers may crash during Quicktime for Windows playback. Backup your SYSTEM.INI file and ensure that the following entry exists in your [Macx] section. DeviceBitmap=OFF When scanning in 24-bit mode, a warning will pop up if the suggested change is not present. VidFun was tested with the latest Mach32/64 drivers. Mach32 driver v2.60 (Win31) Mach32 driver default (Win95) Mach64 driver v1.55 (Win31) <-preferred (faster AVI video via MVA) Mach64 driver v2.01 (Win31) <-slows down 16-bit AVI videos (MVA gone?) Mach64 driver v2.01 (Win95) <-get this, works well! SHAREWARE REGISTRATION ---------------------- 1. Select Help-Registering VidFun from it's Main menu. 2. Complete the automated registration form or print the Help file topic. 3. Send your registration form and fee. CompuServe subscribers can GO SWREG and register # 6583. After registration is received, you will be provided with a key (i.e., S/N) that is valid for all VidFun 1.x versions; in appreciation, the latest registered version will be sent to you as well. Registered users are provided with a telephone number for technical support. This key is linked to your registered name and can be used on single personal computer or workstation which is not used as a server. Another key is required for each use on another personal computer or workstation. VidFun is 100% fully-functional (no crippled functions); as such, the key is the only difference between being registered and unregistered. Under no circumstance should you disclose your key to anyone. Since the key is valid for all 1.x versions, we intend to update frequently and at will. With your support, updates will include more multimedia devices/features and file formats, exotic image processing, scanning processes (eg., descreen)... and eventually full hypermedia authoring. Support the Shareware Concept and we'll develop this product (and others) like nothing seen commecially ... otherwise, it will simply die from lack of support. SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTION ---------------------- You are encouraged to copy and distribute VIDFUN16.ZIP or VIDFUN16.EXE in it's unmodified and uninstalled form, to all your friends and associates as well as upload to various online services. Shareware Distributors that charge a nominal fee for media reproduction and distribution may copy and distribute in accordance with recognized Users Group and/or Association of Shareware Professionals guidelines. If distributing via CDROM, the complete set of extracted archive files may be copied to a separate directory without modification (as a convenience to new users, please include a copy of VBRUN300.DLL somewhere on the CDROM). As indicated in VidFun's setup, you must explicity agree to and optionally state the following disclaimer on your distributed media: "VidFun is distributed AS IS. Any expressed or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, warranties of merchantability and fitness for ANY use or purpose are specifically disclaimed. In no event shall the author be liable for ANY loss of profit or damage including, but not limited to special, consequential, incidental, or other damages." Online services/BBSs may recompress the original archive to another archive format (eg., ARJ, LHA) provided all original archive files (see README.1ST) are included in their unmodifed, uninstalled form. A README (or equivalent) file may be added stating anti-virus software used to verify archive and/or contact information of BBS or Shareware Distributor (eg., BBS phone, Address, Web site...); no other addition to the program archive is allowed. GETTING THE LATEST VERSION -------------------------- At AOL, click COMPUTING then go to Software Center and Search Software Libraries for "VIDFUN". At CIS, browse for VIDFUN.EXE (self-extracting); it is uploaded at various graphics, multimedia, entertainment and specialty forums. Not yet an AOL or CIS subscriber? Visit my Home Page. URL: http://users.aol.com/lgozum/vidfun.htm Check local BBSs too; use "VIDFUN" as keyword. CONTACTING THE AUTHOR --------------------- Email comments/suggestions to: AmericaOnline: LGozum CompuServe: 73437,2372 Internet: lgozum@user.rose.com or write to: Applied Insights Attn:Lawrence Gozum 100-310 Oriole Parkway Toronto, Ontario Canada M5P-2G8 MPEG MCI PLAYBACK: MPEG-ACCELERATOR CARDS & VMPEG ------------------------------------------------- MPEG video is supported via MCI (Media Control Interface). This requires a specific driver from the card's manufacturer and is not widely available. At this writing, a few have included MCI support (ie. MPG video can be played via MediaPlayer applet). There are several MPEG standards. MPEG-1 files are those typically found on the Internet; MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and proprietary variants (eg. motion JPEG) require MCI drivers specifically designed for your installed hardware. Do NOT enable VidFun's "Scaleable MPEG" Option (from View|Preferences menu) if you are not sure your video card AND MCI drives supports variably resized video windows (ie, any zoom factor, not just 2x or 4x). We strongly advise getting Stefan Eckart's VMPEG v1.7 (or later) MCI drivers; it is VERY stable, scaleable, facilitates synchronized audio via associated WAV file with MPEG-1 files and plays VideoCD files. Download it from ftp.netcom.com:/pub/cf/cfogg/vmpeg/ or search for VMPEG17.ZIP or VMEPG17.EXE at online services. 1. What does the "Scaleable MPEG" option do? If the "Scaleable MPEG" option is enabled, MPG video files will play like AVI or MOV (Quicktime) video files; however, volume and speed control will not work since the MCI drivers do not support it (they are included for drivers that may implement these features). Position and video size in slideshows is supported with this option. With "Scaleable MPEG" option disabled (default), MPG video files will play as non-scaleable animation files (eg., FLI); the MCI driver is responsible for window creation/update (usually fixed and centered). 2. Does my video card support scaleable MPEG? If you card does not support scaleable MPEG playback, don't fret. As long as the MCI driver does (eg., Eckart MCI driver), VidFun will use it's feature set. ATI's Mach64 MPEG driver (v2.01) is NOT scaleable. Video cards based on S3 (Trio32/Trio64, Vision864, Vision964) chipsets do NOT support scaling. Weitek 9100, S3 (928, Trio64V+, Vision868, Vision968), Trident 9680, Alliance ProMotion 641 and Matrox MGA 2064W chipsets support scaling. With all other video cards you will have to ask your card's manufacturer! 3. Why are total number of frames wrong? Sometimes the MPEG file will stop or loop from the middle of certain files. Other times it will continue playing even if it is supposedly the end of the file. Depending on your MCI driver and the way the MPG file was encoded (the way "key" frames are encoded and read), the total number of frames reported by the MCI device will be wrong. As a precaution, total frames are limited to 32767 frames (about 18 minutes). Regardless of this quirk, VidFun will loop when file playback has stopped; also, random access of frames beyond the total number of frames will not cause an error. 4. Why is video playing in "double" or "triple" speed? It varies with the MCI driver and file encoding. Some files were encoded to compensate for smooth full screen (640x480) video. 5. Why is there no audio ? Most MPG files found on the Internet are silent movies. Some have WAV files (with the same name) as their audio track; some drivers will not synchronize playback or play the *.WAV file at all. Eckart's driver, however, does an admirable job at synchronizing WAV audio. 6. Why are colors "wrong" in 8bit+4 mode? This is a "supersampling mode" designed for video playback at 2x or 4x it's actual image dimensions. Double the Window size (via video configuration) if "Scaleable MPEG" option is disabled. With "Scaleable MPEG" option enabled, press to double the window or select 200% zoom (or greater) from Video Window menu. 7. Why are colors grainy? You have configured playback for 8-bits (256-colors). Change MPEG video configuration to 24-bits if your video card and driver supports it. 8. I get an MCI error ? This is cutting edge stuff! Many MCI driver implementations are not yet stable. If this happens, you should close VidFun and restart Windows. Read the VIDEO SETUP & DIAGNOSIS section at the end of this doc; it may help avoid potential problems. I'm looking forward to Microsoft's MCI driver; if it's anything like their AVI drivers with Win95, it "should" be very stable and fast. For now, VMPEG is the way to go! PROBLEMATIC JPEG FILES ---------------------- Some JPG files found on the Internet cause an error. These are usually found from files created on Macs. Turn OFF "Fast JPG Decode" option to view these files (if they aren't totally trashed to begin with). XMOUSE ------ The XMOUSE utility to emulate Unix behavior of highlighting selections inhibits the slideshow pop-ups. Remove the exectuable from your Start-Up folder (or group) to avoid this problem. DIAGNOSING FLI/FLC SETUP ------------------------ If you get MCI driver errors when opening FLI/FLC files you may have an incomplete setup. Ensure proper setup by using Media Player to test playback. Check your SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI files for the following entries. In SYSTEM.INI file: [mci] Animation1=mciaap.drv In WIN.INI file: [mci extensions] fli=Animation1 APPLE QUICKTIME FOR WINDOWS (QTW) --------------------------------- To run *.MOV (Apple QTW MOVie) files, MCI (Media Control Interface) drivers for Windows are required. Use the Media Player applet to verify setup. To get the latest QTW drivers: 1. Visit Apple Computers' WWW Home Page http://www.apple.com 2. Click on Quicktime VR link and follow succeding links. 3. Download QTINSTAL.EXE and run it from Windows. Note: Win95's Media Player does not seem to support MOV playback; however, MCI-enabled apps, such as VidFun, can still play Quicktime MOV files as long as the MCIQTW.DRV exists (at this writing QTW 2.03 still supports MCI). If your video card seems incompatible with MOV playback, backup your QTW.INI file then modify the following sections' entries to look like this: [Options] VideoOptimize=DIB [Video] Optimize=DIB [QuickTime for Windows] Implementation=Full If you get MCI errors during playback, backup your SYSTEM.INI and check for following entry under the [mci] section (drive and directory may vary with your system). QTWvideo=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MCIQTW.DRV Also, check your WIN.INI file for the following entry under the [mci extensions] section. MOV=QTWvideo VIDEO SETUP & DIAGNOSIS ----------------------- Firstly, you MUST have Windows 3.1 or (or WfW). Win95 is preferred. 1. Should I update to VFW 1.1e (or later) or QTW 2.x (or later)? Win95 users already have the latest VFW drivers; Win31 users that play video files encoded with new compression schemes may get an MCI error and must download VFW11e.exe (or later); run it in a temporary directory (self-extracting), then run it's setup. For QTW, see previous section. Always back up your entire \windows and \windows\system directory so that you can restore your entire setup. 2. Is my video card incompatible ? Change your Windows graphics mode to VGA 640x480 (16 colors). Video files should play (jerky, slow and grainy). Test other video modes; if specific modes don't playback correctly, get/install updated drivers from your card's manufacturer. For QTW, see previous section regarding QTW.INI changes. 3. Insufficient Windows memory? Close all open applications. If video file plays then "insufficient memory" was the issue. "Ram-doublers" may help or cause problems; switch it off if you suspect a problem. 4. Multi-tasking interactions with other apps? Close all open applications - DOS sessions, screen savers, clocks, schedulers, Email/fax/comm apps, power savers ... anything using a timer or is in background. If video file plays then one or several of those apps caused an incompatible interaction. 5. 32-bit drive access? Depending on your hard disk, disk controller, non-standard DOS driver, and bus type (eg., VLB, PCI, ISA, EISA), a combination can exist that may be incompatible with video playback. Activate Control Panel and 386 Enhanced icon; TURN OFF 32-bit access (activate System icon in Win95). If that resolves your problem then it had to do with one of the components in the hard disk sub-substem(s). 6. Compressed drives. Do not play video files from compressed drives (eg., Stacker, ...). The device driver will interfere with rapid data transfer. Always place video files in the uncompressed drive.