GRAPHICS DEVELOPER WITH SLIDE SHOW README TEXT (software version 2.6) Copyright (C) SKISOFT 1994-1995 INTRODUCTION: Graphics Developer With Slide Show (GDWSS) is an application designed to help you browse, search, find, create, view, enhance, convert, and print your picture files. You can crop it, adjust the shading, size, orientation, placement on the page, aspect ratio, and save an ordered list of files to display again or as a screen saver. You can even reduce the color content and convert color images to gray scale images for laser printing. GDWSS works with many different kinds of picture file types such as TIFF, GIF, JPEG, PICT, Raster, Targa, Bitmap, and more. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: * Microsoft Windows 3.1 and DOS 5.3 or higher * A hard disk and a mouse * 486/25 MHz or higher recommended * A minimum of 4 Meg of RAM; 8 Meg recommended * Approximately 1.5 Meg of hard disk space * To edit images, you'll need Windows PaintBrush or another graphics editor program GDWSS FEATURES: * Extensive file format support, including support for TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PCX, DCX, CUT, PICT, EPS, GIF, Targa, and Sun Rasterfile. * Extensive image manipulation and editing capabilities including sharpening, blurring, line detect, emboss, mosaic, filp, rotating, crop, warp and scaling, re-orienting, and re-sizing. * Adjust color controls such as brightness, contrast, and gamma, or convert color images to black-and-white or gray scale for printing. * Supports 8-bit palette optimization which prevents color distortion. * MDI support allows for multiple image display and editing. * Easy search and selection of graphic files. * Graphics Slide Show. * Gallery display as thumbnails, and printing. * Save/Load Gallery files. * Accepts screen captures. * Works with it's own Screen Saver program. * Allows drag/drop from File Manager. * GDWSS will automatically load to any image editor. * Supports all Windows-compatible graphics printers. * HALO Imaging VBXs were developed by Media Cybernetics, industry leaders in imaging technology since 1985. INSTALLING GDWSS: If you received one compressed file: 1) Unzip GDWSS.ZIP or run GDWSS.EXE from DOS or Windows File Manager to expand the files. If you received a disk with all of the compressed files or after expanding the files: 2) Run SETUP.EXE which will uncompress the files and install GDWSS to the default or selected directory and create icons in Program Manager. The following files are installed in the same directory: GDWSS.EXE GDWSS.HLP MACAWS.JPG README.TXT UNINSTAL.BAT The following files are installed in the WINDOWS directory: GDWSSSS.SCR GDWSSSS.HLP The following files are installed in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. If you do not wish to use the GDWSS Screen Saver, you can move all of these files from WINDOWS/SYSTEM to the GDWSS directory except for CMDIALOG.VBX, THREED.VBX, and MSGBLAST.VBX. CMDIALOG.VBX THREED.VBX MSGBLAST.VBX HGC.VBX HIC.VBX COMMDLG.DLL HIFFL.DLL HILCONV.DLL HILENH.DLL HILIMMGR.DLL HILXFORM.DLL IFFBMP.DLL IFFEPS.DLL IFFGIF.DLL IFFHCUT.DLL IFFJPEG.DLL IFFPCX.DLL IFFPICT.DLL IFFRAS.DLL IFFTGA.DLL IFFTIFF.DLL GDWSS is written in Visual Basic Ver 3.0. You will need the runtime DLL for Visual Basic: VBRUN300.DLL. This may not come with your copy but can be downloaded from most online services. If you have installation problems, send me an EMail on: CompuServe 73042,3371 America Online Skibby Internet 73042,3371@compuserve.com Skibby@aol.com GETTING STARTED: To begin using Graphics Developer With Slide Show double click on the GDWSS icon in Program Manager created by GDWSS SETUP.EXE or double click on GDWSS.EXE in File Manager. Graphics Develeper and Slide Show are combined into one program. You can create two seperate icons in Program Manager, one to start Slide Show directly and one to start Graphics Developer directly. To have the Slide Show form come up first use "GDWSS.EXE /SS" in the command line. To have Graphics Developer come up first use "GDWSS.EXE" or "GDWSS.EXE /DEV" in the command line. You can also follow GDWSS.EXE with a path and file name and Graphics developer will be first to start with that picture file. See GDWSS.HLP for more information on using GDWSS. The Graphics Developer Screen Saver is copied to your Windows directory. To run it you must go to the Windows Control Panal, click on Desktop and choose "GDWSS Scrn Svr" from the list. Use the Setup button to specify which .SSG gallery file you want to use. WHAT'S NEW New additions from version 2.5 to version 2.6: - Graphics Developer Filter Preview - GDWSS Screen Saver - Save/Load Gallery thumbnails to a file - Sort Gallery thumbnails - Delete Gallery thumbnails - Change Windows Wallpaper from the Gallery - Drag Drop picture files from File Manager to GDWSS - Misc bug fixes UPGRADES Registered users of GDWSS will receive a free upgrade to version 2.6. You should receive instructions on how to receive your upgrade in the mail. If you do not receive it, send me an E-mail or a letter and we will take care of it. UNINSTALL To uninstall Graphics Developer, run UNINSTAL.BAT located in the directory GDWSS.EXE is located. You may need to edit the file if you specified a location other than C:\GDWSS. You can also manually deleting the program files listed above. You probably do not want to delete CMDIALOG.VBX, THREED.VBX, or COMMDLG.DLL from your Windows\System direcory. They may be used by other programs. SHAREWARE/REGISTRATION: Graphics Developer With Slide Show is a shareware program. You may use it for a trial period of up to 30 days. After that time, you must register your copy of the program. The registration fee is $25. Registered users will receive the very latest version of the program, notification of future releases, and full online support. To register your copy: run the program and when the About form is displayed, click on the Register button and a registration form will be displayed. Click on the Print Topic button to print out a registration form. Fill out the registration form and mail it with your payment to the address on the form. You will be mailed the most recent, registered version of Grahics Developer. If you do not use the registration form, send your name and address and check or money order to: Mike Skibeness 3499 223rd Street SW Brier, WA 98036 Feel free to copy and distribute the unregistered version of GDWSS.ZIP, unmodified. FUTURE UPDATES: Plans for future releases include: 1. Adding paint features 2. Adding TWAIN-compatible scanning functions 3. User manual 4. Any bug fixes. 5. Any other user suggestions. TROUBLE SHOOTING TIPS: 1. Format conversion problems - some formats will not convert to others. Try reducing the number of colors, changing palettes, or going to greyscale. For example to convert from .BMP to .JPG or be able to use the FILTER functions, first convert the .BMP to Class "True Color" or "Grayscale", then you can use FILTERS and /or "Save As" with a .JPG extension. 2. If you want to convert your pictures so you can edit them with Windows Paint Brush first make sure you convert the image class to Palette, if it isn't already, using the Development Toolbar "Convert" option. Then use SaveAs .PCX or .BMP no compression. 3. If you bring up the .JPG files you received with GDWSS and they look grainy or off color, you can try to load a different display driver with more colors and/or a higher resolution. You do this by running C:\WINDOWS\SETUP.EXE. 4. Using full screen slide show with icons from the file list may not work correctly if the "Keep Existing Graphics" options is set. Turn this option off (located on the setup form) and try again. 5. Gallery printing may not work with some HP printers. If you have this problem, let me know and I will send you an update when the fixes are made to the HGC.VBX. 6. If you get an error during installation about not being able to load DDEMD.DL_, don't worry about it. You already have it in your system. Click OK to continue the intallation. 7. If you install all GDWSS files to the same directory and get a file not found error, re-run GDWSS SETUP.EXE and select the "copy to WINDOWS/SYSTEM" option or you can copy all VBX and DLL files in the GDWSS directory to your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory and try again. 8. GDWSS uses a lot of system resources. If it is running too slow or graphics are taking too long to load, your system may not have enough horsepower to run this application. 9. Memory Problems - Even at 8 Meg you can run into memory problems with this application since it is graphics intensive. 12 Meg or higher seems to work best. If you have 8 Meg or less, limit the number of thumbnails you create and display. Do not do a Find Files using a pattern of *.* which searches the entire hard drive. 10. GDWSS currently only supports writing to the Postscript (.EPS) graphics format. It will not read and display them. 11. If you use large or high resolution graphics for your screen saver, your PC might lock up due to lack of resources. Be careful how you set this up. LICENSE INFORMATION: Each copy of the program may be used on only one computer at any one time. If used on a network system, each user is considered to be using a distinct copy of the licensed program whether or not he or she is actually using it. SKISOFT, Inc. warrants that for a period of ninety days from the date of delivery of the licensed program, the program, if unmodified by the Licensee, will perform in substantial conformity with the user documentation. SKISOFT, Inc. does not warrant that the licensed program is free from coding errors. Any modifications to the licensed program shall thereafter be licensed AS IS. The above warranty does not apply to the extent that any failure of the licensed program to perform as warranted is caused by the licensed program being (1) not used in accordance with the user documentation, or (2) modified by any person other than authorized SKISOFT, Inc. personnel. LICENSOR MAKES AND LICENSEE RECEIVES NO OTHER WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The total liability of SKISOFT, Inc. for any claim or damage arising out of the use of the licensed program or otherwise related to this license shall be limited to direct damages which shall not exceed the license fee(s) which have been paid by Licensee to SKISOFT, Inc. for the specific client project which is the subject of such claim or damage. IN NO EVENT SHALL LICENSOR BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE FOR ADDITIONAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE LICENSED PROGRAM, EVEN IF LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.