Copyright: Copyright ® 1995 Microworks.  All Rights Reserved.


Contents for Groove Town Help

Groove Town ®, from Microworks, is a high-end multimedia program  capable compiling MIDI song file collections and then later playing them back under different user option settings.  Groove Town was developed with the use of the new AWE ®.

To learn how to use help, press F1.

Introduction

What is Groove Town?

Tutorial - Learning to Compile a MIDI Collection

How to...

Add Songs to the Collection Track List

Change Advanced Playback Option Settings

Change Environment Option Settings

Clear the Collection Track List

Control the Main Playback Interface

Delete a Collection from the Database

Import Albums into Groove Town

Load a Collection from the Database

Remove Songs from the Collection Track List

Save a Collection to the Database

Use the Song Preview Command

Registration

About  Groove Town Shareware Edition

How to Register Groove Town

What you Receive When you Register Groove Town

Program Copyright © 1995-96 Microworks.  All Rights Reserved.

Graphics Copyright © 1995-96 Precision Graphics.  All Rights Reserved.


What is Groove Town?

Overview

Groove Town was written for the sole purpose of allowing MIDI users to have easy access to all of their favorite songs.  Originally, with the media player that ships with Windows, frequent use would make the user close, open, and then play each song only to have to load the next one avaliable again.  But now there is something much better - Groove Town!  Compile lists of your favorite MIDI songs once, save them, and then they will always be there later for you to hear again and again.

Database Saving

Users will love that Groove Town saves collections to a small database.  Never again will you have to search for your albums and load them again.  From the Collections Menu the user has immediate access to all of their collections.

Advanced Playback Options (Registered Version Only)

Groove Town incorporates some all new Advanced Playback Options like repeat current song, loop through collection list, and shuffle collection list (never the same order!).  The user has the choice to use these only if Groove Town has been registered - so register!

Special Command Switches (Registered Version Only)

If you have already compiled a collection then you can load the collection by using the switch defined below.  This giver the user the option to load a collection right away.
[/load] {(Collection Number)}

Or the user can have the first song in the collection that they specify, by collection number, be played when Groove Town loads.  Use the switch below for this.
[/play] {(Collection Number)}

Notes: The use of both options at the same time is redundant.  To only load use the load switch.  If you wish to load and play then use the play switch.  If Groove Town has been registered in the Registration Database when the database file is executed Groove Town will load and play the first collection avaliable.

(Collection Number -  The collection number is the same as it's position number in the Collection selection list..  Only collections that exist are valid,  all other collection numbers will be ignored.)

Import Albums from other MIDI Players

Other popular MIDI player include WinJammer Player ®, shipped with both shareware and registered version of WinJammer ® and the Juker ®.  The user has the option of switching over to Groove Town by importing all of his old albums into Groove Town's database.  Once this is done the need for the loose albums is nonexistant in Groove Town.  This allows for easy switch over.  If you plan on only using Groove Town you can delete these albums and their backup files (*.BAK) too.

Copyright Notices

The Juker ® and WinJammer Player ® are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

See Also

The Groove Town Tutorial

How to Register Groove Town


The Groove Town Tutorial

How to Compile a MIDI Collection for Playback

This is the fundamental process of Groove Town so let's learn how to do this right away.  First load Groove Town if you have'nt already.  Now select the button labeled "Collections", from here you can see the Collections Menu.  This is the center of the action.  At the top of the menu you can see the list of collections (you should have none).  To the left of that, a menu to select the types of files to show.  For right now we will leave that how it is.  Below the collection list you will see a list containing the song number(s) and name(s) of the MIDI files in the currently loaded collection (once again you will have none). To the right of all that you will see all of the familiar Windows dialogs.  You can select the drive, directory, and files you wish to include.

So do that now, select the drive and directory that you have one or two MIDI files in.  Remember that your MIDI files do not need to be in the same drive or directory to be in the same collection.  You can add a file to the collection by double clicking on the file you wish to add (it must have a .MID, .RMI, or .MFF ending) or by pressing the button labeled "Add" when the file that you want to add is highlited.  You will see that the file is now part of you collection.  Multiple adds are supported, click and drag the mouse to include every file you want to add and then select "Add".  You may do this as many times as you want.  Keep in mind that a collection may have up to 99 songs in it.  (If there is strong support to raise this limit in the next version of Groove Town I may change this.  Adding GrooveTown songs takes a huge amount of memory.)

Now that you have your small, or big, collection click on the button label "Save As" below the collection name list.  From here you can supply the name of your collection.  The collection name may have up to 40 characters - so be explicit in your naming.  For your first collection you could name it: "The Very First Collection I ever Made!".

Now that you have a collection we can preview any song in it.  Highlight a song and press the play button, or double click the file name in the collection list you want to hear.  It will start playing, to stop it press the stop button or to hear another double click it.  You now know exactly what is in your list and how many songs are in it, right?

So, let's say you accidently added one you didn't like that much.  You can remove songs with the remove command.  Select the file(s) you want to remove, remember you can multiple select to remove, and click the "Remove" button to the right of the play list.  The "Save" button immediatly comes to life.  You now have the option of saving and updating your collection. If you switch to another collection without saving all your changes are lost.  The same is true if you press the "Cancel" button or press the escape key.  If you click the "Done" button or press enter after changing a collection you are prompted asking if you want to save your collection.

To start a new collection fresh press the "Clear" button and select "Yes".  Now make a new collection and use the "Save As" command again.  This time when you are making the collection select "Add All" this adds all of the MIDI files in the current directory (or the first 99).  Save it and now you can switch between the two collections.

To delete a collection that you no longer want you can select the button labeled "Delete".  Do this and select "Yes".  You will see that the collection that was displayed is now gone.  Select from the collection name list, the remaining collection and then click "Done".

Selecting Advanced Playback Options (Registered Version Only)

After selecting "Done" you will see that the "Stop" (red square) button on the user control interface goes down indicating that a collection is loaded (ready to play) and is currently stopped.  From here select the Options Menu by clicking the button labeled "Options".  You can from here select your Adavnced Playback Options.  The "Loop" option simply has the collection run in a continuous loop after the last song has played.  The "Shuffle" option, well, shuffles the collection so that the playback is out of order (this does not effect the saved collection order).  The "Repeat" option has the song that is playing repeat over and over until you get tired of it and press the stop, forward, or reverse button.  To select these options simply check their boxes.  Of course, the loop and shuffle options have no effect during the repeat song option.

While playing or not you can move to the next or pervious song by clicking the forward or reverse arrows.  (Reverse is to the left, forward to the right).  You may also pause the current song by clicking the yellow pause button, to continue click the play button (green triangle) again.

Importing an Album into Groove Town

So, you think your ready? Well, that's good because it's really easy.  First stop the collection, if it's playing, select "Options" and then "Convert...".  To start select the type of album you will be importing.  Then type in the name of the new collection.  From the drive, directory and file part find your album and double click on it to add it to your new list.  You can compound many lists together (even different file types).  The same options are avaliable here in making your collection.  When you are done press the convert button, this is important.  Then exit the menu.  If you press play now your new collection will play.  You can go back to the Collection Menu and confirm that you album is there.

Well, that's about it.  You know it all and can now be demed a Groove Town expert.  You can make as many collections as you like now.  Remember as you use Groove Town you will get better and faster and will soon be using Groove Town  like a professional.  Now you are playing MIDI files like they were meant to be played.

Have fun and don't forget, if you want to keep Groove Town register!  ( You know you want the Advanced Playback Options too).


Adding Songs to the Collection Track List

Overview

This command allows you to add songs to your collections.  You can do this in two ways.  You can add a select number of songs at a time or you may add ever MIDI file in the current directory you are selecting files from.

How to Add Files to the Collection

Open the Collections Menu by clicking on the button labeled "Collections".  From there follow the familiar Windows file search routines.  Select your drive and directory from the right side of the menu.  For the file adding to work the file type must be set to "MIDI Sequencer".

If you have MIDI files avaliable to add you can add one individualy by double clicking on the file name with your left mouse button or by highlighting  the file(s) and then clicking on the "Add" button.  Note that you can select multiple files to add by pressing and holding down the left mouse button while draging the highlight over the files that you wish to add.

How to Add All Files to the Collection

Open the Collections Menu by clicking on the button labeled "Collections".  From there follow the familiar Windows file search routines.  Select your drive and directory from the right side of the menu.  For the file adding to work the file type must be set to "MIDI Sequencer".

If you have MIDI files avaliable to add you can add all of them by clicking once on the button labeled "Add All".  This will add every file in the current directory (or the first 99).  You can repeat this to add all of the songs again, but to allow for looping of the collection use the loop option avaliable for this.

Notes

Make sure to save your work.  If you switch to a different collection to view it or you click the cancel button (you can also press escape) all of your changes will be lost.  To save (update) click the save button.  To save to as a new collection name use the save as button.

See Also

Clearing the Collection Track List

Removing Songs from the Collection Track List

Using the Song Preview Command


Changing Advanced Playback Option Settings

Overview

With this you can set the options that you want to use for playback.  You have three choices: loop song collection, shuffle song collection, and repeat current song.  To get to the options menu select "Options..." from the Control Bar.

Using the Loop Collection Option

To use this select the option box so that it appears checked.  Now when the collection finishes playing the last song in the collection it will return to the first song in the collection and repeat the cycle again.  This option is infinate.  In the case of the collection containing only one song this option will yield the same results as the repeat current song option.

Using the Shuffle Collection Option

When you want to hear the songs in a collection but you are tired of always knowing which song will come next - use this option.  All of the songs are played before ever being repeated, just in a different order.

Using the Repeat Current Song Option

After this has been selected the song being played will be place in a loop of its own where it is repeated infinately.  By clicking on the next song or previous song button the song will be moved to the next (or previous depending on your choice) song.  This new song will then be the song being repeated.

See Also

Changing Environment Option Settings


Changing Environment Option Settings

Overview

These options control the environment in which Groove Town functions.  There are four options avaliable for user configuration.  They are: always on top, position of the Control Bar, load procedures, and exit prompting.  The default on all options is false.  To get to the options menu select "Options..." from the Control Bar.

Using the Always on Top Option

When you want Groove Town's Control Bar to float on top of all other windows, that is, you want it to always remain visible then select this option.  It is used to insure that the Control Bar is always within your plain sight.  If you wish for it to be hidden when switching between other tasks do not select this option.  This option is useful because Groove Town contains no minimize button.

Positioning the Control Bar on the Desktop

If you wish for Groove Town's Control Bar to be located at the top of the screen instead of the defaut bottom then select this option.  All other menus still appear in the center of the screen and are model and always on top.  Model means that no other for visible (Groove Town menus only) can be changed until that form is closed.  For instance if you open the collections menu then you can not click anywhere on the Control Bar until the collection menu is closed.

Loading Groove Town at Windows Startup

Some people wish for Groove Town to be loaded at Windows start up.  This means that when Windows finishes loading it will then load Groove Town.  (More advanced explinations will be given on how this is done and how it can be manipulated when you register.)  Collections can not be loaded or played during this procedure as of version 2.1 (registered).  We are currently working on a way to change this.

Using the Prompt on Exit Option

Some users may find it useful to be prompted when they click the Quit button.  This insures that the song is not accidently stopped and the application unloaded from use.  The option is especially useful when working late at night when you are not quite thinking!  The default is no prompting.

See Also

Changing Advanced Playback Option Settings


Clearing the Collection Track List

Overview

This is done when you wish to make a new collection.  Since Groove Town contains no new collection option you must clear the collection, add the songs you want to be included, and then use the save as option to save it as a new collection with a new name.  (If you specify a name to save a collection and it already exists you will be prompted to over write it.)

How to Clear a Collection

To clear a collection simply select the collection you wish to clear using the Collections selection box and then click on the "Clear" button.  You will be prompted to confirm your action.  From here you can select "No" to cancel the operation or "Yes" to continue and clear the collection track list.  If you now save the collection it will be saved empty and will not contain any songs for playback - this is useful in creating clutter.  (To delete a collection see How to Delete a Collection from the Database.)  Your now cleared collection can accept new song titles.  Use the "Save As" option to create a new collection from here.

See Also

Adding Songs to the Collection Track List

Removing Songs from the Collection Track List

Using the Song Preview Option


Controlling the Main Playback Interface

Overview

This is the main user interface (UI).  This is where the user controls the playback of the current collection loaded.  There are five buttons with five different commands associated with them.  The buttons are: previous track, next track, play, stop, and pause.  If no collection has been loaded then the buttons will not respond to any command.

Previous Track Command

This button is used to return the current track to the previous track avaliable in the collection.  If the current track is the first track then the song will be restarted (if playing) without loading a new track for play.

Next Track Command

This button is used to advance the current track in the loaded collection to the next avaliable song.  If the current track is the last track in the collection then that track will be restarted (if playing) and no new track will be loaded.  If the loop collection list option in selected (registered version only) the collection list will only cycle back to the first song after it has been played.

Play Command

This begins playing the selected track in the currently loaded collection.  When a track is playing no other application may use the MCI MIDI Sequencer.

Stop Command

This stops the currently selected and playing track in the currently loaded collection and then rewinds the song.  Pressing play again will restart the same track.  If a song is pause when this is used the same effects occur as if it were also playing.  (Position in the song is lost).

Pause Command

This pauses the currently selected playing track in the currently loaded collection.  Pressing play again will resume playing of that track.  (Position is remembered).  When a track is paused no other application may use the MCI MIDI Sequencer.

See Also

Using the Song Preview Command


Deleting a Collection from the Database

Overview

The delete collection function is used to remove unwanted collections and their track lists from the Collection Registration Database.  If the last collection is removed from the database the file will be completely erased.

How to Delete a Collection

To delete a collection (permanently) from the song database and remove it from your collection list then select the collection you want to delete and press the button marked "Delete".  You will be prompted to confirm you action.  From here you can select "No" to cancel the operation or "Yes" to continue and delete the collection.

Warning!

Once you erase a collection it impossible to bring it back again.  Remember that there is no limit on the number of collections and you should only delete collections you are sure about deleting.

See Also

Loading a Collection from the Database

Saving a Collection to the Database


Importing Albums into Groove Town

Overview

If you have previsously used a copy of The Juker ® or WinJammer Player ® then you might have created quite a few albums on many disks.  If you want you can import these (and append the albums to one another).  This makes it easy to switch over to Groove Town.  Once this information has been imported a collection is made and saved to the collection database.  If you do not plan to continue using The Juker ® or WinJammer Player ® you may delete these albums.

How to Import an Album into Groove Town

To import albums into Groove Town select from the Control Bar the button labeled "Options..." and the select "Convert...".  From here you should pick which file type to import.  There are two supported types as of version 1.0, they are The Juker v5.0 ® (*.ALB) and WinJammer Player ® (*.ABM).  After this change to the drive and directory that the albums are located in.  Select and album to add it to the import list.  You will see every song contain in it.  You can then if you want add another album to then end of the import list. When you are finished adding albums type the name of the new collection name.  (If you do not supply one "(No Titile)" is used).  Click on the "Convert" but to save to collection to the song database.  If you exit the import menu you will see that the new collection has been loaded and is ready to be played.

Copyright Notices

The Juker ® and WinJammer Player ® are registered trademarks of their respective companies.


Loading a Collection from the Database

Overview

To load a collection from the Collection Registration Database requires no extra work but does require a knowledge of how this is done.  You must load a collection before it can be played back to you.

How to Load a Collection from the Database

To load a collection for playback open up the collections menu from the Control Bar.  To do this click on the button labeled "Collections...".  Then from the Collections List (at the top - labeled "Collections") select the collection that you want to listen to.  If you select a track from the Track List then the playback will begin on that track (unless you have the shuffle option in use).  Otherwise the collection begins on track one.  When you then select done the collection being shown will be loaded into Groove Town for playback.  (You can tell when a collection is loaded successfully because the stop button becomes activated showing that the collection is stopped and ready).

See Also

Deleting a Collection from the Database

Saving a Collection to the Database


Removing Songs from the Collection Track List

Overview

To remove select titles from the current track list use this command.  Once a track or tracks have been removed and the collection is saved you can not undo your change(s).  If you change a list and switch to another list then everything you have changed is returned to the original state.

How to Remove Songs from the Collection List

To remove a song or songs from the collection list first select the collection that you want to modify from the Collections List.  Select the file to remove by highlighting it (click on the track) or by highlighting any track and selecting the track to remove using the up and down arrows.  You can click and drag the left mouse button to select multiple files.  When you are finished selecting click the button labeled "Remove".  When you are finished save, using the "Save" button, or save as a new collection, using the "Save As" button.  If you do not save your changes will be lost if you select a new collection from the Collection List.

Warning!

If you change a collection track list and then switch to another collection in order to load it you will lose all unsaved work done to the original changed collection.  When you change a collection select "Done" to load the collection.  You are prompted to save if your collection had been changed.

See Also

Adding Songs to the Collection Track List

Clearing the Collection Track List

Using the Song Preview Command


Saving a Collection to the Database

Overview

This command is used to save any collection you create to the Collection Registration Database.  You can save two different ways.  By over writing a collection that already exists after changing it or by creating a new collection or collection list name and saving to the database.

How to Save a New Collection to the Database

To save a new collection to the database first create a new collection.  (See The Groove Town Tutorial). To make a new collection use the "Clear" button to clear the current collection if one is already avaliable to clear.  If not then just add the new track(s).  Then add the track(s), or songs, that you want to include in the new collection.  Then use the "Save As" button to give the collection a name and save in to the song database.  Your new collection will be ready to load and play and will always be there everytime you load Groove Town or until you delete it.

How to Save a Collection to the Database

If a collection has been changed then you are given the option to save the changes.  If you switch to another collection before saving then your changes are lost.  To save your collection then simply click the button labeled "Save".

Notes

You are prompted to save your collection if it has been changed when it is the current collection you are loading.  Also, collection names are not case sensitive.  Collection names must be different arrangements of characters and not different character cases.

See Also

Deleting a Collection from the Database

Loading a Collection from the Database


Using the Song Preview Command

Overview

This command is located in the collections menu and plays any track on the track list as a preview when you add them or are looking for a specific track to start the playback on.  The track that is highlighted when you select "Done" is the begining track in Groove Town.

How to Use Song Previewing

To preview a song select the track you want to hear and then click on the button labeled "Play".  You will see that it can be stopped by another press of this button.  You can also start a track playing by double clicking with the left mouse button on the song you want to hear.  The track continues to play until it is finished, you stop it, or the collections menu is closed.

See Also

Adding Songs to the Collection Track List

Clearing the Collection Track List

Removing Songs from the Collection Track List


Microworks

Microworks is a new Windows program developement company specializing in the Media Control Interface (MCI) to create new, easy to use, practical applications.

Microworks can be reached in the following manners:
(Calling times are Eastern Standard Time)

Mail:	Phone:	E-Mail:

Microworks	(941) 592-1787	KBoughton@AOL.com
760 Clarendon Court	6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Monday - Friday
Naples FL, 33942	8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Saturday


Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)

A communications standard for exchanging data between musical instruments and associated devices. In this instance Groove Town uses these devices to playback your collections.


Media Control Interface (MCI)

A standard control interface for multimedia devices and files.  MCI allows a multimedia application to control a variety of multimedia devices and files.  Groove Town uses the MIDI Mapper MCI device for playback.


About  Groove Town Shareware Edition

Shareware Statement (Technical Support - Unregistered Version)

Groove Town for Windows v2.1 is shareware.  You are given a 30 day trial period to sample Groove Town.  After the elapse of that time you must either register Groove Town for $10.00 (US) or remove it from your system.  As with all shareware, you are permitted to distribute Groove Town to as many people, BBS, and online services as you want.

Groove Town v2.1 is shareware and is being released with the intent that regular users of Groove Town will being registering.  Therefore the Advanced Playback Options and the command line options will be disabled on all unregistered copies of Groove Town.  Once you register these will become immediatly avaliable to you.  Remember that shareware is an honor system and we are counting on all Groove Town users to be honest and register.  Let's make Groove Town the best new MIDI collection manager!

If you have any questions concerning Groove Town, you may call if you are still within your trial period.  To speak with a Microworks representative you will need to know when the problem occured , your version multimedia system, your version of Windows, and any error message(s) received.  People calling for technical support will be asked to give there name and location, and the way that they got Groove Town.

See Also

How to Register Groove Town


How to Register Groove Town

Registering Groove Town (Single System Registration)

To register your copy of Groove Town send your name, company name (optional), and a $10.00 check or money order made out to Kris Boughton to the address shown below.  This registration is only good for one system.  If you wish to register two copies of Groove Town then send $10.00 for each copy and any additional registation information needed for any of the additional copies.

Microworks c/o Kris Boughton
760 Clarendon Court
Naples FL, 33942

Once you payment has been received you will be sent your registration name, company name (optional), and registration code in the mail.  Those who wish to receive thier's via CompuServe, AOL, Prodigy, the Internet, or any other networked address should also include thier internet address along with the other information needed.

Registering Groove Town (Network Registration)

If you plan to use Groove Town on a server, where multiple people have access to Groove Town, you need to follow the price range table below.

Two to ten systems - $20.00
Eleven to twenty systems - $30.00
Twenty-one to thirty systems - $40.00
Thirty-one or more systems - $50.00

Make all payment(s) to the address above.  Once again, those whom wish to receive registration information via an internet service also send thier internet address.  Once payment is received your registration information will be sent.

See Also

What you Receive When you Register Groove Town


What you Receive When you Register Groove Town

Registration

When you register your copy of Groove Town you receive your unique registration name, company (optional), and code for entering into Groove Town.  Once this is done you will never again be bothered with the registration reminders and all options will be avaliable for use.

Registered Groove Town users will be update on the newest Groove Town version releases.  New users will also be given a new help file.  It will contain an inside view on the making of Groove Town and what makes it work.  If you have Visual Basic for Windows (VB) you can follow along and learn how a lot of Groove Town functions are handled.  Also included in that file is the complete Groove Town Reference and Trouble Shooting Guide.  New users and old users will learn to use Groove Town faster, easier, and with more efficiency.  Learn to unlock to power of Groove Town!

Technical Support (Registered Version)

Registered Groove Town users will be able to receive in depth technical support for Groove Town, MIDI problems, and sound card setup and configuration.


SoundBlaster AWE32 (AWE) ®

AWE  ® stands for Advanced Wave Effects.  A new sound card from Creative Labs  ® that makes use of full wave table support for MIDI.  The AWE uses a 16-bit precessor with Advanced Signal Processing (ASP) ®.