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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. General information on CockTel 1.1 How to use this manual Page 1 1.2 What is CockTel and what are its features? Page 2 1.3 Hardware requirements Page 2 1.4 Installation Page 2 1.4.1 of the hardware Page 3 1.4.2 of the software Page 5 1.5 Questions - Tips - Answers Page 7 2. Basics 2.1 Basics on the Amiga - Interesting information for beginners Page 11 2.2 Use of the PopUp-gadgets Page 13 2.3 Use of the file-card-gadgets Page 14 2.4 The BubbleHelp Page 15 2.5 Settings in the program Page 15 2.5.1 Program-Settings, user-interface Page 16 2.5.2 Program-Settings, private Page 19 2.5.3 Program-Settings, hardware Page 19 2.5.4 Transmission-settings, journal Page 20 2.5.5 Transmission-settings, modem Page 21 2.5.6 Transmission-settings, network. Page 22 2.5.7 Settings of the operation mode. Page 22 3. Tutorial 3.1 Introduction Page 23 3.2 Getting started. Page 24 3.3 "How to use the telephone" Page 24 3.4 "How to end the telephone call" Page 26 3.5 "How to answer incoming phone calls" Page 26 3.6 Options during a telephone conversation Page 27 3.7 The window with the own video signal (Camera) Page 28 3.8 The window with the video signal of your telephone partner Page 29 3.9 The Clipboard-Window Page 31 3.9.1 Copy the current picture into the clipboard. Page 31 3.9.2 Sending high-resolution pictures Page 31 3.9.3 Requesting high-resolution pictures Page 32 3.10 The Upload-feature Page 32 3.11 The status display (computer demand). Page 32 3.12 The Audio-settings Page 33 3.13 Communication via a network Page 34 3.14 Any special wishes? Page 36 4.Gadgets/Symbols- (This feature has been replaced by the bubble-help) 5The program environment. Page 37 5.1 Program definitions before starting 5.2 Enter own settings 5.3 The Main.def file 5.3.1 The menu definition (MENUS) 5.3.2 The colour of your telephone partner in the console-window (ConsoleID) 5.3.3 Automatic answering of incoming calls (AUTOANSWER) 5.3.4 Duration of the phone ringing (Waittime_AnrufRueckmeldung) 5.3.5 Executed commands after the login (EXEC_LOGIN) 5.3.6 Executed command before the logout (EXEC_LOGOUT) 5.3.7 Executed commands after the program start (EXEC_STARTUPCOM) 5.3.8 User defined commands (EXEC_COMx) 5.3.9 Packing rate of digitised pictures (PACK_xxx) 5.3.10 Resolution of digitised pictures (RESOLUTION_xxx) 5.4 Directories of CockTel 6. Tips & Tricks - General 6.1 General tips Page 39 6.2 The AmigaGuide-OnLine-help Page 39 Appendix A - Glossary Appendix B - Index Appendix C - Device-Overview (Hardware) Appendix D - Library-Overview (Journal) Appendix E - Problems & Solutions Your own notes 1. General information on CockTel 1.1 How to use this manual To make full use of this program, you should once attentively read the complete manual. Starting from the beginning, the knowledge on CockTel is given step by step and at the end is even improved by tips & tricks. Here is a rough overview of the contents of each chapter: * Chapter 1 Here you get to know general information on CockTel, its installation and where you can obtain assistance. * Chapter 2 In this chapter basic information on the use of the Amiga and CockTel is given. You learn where you can select which settings, what PopUp- and File-card-gadgets are and you learn necessary things on the presettings. * Chapter 3 This chapter explains the operation and use of CockTel. Starting with a simple telephone connection via modem, then showing the optimal settings for your computer and finally coming to a house-internal telephone conference with two Amigas. * Chapter 4 This chapter contains the gadget descriptions which has now been replaced by the bubble- help. * Chapter 5 Here is explained how CockTel can better be adjusted to your personal needs (menus, ....) and which file-directories are used by CockTel. * Chapter 6 This chapter supplies tips & tricks for better results, as well as easier ways of using CockTel. Furthermore, you will get to know interesting information mentioned nowhere else. The manual has been structured according to the knowledge already acquired. We also recommend to read the manual while sitting in front of the computer. This way the best learning effect can be achieved and in case you don't understand a passage right away, you may try it out yourself on the monitor until you have fully grasped the full meaning. Additionally, bubble-help is provided by the program. Specific help texts are automatically shown in each situation, thus complementing the present manual in short terms. Detailed information on bubble-help is to be found in "Chapter 2.4 - The BubbleHelp". Should the meaning of a special word not be clear to you, you may look it up in the "Appendix A - Glossary" or as well in the "Appendix B - Index". 1.2 What is CockTel and what are its features ? CockTel is a video telephone system based on the Amiga. This means, that in addition to a common telephone conversation (with voice only) you can as well see your partner on the other end of the line. Furthermore, the parallel transmission of texts (Chatting) and binary files (programs, graphics, etc.) via the telephone line are possible. For the operation, several windows are available which are explained in detail in the Tutorial. For the basic operation of the program, just three windows are needed. The additional features can be activated only when necessary, and will therefore not disturb you during "normal" telephone conversations. 1.3 Hardware requirements To work with CockTel an Amiga computer with Kickstart 2.04, 68030 processor, min. 4 MByte Fast-Ram and 2 MByte Chip-Ram is required. Furthermore, a harddisk is required to install the program and to save the digitized pictures. The program also runs on the Draco. However, the necessary hardware drivers were not available at the time this manual was printed. For a better processing speed a higher processor is urgently required. The faster the processor is, the faster the graphic and sound data can be processed and the higher is their quality. For a smooth playback on the monitor, a graphic board with "CyberGraphics" is recommended. Especially when working with 256 colours, such a graphic board provides a quicker display build-up and thus creates a smoother playback. In addition, the slower Chip- Ram is no longer needed. However since CyberGraphics requires almost 2 MByte memory, your computer should be equipped with min. 8 MByte Fast-Ram (the more the better). 1.4 Installation 1.4.1 Hardware Installation For the full use of the program, you require ... - an Audio-Digitizer with microphone The Audio-Digitizer converts the words spoken into the microphone into data suitable for the computer. The microphone replaces the usual telephone hand-set. Depending on the Baud rate and on the telephone line, the sound quality varies, also depending on the digitizer and the microphone used. - a Video-Digitizer with camera To run the program, a camera is not necessary. However, only a camera enables you to use the program in its proper sense. The video-output of the camera has to be connected to the video digitizer. The video-digitizer then transforms the picture signals into data suitable for the computer. The pictures are transmitted to the conference partner or can as well be saved on your harddisk. This way it is possible to hold other motives in front of your camera and thus digitize them to further edit them with your computer. - a modem The modem is the link between the computer and the telephone line. It transforms the data so they can be transmitted via telephone line. Depending on the baud rate of your modem, different voice qualities and number of frames are possible. Are ISDN-modems used by both partners, considerably higher baud rates are possible, allowing the transmission of a lot more frames (and data). Depending on the Amiga used (e.g. A1200 desktop-case or A4000 Tower) different possibilities are given to connect these hardware components. Below you will find two examples of how to correctly connect the different components. Cabling of an Amiga 1200 the connections for the video signal: - the video digitizer is connected to the PCMCIA-port - the video cable to your camera is connected to the input of the video-digitizer - the output of the camera is connected to the video cable of the digitizer A special CockTel video digitizer for PCMCIA is optionally available. the connections for the sound: - the sound-digitizer is connected to the parallel port - the microphone is connected to the sound digitizer (if necessary with a preamplifier). the connections into the big wide world - the modem is connected to the serial-port (in case of a network, the zero-modem-cable is connected, which is connected to the serial-port of the second computer as well) - the modem is connected to the telephone socket with the TAE-plug. Please note that the plugs of the telephone and the modem are different. If necessary, the corresponding adapters are available at your local dealer. Cabling of an Amiga 4000 (also valid for A1200 Tower) The connections for the sound and the modem are the same as with the A1200. The video- connection is e.g. done via Vlab-board by Macro System. Connect the camera to the input of the board (with the unit-setting the input channel can later be determined). A special CockTel video digitizer for Zorro II is optionally available. Don't forget to connect loudspeakers for the sound! Depending on the monitor used, loudspeakers can already be integrated (mostly quite cheap ones). You may also connect your stereo set. In this case use the two Cinch-plugs labelled "Audio" on the Amiga. Special active-boxes are also available at your dealer for the use with your computer. To avoid a feedback, you may also use headphones instead of loudspeakers. An interesting device is also the so-called "Head-Set", which is a combination of headphone and microphone. In future there will be other digitizers compatible to CockTel. The connection is only slightly different and can be referred to in the manual of the respective digitizer. The software has to be set as described in "Appendix C" and "Appendix D". How and where to install the necessary drivers for your hardware, will be explained at a later stage in "Chapter 2.5.3. - Program Settings, hardware". 1.4.2 Software installation The installation of the program is very easy can even be done by an amateur without any problems. We recommend, however to make a backup copy of your original disks first. The exact proceeding is described in the manual of your Amiga. proDAD does not assume any liability for damaged disks due to improper use. Insert the first disk into your disk drive and open it on your workbench (by double-click on the disk-icon). A "ReadMe" file appears, containing the installation instructions as well as the contents of the package. Next to it, the "HDInstall" icon appears. Now open the harddisk-icon where you wish to install CockTel. Then pull the "HDInstall"-icon keeping the left mouse key pressed down to the harddisk-icon where you release the mouse key. Finally, with a double-click on the copied icon, you are through already. The rest is automatically done by the installation program. Short messages concerning the installation process will appear from time to time. It is possible that future versions will ask you for further disks. In this case, simply replace the disk in the disk drive. Finally, the correct installation will be confirmed by the program. Should, however, have appeared error messages during the installation, please write down the exact message text and contact our hotline. After the correct installation, a new directory " CockTel" has been created, where all necessary information for the program operation is stored. Further to the main program, other directories are available which include the drivers for the control of the video- and sound digitizer. A "ReadMe" file is also installed, containing the latest changes, not mentioned in this manual. The contents can be displayed with a double-click. Should you already have correctly installed CockTel (no matter which version), you may directly proceed with a double-click on the "HDInstall" icon on the disk. The installation program automatically searches for the CockTel -directory and completely installs the program anew (Your files will not be deleted!). IMPORTANT: Please never delete the CockTel directory manually. We also strongly advise you not to rename a directory or to move it anywhere else. This may lead to problems and to a program no longer running correctly! Especially the automatic update installation will then no longer be possible! For the advanced computer user it may be of interest to learn that the program enters an assign "SSA" in the "S:User-Startup"-file. With this assign, each proDAD software may access the SSA system, which is to be installed only once. The benefit is that any improvement of one program in the SSA system, allows all other programs to immediately take advantage of it. Also modules such as the Loader package or the SSA-Perfect can be used by all SSA-programs. 1.5 Questions - Tips - Answers Should you face any problems working with the program, please contact our support department. In any case, we kindly ask you to exactly study the manual before contacting our support department. You then should be sitting in front of your computer, to be able to immediately enter possible changes. Please also have your exact version number of your program ready. This you find in the menu item "Project/Information". Please always take care of programs invisibly running in the background causing changes in the system. Closing such programs can often solve the problems. Another alternative is to send us a letter explaining your problem or download a message in our support mailbox. You should always quote the exact configuration: computer type processor memory available(Chip- and Fast-Ram) workbench and Kickstart version running background programs and their function. Suggestions, wishes or other questions please also direct to the following address: proDAD Feldelestrae 24 D - 78194 Immendingen Germany Support Hotline: +49 - (0) 74 62 / 61 59 Int. Phone +49-22 06 / 8 27 28 Int. Fax +49 -22 06 / 8 27 28 Web-Homepage: http://www.prodad.de 2. Basics 2.1 Basics on the Amiga - Interesting information for beginners Before we start, we would like to explain the most important terms of the AMIGA to you: Gadgets Gadgets are rectangular buttons, either containing text (OK to confirm) or a graphic ( e.g. a camera for the own video signal). They are activated by mouse-click with the left mouse-key. These gadgets with a graphic are often also called icon. A special thing are the ghosted gadgets covered with a pattern. They are de-activated and cannot be selected in this status. In most text-gadgets one character is underlined. In this case you may activate the gadget by pressing the underlined character instead of using the mouse. CockTel also contains further gadgets: PopUp-gadgets, file-card-gadgets and slide-controls. Menus Usually, menus are not visible. Only when keeping the right mouse-key pressed down, words appear in the upper screen bar. Moving over these words, a menu opens containing different alternative selections. You then may move over each different alternative, still keeping the mouse-key pressed down. The active selection will be highlighted in colour. The highlighted alternative is selected by releasing the depressed mouse-key. Sometimes horizontal lines or waves appear in the menus. They are of no effect and only serve as an optical differentiation. A special feature are the ghosted entries. When moving over them with the mouse, they will not be highlighted in colour. This way you can see that this menu is not available at this stage. Mouse click Mouse click means that the left mouse-key is pressed down once, e.g. to activate a window. Double click Double click means to rapidly press down the left mouse-key twice, e.g. in the file-requester to select a file to be loaded. Transport Icon Transport icon means to move icons. This is done by clicking on an icon with the left mouse- key, and moving it keeping the mouse-key pressed down until the desired position of the icon is reached. Moving windows is done in exactly the same way. If you wish to move a window to a different place, click on the window title with the left mouse key and move it keeping the mouse-key pressed down until the desired position is reached and release the mouse-key. Keyboard Certain keys are repeatedly mentioned by their names: Return: the big key with the arrow pointing down and then left, to confirm entries Esc: in the left top corner of the keyboard, to escape Backspace: on the right side above the return-key, the key with the arrow pointing to the left, to delete the preceding character Del: next to the backspace-key on the right side, to delete the current character Tab: on the left side above the Ctrl-key Shift: shift-keys on the left and right side with the arrow pointing up, to type capital characters Ctrl: on the left side in the middle right Amiga "A": press simultaneously, to use a menu shortcut arrows: the field of four keys to move the cursor in the respective direction (cursor keys) Furthermore, you should be familiar with the basic use of an Amiga. Other terms like HiRes, Requester or other terms common for the Amiga should be known to you, since these will not be explained. For details please refer to the user manual of your Amiga. NOTE: We can, however, give you some useful information before you start. All white gadgets in CockTel can be activated by mouse-click. Then either a selection list opens or you may enter values. Only icons (Gadgets with symbols) and standard gadgets (OK, Cancel) are displayed in colour gray. In the Appendix A you will find a detailed description of some special terms. 2.2 Use of the PopUp-Gadgets To start with, we show you the use of a very important gadget of CockTel, the PopUp gadget. It is used wherever you can make a selection from a list of possibilities (e.g. switching between modem and network). If you click on the right arrow of this gadget ( ) by pressing down the left mouse key, the list with the possibilities available pops up. You may then select an entry by moving the mouse up and down. If the list contains more entries than can be displayed, it is automatically scrolled further once the upper/lower edge is reached. The fact that further entries are available is indicated with the display of " " in the top or bottom line. By pressing the left mouse key, the entry is selected and the list closed. By pressing the right mouse key, or clicking outside the list with the left mouse key, you can escape the selection at any time. In addition, you have got the possibility to click on the PopUp-gadget and keep the left mouse key pressed down. You may then select as usual and keep the mouse key depressed until you have made your choice. The previous selection is marked with a "<" on the right border. You may also control the open list from the keyboard: Cursor-key up = select previous entry Cursor-key down = select following entry Shift + Cursor-key up = five entries up Shift + Cursor-key down = five entries down Return-key = confirmation of the selection Esc-key = cancel the selection You may also control the scrolling speed. If the mouse pointer is on the left side of the list, the scrolling speed increases, while it decreases on the right side. The PopUp-list disposes of a slide-control on the right border. With it you may scroll up and down by moving it with the left mouse key. In many cases, e.g. the network code, it would be very convenient to enter any value instead of just being able to select a scaling factor from the list. CockTel offers you this convenient alternative. If you click on the white area of the PopUp-gadget (left part), a cursor appears to directly enter values. You may then delete the whole field (right Amiga-key + X) or just single lines (with Del- or Backspace key). In any case, you have to confirm the entry with the Return-key, to use the new settings! Since this option is not useful for all settings it is not used in all gadgets. Such gadgets do simply open the selection list. In general we can say that, wherever values of figures can freely be set, these can also be entered directly. Note: Under OS 2.x display errors in the PopUp-gadgets with the direct-entry-option may occur. The gadgets will then be displayed in gray or ghosted, even though they can be selected as normal. This does, however, not affect their function. You may click on these gadgets as usual. 2.3 Use of the file-card-gadgets The file-card-gadgets have already proved very useful in Monument and Animage. They provide a better structuring of the different groups and thus offer a much clearer overview. Especially in the presettings these file card gadgets give a clear and sober impression. As it is usual with file cards, they consist in CockTel as well of the card itself plus an extra tab at the upper edge for the subdivision. By clicking on the tab with the left mouse key, you select the desired card. The active card is marked by a brighter background colour and a high-lighted text. To get used to the use of the file card gadgets, open the Settings-window (in the Project- menu) and play around to make yourself familiar with them. 2.4 The BubbleHelp As already mentioned earlier, like in Monument V3, CockTel provides a BubbleHelp as well. When moving the mouse on a gadget and remain there for a short time, a bubble opens containing information and help texts on this special gadget. It is also available in the PopUp- lists (whenever useful). Should you ever forget how the BubbleHelp works, you may even pull up a brief instruction on it. For this you move the mouse-pointer to an empty area (e.g. the edit-window) and press the "Help"-key. The text on "Help on BubbleHelp" will then appear. You may accordingly avoid having to wait until the bubble appears with the text by pressing the help-key with the mouse located on the respective gadget. The help text is then immediately displayed. Please note, that this addendum does not contain any detailed description on the different gadgets. Those can easily and immediately be pulled up in the program whenever necessary with the BubbleHelp! 2.5 Settings in the program Before using CockTel for the first time, you should first enter the following settings to make later use more convenient and to adjust the program to your computer system for optimal use. These settings may of course be changed at any time. To start with, only the necessary settings will be mentioned. Open the program-settings- window in the menu item "Project/Settings". 2.5.1 Program-Settings, user-interface Resolution In the file-card "Surface" the resolution/number of colours of the surface can be set at the very top. The currently set data can be seen here as well. With mouse-click on this gadget, the ScreenMode-Requester opens. Here you can select any mode as well as the number of colours. General information on the resolution of the user-interface What is valid for the workbench is also true concerning the resolution of CockTel. Although a higher resolution and higher colour depth provides more natural colour display, you should keep in mind that the operating speed is considerably slower and that the memory needed may increase enormously. - AGA-computers (A1200, A4000) We recommend the resolution DBLNTSC (more stable picture) with 64 colours as a compromise between operating speed/memory capacity and realistic display. Furthermore, DBLNTSC is relatively eye-friendly (higher line frequency). However, the genlock has to be switched off meanwhile, since it is only able to display PAL. In addition, you have to use a monitor able to display this resolution. You cannot use your TV-set for the display then. Should you have a common PAL-monitor like e.g. the 1084 by Commodore, you have to set the normal PAL-mode to HiRes (Interlace) with 64 colours. You may as well try 256 colours. This may however, lead to the mentioned build-up delays. - Other computers (A2000, A3000) The only possibility here is to use the HiRes (Interlace)-mode with 16 colours. We do not recommend to use the LoRes-mode since the display will be very coarse. - Graphic boards CockTel can also be run directly with graphic boards (e.g. CyberVision, Picasso, Retina, Piccolo etc.) that dispose of a Workbench-emulation. In this case simply select a mode of your graphic-board from the ScreenMode requester. With some graphic boards, the setting has to be done in a more complicated way with an extra program. Just follow the instructions in the manual of your graphic board. When using graphic boards, you may always use the full 256 colours without risking a loss in speed. For further details on this issue, please refer to the manual of your graphic board and of your monitor. Font type With a mouse-click on this gadget, the Font-Requester opens. Here you can select any font type set and size desired. In the lower part of the window, the selected font type will be displayed. With "OK" you confirm your choice and with "Cancel" you close the window without accepting the new settings. The font selected is applied to the whole surface of CockTel (Gadgets, menus, requesters, ....) Please note that when selecting CG-Fonts it takes a while until the operating system has rendered the font type in the desired size (e.g. CGTimes or CGTriumvirate). If you run the program with a high resolution, you may use the proDAD-font in the size 16. This offers the advantages that ... ... it is eye-friendly (bigger characters are easier to read). ... the gadgets become bigger as well which makes their selection easier. The use of proportional-fonts (e.g. times ) with different character width is not advisable, since this may lead to overlapping characters in the text display of the console-window in case of very wide letters. Other problems should, however, not occur. Optimal program settings Below you will find some recommended approved settings for CockTel. The figures in brackets are the resolutions with maximum text overscan. On AGA-computers (A1200, A4000) Resolution without flicker fixer: PAL:HighRes 640x256 (resp. 724x283), 64 colours Resolution with flicker fixer: PAL:HighRes Interlace 640x512 (resp. 724x566), 64 colours Font type: topaz 8 or 9 You may also use a DBLNTSC-mode. These are displayed at a higher frequency and are consequently flicker free. You do however need a monitor able to display these frequencies. Furthermore, a connected genlock has to be turned off since it is not able to synchronise this mode. Resolution: DBLNTSC:HighRes flicker-free 640x400 (resp. 676x454), 64 colours Font type : topaz 11 or courier 18 On other computers (A2000, A3000) Resolution without flicker fixer: PAL:HighRes 640x256 (resp. 724x283), 16 colours Resolution with flicker fixer: PAL:HighRes Interlace 640x512 (resp. 724x566), 16 colours Font type: topaz 8 or 9 (If you use HiRes Interlace without flicker fixer, you should select the proDAD-font since it flickers less than topaz.) With graphic board Resolution with common monitor: 640x480, 256 colours Resolution with big monitor: 800x600, 256 colours font type: proDAD 16 2.5.2 Program-Settings, private Here you enter your name. It will be transmitted to your partner with each outgoing phone call. Below, enter your own telephone number. You may enter the number with space or not, the area code can be separated from your number by a "/" . Should you have several telephone numbers, you may enter another number under "alternative number". Under this number an Amiga has to be connected where CockTel can "answer" the calls. The bottom field is only necessary for Amiga network. Here a special "telephone number" can be assigned to each computer under which it can directly be reached from the other computers (without modem). For further details please see "Chapter 3.13 - Communication via a network". 2.5.3 Program-Settings, hardware On this page you set the different drivers (Devices) for the communication with the hardware. Depending on the hardware used, different devices are needed. A list of which driver is to be used with the different hardware components is given in "Appendix C - Device-Overview (Hardware)". You may enter the name directly or - more comfortably - select it with the load-gadget. The selection is then automatically displayed in the field. VideoDigi-Device Name and Unit: here you select the device driver that converts the video signals of the video-digitizer (camera) for CockTel use. The Unit-number is usually 0. With a VLab-Digitizer e.g. the video input can be selected here. AudioDigi-Device Name and Unit: here you select the device driver that converts the audio signal of the audio-digitizer (microphone) for CockTel use. The unit number toggles between the left and right channel. AudioPlay-Device Name: here you select the device driver that converts the audio data received from your partner into acoustic signals and thus makes them audible. The selection for the Amiga usually is "audio.device". 2.5.4 Transmission-settings, journal Here the libraries are set to compress the audio- and video-data before they are sent. Thanks to this packing process, more data can be sent, the sound quality is improved and more pictures of your conversation partner are displayed. Please note that your partner has to use the same libraries as you do. Otherwise a communication will be impossible!!!! With the initial installation the default libraries are automatically set. This way you may use the phone without any problems, provided your telephone partner has not entered any changes either! A list of the libraries currently available, is given in "Appendix D - Library-Overview (Journal)". 2.5.5 Transmission-settings, modem On this page the adjustments for your modem are set. Changes are only necessary if problems arise when addressing the modem. The Init-entry is sent to the modem before dialing and the Exit-entry after dialing. The dial- prefix is entered before the telephone number. With it the dialing from a private branch exchange (PBX) is possible. For further details on the terms and commands of your modem please consult the modem manual. Redialing: determines how often a call attempt is repeated. Dial-Connect-Time: determines the connection time the modem needs to dial and set up the connection. Is a connection not successfully set up during this time period, the attempt is interrupted. Redial delay: determines the time between repeated redial attempts. Connect-Time: determines how long the own modem needs to answer an incoming call. 2.5.6 Transmission-settings, network Usually no changes are necessary on this page. Currently, the network device "pNET.device" is available. For further information on internal network connections please see "Chapter 3.13 - Communication via a network". 2.5.7 Setting of the operation mode Finally, please make sure that in the send-settings-window the bottom PopUp has to be set to "Operation mode - Modem external", so that you can talk to other persons (over the phone). CHAPTER 3. TUTORIAL 3.1 Introduction After having bothered you with the (necessary) settings before starting, we now immediately proceed to actually using CockTel as a phone. Should this not have been effected yet, start CockTel with a double-click on the program Icon from the Workbench. The introduction screen disappears by mouse-click. On the left border appears the control bar of CockTel which is visible at any time. - activates the stand-by mode of CockTel if this gadget is pressed down, you can receive phone calls - opens the dial-window to set up a connection (telephone or network connection) - interrupts the current connection - opens the Console-window for direct text transmission - opens the camera-window with your own video signal - if this gadget is pressed down, your telephone partner can hear you, otherwise no voice is transmitted 3.2 Getting started Before you start to use the phone, please check if the camera position is correct and adjust it if necessary. For this open the window showing your own video signal by pressing the camera-gadget. The video picture that will later be transmitted is displayed here. This way you can check at any time, which picture is transmitted. If you hold other things in front of your camera, you can also transmit pictures of those. More information on this issue will be given in "Chapter 3.7 - The window with the own video signal (Camera)". If the pictures turn too dark when digitizing, you should place an extra light/lamp behind the camera. 3.3 "How to use the telephone" First switch on your modem and click on the dial-gadget. A network connection to the modem is set up and afterwards the telephone number-dial-window appears. Here you select the desired number from the PopUp-list or enter the number directly. With "OK" you confirm your entries. The connection to the telephone partner is then build up. Meanwhile, a requester informs you on the current status of the connection process. You can enter up to ten telephone numbers under the PopUp-gadget. Should another number be entered in the list, the oldest entry will automatically be deleted. When quitting the program the entries are saved. CockTel rings at your telephone partner If the connection is successful, i.e. has the partner answered the phone-call with the "Amiga", the window with the video signal of your telephone partner appears. The telephone partner The meaning of the different gadgets will be explained in "Chapter 3.8 - The window with the video signal of your telephone partner". The connection is now set up and you can start chatting. Should you wish to receive a clearer video signal of your partner (more frames have to be transmitted) you just have to be silent for a while. Then more pictures can be transmitted instead of the voice data. Another possibility is to close the window with your own video signal to save computing time and to slightly speed up the display build-up. Closing of this window does, however, not affect the number of frames transmitted. It is therefore sufficient to reduce the size of this window and you still can control your own video picture. 3.4 "How to end the telephone call" Once you have talked long enough, you go on-hook. For your computer application this means that you click on the on-hook-gadget. The control message has to be confirmed with "OK". You may also end the conversation with your partner by closing the window. During the disconnection process, a short message appears and the window with the video signal of your telephone partner is closed. To end the call it does not matter, which partner clicks on the on-hook gadget. After the disconnection, you may immediately go "off-hook" to set up a new connection. Disturbances in the telephone line or problems with the modem may cause a sudden interruption of the current connection. In this case, a requester appears and the window with the video signal of your conversation partner is automatically closed. 3.5 "How to answer incoming phone calls" To be able to answer incoming phone calls with CockTel, the program has to already run in the background (stand-by mode) when the call is received. The connection to the modem has to be active as well. This is done by clicking on the "ON"-gadget. The light is on when the connection to the modem is set up. You may then return to the Workbench with the key- combination "left Amiga-Key + N" and from there start other programs. CockTel is now in stand-by mode in the background. As soon as you receive a phone call now, the user interface of CockTel automatically is brought to the front and a tone sounds (depending on the setting under "Prefs/Sound" of the Workbench). You receive a phone call If you wish to answer the call, click "OK" and the window with the video signal of the calling person appears. The further operation is the same as with an outgoing call made by you. You may also activate the automatic answering feature. For this, you just set the entry "AUTOANSWER" to "1" in the "Main.def" file. Incoming phone calls are then automatically answered. How to change the setting is explained in "Chapter 5.3.3 - Automatic answering of incoming calls (AUTOANSWER)". 3.6 Options during a telephone conversation In contrast to a normal telephone, with CockTel you can also transmit additional data while talking. The easiest way is the "Chatting" feature. Open the Console-window, e.g. with the Console- gadget. The size of the window can be changed at your wish. The Console-window for chatting Your own entries are displayed in black, the texts of your telephone partner are displayed in blue. If you use ASCII-Upload the text file is inserted in colour gray. The colour used for texts from your partner can be changed in the "Main.def" file. For further information please refer to "Chapter 5.3.2 - The colour of your telephone partner in the console-window (ConsoleID)". The different colours used, allow you to simultaneously write in the same line. Usually, you will however type the text one after the other. While entering or receiving the text, you may continue to talk to each other. You may also transmit data. These may be pictures, graphics, texts or any other data. The exact procedure is explained in "Chapter 3.10 - The Upload-Feature". 3.7 The window with the own video signal (Camera) The own video signal Above your video signal a bar of gadgets is located. With these you can activate the below- mentioned features. The gadgets are ghosted if no digitizer hardware is available or if no driver has been installed. toggles between the display in colour or in gray levels. The pictures are however transmitted according to the valid setting from your partner. The display is only changed in your own window. freezes the current camera signal. Only this still-image is transmitted to your partner. the camera signal is read-in with maximum resolution and is displayed in your own camera- window. The high-resolution picture is, however, not transmitted. Only if you freeze this picture, this high-resolution picture is also transmitted to your partner. loads any picture selected from the file-requester (picture size does not matter). The picture is displayed and then transmitted. Your partner receives it in the clipboard. Next the normal video picture is transmitted. saves the currently displayed video picture from your camera. The file-requester opens where you can enter the file name desired (e.g. in the "Images" directory). Is your video signal not displayed, check under "Project/Settings" if a VideoDigi-Device is entered on the "Hardware" sheet. The respective hardware has to be connected to which the camera as well has to be connected and switched on. Which hardware requires which driver is listed under "Appendix C - Device-Overview (Hardware)". If only defective signals are displayed, check if the selected VideoDigi-Device is compatible to your hardware and if the video connections are ok. 3.8 The window with the video signal of your telephone partner The telephone partner Above the video signal of your partner, a bar of gadgets is located. With these you can activate the below-mentioned features. is this gadget pressed down, the voice of your partner is transmitted. Is the gadget deactivated, you can no longer hear your partner (= muting). This increases the frame rate transmitted. is this gadget pressed down, you can see your telephone partner in colour. Is the gadget deactivated the signal is only transmitted in gray levels. Again this increases the frame rate transmitted. freezes the signal received from your partner (if the gadget is pressed down). This picture can then e.g. be copied and saved in the clipboard with the menu item "Manage/Copy current picture to clipboard". The letter in the window title shows the settings of your telephone partner! A capital "A" means that voice is transmitted, a small "a" signifies that your partner does not (or not want to) hear you. In return, you can determine with the microphone-gadget that your partner can no longer hear you! A capital "C" means that the pictures are transmitted in colour. A small "c" signifies that the pictures are transmitted in gray levels only. A capital "F" means that your partner has frozen your video signal. If you now hold something in front of the camera, your partner cannot see it. Only when a small "f" appears, the picture data is permanently transmitted. Remember: A = Audio C = Colour F = Freeze Should only "defective" pictures be received, check back with your telephone partner which packer-libraries he/she has set. These can be pulled up over the menu item "Project/Send- settings" on the "Journal"-sheet, but only when no telephone connection is currently active. - Only when both parties have set the same Video-Libraries a useful signal output can be achieved. 3.9 The Clipboard-Window The Clipboard-Window The Clipboard-Window is a kind of empty field where you can store pictures. These pictures can then be saved with the Save-gadget or be loaded with the Load-gadget. This way, the window also serves to show different pictures. 3.9.1 Copy the current picture into the clipboard While being on the phone you may copy the current picture from your partner into the clipboard. You either select the menu item "Manage/Copy current picture to clipboard" or you press the key combination "Right Amiga-Key + G". The clipboard-window appears with the the picture desired and you may then save it. 3.9.2 Sending high-resolution pictures In case you hold e.g. a photo before your camera to show something to your partner, you can send this signal in a higher resolution. Select the menu item "Manage/Send high- resolution picture". During the transmission a corresponding requester appears. After the transmission, your partner will see the picture in the normal camera-window in the clipboard. Your partner can then as well save the picture (e.g. for further editing). 3.9.3 Requesting high-resolution pictures In return, you also have the possibility to request a high-resolution picture. If you e.g. cannot precisely see something or simply wish to save a photo of your telephone partner, you select the menu item "Manage/Request high-resolution picture". During the transmission a requester appears again informing you on the current transmission status. After the transmission is done, the desired picture briefly appears in the camera-window as well as in the Clipboard. 3.10 The Upload-Feature Data is transmitted With the menu item "Send/Binary-Upload" you can transmit any file to your partner. To select the file, the file-requester of the operating system appears. During the transmission, a corresponding window appears again. After the transmission, the file is available at your partner's in the directory "Download" under the same file name. The difference to the menu item "Send/ASCII-Upload" is that the content of the file sent is displayed in the console window of the sender (in gray) and of the recipient (in gray). From this results that only (short) text files should be transmitted. 3.11 The status display (Computer demand) In this window the demand on your computer and network bandwidth is displayed. The longer the bars become (expanding to the right), the higher is the demand on your computer. A very high demand may lead to drop-outs in the voice playback and to errors in the transmission. Please note that the status display is only possible with the status-window active. The window title is then displayed in blue. To activate the window, simply click inside on its content. The status-window With the bottom slide you can decrease the demand. Especially for voice transmission, a lot of time is needed (Recording->Filtering->Packing->Transmitting->Unpacking->Playback). You can therefore reduce the demand by lowering the sampling rate of your partner. A setting of 100% corresponds to a sampling rate of 8 kHz. This data volume cannot even be managed by a 68060! You should therefore use a maximum rate of 50%. Should errors occur in the transmission or is the voice transmission not continuous, you have to further lower the rate. The three bars should help you to better check and control the demand on your computer. Audio-Digitizing: shows how much your computer is busy digitizing the voice. This value can be controlled with "Filter" and "Volume" of the audio-window. Audio-Packer: shows how much your computer is demanded packing the voice data (before the transmission). The values can again be controlled with "Filter" and "Volume" of the audio- window. If nothing is said, the expansion of the bar should not exceed 10% while it should be at about 50% when you are talking. Partner Audio: depending on the position of the slider, you can see the effects. 3.12 The Audio-Settings The Audio-Settings-Window In this window you enter the adjustments for the microphone and with this for the voice recording for transmission. With the bottom slider labelled "Volume", you determine the sensivity of your microphone. At 100% (very right) the microphone is highly sensitive. In combination with a loudspeaker, this may lead to overdrivings. You should therefore set the slide to a maximum of about 75%. The setting highly depends on the microphone and the audio-digitizer used and can best be determined by simply trying different settings. With the filter, low frequencies can be filtered. This reduces the data volume to be transmitted. The further the slide is moved to the right, the more data is lost. We recommend a setting of about 12%. With the loud-speaker-gadget the test mode can be activated. Is the gadget pressed down and you speak into the microphone, the data is filtered, packed and played back over the loud-speaker according to your settings. This allows you to exactly set your microphone before actually being on the phone. The fine-adjustment can however still be done during a telephone conversation. For the adjustment, you may simply watch the effects in the (active) status-window. 3.13 Communication via a network Should you have two Amigas at your disposal, you can connect the two (or more) computers with a zero-modem-cable (available at your local computer dealer). The cable is connected to the serial interface of each computer. Make sure the computers are turned off when connecting the cable! A connected modem then has to be disconnected, except if you have a MultiFace-card offering several serial interfaces, which in addition are usually faster than the Amiga-serial interfaces. Special MultiFace cards can be obtained as CockTel-accessory for A 2/3/4000 as well as for A1200 at proDAD or at your specialist dealer. Another alternative is to use a Switch-Box, to connect several devices to the serial port and thus switch between the different devices. Furthermore, the desktop-/tower- computers (A2000, A3000, A4000) can be extended by additional interfaces with a MultiFace-card. In the software, some settings have to be entered. In the "Project/Send-Settings"-Window the operation mode has to be set to "internal network". A different label has to be assigned for each computer in the file card "Private" of the "Project/Settings"- window. The numeric label can freely be set between 1 and 255. Is the network to be run via a MultiFace card, the changed device has to be entered as well. For this load the file "ENV:pNET/cunit0.config" into a text editor (e.g. Ed of the Shell). Here you will find a brief description of the shortcuts available. Please note that all words have to be in one line only. The lines with the prefix "#" are comments. SERNAME=serial.device or e.g. duart.device (e.g. MultiFace-card) Name of the device, to which the connection cables to the other computers are connected. SERUNIT=0 Unit-number depending on the available interfaces of the card SERBAUD=38400 here the baud rate of the connection can be entered. The baud rate of both computers has to be identical! The maximum value between both Amigas is 57600 Baud. For slower Amigas (e.g. A2000) or in case of connection problems this value has to be reduced (e.g. 38400). If MultiFace-cards are used the baud rate can be set even higher (e.g. 76800 or 460800!). Should you want to connect more than two computers over the network, you additionally have to set a different ID on each computer (1-255 is possible; this is however not the same as the private label entered in the program!). The file has to be changed before the first booting of the program. For a permanent change, the new settings have to be saved as well under "ENVARC:pNET/cunit0.config". So you don't have to set all computers to stand-by mode at the same time, with the shortcut "MAXNOLIVE" you do have the option to enter a waittime, i.e. the duration time to try to set up a connection to the other computer. The waittime is to be entered in seconds. With the program "pNETControl" the net can be set to the active mode, without other network parties having to be available. For this enter "pnetcontrol online wait" in the Shell. After having entered these changes, you may run the program as usual. With the Select- Gadget you can also set up a connection. However, this time the Network-Dial-window will appear. The Network-Dial-Window Here you can select the desired computer from the PopUp containing all computers currently connected. With "Dial" the connection is set-up. Depending on the baud rate set, a considerably higher number of frames can be transmitted and this with parallel optimal voice quality. With the Upload-feature you can easily exchange files between the computers of the network. 3.14 Any special wishes? With this end the -detailed - description of all features. Please let us know in case you miss a special feature, e.g. a tax meter, or require additional functions or options (like e.g. a telephone directory) or if you have any idea of how to facilitate special procedures. We would be very glad to receive your comments, wishes, complaints.... Since this is the only way to further improve the program according to your wishes and requirements. Although, not every suggestion can in fact later be integrated... CHAPTER 4. GADGET / SYMBOLS - (This feature has been replaced by the bubble-help) CHAPTER 5. THE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT You may already enter certain settings before starting CockTel. Such settings are e.g. your own shortcuts for the menus and much more. All you need is a simple text editor where you edit the "Main.def" file (e.g. Ed of the Shell). Please note that you can also enter changes here, which will later make the operation of CockTel more complicated or even turn the operation impossible! We therefore recommend you take a backup copy of the definition file before entering changes or resp. only enter changes if you are an experienced user! The meaning of the different shortcuts is briefly explained in the "Main.def"-file and the file "Chapter5.guide" gives you a detailed description! Whenever in this manual you are referred to a special section of Chapter 5.xx you can pull them up with the menu item "Help/Instructions". By clicking on "Chapter 5 - The program environment" you can also change to the contents page. CHAPTER 6. TIPS & TRICKS Here you will find valuable general tricks, how to make work with CockTel easier. In case new things have been found out after printing of this manual, you will find these in the text file ("Guide"). The content is displayed by double-click. In this file you will also find frequent questions and problems. 6.1 General tips Should transmission errors occur or should error messages unknown to you appear or other errors turn up, please refer to " Appendix E - Problems & Solutions". Should certain terms of the manual be unclear to your, please look them up in "Appendix A - Glossary". We are positive that all important "special terms" are listed and explained here. Should you still have problems with the meaning of certain terms please contact our support hotline, so that we can add this term to the glossary to complete it. The necessary presettings for devices and libraries can be found in "Appendix C - Device-Overview (Hardware)" and "Appendix D - Library-Overview (Journal)". 6.2 The AmigaGuide-OnLine-Help The AmigaGuide-Help can directly be pulled up from CockTel. This is done with the menu item "Help/Instruction". It includes the references to the respective sections in the manual of frequently asked questions and problems. The index included in the Instruction-file can easily be completed at any time by proDAD (or yourself) by adding other terms. This turns the index more flexible as a printed one. If you own OS3.x, the program "MultiView" is used. It should be located in the workbench- directory "Utilities". Older operating systems use the program "AmigaGuide" which is located in the workbench directory "Utilities", too. The operation of both programs is the same. The buttons in the top line have the following meanings: Contents : display contents Index : display index page Retrace : bring up previous page Browse > : browse one page forward Browse < : browse one page back With "Project/Print" you may print the displayed page. Make sure the printer is switched on and the correct printer driver is installed in "Prefs/Printer". By clicking on a gadget in the text, the respective cross-reference is shown. With "retrace" you go back to the previous page. With the control-slides at the right and bottom border, you move the content of larger pages. Should the text only be displayed with strange signs (@ and { }), you do not have either program. In this case the standard program "More" will be used instead. You should check whether you have renamed the program or moved it in a different drawer. You can as well obtain an "AmigaGuide-disk" from us including the display program. If nothing is displayed at all, a capital error is contained in your system. In this case please contact a competent Amiga-dealer or proDAD, to have the system installed correctly. Our analysis-program will help you in most cases. APPENDIX A - GLOSSARY AT-Commands These are the normed commands used to control most of the modems. The different AT commands for your specific modem can be found in your modem manual. In CockTel you do have the possibility to send AT-commands to the modem before and after a telephone connection. With this the modem can e.g. be installed or reset. Audio synonym for voice, music or sound. Audio-digitizer converts accustic signals (sounds, voice) of a microphone into computer-suited information, e.g. for further editing in CockTel. Baud-rate Speed of modems is measured in baud. Normal (analogue) modems do have an average baud-rate of 28.800. ISDN-modems reach a speed of 64k-baud. The numeric value gives the bits per second. The higher the value is, the more data is transmitted in the same time period. Brush, IFF-Brush A graphic, often just a section for textures and graphics; IFF is a standardized Amiga format Chatting Means the interactive, text-oriented exchange of data. The exchange can as well be effected via the Internet or via the Console-window of CockTel. Chip-Ram (Chip-Memory) Graphic memory, especially available for the Custom-Chips (Agnus, Denise, Paula; for AGA- computers: Alice, Lisa, Paula). Does the processor want to access to this memory, it must first wait until the Custom-Chips have finished their access. This turns accesses to the Chip- Ram-Memory slower. Furthermore, the Chip-Ram is only pulsed at 7 MHz. Connect means the moment when two modems have successfully set up a connection. After the Connect, a message usually appears quoting the baud rate of the connection. Console General input media for text. CockTel provides the console-window for direct text transmission. CPU (Central Prozess Unit) Is the heart of your computer. It processes commands and with this makes it possible to run programs. Device Device in Amiga terminology means the drivers, directly communicating with the hardware. E.g. the audio.device is responsible for the sound play-back. CockTel does require further devices as well to be able to communicate with the audio- and the video-digitizer. Digitizer Digitizers transform data in a way that they can further be edited from the computer. CockTel requires a sound-digitizer, to transform the voice and a video-digitizer to transform the picture data. Download Loading data, located on another computer. Data can e.g. be downloaded from a mailbox or the Internet. Fast-Ram (Fast-Memory) Main memory that can only be addressed by the processor. Due to this exclusive access and a higher pulse rate (mostly 25 or 40 Mhz), the access is much faster than to the Chip- Ram. File-Requester To select a file to be loaded or saved. When loading, the background is displayed in gray, while when saving the background is displayed in black. The file entries appear in black (in gray when saving), the directories are displayed in white. For the control of the File- Requester please refer to your Amiga-Workbench-manuals. Font-Requester To select a font type set to be used for the CockTel user interface. For the control of the Font-Requester please refer to your Amiga-Workbench-manuals FPU (Floating Point Unit) Is an additional chip especially designed to compute floating point numbers. It is not directly supported by CockTel. IFF (Interchange File Format) Is a standardized Amiga-format. There are sub-divisions for graphics (ILBM), animations (ANIM), music (SMUS), sound effects (8SVX), texts (FTXT) and Prefs files (PREF). Many programs use their own formats based on this IFF-format or extended formats. Library frequently needed routines are stored in libraries. All programs can then access to these completed routines and do not have to "invent the wheel again". CockTel is shipped with audio- and video-libraries, that compress these data to be able to transmit more data in the same time. ILBM IFF-sub-format used for graphics. These files can be further edited with any Amiga-painting program. Digitized pictures are saved by CockTel in ILBM-format. Interlace (or Lace) Line jump method, with the twice the screen height available; used with normal monitors this leads to Interlace-flickering. JPEG is a compressing method removing - depending on the packing rate - certain parts of the picture, invisible for the human eye. A packing rate of 100% corresponds to the original graphic without chagnes. The lower the packing rate is, the more information will be deleted and the clearer become the errors in the picture. A packing rate of approx. 60-80% supplies graphics that can hardly be distinguished from the original. Packing rates of less than 30% usually provide unsatisfactory results. MMU (Memory Management Unit) This chip converts computer addresses into real hardware addresses for the memory. With this a virtual memory administration can be set up. Since not all computers do dispose of this chip, the SSA-system uses its own system to create a virtual memory. Modem (MOdulatorDEModulator) Is a device to convert digital data from the computer into analogue data for the transmission via a telephone line. In return, it can also transform the received analogue data from the telephone line into digital data for the computer. We have to differentiate between "Analog"- modems and ISDN-Modems. ISDN-modems digitally transmit the data, thus achieving a considerably higher transmission rate, e.g. enabling the transmission of more frames and better sound quality with CockTel. MPEG Is a compressing method based on a series of animated pictures. The difference to the preceeding picture is determined and then packed with JPEG. This turns these Delta- pictures very small. Unfortunately, after a certain time, the picture errors add up, resulting from the delta-pictures and the JPEG-compression. For this reason, CockTel transmit a full frame every 7 frames. Network means the connection of several computers to a common communication. Are two Amigas connected with each other over a (serial) cable, CockTel can be used as an internal intercommunication system. Online, Offline Online means active, stand-by mode; while offline means turned off. Is CockTel turned online(stand-by mode active) telephone calls can be received, which is impossible in offline- mode. Sampling rate is the rate quoting how often the audio-signal (voice) is sampled per second. The higher this value is, the better is the voice quality. At a rate of 44 kHz we speak of CD-quality (approx. 44000 samplings per second). This does, however, mean an enormous data volume. CockTel therefore operates at a lower sampling rate, which can be changed by the user. ScreenMode-Requester To select the screen mode and the number of colors. Shortcut keywords for the menu selection with the right Amiga-Key and the character entered. SSA (Super-Smooth-Animation) Format for fast and smooth play-back of animations in video-compatible frequency. SSAd (DiskAnim) Extended SSA-format for direct play-back from harddisk. SSA5 (High-End) Highly optimised SSA-format, especially designed for smoother play-back of animations. In this format, no subsequent direct editing (in clariSSA) is possible. Upload Sending of data from the own computer to another. CockTel distinguishes between Binary- (programs) and ASCII-files (texts). Binary data are directly stored on the harddisk, ASCII- texts appear in the Console-window. Video-Digitizer Transforms the video signals (frames) of a camera into computer-suitable information, e.g. for further editing with CockTel. Virtual Memory Artifical memory on the harddisk. APPENDIX B - INDEX A printed index today is no longer up to date. We have therefore decided to include the index as Guide in the program. This enables us or you to complete the index at any time by adding further terms (in the file "Instructions.guide"). The index is then called up in the program with the "Help"-menu, menu item "Instructions". Then click on the "Index" gadget. The operation is described in "Chapter 6.2 - The AmigaGuide-OnLine-Help". APPENDIX C - DEVICE-OVERVIEW (HARDWARE) Following is the list of Devices to be used depending on the hardware connected. In many cases further options can be activated with the unit-number. The Devices are available in the sub-directory "Devs" of CockTel. In the program they can be set with "Project/Settings", file card "Hardware". Audio-Devices for the voice Hardware : all Sound-digitizers for the parallel-port Device : sdigi.device Unit : 0 for the left channel 1 for the right channel Connection : Parallel-port of all computers (A1200, A2000, A3000, A4000) Video-Devices for the pictures Hardware : VLab Zorro II-card Device : vlab.device Unit : 0 to 3 for the input used added by 4 (4-7) for the VTR-mode on added by 8 (8-15) for NTSC-mode on Connection : Zorro II-Port of Amiga 2000, 3000, 4000 and A1200 with expansion board Hardware : proDAD Digitizer (Prograb mk2) Device : elsat1digi.device Unit : 0 Connection : PCMCIA-Port of Amiga 1200 Hardware : Grafitto Digitizer (Prograb mk1) Device : grafitodigi.device (NB also requires elsat.library to be installed in libs:) Unit : 0 Connection : PCMCIA-Port of Amiga 1200 This was the current status at the time the manual was printed. Further devices will follow. APPENDIX D - LIBRARY-OVERVIEW (JOURNAL) Following is a list of the libraries to be used. Make sure that both conversation partners use the same libraries, since otherwise a communication and/or picture transmission is impossible!!! The libraries are located in the sub-directory "Libs" of CockTel. In the program they can be set under "Project/Send-Settings", file card "Journal". Audio-Library Libs/apack.library: compresses the voice-data, so that more data and with this a better voice quality can be transmitted. If you do not speak, no voice data has to be transmitted and consequently, more pictures or other data can be transmitted instead. An AudioPack-library has to be set, since otherwise no voice transmission is possible! Video-Library Libs/videopack.library: packs the pictures with the JPEG-method before the transmission. Wit this the memory needed per frame can considerably be reduced (approx. by 50%) depending on the picture content and packing rate. The higher the packing rate is, the smaller the pictures become, but the worse also gets the picture quality! The packing rate can be changed in the file "Main.def" as described in "Chapter 5.3.9 - Packing rate of digitized pictures (PACK_xxx)". Libs/vxpack.library: internally accesses the videopack.library. This library compresses the picture data with the MPEG-method. Thanks to the reduced picture information, more frames can be transmitted and the playback becomes smoother. However, in case of fast movements, a short delay becomes visible and the picture is incorrectly displayed. APPENDIX E - PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS Following is a list of possible errors and problems and their solution. Due to the many different components involved (computer, modem, telephone, ...) such problems may occur. Sometimes another attempt may solve the problem. Your own video signal is not displayed in the Camera-window check if a VideoDigi-Device is set under "Project/Settings" on the file card "Hardware". In addition, the corresponding hardware has to be connected to which your camera also has to be connected (and switched on!). Which driver is needed for your hardware is listed under "Appendix C - Device-Overview (Hardware)". You only get a "defective" signal in the Camera-window check if the set VideoDigi-Device is compatible to your hardware and if the video cables are in order. For htis open the "Project/Settings"- window and check which VideoDigi-Device is set on the filecard "Hardware". Perhaps the unit-number may have to be changed as well, which can again be seen from the list in "Appendix C - Device-Overview (Hardware)". . Only "defective" picture signals of your partner are displayed check with your partner, which Packer-Libraries are set at his/her computer. These can be found in offline-mode over the menu item "Project/Send-Settings" under "Journal". Only if both parties have set the same Video-Libraries, a useful transmission is possible. A list of the libraries available is given under "Appendix D - Library-Overview (Journal)". Transmission errors occur Open the status-requester over "Window/Audio-Status" and reduce the value under "Partner Audio" (move slide control to the left). Your partner's voice cannot clearly be heard (e.g. only noise) check with your partner, which Packer-Libraries are set at his/her computer. These can be found in offline-mode over the menu item "Project/Send-Settings" under "Journal". Only if both parties have set the same Audio-Libraries, a useful transmission is possible. A list of the libraries available is given under "Appendix D - Library-Overview (Journal)". The voice playback of your partner has drop-outs Open the status-control over "Window/Audio-Status" and reduce the value under "Partner Audio" (move slide control to the left). You get feed-backs and a "noise" from the microphone Open the audio-control under "Window/Private Audio" and reduce the sensivity of your microphone with the volume control (move slider to the left). Your partner can hardly hear you Open the audio-control under "Window/Private Audio" and increase the volume (move slider to the right). Also check if the loudspeakers (e.g. on the monitor) of your partner are turned loud enough! Operation mode "Modem external" Error: "Modem does not reply" Solution: Turn on the modem and make sure it is connected to the serial interface of the computer. You might have to reset the modem. Operation mode "internal network" Error: "Network connection cannot be set up" Reason: no additional computer is connected to the network Solution: connect another computer Reason: the other network computers were not turned online Solution: activate the stand-by mode of each computer Reason: the zero-modem-cable is incorrect or defective Solution: try to use another cable or measure the cable Possible in both operation modes Error: "Connection was suddenly interrupted." Reason: the partner has switched off the modem without first going on-hook Solution: close the window with "OK" Reason: a computer in the network has been turned off (offline) Solution: close the window with "OK" and turn of the stand-by mode. |