SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Published by MicroMedia Publishers, Inc. Under license from Accidental Software (If it's good, it's ACCIDENTAL) Copyright (C) 1995 all rights reserved NOTE: To print a copy of this file from DOS, type "TYPE README.TXT > PRN" then push Enter. This is a limited edition of Sights Sounds and More. The limited edition provides a fully functional program with limits that can be removed by purchasing a key to unlock the entire program. This program can be converted to the full version by obtaining a Key Number from Accidental Software. See How to upgrade below for details. Other limited edition software is available from our home page on the internet. Accidental Software's Home Page address is "http://www.primenet.com/~accident" 1. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE is a screen saver and image viewer for windows that can use your own images, midi or wave files. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE can play music from a CD-ROM. Music can play as pictures are being displayed. You can select Password protection if desired. Messages can be left on the screen. 2. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE can be installed as a standard Window's Screen saver from Window's desk top, or can be used from the Program Group that SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE makes for windows. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE can be used as both. 3. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE can be used as a screen saver and/or an image viewer. If you have installed SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE as a screen saver, and want to use it from the program manager to leave a message or make your system password protected while you have to be temporarily away, you can do this by double clicking the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Icon. If SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE is running from the program manager, it will not invoke itself as a screen saver even if the amount of time has passed to call it as a screen saver from the desktop. 4. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE is ideal for corporations that need a screen saver that can use their own pictures or corporate logos. It is also ideal for users who want a way to display their own images (regardless of format) as a screen saver or as a stand alone program. 5. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE is now shipped with CSA, the Calendar - Scheduler - Alarm utility from Accidental Software. This utility provides a quick reference calendar and scheduler. It also allows you to Set an alarm so that items will pop up on your screen when the specified date and time are reached. NOTE: Touch Start must be running for the alarm portion of this application to function. See How do I use the program from the Windows Program Manager (#4.) below for information on how to active Touch Start each time windows is started. How do I install the program? 1. Install SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE for Windows from a disk or CD-ROM. a. Start Microsoft Windows. b. Insert the disk or CD-ROM in the proper drive. Windows 3.x c. From the Window's Program Manager, select FILE MENU and choose RUN. d. Type x:\SETUP and press Enter. Substitute your drive letter for "x:" Windows 95 c. From the Control panel select add/remove programs. d. Select install, find the file Setup.exe provided with this program then select Finish. Trouble shooting. 1. In some cases, if you are using a program that is accessing or using a DLL or other file that SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE uses and installs, you may receive a message during installation that warns you that a file can not be installed since it is already in use by your system. You can choose Ignore to this warning and the program should install correctly. Known program limitations. 1. At least one program (America On Line) will cause the pictures displayed by SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Plus to loose their color definition if America On Line is maximized when this program runs as a screen saver. This problem will not occur if you are using a 15 bit or higher screen mode or America On Line is Minimized. 2. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Plus requires that approximately 60% of windows system recources are free if you are attempting to use JPG compressed pictures. If the program behaves irratically or doesn't show your JPG pictures correctly, insure system recources are at or above 60%. How do I make SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE the active screen saver? 1. Select "yes" to the inquiry during installation that asks if you want SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE to be installed as the current screen saver. This will place SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE as the current screen saver. If you are using windows 95 SS and More may not be selected as the system screen saver. If this is the case, you will need to manually select S S and More as the system screen saver. 2. You can select Saver Set Up from the Miscellaneous menu to access the Saver Set Up utility in the program. Turn the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE screen saver function on or off as well as selecting the amount inactive keyboard or mouse time before the screen saver portion of the program starts. Alternative method for making SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE the active screen saver. With windows 95, you should complete the windows 95 section to insure S S & More is properly set up as the system screen saver. 1. Once SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE is successfully installed, it may be selected as the current screen saver from windows. Windows 3.x a. From the Windows Program Manager, select MAIN. b. From MAIN select CONTROL PANEL. c. From CONTROL PANEL select DESK TOP. d. From DESK TOP select the arrow key next to SCREEN SAVER. e. From the menu, select S S and MORE. Windows 95 a. Right click the your desk top. b. From the menu that presents, select properties. c. From the panel that presents, select the screen saver tab. d. Open the screen saver list box. e. From the menu, select S S and MORE. 2. The above steps will select SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE as the current screen saver. Use the SET UP button to select the features of the program you want. 3. Push the TEST button to run the screen saver program as a test. 4. Select the desired inactive time for the screen saver program to implement itself. How do I use the program from the Windows Program Manager? 1. If the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE program group is not open, double click on the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE program group. 2. To run SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE, double click on its Icon. 3. The program will start in the Set Up Mode. Select the options you want, then push the Screen Saver button to start the program. 4. Touch Start: Double click the Touch Start Icon to activate the touch start features. You can select many options for touch start activation. Touch Start activation can be terminated by moving the mouse pointer to the (red line) on the screen. If the Touch Start check box is activated, Touch Start will reactivate itself after the screen saver portion of SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE has terminated. Copy the Touch Start Icon to the program manager's Start Up program group to have Touch Start activate each time windows is started. Once the Icon has been copied to the Start Up Program Group, high light the Start Up Groups Touch Start Icon, then select Properties from the Program Manager's File Menu. Next edit the Command Line Box by removing the "/I" switch. When you are done editing this line it should read "HOTSPOTP.EXE". NOTE: Do not remove the command line switch "/I" from the touch start icon that exists in the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Plus program group. What are the program features? 1. Full version users can add up to 500 Bit Map files (500 images) in each of the 10 Slide Shows provided. These images can be located in any directory on your hard drive or floppy drives. You can even us your CD-ROM as a source of pictures. If you have Kodak's Access software, you can use SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE to show photo CDs. 2. Full version users can add up to 100 Midi or Wave Audio selections for each Slide Show to be played as the program displays your pictures. 3. Set the length of time for the picture to remain on the display before the next one replaces it. This time ranges from 3 seconds to 1 minute. NOTE: Times are approximations and may vary depending on your processor speed and power. 4. Any image can be used as long as it a PCX or BMP file, (LIMITED EDITION). The FULL VERSION of SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE will access the following additional file formats. .DIB, .TGA, WMF, .EPS, .TIF, .JPG, CMP, .CAL, .IMG, .MAC, .MSP, .PCD, PCT, RAS, WPG. NOTE: Photo CD images (.PCD) require Kodak's Access Software. 5. You need not copy any picture or midi file to any other directory to use it. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE can find and use your files from any valid hard drive, floppy or CD-ROM drive and directory on your computer. 6. You can add or delete picture and midi files and set the picture delay through the standard setup button provided by windows for screen savers or by starting SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE from the program manager by double clicking on its Icon. 7. You can use scanned images as long as the image is saved in a format that is compatible with SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE (see 4. above for details). 8. You can display your pictures with their original size or you can select a size based on a percentage of your screen size. If the [ ] Maintain Original Picture size check box is not selected, the picture display size can be varied from 100% of the screen to 50% of the screen size. Pictures will retain the correct aspect ratio regardless of Screen mode or screen size selected. You can elect to have your picture displayed with a frame around it or without a frame. 9. You can randomize the order in which your images are displayed. Click on the Randomize Picture Order check box to choose this option. 10. The speed that SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE uses to put your images to the screen can be adjusted. Select Picture Attributes, then slide the selector bar to the slower or faster end of the adjuster bar to vary this speed. 11. Any mouse button press and most keyboard keys will terminate SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE and return you to the application you were using before SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE started. The following keys have special meaning. 1. If MIDI is selected, pushing the "M" key on the keyboard will toggle the MIDI selections playing to mute and back on again. 2. If you have CD-Audio selected, pushing the "space" bar will bring up an audio selector panel. You can select Previous, Next, Play, Pause, and Stop with this selector bar. 3. The "P" key will pause SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE on the present image. Pushing "P" again will toggle pause off. 12. You can use a Password to protect access to your computer when SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE is running. 13. You can leave a message for any visitors you may have while you are away from your computer, or messages you may want to display to the public. 14. You can use Photo CD as a source for your pictures (FULL VERSION ONLY). You can also choose one of several options available for displaying your pictures such as gray scale and flipping your image. 15. CD audio is available in both the full and limited versions. If your CD-ROM is capable of playing CD-AUDIO, you can select it as the source of music for SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE. 16. Touch Start is available. The touch start Icon will will set a "HOT" corner that will allow SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE to be started by moving your mouse to the GREEN HOT CORNER of your screen. Touch Start can be terminated by moving your mouse to the RED CORNER of your screen. You can place the touch start icon in your windows start up program group to have it run automatically each time windows is started. Activate the Touch Start check box (in Utilities of Picture Attributes) to have Touch Start reinstate itself after SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE has run. Touch the lavender line at the top center of the screen to activate the CSA utility shipped with this program. How do I upgrade? 1. How much? $19.95 2. Your program is converted to the full version after the proper key code is received from Accidental Software and entered into the program. You will need to supply Accidental Software the UPGRADE ID number for your program. 3. Obtain your UPGRADE ID number from the Information sub menu of Upgrade. The UPGRADE ID number is also on your order form if you decide to print one. 4. Call 1-800-771-6746 or 1-619-247-2804 with your Visa or MasterCard and we will provide you with the Key number you need to convert your program to the full version. You can FAX us at 1-619-247-6819 with your Visa or MasterCard Information. We will FAX your Key number back after verification. 5. Alternately, print out an order form and send it along with a check or money order to Accidental Software. ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE 13245 SKIOMAH RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA. 92308 We will send you the Key number you need to enter into your program to convert it to the full version. NOTE: You will receive a Key Number only, no disk will be shipped. 6. You can Email us at Accidental@aol.com or accident@primenet.com with your request. Insure you have included your Upgrade ID number and Visa or MasterCard information. After credit approval, we will Email your Key number back to you. 7. The Key number provided is good for only one computer. If you need to use SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE on more than one computer, contact Accidental Software for a site license. Additional Services from Accidental Software: 1. Custom programs and site licenses are available. Contact Accidental Software for details. Contact: ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE 13245 SKIOMAH RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA. 92308 1-619-247-2804 -- VOICE 1-619-247-6819 -- FAX Common Questions! Q. When I double click on the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Icon the program will not start. What is happening? A. Multiple instances of SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE cannot be started. If the program was started by double clicking on its Icon and a subsequent click outside the form hides the application, it is still running in the background. You need to bring up the Windows Task Manager to switch back to SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE or minimize the program manager to reveal SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE. It is always best to end SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE by clicking on the EXIT button in the Set Up form if you are not going to run the screen saver portion of the program immediately. Q. Can I use this program to display pictures of my business or family? A. Yes, you need to use a scanner to scan your image into a paint program. Once an image is scanned and retouched as necessary, save it as any file format compatible with this program. Select the User Bit Maps option button in SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE. Find the file by clicking to the correct drive and directory. Highlight this file or as many files as you want to add to the list of Bit Maps to show. Once the file or files are highlighted, click the Add Files button to place them in the Bit Maps to Show list box. You can preview this or any file by double clicking on its entry in the Bit Maps To Show window. If your personal pictures are on a Photo CD, Image Master is the ideal tool for displaying them. Q. I want to use several of my own MIDI songs to be played by the program when my pictures are being displayed. How can I do this? A. You can select any valid MIDI file ".mid" that is available on your hard disk. It can be placed in a List of Songs to Play (up to 100) that will be played in order. Once the last file is played, the tunes will start over in a continuous loop. Choose the drive and directory that your MIDI files are on. Highlight this file or as many files as you want to add to the list of Midi Files to Play. Once the file or files are highlighted, click the Add Files button to place them in the list of Midi Files to Play. You can listen to any Midi file in the Midi Files To Play window by double clicking on it. Q. When using JPG or other large 24 bit images with SIGHT SOUNDS AND MORE, my MIDI music occasionally degrades. Can this be prevented. A. These files have extremely high compression ratios, and as a result monopolize your processor so that there is no time left to play your MIDI file. The only way to cure the problem is to covert your image file to a format the has less compression. PCX and BMP 256 color files will not interfere with the MIDI as the pictures are decompressed. You could also inactivate the Enable Music check box or Mute (press the "M" key on the keyboard) the MIDI so it will not play. Q. When using Photo CDs to show my images with SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE, MIDI music I am using seems to degrade as some pictures are displayed. How can I cure the problem? A. Very large 24 bit images can take a tremendous amount of processing power to decompress and decode. These large files combined with the slow access time of most CD-ROM drives can use your system resources so that the processor time needed to play your MIDI files is no longer available. You could copy your PCD files to a hard disk, the faster access time of a hard disk should help; insure you are using the Retain Bit Map Size option, then choose a smaller display size for your images. You may have to disable your MIDI with the enable music check box or the "M" key on the keyboard if the problem persists and is bothersome. Uninstall. Use this Icon to remove SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE Plus from your hard drive. This Icon will remove all files that were installed to your hard drive by this program, with the following exceptions. MCI.VBX THREED.VBX VBRUN300.DLL These files may be required for other windows programs and are not removed by uninstall for this reason. These files reside in your windows\system sub directory and can be manually removed if desired. Uninstall will not remove the SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE program group from windows. The SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE program group must be removed in the usual manner by the user. SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE program files installed to your hard disk! The following is a list of files SIGHTS SOUNDS AND MORE installs to your hard disk or generates as the program runs. This list can be used for uninstall information if desired. Files in your Windows directory.... SSIMAGEP.SCR SSIMAGEP.EXE HOTSPOTP.EXE IMCALP.EXE REMOVEP.EXE IMASTERP.INI IMASTERP.RRG IMASTERP.GRP LEADDIB.DRV EXCLUDED.MSP MESSAGE.MSP MIDI.MSP TRANSIT.MSP SLIDES(1 THRU 10).MSP SLIDET(1 THRU 10).MSP WAVSS*.MSP Files in your Windows\System directory... FXCMP210.VBX FXLBL210.VBX FXSND210.VBX FXTLS210.DLL LEAD45.DLL LEADDIB.DRV + MCI.VBX + THREED.VBX + VBRUN300.DLL Files in the graphics directory used by this program... PP(1 THRU XX).MST *.MID README.TXT + Delete these files with caution since they may be used by other programs. Disclaimer: This product is distributed "as is". All warranties, either expressed or implied, as to the software quality, performance, or fitness for any particular reason are disclaimed. You will bear the entire risk of relating to the quality and performance of this product, and will, in no event hold ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE or MicroMedia Publishers, Inc. liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damage resulting from the use of this software.