TopWare 18: Liquid/Image.iso/liquid/top1138/ss4.doc

Text File | 1994-02-02 | 15KB | 276 lines

                   ┌─────────────────────────────────┐
                   │          SuperShow IV           │
                   │     MultiMedia Presentation     │
                   │       Authoring Software        │
                   └─────────────────────────────────┘

SuperShow IV is a highly stylized multimedia presentation authoring program from
PC WEST, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona.  The program allows the user to create
customized screen presentations using images created, saved or captured in the
GIF & PCX graphics file format.  SuperShow IV features include multiple screen
transitions, animation, kaleidoscope, special effects, circle and box drawing,
support of digitized voice and midi music with the Sound Blaster and compatible
sound cards, PC Speaker music and sound, text display using customized and
computer fonts, conditional branching, menuing, user input (read & write), text
scrolling, tiling, border and screen clearing effects and more.

SuperShow IV works by creating a script consisting of one or two word script
commands that tells the program what and how you want your files, text and
drawings to be displayed.  An example of a complete script is the file SHOW.SPT.

The files included with the shareware version are:

     SH4.EXE        -  SuperShow IV program engine
     SHP4.EXE       -  ShowPrep IV (Script Generator/Editor)
     SHOW.SPT       -  Sample Show Script
     *.PCX & *.GIF  -  Various PCX and GIF image files for sample show
     *.FNT          -  Various Custom GEM Screen fonts

The shareware SuperShow Files are identical to the registered version with the
exception of a brief shareware sign-on and sign-off screen that appears each
time you run your show.

There are a number of files not included with this shareware version that you
will receive when you register SuperShow.  The main reason we have not included
these files is for the reason of space.  The SuperShow registered version
includes programs and files that total over 4 megabytes. Additonal
files/programs you'll receive with the registered version include:

   SuperTools:  These utilities include ToolBox, graphics and text
   screen capture programs, image sizing, printing, and viewing programs.

   Three dozen custom font files:  SuperShow uses the GEM font format and
   we include 3 dozen custom font files with your registered version.

   Runtime Module:  The registered version includes a couple of programs
   that allow you to make a runtime version of your presentation for
   distribution with no fees or royalties.

   A professionally printed and bound manual that is more in depth than
   this documentation.

   Over 2 dozen tutorial script presentations which assist in shortening the
   learning curve of all the features of SuperShow IV.

And of course we are constantly updating our series of programs and files. When
you register, you'll receive the very latest version of SuperShow.

The registered version of SuperShow IV is $89.95 plus $5.00 for shipping &
handling.  An order form text file (SSORDER.FRM) is included.  Orders and
inquiries may be directed to:

                               PC WEST
                            P.O. Box 31418
                          Phoenix, AZ  85046
                            (602)-992-0310

Registered versions of SuperShow IV are also available for purchase in Germany,
The United Kingdom.  The Distributors there are:

            GERMANY                      UNITED KINGDOM
            =======                      ==============
            CDV Software                 TESTWARE
            Neureuter Strasse 37         46 The Avenue
            76185 Karlsruhe              Harrogate, N. Yorks. HG14QD
            Germany                      England
            Phone: [phone]         0423/88 64 15



               ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
               │   SuperShow IV Demonstration Script    │
               └────────────────────────────────────────┘

We have included a demonstration presentation of many of the features found in
SuperShow IV.  To view the demo, change to the directory where the SuperShow IV
files are stored.  From that directory type   SHP4   at the prompt and press the
Enter key.  This will begin the Super ShowPrep program.  ShowPrep is the editor
and script generator program.

Next, press the F3 function key.  This will drop down the Files menu.  Choose
the menu option Load A Script File by highlighting that option with the arrow
keys and pressing the Enter key.  Next you will see a dialog box containing the
name of the script file SHOW.SPT.  Highlight that file and press the Enter key.
The script, SHOW.SPT will be loaded into ShowPrep.

To view the presentation, press the F10 function key.  In a couple of seconds,
the presentation will begin.  After you have viewed the presentation, you may
wish to view the actual script.  This will help you learn how we created the
presentation using the various script commands available in SuperShow IV.  It
will also give you a good overview of the capabilities of the program.

                     ┌───────────────────────────┐
                     │  SCRIPT GENERATOR/EDITOR  │
                     └───────────────────────────┘

SuperShow IV includes ShowPrep (SHP4.EXE).  This is the ASCII text editor
mentioned above in which you create and run your script.  It also features
pull-down menu selections that automatically write script commands for you. Each
of the menu options and script commands has an associated help file.  To
activate the help file, highlight the option/script command and press the F1
function key.


                        ┌─────────────────────────┐
                        │   SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS   │
                        └─────────────────────────┘

Graphics programs, especially ones requiring high screen resolution displays,
such as VGA or Super VGA, are very memory and speed intensive.  SuperShow IV is
no exception.

As you will note below, SuperShow IV will run on a simple PC or PC-XT with a
clock speed of 4.77 mhz.  However, if you plan to use the VGA or Super VGA mode
on this type of system you will be disappointed.  The speed is "Oh so slow".  On
the other hand, if your presentation is comprised of files and screens in the
CGA or even EGA mode, then the speed is certainly acceptable.

Below, we've listed three types of hardware requirements.  You will be most
pleased if your requirements match those of the recommended or ideal.  Using a
cache, such as SMARTDRV.SYS which comes with DOS 5.0 & 6.0, will help increase
the speed of image processing.

Minimum Hardware Requirements:  Minimum hardware requirements for using
SuperShow are an IBM computer (PC, XT, AT, PS/2) or compatible, DOS 3.xx or
higher, 512K Conventional RAM memory available when running SuperShow IV and a
CGA, EGA, VGA or SVGA graphics card with 256K Video Memory.

Recommended Hardware Requirements:  The recommended hardware requirements for
using SuperShow IV are 386SX, 386, 486 computer with 20mhz chip speed or
better, 1mb of expanded memory (or extended memory made expanded by DOS 5.0 or
other memory manager software), 512K Conventional RAM memory available when
running SuperShow IV and a VGA graphics card.

Ideal Hardware Requirements:  The ideal hardware configuration for using
SuperShow IV is a 386, 486, or 586 class computer with 25mhz chip speed or
better, DOS 5.0, 2mb of expanded memory, 600K Conventional RAM memory available
when running SuperShow IV and a supported SVGA graphics card.  A printer is
also desirable but not required.

Supported SVGA Graphics Cards:  The computer industry was together when creating
the standards for CGA, EGA and VGA graphic cards. . . but then along came Super
VGA and we ended up with several different standards for the Super VGA graphics
mode.  The industry is trying to rectify that now with the VESA standard.  In
the meantime, there are a lot of different SVGA cards out there. We include
support for about 95% of the video card/chipsets.  SuperShow IV definitely
supports the following cards/chip sets:

  Diamond SpeedStar   Paradise         Orchid    Video Seven         ATI
  Hercules            Tseng Chip Set   Trident   All VESA drivers

There are many other brands using different names but actually use an acceptable
chip set.  For example, there are several different brand names that use the
Tseng 4000 based chip set. SuperShow IV will perform well in the SVGA mode with
any of those brands.

The program is compatible with any chip set that supports the VESA standard.  If
you find that you cannot display Super VGA pictures, check to see if your
graphics card manufacturer supports the VESA standard.  If so, they probably
sent you a copy of a VESA driver for their board.  Load that driver and then try
running SuperShow IV again.  If you still have problems, give us a call.

You should always be able to use SuperShow IV in the standard CGA, EGA and VGA
modes regardless of the SVGA chip set.

Memory Information:  Version IV also now supports Extended memory as well as
conventional, expanded memory.  When conventional ram is exhausted, then
SuperShow looks for expanded memory.  If it's available, it will use it to store
and display your pcx & gif files very rapidly.  If no expanded memory is found,
then SuperShow looks for extended memory.  When there is no conventional ram,
expanded or extended memory available the avenue of last resort is to directly
display your image from the disk with no special effect or transition.

Animation almost always requires extended or expanded memory be present.

Speed of Conventional, Expanded and Extended Memory:  The speed with which an
image is displayed using a special effect or transition depends on the size of
the image and the memory your system has available and the way that memory is
allocated.  Conventional memory (the 640K base memory) is the fastest when
processing an image for display using special effects and transitions.  Expanded
memory is almost as fast as conventional and little difference will be
noticeable.  Extended memory is the slowest of the three and there will be a
notable difference.  Since memory managers are plentiful (DOS 5.0 comes with
EMM386) we strongly recommend that you designate at least 1MB of extended memory
as expanded.  Consult your DOS 5.0 manual or other memory management software
manual for details on configuring your system for expanded memory.

Disk-Caching:  The more RAM you set aside to cache data going to and from your
hard disk, the faster the hard disk will appear to operate.  Caching simply
means that once data (like pcx or gif image files) is read, that data remains in
cache memory.  The next time you want to sample that data, your computer will
read it from the cache instead of the hard disk.  This is especially important
in those circumstances where you are using the same image files over and over to
simulate animation.

The cache is almost always set in your CONFIG.SYS file.  For example if you are
using DOS 5.0's Smartdrive cache and want to set a megabyte of memory for cache,
the line in the CONFIG.SYS file would read:  DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.SYS 1024

The Bottom Line:  There is a saying that "you can never be too rich or too
thin."  For computers the saying is "Computers can never be too fast or have too
much memory."

                          ┌──────────────────┐
                          │     OVERVIEW     │
                          └──────────────────┘

You interface your PCX & GIF images with SuperShow using a proprietary Script
format.  The Script format is simply a set of one or two word commands that
tells SuperShow what you want to do.  An example of a Script file is the
demonstration file  SHOW.SPT.  Take a look at this file in the ShowPrep editor
or any editor that is able to load and read ASCII based text files.

Once you have created or captured the PCX & GIF images you wish to include, you
need to tell SuperShow when and how you want them displayed.  That is the
purpose of the script.

In it's simplest form, your show centers around the SHOW @ script command.  This
is the command you use to display your pcx & gif images.  You may display your
images using any of the dozens of fades and special effects found in SuperShow.

Script commands are also used to display text (using custom , SuperFont or the
ROM computer fonts), pop-up window boxes and or circles, play music and
digitized sound files, create kaleidoscope screens, clear screens, draw screen
borders, create menu's, obtain user input and more.  The demo script, SHOW.SPT
demonstrates the use of these script commands.

You may create the Script in ShowPrep or any editor/word processor that can save
a file in standard ASCII format.  We strongly recommend your using the ShowPrep
program to prepare your script.

All the script commands and the proper syntax for their use is available in the
on-line help file in ShowPrep (SHP4.EXE).  Upon registration, you'll receive a
printed, bound manual which goes into far more detail than this document file.

                 ┌──────────────────────────────────┐
                 │   DISCLAIMER & ACKNOWLEGEMENTS   │
                 └──────────────────────────────────┘

The SuperShow IV Software System and documentation is provided "as-is" without
warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to
the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Information in this manual/document is subject to change without notice and does
not represent a commitment on the part of PC West, Inc..

PC WESTSM, Inc. and it's officers and employees shall have no responsibility or
liability to you or any other person, persons, or entity with respect to loss or
damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by use of SuperShow
IV and/or its documentation.  The liability of PC WEST, Inc. under the warranty
set forth above shall be limited to the amount paid by the customer for the
product.  No other warranties are expressed or implied as to the operation, use
or suitability of SuperShow IV.

Acknowledgements:  The programs and utilities in the SuperShow IV software
package were created using various language editors, compiler, and link programs
and library toolbox routines.  These include program's from Microsoft
Corporation of Redmond, WA.  Portions also were compiled/linked using PDQ from
Crescent Software of Stamford, CT.  Code includes toolbox routines from the
QuickPak Professional Library & Graphics Workshop also from Crescent Software of
Stamford, CT.  Also, portions Copyright Genus Microprogramming, Inc. 1988-1992.
Portions also include the Developers Kit for Sound Blaster from Creative Labs.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.  Sound
Blaster is a registered trademark of Creative Labs, Inc.  PC WEST is a
registered service mark of PC WEST, Inc.