Document VideoMaxe Documentation, english VideoMaxe Documentation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VideoMaxe Release 04.33 © Stephan Sürken 1994 Closed on 01 May 1994 This documentation is divided in two main parts, namely the chapters `General', introducing basic types and concepts of VideoMaxe and `Details', providing a detailed description of the program. Numbers in brackets (such as "(430)" or "(433)") indicate an innovation emerging with that version. 0. Before you start -------------------- Before you start reading this documentation, you should o have VideoMaxe installed correctly. If you have not yet installed the program, please do that now; I recommend that you use the Installer script for that. o have installed the password if you are a registered user. Start VideoMaxe up and select the menu "Project.Peferences.VideoMaxe". Please see `VideoMaxe preferences window' on how to employ the password. Please note that you should save the password with all `VideoMaxe preferences file's you want to use, else the password will be overwritten every time you load those files. If you are not registered, I am sure you like the program very much and you will register very soon :-). See the manual on how to do that. 1. Introduction ---------------- VideoMaxe is a video database that satisfies all needs of a private video user (when I say all I mean all, so if you think that's false please write me your suggestion(s)). It has nearly no `restrictions' whatsoever (all data strings are dynamic, no matter what video system you use, no matter what compression your video can record, no matter to catalogize films, music or whatever, no matter how much information you want to carry with a title or tape, ....[see `Concepts' for more]), it has a comfortable OS 2.1 environment, it offers six different file types to store your data, etc. See `Features' below for more. The following is the old text for this chapter, but as I spend so much time producing it, I don't dare to delete it (yet...:#): (* START OLD INTRODUCTION TEXT *) I now that many video organizers already exist. Among these, I did not find one that would satisfy all features I wanted nor have the environment I demanded. (Please watch out because this is the OLD introduction text that you are reading.) Starting programming in 1989, releasing a first version openly in 1990 (02.11), this program has developed to a tool even I am quite satisfied with. Sure, nothing new, but its ultimate solution: VideoMaxe, THE video organizer! (* STOP OLD INTRODUCTION TEXT *) 1.0. Features -------------- (only some features that just come to my mind...) Environment: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ o Full OS 2.0/2.1 support (Localization, Asl, fonts, app. icon, ...) o Languages supported up to now: English, Deutsch, Francais o Comfortable screen/window layout saving o Font-sensitive runtime gadget calculation o Comfortable installer script for installing, updating, ... o (Good?!) documentation (english), text and guide format. o ... Concepts: ~~~~~~~~~ o NO limitations whatsoever concerning amount of titles, rubrics, tapes (or whatever:+) except for your memory. o All strings dynamic since 04.30. o 6 different filetypes to save configs/data: project, mask lists, video recorder, printer preferences, layout preferences, VideoMaxe preferences o Ultimate answer to the questions: o Where to record a new title? o How to spool to title x (counter, rest time, used time...)? o If I have a video recorder without rest or used time display, how can I get exact counter position? o How to express different compression modes (i.e. long play)? o Data base facility: A freely editable mask entry list for each tape and title; that means that you can carry as much additionally information as you wish per tape or title. Provides a mask concept to handle that (save, load masks etc.). o Title length are given in hours:minutes:seconds to be able to cover rather short titles (e.g. music). o (430) Comfortable statistics since o Comfortable search routines o Printing o ... 1.1. Future ------------ VideoMaxe 04.30 has realized nearly all I imagined when starting programming VideoMaxe. There still two concrete features that will definetely come with a future version: o finally include a screen colour editor... o online help, based on this amigaguide doc file o ARexx interface Any suggestions from your side concerning new features are welcome! 2. General ----------- This chapter provides an overview of the program's basic concepts - so if you are an advanced amiga user you should be able to intuitively work with the program by reading & understanding only this chapter. 2.0. Restrictions ------------------ VideoMaxe has nearly no restrictions at all except for your machine's memory, as nearly everything is dynamic. However, the only thing restricting in VideoMaxe is the length you can assign to titles & tapes. The length of a title is restricted to (max.) 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. If you ever want to record a title lasting more than 4 days 4 hours please call me up. The length of a tape is restricted to 9999 Minutes plus 9999 overhang minutes (or 6.9 days). If you ever have a tape with a capacy of more than these 6.9 days I can't help you. Much more important is the additional length of all titles on one tape. This must not be bigger than 24855 days, else the calculations would go wrong...:+). If however it seems not very likely to break the 24855 days frontier on one tape, you might break it with _all_ titles. You would, if you have for example 596524 titles with a length of 1 hour in one project. However, in that case the statistics might not work correctly though all other VideoMaxe features will do fine.... 2.1. Data types ---------------- VideoMaxe consists of many data types that have multiple relations and interact in multiple ways. This chapter will supply an overview of key types that are needed to understand VideoMaxe as a user. 2.1.1. Mask entry ------------------ A mask entry is the basic type for VideoMaxe's "data base" facility. It consists of: o Its name. o Its kind. Up to now, three, no (430) four, no (433) five different kinds are possible: - On/Off type. It stores the values true or false. - Number type. It stores a number (range is that of double int, namely {-2^31..2^31-1} = {-2147483648..2147483647}. - Text type. It stores (surprise!) a length-unlimited text. - (430) Comand type. It stores a text that specifies an Amiga DOS command. You will be able to (try to) execute that command in the `mask entry list window'. - (433) Memo type. Same as text type, but you will be able to display that text in a finer window. o Its stored data; the kind of data depends on the mask entry's kind (see above). See `Mask entry window' as well. 2.1.2. Mask entry list ----------------------- A mask entry list is a list of mask entries. Important types containing such lists are `tape's, `title's and `mask's. It consists of: o An unlimited amount of mask entries. See `Mask entry'. See `Mask entry list window' as well. 2.1.3. Mask ------------ A mask is a `mask entry list' combined with a name for identification. It consists of: o Its name. o Its `mask entry list' Note: It is used in `mask list's only. The mask entry lists of masks in a project's mask list can be used with the mask entry lists of tapes and titles. See `Mask window' as well. 2.1.4. Mask list ----------------- A mask list is a list of `mask's. There is always one mask list per `project'. In a project, the first entry of that list will be taken as default for new tapes and the second entry will be taken as default for new titles. So, you see, this list should contain all your favorite masks for that project (for tapes & titles). It consist of o An unlimited number of `mask's. Note: You CAN enter _values_ into the masks here, but I do not appreciate that. However, use values that will most likely be a default for a new title or tape. I appreciate: Command: empty text Text: empty text Number: zero On/Off: off See `Mask list file' and `Mask list window' as well. 2.1.5. Rubric -------------- A rubric is a classification for titles. It consists of: o Its name. Leading spaces will be automatically removed. It is linked to: o The list of `title's that are classified into this rubric, ordered alphabetically (see `alphabetical order concept'). See `Rubric window' as well. 2.1.6. Tape ------------ A tape is the resource where titles are located physically. It consists of: o Its number. o Its length (in minutes). o Its "over hang", that is the time it is "longer" than described by the manufacturer (in minutes). The actual length of a tape (used for the calculations) is the addition of "length" and "over hang". o Its `mask entry list', containing additionally data. It is linked to: o The list of `title's recorded on this tape, sorted by their occurence on the tape. See `Tape window' as well. 2.1.7. Title ------------- A title is data that can be recorded on (any) tape. It consists of o Its name. o Its key for comparison. Is only internally used, not saved but created when inserting/changing a title. See `Alphabetical order concept'. o Its (play) length (in minutes and seconds). See `Title compression concept'. o Its compression factor (fraction). See `Title compression concept'. o Its boolean locked flag. Is this true, the title will not be taken into consideration for "used spaces suggestions". See `Suggestion concept'. o Its date and time. Both strings are shown (and MUST be typed) in the template of the OS locale prefs. See your Amiga User Manual for more details. o Its `mask entry list', containing any additionally data. It is linked to o The `tape' it is recorded on. o The `rubric' it is classified into. See `Title window' as well. 2.1.8. Project --------------- A project is a representation for a collection of tapes. It consists of o Its name. o Its preferences: o How to show the spool information, see `spool information concept'. o A `mask list', containing the mask entry list templates for this project. o A `video recorder' for counter calculations. See `spool information concept' o Its articles-string. See `Alphabetical order concept' o A `printer preferences' that contains the projects defaults printer prefs. o (433) Display information for the `project window', determining what title, tape, rubric, printer config. no. is active when entering the window. o Its list of `rubric's. o Its list of `tape's. o Its list of `title's. o Its list of clipped titles. (430+) The contents of the list will be saved with the `project file', but not its order. See `Project file' and `Project window' as well. 2.1.9. VideoMaxe preferences ----------------------------- A VideoMaxe preferences represents data with that VideoMaxe is configured. There's is always exactly one active while the program is running. It consists of o The password. If this is correct, you will have access to all features of VideoMaxe. See the manual for registration. o Bool flag "Copy Projects?": Projects will be copied when entering the project editor if this is set. This may be slow, but provides the possibility to cancel the project editor. o Bool flag "Save Icons?": Icons are saved with any file saving operation if this is set. o Bool flag "Show picture ...?": Shows the title picture with every "About" (and so on every startup) if this is set. o (430) Bool flag "Use abbrevations?": Causes VideoMaxe to uses intern abbreviations instead of the full (localized) texts in informational strings if this is set (i.e. "49 TIs" instead of "49 Titles"). o (430) Dynamic string block size. This specifies the number of characters added to (any VideoMaxe-) string when VideoMaxe is adviced to increase the string's length. See `dynamic strings concept'. o (430) Text information verbosities. These values let you adjust how much & which information VideoMaxe should display in informational strings. o Rubric : displayed in the `project window'. o Tape : displayed in the `project window'. o Tape in show tape : displayed in the `show tape window'. o Title : displayed in the `project window'. o Title in show tape: displayed in the `show tape window'. o Project : displayed in the `project list window'. o (430) Online help file. Should contain the guide file you want to use with the VideoMaxe online help. Not yet used properly as 433 not yet has online help. o The (name of the) default `mask list' to use with new projects. o The (name of the) default `video recorder' file to use with new projects. o The (name of the) default `printer preferences' file to use with new projects. o All default directory names for the load and save operations on the six different filetypes. Note that the so-called 'default-files' will be loaded as default for NEW projects only - they won't affect EXISTING projects at all. The 'default-directories' represent the default directories for the six filetypes described in `File types'. See `VideoMaxe preferences file' and `VideoMaxe preferences window' as well. 2.1.10. Layout preferences --------------------------- A Layout preferences represents data with that VideoMaxe's layout (screen, window etc.) is configured. There is always exactly one active while the program is running. It consists of o The screen mode, colours, fonts etc. to use in VideoMaxe o The shapes (including the zoom state) of all VideoMaxe windows. See `Layout preferences file' and `Layout preferences window' as well. 2.1.11. Printer preferences ---------------------------- A Printer preferences represents data with that VideoMaxe's printing is configured. Each `project' contains exactly one. It consists of o Four different adjustments concerning the print. See `Printer preferences window' for details. (430) changed the old "Show title"/"Show tape" due the the new `text concept'. See `Printer preferences file' and `Printer preferences window' as well. 2.1.12. Video recorder ----------------------- A video recorder represents the behaviour of a counter of a special recorder. There is always one video recorder per project. It consists of o Four different functions (for four different tape lengths) of a video recorder counter. (4 different functions as the calculations may differ with different tape lengths). This function calculates for any give used time a counter position. A such function consists of o Its preferred tape length. Zero indicates that this function should be ignored. For tape calculations the function will be chosen, whose preferred tape length is most close to the length of the tape. o A list of "movements per minute". This will contain the movement of the counter in a special minute (from start of the tape). To get to theses values you have to spool to these positions (i.e. minute 6), let the tape run for one minute and then see how much the counter has proceeded. (No fine work.) Notes: In most cases, you will not need these functions as you`re satisfied with rest- or/and used time. Engage yourself in creating such functions only if you urgently need the counter positions, i.e. if you cannot point-spool without it. If you really have created one I would be pleased to release it in newer versions. See `Video recorder file' and `Video recorder window' as well. 2.2. Concepts -------------- 2.2.0. Dynamic strings concept ------------------------------- (430) All data strings (except some where it makes no sense) are dynamic! That means that the string's length is limited by your machines ram capacy only! However, all string gadgets need a fixed buffer size when creating them. That means if you want to add more letters to a string than the gadget will allow, follow following (ups!) steps: (1) Fill in the gadget until your system's 'gadget full message' emerges (normally a display beep). (2) Press [RETURN] or [TAB]. => VideoMaxe will re-create the windows gadgets with more space in the desired gadget. The size that is added can be adjusted in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. (3) Go on typing!! This will work in (nearly) all VideoMaxe windows. 2.2.1. Title compression concept --------------------------------- Problem: There may be video recorders with the ability to compress. For example, many video recorders do have a so-called long-play-mode to compress the length of titles to half the original length. So one has to handle two different length, namely the play length and the actual length of a title. The first one should be there for the user, the second for VideoMaxe's calculations. VideoMaxe's solution: Every `title' has a length, representing the PLAY length. The REAL length it takes on the tape will be calculated internally. To be able to do that, one has to know the compression mode the title has been recorded in. As the only impact on VideoMaxe of a compression is a prolonging or) shortening of the actual title length, it is enough to know how much a title length is compressed. The value indicating that is the compression factor of a `title'. This is the factor the recording is compressed due to its length concerning the used compression mode. This factor may be smaller than one to simulate prolonging of the titles length. For example, the compression factor for the compression mode "Long Play" is 2, the normal compression factor is 1. 2.2.2. Suggestion concept -------------------------- Problem: You want to record a new title - but on which tape??? VideoMaxe's solution: Every `title' has an real length (see `title compression concept'). Every `tape' has a real tape length (length+overhang). Every title has a boolean locked flag. With these three values the suggestion concept is built up. And that is how it goes: You create a new title and set the title's length & compression mode. For this titel's actual title length VideoMaxe provides suggestions where best to record it. Namely: o Suggestions for free spaces of time You get a list of all tapes the title will fit on. Ordered from the shortest to the longest possible actual rest time to be left on the tape if the titel would actually be placed there. o Suggestions for used spaces of time You get a list of all blocks of coherent titles (`tape' list!) with the "locked"-flag not set whose actual length are big enough to include the new title. If the block ends with a title that is simultaneously last on its tape, the tapes's rest time is added to the block's length. Blocks that contain a(t least one) other fitting block are redundant and not displayed. In the following I will write o (,.., ) for a block that is longer than needed and will thus "partly overplay" and o (,.., ..) for a block that can hold the new title only with the rest time of the tape (and thus will completely overplay all titles). So, you see, these blocks contain potential list of titles to be overplayed with the new title. This list is ordered from the shortest to the longest possible blend. The blend is the actual length that will contain a "partly overplayed" title ((title1,..,titleN)-block) OR the actual rest time left on the tape ((title1,..,titleN ..)-block)) after actually accepting the suggestion. Example: You have a project with o Tape 1, actual length 244 o Film 1, actual length 120, locked o Film 2, actual length 110 o Tape 2, actual length 183 o Docu 1, actual length 45 o Docu 2, actual length 45 # Suggestions for actual new title length = 14: Free spaces suggestion list: (Tape 1) (Tape 2) Used spaces suggestion list: (Docu 1) (Docu 2) (Film 2) # Suggestions for actual new title length = 90: Free spaces suggestion list: (Tape 2) Used spaces suggestion list: (Docu 1, Docu 2) (Film 2) (Docu 2 ..) # Suggestions for actual new title length = 100: Free spaces suggestion list: -no suggestion possible- Used spaces suggestion list: (Film 2) (Docu 2 ..) (Docu 1, Docu 2 ..) # Suggestions for actual new title length = 125: Free spaces suggestion list: -no suggestion possible- Used spaces suggestion list: (Docu 2 ..) (Docu 1, Docu 2 ..) 2.2.3. Spool information concept --------------------------------- A spool information provides the information needed to (physically) get access to a title on a tape. A `project' can have three different kinds of spool information show types adjusted in its preferences; the adjusted type has impact on all output operations done with the project. These types are o "Used time" shows the spool information of a title as used time. This is the time from start of the tape upto the beginning of the title. For example: "Used time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes", if a title is recorded 90 minutes after the begin of the tape. o "Rest time" shows the spool information of a title as rest time. This is the time from the beginning of the title upto the end of the tape. For example: "Rest time: 1 Hour, 50 Minutes", if a title starts 110 minutes before the end of the tape. o "Counter" shows the spool information of a title as counter position. This is the counter position of the title as calculated by the adjusted `video recorder' of the project. 2.2.4. Alphabetical order concept ---------------------------------- o General comparison of strings Since release 04.20, VideoMaxe uses the locale library for comparison, using the "Collate 2" mode. If you do not have the locale library (and VideoMaxe finally runs without it, see manual), a normal ASCII compare will be used. This comparison is used for every alphabetically ordered list in VideoMaxe. Examples for alphabetically ordered lists: rubric list, any rubric's title list, main project's title list. o Special comparison of titles Before executing the general string compare, a titel's name is converted to a "key"-string, that actually is used for the comparison. This convertion executes two steps: o Delete leading spaces. o Delete all pretexts defined in the project's article-string. The case sense is ignored here (not localized yet, so no special chars will be capped (i.e. "ö" to "Ö" will not be performed)) The articles-string: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every project contains such articles-string. It contains the pretexts to be left out in alphabetical order; every pre-text must end with a "|"-char. Example: Let the articles-string be "A |An |The |". This would leave out the english articles "a", "an" and "the" when comparing strings. Thus, "A Zoo", "The Giraffe", "An Elefant" would be ordered to: "An Elefant", "The Giraffe", "A Zoo". IMPORTANT: Note that if you change the articles-string, the order will NOT automatically changed in all the list at once - only new items will be ordered with the new comparison. To perform this directly , you will have to save the project and then reload it. 2.2.5. Text concept -------------------- (430) Both two text types described in the following are influenced by the "Use abbrevations?"-flag in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. If it is on, intern abbreviations instead of the full (localized) texts are used creating the text. Currently, following abbrevations are used: "Use abbrevations?"-flag off "Use abbrevations?"-flag on Name Abbrevation -------------------------------------------------------------- Spool information >|< (Tape's) rest time |-> Length L Play length PL Real length RL Rubric number RU# Tape number TA# Title number TI# Rubric(s) RU's Tape(s) TA's Title(s) TI's Mask(s) MA's Mask entr(y)(ies) ME's Hour(s) H Minute(s) MIN Second(s) SEC -------------------------------------------------------------- Any suggestions for more telling abbr. are welcome. View texts ------------ For the most data types there are so-called 'view texts' created that basically serve as the identification of the data. Normally, this will be the text typed in as "name" in the corresponding window; only few very important other information may be included. Here is the list of the view texts: Data type Its view text contains Example o`Mask' Its name. "My_Fine_Mask" o`Rubric' Its name. "Horror" o`Tape' Its number, preceded by the localized string "Tape No." (or respectively by "Tape No.4" its abbr.). o`Title' Its name, preceded by "{-} " if "{*} Alien" locked, and "{*} " for if unlocked. o`Project' Its name, preceded by "[-] " if "[-] MyVideos" changed, and "[*] " for if unchanged. You can't influence or configure the view texts. Info texts ------------ For the data types `rubric', `tape', `title' and `project' there are so-called 'info texts' used throughout VideoMaxe (e.g. in the `project window', info texts for the active rubric, tape and title are shown). You can freely configure which pieces of information VideoMaxe should actually display (e.g. in the `VideoMaxe preferences', `printer preferences' or `statistics window'). However, this editing is done by the `set window', where you can in- and exclude certain pieces of information from the texts; in the info texts, each piece of information will be separated by a semicolon; the order of the pieces of information is like displayed in the set window. An example will make this clear: For the data type `tape', following pieces of information can be shown in the text info string: - Length Well, the length of the tape... - Title amount The amount of titles recorded on that tape. - Rest time The rest time on the tape. - Mask entry amount The amount of mask entries in the tape. Some sample runs: piece of inform. Config.1 Config.2 Config3 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Length on on off Title amount off on on Rest time off on on Mask entry amount off off off With the "Use abbrevations?"-flag off this will lead to the following information texts (for an example tape): Config.1: "Length 240+4" Config.2: "Length 240+4; 6 Titles; Rest time 36 Minutes" Config.2: "6 Titles; Rest time 36 Minutes" okidoki? 2.2.6. Error handling concept ------------------------------ All errors that may occur while using VideoMaxe will be displayed in clear text in an `error window'. However, if a ram panic occurs, it may not be able to open such a window -- then you might hear a double display beep. 2.3. File Types ---------------- There are six filetypes VideoMaxe can load and save. "Default names" are the file names that will be accessed via the `standard menus' "Load" and "Save". "Default icons" are the file names of the icon VideoMaxe will use when saving a file of that type with the "Save icons?" flag set in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. If this file does not exists, the system`s default icon will be used. 2.3.1. VideoMaxe preferences file ---------------------------------- It contains all data of a `VideoMaxe preferences'. Default name: VM:Config/VM.prefs Default icon: VM:Config/VideoMaxePrefsIcons.info 2.3.2. Layout preferences file ------------------------------- It contains all data of a `layout preferences'. Default name: VM:Config/LO.prefs Default icon: VM:Config/LayoutPrefsIcon.info 2.3.3. Printer preferences file -------------------------------- It contains all data of a `printer preferences'. Default name: Defined in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. Used for new projects only, not accessable via "Load" or "Save". Default icon: VM:Config/PrinterPrefsIcon.info 2.3.4. Video recorder file --------------------------- It contains all data of a `video recorder'. Default name: Defined in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. Used for new projects only, not accessable via "Load" or "Save". Default icon: VM:Config/VideoRecorderIcon.info 2.3.5. Mask list file ---------------------- It contains all data of a `mask list'. Default name: Defined in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. Used for new projects only, not accessable via "Load" or "Save". Default icon: VM:Config/MaskListIcon.info 2.3.6. Project file -------------------- It contains all data of a `project'. Default name: Defined as the name of the last disk access with that project (e.g. new projects have no default, just loaded projects have the name they are loaded from as default, etc.). Not accessable via "Load". Default icon: VM:Config/ProjectIcon.info 2.4. Controlling the program ----------------------------- VideoMaxe is window-oriented and modularized. That means that you normally manipulate a certain amount of data in a window, encapsulated from the rest. Note that most of VideoMaxe's behaviour will not be described at all in this documentation as I think it is self-evident. For example, error messages caused by wrong input or safety requests will nowhere be documented. 2.4.1. Standard gadgets ------------------------ There are standard gadgets appearing repeatedly in the program's windows that generally mean the same. Here's a list of those gadgets: Use : Push the data as it is shown in the window into action. Cancel : Leave the window with exactly the situation as it has been before opening it. Equivalent to "WindowClose", if "Cancel" exists. Exit : Leave the window. Only in 'no-data-windows'. No promises about the state after exiting are made. Equivalent to "WindowClose", if "Exit" exists. Continue: Leave the window. Only in 'informational windows'. No changes whatsoever are done. o Special standard gadget manupulating an item Delete : Delete the item whose data is being shown. o Special standard gadgets manupulating a list of items New : Create a new list item. Edit : Edit the active list item. Empty : Empty the list (=> Length(list) = 0). Note: Side effects and "Cancel" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note that to be able to "Cancel", the window must operate on a copy of the data. So, if you are not able to "Cancel" (as the button is ghosted), the data has not been copied. This is, for example, the case with the Window "Project" if you put off "Copy Project?" in the VideoMaxe preferences. This is useful, as the copying of a big project might take a long time. Note, too, that "Cancel" leaves you in exactly the same PROGRAM situation but you may have changed the programs ENVIRONMENTAL situation, for example by file-saving something in a window (in fact, file-savings are the ONLY side effect operations of that kind in this program). A simple example of that is changing and saving the VideoMaxe preferences and leaving the window via Cancel". The changes will not be taken by the program (certainly, as you selected Cancel!), but at the next startup of VideoMaxe this changed file will be read and put to action. 2.4.2. Standard menus ---------------------- Every window might have a menu as well. Push the right mouse button to see it (suprise!). For all the menu items there is one rule to get their meaning: Read them! Menu items are read with their whole "path", e.g. "Rubric.New" or "Specials.Print.Rubric list". Employing that rule I bet you get at least a hint to any item's meaning. There are four standard menu items concerning file accesses: o "Load" will load a file with a fixed name. Global key shortcut "L". o "Save" will save a file to a fixed name. Global key shortcut "S". o "Open" will open a file requester and let you choose a file to load. Global key shortcut "O". o "Save as" will open a file requester and let you choose a filename to save to. Global key shortcut "A". (430) o "Move up" will move a list entry one up in its list. Global key shortcut "U". o "Move down" will move a list entry one down in its list. Global key shortcut "D". Global menu shortcuts will not be used for anything else anywhere. Note that due to that two new global shortcuts in V3.40, five other non-global shortcuts had to be changed: - Specials.Date.current in title window. Was "D", now "T". - Specials.Tape overhang.defaults in tape window. Was "D", now none. - Specials.Use a mask in mask entry list window. Was "U", now "T". - Specials.Append a mask in mask entry list window. Was "J", now "G". - Specials.Merge a mask in mask entry list window. Was "M", now "B". 3. Details ----------- This chapter will describe the programs behaviour and interface in detail. Mainly, all different windows are described one by one. 3.1. Startup ------------- 3.1.1. How to startup ---------------------- You can startup VideoMaxe in two main ways: from CLI/Shell or from Workbench. From Shell, the syntax is VideoMaxe [file1 [file2 ...]] while are any `VideoMaxe preferences file's, `layout preferences file's or `project file's. From Workbench simply doubleklick on the VideoMaxe Icon. Arguments ~~~~~~~~~~~ You may use an unlimited (unregarding the max allowed length for an argument line, 255 chars) amount of filenames as argument. Only files of the types VideoMaxe preferences, Layout preferences and projects are regarded and preloaded. For example from Shell you could type VM:VideoMaxe MyFineLayout MyFineVideoCassettes [RETURN] . This would let VideoMaxe startup with the layout `MyFineLayout` and preload the project `MyFineVideoCassettes`. Certainly you have the same opportunities from WB, i.e. via doubleklicking one (or more) VideoMaxe project icon(s) or simply doubleklicking on an enhanced election including the VideoMaxe Icon. Sure u'll get that straight. WB-Tooltypes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VideoMaxe supports two tool types up to now: PUBSCREEN= : the given string will be the id for the public screen - if the VideoMaxe screen is public (`VideoMaxe preferences'). PROJECT= : the give file will be loaded on startup. 3.1.2. Startup configuration ----------------------------- Though you can run VideoMaxe only with the file "VideoMaxe" copied anywhere to your (hard) disk, I strongly advice you to use the logical device "VM:". If you do not, however, you will have click away several requesters on every startup of VideoMaxe (but perhaps you like that). Note that if the logical device "VM:" is not present, it will - after one system request for it - automatically be assigned to the current directory on startup; note also that the directory "VM:Config" will be created if non-existent, and address your thanks to the style guide. Preloaded files ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o Default `VideoMaxe preferences file' o Default `Layout preferences file' o All default icons for the six different file types `Mask list file', `Project file', `Printer preferences file', `Video recorder file', `VideoMaxe preferences file' and `Layout preferences file'. o The Catalog-File "VideoMaxe.catalog", that may be located in "LOCALE:Catalogs//" or in "/Catalogs/". See your Amiga User Manual for more details about localization. o "VM:Config/VM.pic". Data for the title picture, shown with "About". Is not shown if you put it off in the `VideoMaxe preferences' or if VideoMaxe can't open an adequate screen (PAL:Hires, 4 colours). 3.2. VideoMaxe preferences window ---------------------------------- In this window the `VideoMaxe preferences' are edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o 1st cycle gadget lets you choose between two divisions of the `VideoMaxe preferences' data: o "Miscellaneous" o "Path and Files" "Miscellaneous" gadgets: o "Password". With this gadget you can adjust the password. Type the correct password into the emerging window and leave the window via "Use". Leaving the VideoMaxe preferences window via "Use" will then activate that new password. Then, the screen title should be changed to " - Registered user". If not, then you have not entered the correct password. Note that certainly you will have to "Save" the adjustments if you still want to be 'registered user' on the next VideoMaxe session. As registered user, you will have access to ALL features of VideoMaxe and the nerving popping-up of the "About"-message will cease. o "Copy projects?" lets you edit this flags of the `VideoMaxe preferences'. o "Save icons?" lets you edit this flags of the `VideoMaxe preferences'. o "Show picture...?" lets you edit this flags of the `VideoMaxe preferences'. (430) o "Use abbreviations?" lets you edit this flags of the `VideoMaxe preferences'. o "Dynamic string block size" lets you edit the dynamic string size (see `VideoMaxe preferences'). o "Edit" will pop up the `set window' which lets you adjust certain info text verbosities. Which one is determined by the following o Cycle gadget. This can be changed to all text info verbosity types as described in `VideoMaxe preferences'. "Paths and Files" gadgets o (430) "Online help" file name guide document for VideoMaxe's online help. See `VideoMaxe preferences' for details. o "Mask list" file name of the default `mask list' for new projects. o "Video recorder" file name of the default `video recorder' for new projects. o "Printer preferences" file name of the default `printer preferences' for new projects. o "Mask list" file name of the default `mask list' for new projects. o "Project path" lets you edit the default directory path for the file requester when processing `project file's. o "Mask list path" lets you edit the default directory path for the file requester when processing `mask list file's. o "Printer preferences path" lets you edit the default directory path for the file requester when processing `printer preferences file's. o "Video recorder path" lets you edit the default directory path for the file requester when processing `video recorder file's. o "VideoMaxe preferences path" lets you edit the default directory path for the file requester when processing `VideoMaxe preferences file's. o "Layout preferences path" lets you edit the default directory path for the file requester when processing `layout preferences file's. Menus ~~~~~ o "VideoMaxe preferences" o `Standard menus' "Load", "Open", Save", "Save as" are processing `VideoMaxe preferences file's. o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Default" activates the values of the hard-coded VideoMaxe default. All disk operations can easily be done via the file requester by clicking on the gadgets right of the string/text gadgets. 3.3. Layout preferences window ------------------------------- In this window the `layout preferences' are edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Screen mode" pops up the system's screen mode requester. Please refer to your Amiga for explanation. You can edit the screen mode here. o "Public screen?". If checked, the VideoMaxe screen will be a public screen. The public screen id is "VM-Screen". Don't check this if you are not sure what a public screen is. o "Shanghai windows?". If checked, all VideoMaxe windows will be opened on the default public screen, else on the VideoMaxe screen. Don't check this if you are not sure what the default public screen is. (430) If this is checked, the VideoMaxe screen will not be opened and thus can't be a public screen. Use a public screen manager to handle the last two flags. o "Colours" lets you edit the screen's colours. Not yet supported (420, 430, 433 :-(). o "Screen font" lets you edit the font to be used as screen's default. Window and screen titles will be printed in that font. o "Menu font" lets you edit the font to be used for menu texts. o "Gadget font" lets you edit the font to be used for gadget texts. All font selectors pop up the system's font selector window. Menus ~~~~~ o "Layout preferences" o `Standard menus' "Load", "Open", Save", "Save as" are processing `layout preferences file's. o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Default" activates the values of the hard coded VideoMaxe default; non-public standard PAL screen/topaz 8 fonts/correctly adjusted window shapes for that screen. Remember that, though not visible, the shapes (including the zoom state) of all VideoMaxe windows are hold here. They can't be adjusted here, but the editor always contains the current shapes after entering it. It certainly does not contain the current shapes if you have previously loaded a layout from disk inside the editor. If you want the shape of the layout window to be snapshot as well, adjust the layout editor window and leave it via "Cancel", as "Use" should use the (perhaps loaded) values... 3.4. Project list window ------------------------- In this window the list of all currently loaded `project's is shown. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o The list gadget displays the current list of projects. The projects are represented in the list through their names (NOT their _file_ names!), preceded by "[ ] " for an unchanged, "[*] " for a changed project. You can add en entry to the list either by loading a project or by creating a new project via the standard "New" gadget. Latter will (load the standard files for new projects and then) pop up the project editor with the new project. You can delete a list entry by deleting an existing project in the project editor. o (430) "Project" displays the project's info text as configured in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. o `Standard Gadgets' Menus ~~~~~ o "Project" o `Standard menus' "Open", "Save", "Save as" are processing projects. The fixed file name of a project is the file name it has been loaded from. o "About" tries to show the VideoMaxe title picture if its flag in the `VideoMaxe preferences' is set and then shows some information about this version of VideoMaxe in a window. o "Iconify" will put VideoMaxe into iconification mode. That means that the screen will be closed and an application icon will be placed on the Workbench. In this mode, you may drag `VideoMaxe preferences', `layout preferences' and `project' files onto the VideoMaxe application icon (in fact, you may drag anything onto it, but only these files will be processed...:-). Used mainly to gain memory and clean up the machine's surface. o "Quit" will try to quit the program, equivalent to "Window Close". o "Preferences" o "VideoMaxe" will pop up the `VideoMaxe preferences window'. o "Layout" will pop up the `layout preferences window'. o "Specials" o `Standard menus'. o "Merge projects" will pop up the `merge projects window'. o "Split project" will pop up the `split project window'. o (430) "Help" an odd special feature while VideoMaxe still does not support online help. Should start AmigaGuide with the online help file (this one...). 3.5. Merge projects window --------------------------- (433) In this window you can merge two projects from the project list into a new one. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Merge": The 1st project to merge, must be choosen by the gadget to the right. o "With": The 2nd project to merge, must be choosen by the gadget to the right. o `Standard gadgets'. Note that no existing project will be harmed, but a new one created. All extended project data will be taken from the 1st project (mask list, spool information etc.); the new project will have an appropriate name. You can only merge projects which tapes are disjunct! 3.6. Split project window --------------------------- (433) In this window you can split a project from the project list into a new one, containing only choosen tapes. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Split": The project to be split, must be choosen by the gadget to the right. o "From": The 1st tape to be in the new, splitted project. o "Up to": The last tape to be in the new, splitted project. o `Standard gadgets'. Note that no existing project will be harmed, but a new one created. 3.7. Project window -------------------- In this window a `project' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Name" is a string gadget containing the project's name (NOT its file name !!) o The list selector gadget underneath the "Name" gadget lets you choose between the different "list-display-modes": o "Title list sorted by name" displays all titles (in alphabetical order) o "Title list of tape" displays all titles of the active tape (sorted by their occurence on the tape) o "Title list of rubric" displays all titles of the active rubric (in alphabetical order) o "Title list sorted by date" displays all titles (sorted by their date) o "Clipped title list" displays all titles in the clipped title list. o "Rubric" displays the active `rubric' and let you freely choose a new active rubric from the project's rubric list via the slider gadget above. The active rubric is always the rubric of the active title. (430) The rubric is displayed with its view text followed by its info text in brackets. The info text is configured in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. See `Text concept'. o "Tape" displays the active `tape' and let you freely choose a new active tape from the project's tape list via the slider gadget above. The active tape is always the tape of the active title. The active rubric is always the rubric of the active title. (430) The tape is displayed with its view text followed by its info text in brackets. The info text is configured in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. See `Text concept'. o The dominating list gadget contains the list of all titles of the active list. This active list is determined by the list selector, the active rubric and the active tape. In this list there is always one active `title' (or none, if the list has no entries) that is displayed at the bottom of the list. You can activate any title of the list by clicking onto it. By that, you will automaticallly change the active tape and active rubric. A doubleklick on a title will pop up the `title window' with that title. (430) View text are used as entries in the list. See `Text concept'. o (430) "Title" displays the info text of the active title. The info text is configured in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. See `Text concept'. Note that if you select the 'spool information' to be shown in the info text, it depends on the adjustments in the project's preferences whether 'rest time', 'used time' or 'counter' is shown. o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Rubric" o "Edit" pops up the `rubric window' with the active rubric. o "New" pops up the `rubric window' for a new rubric. o "Choose" pops up a window with a list of all rubrics with the possibility to choose an new active rubric. o "Print" pops up the `print window' to print the rubric. o "Tape" o "Edit" pops up the `tape window' with the active tape. o "New" pops up the `tape window' for a new tape. o "Choose" pops up a window with a list of all tapes with the possibility to choose a new active tape. o "Search" pops up the `search for tape window'. o "Print" pops up the `print window' to print the tape. o "Title" o "Edit" pops up the `title window' with the active title. o "New" pops up the `title window' for a new title. o "Copy active title" pops up the `title window' for a new title, copying all (sensful) data from the active title to the new. o "Search" pops up the `search for title window'. o "Print" pops up the `print window' to print the title. o "Add to clip list" adds the active title to the clipped title list of the project (if the active title is not already the clip list). o "Remove from clip list" removes the active title from the clipped title list of the project (if the active title is in the clip list). o "Preferences" lets you adjust the preferences of the displayed project. o "Spool information" o "Used time" advices VideoMaxe to normally display the used time as spool information for a title. o "Rest time" advices VideoMaxe to normally display the rest time as spool information for a title. o "Counter" advices VideoMaxe to normally display the calculated counter position referring to the adjusted `video recorder' as spool information for a title. o "Mask list" pops up the `mask list window' with the mask list of the project. o "Video recorder" pops up the `video recorder window' with the project's `video recorder'. o "Articles" pops up the a string request window with the `project''s article string. See `Alphabetical order concept'. o "Printer" pops up the `printer preferences window' with the project's `printer preferences'. o "Specials" covers some special features. o "Start values" sets all data of the displayed project back to the values it had when entering the window. Only accessable if you have "Copy Projects?" on in the `VideoMaxe preferences' (or with new projects). o "Mask" covers some special features handling the tape's/title's `mask entry list's. (430) The `mask specials window' will pop up. o "Print" o "Rubric list" pops up the `print window' to print the rubric list. o "Tape list" pops up the `print window' to print the tape list. o "Active title list" pops up the `print window' to print the current title list. o "Statistics" pops up a window with some more or less interesting numbers and diagrams. (430) Since 04.30 more interesting. o "Clear clipped title list" will delete all titles from the clipped title list. 3.8. Rubric window ------------------- In this window a `rubric' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Name" lets you edit the name of the rubric. o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. 3.9. Tape window ----------------- In this window a `tape' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Number" lets you edit the number of the tape. The tape number is the identity of a tape. o "Length" lets you edit the length of the tape in MINUTES. A RETURN or TAB in this gadget will perform a default calculation of the tape overhang. o "Tape overhang" lets you edit the overhang of the tape in MINUTES. o "Mask entry list" pops up the `mask entry list window' with the mask entry list of that tape. o "Show tape" will display the tape in an asynchronous window if checked. o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Tape overhang" o "Default" calculates a normal tape overhang, depending on the value in the "Length" gadget. A tape with 240 minutes for example has a default tape overhang of 4 minutes. 3.10. Title window ------------------- In this window a `title' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Name" lets you edit the name of the tape. There may be multiple titles with the same name. o "Tape" lets you edit the tape the title is recorded on. You can't change the tape if you are editing an existing title. o "Rubric" lets you edit the rubric the title is classified to. o "Length" lets you edit the title's length. The first gadget contains the hours, the next minutes, the last the seconds. Normally you'll not use the seconds, but they're there if you for example want to store pieces of music. o "Compression factor" lets you edit the compression factor. See `Title' for explanation. o "locked" lets you edit the status of the title. See `suggestions window'. o "Date" lets you edit the title's date. For new titles, this is initially set to the current date. o "Time" lets you edit the title's time. For new titles, this is initially set to the current time. o "Mask entry list" pops up the `mask entry list window' with the mask entry list of the title. o (430) "Get Suggestion" pops up the `suggestions window' with the option to select a suggestion where to record this (new) title. o "Suggestion exists?". If checked, this means that there is a suggestion present. A click on it then means killing the present suggestion. Can only be accessed if you're editing a _new_ title. o "Accept suggestion?". If checked, this will cause VideoMaxe to regard the existing suggestion when choosing "Use". Can only be accessed if a suggestion exists. o "Show tape?" will display the tape of the title in an asynchronous window if checked. Mutual excludes with "Show suggestion?". o "Show suggestion?" will display the active suggestion of the title in an asynchronous window if checked. Mutual excludes with "Show tape?". Can only be accessed if a suggestion exists. o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Compression factor". See `Title' for explanation. o "none" will set the compression factor to 1. o "Long play" will set the compression factor to 2. o "Date" o "Start values" reactivates the values for date AND time that were active when the window was entered. o "current" will set the date AND time of the title to the current date and time. o (433) "Length from Counter" [only for NEW titles] let you type in a counter number and then evaluates the length of the title, presuming that you want to record the title as last one on the active tape. The length will be correct if you type in the counter position at the new title's end. 3.11. Mask list window ----------------------- In this window a `mask list' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o The gadget containing the list of the masks. The entries are represented by their `mask' names, arbitrary order. A click on an entry will activate it, a doubleclick will pop up the `mask window' with the mask in question. o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Mask list" o `Standard menus' "Open", "Save As" are accessing mask lists. o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Swap two entries" gives you the opportunity to swap to mask positions in the list. 3.12. Mask window ------------------ In this window a `mask' is displayed and can be edited. If you are editing the first mask of the project's `mask list', the window title will be "Default mask for new tapes", if you are editing the second mask it will be "Default mask for new titles". Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Name" lets you edit the mask's name. o "Mask entry list" pops up the `mask entry list window' with the mask entry list of the mask o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. 3.13. Mask entry list window ----------------------------- In this window a `mask entry list' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o An unlimited amount of gadgets representing a `mask entry'. The VALUES of these mask entries can be edited here, their type and name are changed in a `mask entry window'. Each entry is preceded by a checkbox gadget that indicates whether the entry is active (and is used to select the entry). There can be only one entry active. There may be three, no four (430) different kinds: o On/Off type. Displayed by a checkbox-gadget, followed by the mask entry's name. o Number kind. Displayed by the mask entry's name followed by an integer gadget. o Text kind. Displayed by the mask entry's name followed by a string gadget. o Command kind. Displayed by an "Execute"-gadget followed by the mask entry's name followed by a string gadget. "Execute" will try to execute the string. o `Standard gadgets'. Menus ~~~~~ o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Use a mask" lets you choose a mask of the project's mask list to use its mask entry list in this window. o "Append a mask" lets you choose a mask of the project's mask list to append its mask entry list to the active mask entry list in this window. o "Merge a mask" lets you choose a mask of the project's mask list to merge its mask entry list with the active mask entry list in this window. This is like "Append ...", but mask entries with a name that is already existent in the active list are not appended. o `Standard menus' 3.14. Mask entry window ------------------------ In this window a `mask entry' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Name" lets you edit the name of the mask entry. o The list kind gadget lets you edit the type of the mask entry. You can choose between "On/Off type", "Number type", "Text type", (430) "Command type" and (433) "Memo type". Please refer to `mask entry' for a describtion of these types. o `Standard gadgets'. 3.15. Suggestions window ------------------------- In this window the `suggestion concept' for a given actual title length is presented with option to select a suggestion. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Required space of time" displays the real length for that suggestions are requested. o "Free spaces of time" displays the suggestions for free spaces of time for the required space of time. A click on an entry will activate it and display the suggestion in question in an asynchronous window. A doubleclick on an entry will select that suggestion and exit the suggestions window. o "Used spaces of time" displays the suggestions for used spaces of time for the required space of time. A click on an entry will activate it and display the suggestion in question in an asynchronous window. A doubleclick on an entry will select that suggestion and exit the suggestions window. o `Standard gadgets'. 3.16. Search for tape window ------------------------------ In this window you can comfortably search for a `tape'. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Text to search for" lets you edit the token that should be found. o The 1st cycle gadget lets you adjust the following search options: o "Search for full text" will search for the occurence of the full text "as it is" given as token. o "Search for pattern" will search for any occurence of the token and will not regard case sense. o The 2nd cycle gadget lets you adjust the following search options: o "Search in tape name only" will only search in the "number" field of the tapes. Note that for that purpose, token will be transformed into a number. o "Search in all texts" will search in all texts. That means, it will search in the "number" field AND in all mask entries of the type text. See `mask entry'. o "Clear" will set the active tape to NIL. That means that the next search via "Next Matching" will be started at the beginning of the tape list. Will be shown by the text "No more matching entries" in the "Found tape"-Gadget. o "Next matching" will perform a search with the adjusted options. See "Found tape" for more information. o "Found tape" displays the found tape. This is simultaneously the active tape, used as list position where to start the search from. There are three possible entries: o "Not searched yet". Active tape NIL. Search starts at the beginning of the list. Initial entry. o "No more matching entries". Active tape NIL. Search starts at the beginning of the list. Entry after "Clear" or unsuccesful search. o The name of a tape. Active tape not NIL. Search starts directly after the active tape. Entry after successful search. o `Standard gadgets'. "Use" will take over the active tape. 3.17. Search for title window ------------------------------ In this window you can comfortably search for a `title'. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "List to search in" displays the list that will be used for the search. This value depend on from what state the search was called. o "Text to search for" lets you edit the token that should be found. o The 1st cycle gadget lets you adjust the following search options: o "Search for full text" will search for the occurence of the full text "as it is" given as token. o "Search for pattern" will search for any occurence of the token and will not regard case sense. o The 2nd cycle gadget lets you adjust the following search options: o "Search in title name only" will only search in the "name" field of the titles. o "Search in all texts" will search in all texts. That means, it will search in the "name" field AND in all mask entries of the type text and command. See `mask entry'. o "Clear" will set the active title to NIL. That means that the next search via "Next Matching" will be started at the beginning of the list we are searching in. Will be shown by the text "No more matching entries" in the "Found Title"-Gadget. o "Next matching" will perform a search with the adjusted options. See "Found title" for more information. o "Found title" displays the found title. This is simultaneously the active title, used as list position where to start the search from. There are three possible entries: o "Not searched yet". Active title NIL. Search starts at the beginning of the list. Initial entry. o "No more matching entries". Active title NIL. Search starts at the beginning of the list. Entry after "Clear" or unsuccesful search. o The name of a title. Active title not NIL. Search starts directly after the active title. Entry after successful search. o "Add all matching..." will add all matching titles to the clipped title list and leave the window. o `Standard gadgets'. "Use" will take over the active title. (430) The title will be searched following the following schedule: (i) Binary search in the "key"-strings of the titles. Very special and very fast. Only if the 'all title list' is the active list. (ii) Linear search in the "key"-strings. Only if 'pattern' is off. (iii) Linear search in the "name"-strings. (iv) Linear search in all text/command type mask entries. 3.18. Printer preferences window --------------------------------- In this window the `printer preferences' are displayed and can be edited. All real values in centimeters!!. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o Configuration number lets you select the `printer preferences' configuration that should be displayed in this window. o "1st configuration" to "4th configuration" o "Name" lets you edit the name this print configuration. o "Paper length" lets you edit the length of the paper to print to. o "Paper width" lets you edit the width of the paper to print to. o "Print length" lets you edit the length of the print output inside the paper length. o "Print width" lets you edit the width of the print output inside the paper width. o "Left margin" lets you edit the position the print should start from the left. o "Flip Margins?". If checked, margins will be flipped (e.g. for "two-sides-print". o "Lines Per Inch?" lets you select the horizontal print depth. o "Characters Per Inch?" lets you select the vertical print depth. o "Letter quality?". If checked, print will be in LQ mode. o "Proportional?". If checked, print will be in proportional font. (430) o "Edit" will pop up the `set window' which lets you adjust certain info text verbosities. Which one is determined by the following o Cycle gadget. This can be changed to the following text info verbosity types: rubric, tape, title, project. When using these preferences, the printed text info output will be as selected. NOTE that if you adjust an empty set in the set window, NO text info line will be printed. o "Print project info?". If checked, view & info text of the project will be printed. They then will be the 1st thing printed. o "Add line between view & info texts?". If checked, view & info texts will be seperated by a line. o "Add line between titles?". If checked, a line will be printed between two in the print directly succeding titles. NOTE that mask entry lists -if printed- will always be separated by a line from further printing. o `Standard gadgets' Menus ~~~~~ o "Printer preferences" o `Standard menus' "Open", "Save as" are processing `printer preferences file's. o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Default" activates the values of the hard coded VideoMaxe default. 3.19. Print window ------------------- This window lets you perform a print. It depends on how this window has been entered what will be printed. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Head line" lets you edit the head line of the print. Initially this will be a senseful text that tells what will be printed. o Configuration number lets you select the `printer preferences' configuration that should be used with the print. o "1st configuration" to "4th configuration" o "Tape mask" lets you choose how to print the mask entry lists of tapes. o "nothing" prints no mask entry lists. o "all" prints every mask entry of the mask entry lists. o "filtered" prints only the mask entries that are in the chosen mask. Only if this is selected, you can choose a mask out of the project's mask list. o "Title mask" lets you choose how to print the mask entry lists of titles. o "nothing" prints no mask entry lists. o "all" prints every mask entry of the mask entry lists. o "filtered" prints only the mask entries that are in the chosen mask. Only if this is selected, you can choose a mask out of the project's mask list. o (433) "From": The 1st item to be printed - only if a list is going to be printed. o (433) "Up to": The last item to be printed - only if a list is going to be printed. o `Standard gadgets'. Note that "Use" will perform the print...(-| Menus ~~~~~ o "Specials" o "Change printer preferences" pops up the `printer preferences window' with the active printer preferences. Initially, the active printer preferences are the printer preferences of the project print has been called from. PLEASE NOTE: Changing the preferences here will never have an impact on the project's printer preferences but only locally on this window. 3.20. Video recorder window ---------------------------- In this window a `video recorder' is displayed and can be edited. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Name" lets you edit the name the video recorder whose counter functions are edited. o The cycle gadget lets you edit the function to edit. o "1st counter" to "4th counter" for the four possible counter functions. o "Preferred tape length" lets you edit the preferred tape length for the selected function. o "Entry number" displays and lets you edit the active entry number. A counter function consists of nothing else but an array of REALs that each are accessed by an number. These numbers range from 0 to 40 and every such number represents exactly one "Minute". o "Minute" displays the minute the entry number represents. o "Movement for minute" lets you edit the movement per minute for the minute displayed in the "Minute"-gadget. RETURN will increase the entry number by one (and thus change the minute) and lets you edit the next value. Please see `Video recorder' and `Spool information concept'. o `Standard gadgets' Menus ~~~~~ o "Video recorder" o `Standard menus' "Open", "Save as" access `video recorder file's. o "Specials" o "Start values" reactivates the values that were active when the window was entered. o "Default" activates the values of the hard coded VideoMaxe default. 3.21. Mask specials window --------------------------- (430) In this window you can do some specials concerning the mask entry lists of the tapes and titles. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o The 1st gadgets lets you choose between the - "Tape list" (which means all tapes of the project) and the - whose value depends on in what state the window was called. This will be simply the list that was active in the `project window' it was called from. The following gadgets each stand for an operation that will be applied to all `mask entry list's of all tapes (respectively to all titles of the active title list). o "Append a mask" will append all mask entries of a mask (out of the project's mask list) to all mask entries of the specified tape (respectively title) list. o "Merge a mask" will merge all mask entries of a mask (out of the project's mask list) to all mask entries of the specified tape (respectively title) list. That means that only mask entries of the choosen mask with names _not_ already existing in the mask to be modified are not appended. This name check is case sensitive. o "Delete a mask" will delete one mask entry from all mask entry lists of the specified tape (respectively title) list. You will ba asked for a name to delete here. Again, the name check will be case sensitive. o `Standard gadgets'. Note that you can't cancel any operation if once applied! Any operation will directly work with the project! 3.22. Show tape window ----------------------- This window will display a tape & its titles respectively a tape with a suggestion where to record a new title. The info texts used for the tape & title are configured in the `VideoMaxe preferences'. If the window carries the title "Tape info", only a tape is shown. The title "Suggestion for free space" indicates that a suggestion is shown - to record a new title at the end of that tape. The title "Suggestion for used space" indicates such a suggestion is shown; arrows like ">" will indicate the start & end titles that would be (partly) overplayed. If there is only one arrow, then even the last title of the tape would be completely overplayed if the suggestion were accepted. If there are two, all titles except the last before the second arrow (which will only be partly overplayed) will be completely overplayed with accepting the suggestion. Examples for suggestions for used space: ----------------1------------------ {-} Aliens > {*} Robocop {*} Predator > {*} The naked gun This suggestion would overplay "Robocop" completely and "Predator" partly if accepted. ----------------2------------------ {-} Aliens > {*} Robocop {*} Predator {*} The naked gun This suggestion would overplay "Robocop", "Predator" and "The naked gun" comletely if accepted. ----------------3------------------ {-} Aliens > {*} Robocop {*} Predator {*} The naked gun > This suggestion would overplay "Robocop", "Predator" completely and "The naked gun" partly if accepted. ("Alien" will never emerge in a used space suggestion as it is locked..) ------ NOTE that you may change the size of the window without causing the window to refresh! Please realize that this window is only used by other windows and does not react itself. 3.23. Set window ----------------- (430) In this window you can edit a set. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ All (potential) elements of the set are represented by a checkbox gadget including the name of object. If the gadget is checked, the object is element of the set else (!) not. Simply check all objects you want to be inside the set. o `Standard gadgets'. 3.24. Statistics window ------------------------ In this window some (more or less) interesting statistics about a project are displayed. The amount of information in all following info text gadgets can be freely adjusted. See the menu! See `Text concept' for information about view & info texts. See `Title compression concept' for information about real & play length. Gadgets ~~~~~~~ o "Project" displays the view text of the project being analyzed. o "Information" displays the info text of the project being analyzed. o The cycle gadget lets you switch between four different modes: o "Time statistics" displays some general statistics about the project: o "All capacity" : The sum of the real length of all tapes. o "Used capacity/Capacity": Relation between all used capacity and all capacity. o "All play time" : The sum of the play length of all titles. o "Rubric statistics" displays statistics about each rubric. o "Rubric" : The rubric's view text. Choose an entry with the gadget left of this. o "Information" : The rubric's info text. o "Used capacity" : The real length of all titles of this rubric. o "Used capacity/All used capacity": The rubric's used capacity relative to all used capacity. o "Play time" : The play length of all titles of this rubric. o "Play time/All play time : The rubric's play time relative to all play time. o "Tape statistics" displays statistics about each tape. o "Tape" : The title's view text. Choose an entry with the gadget left of this. o "Information" : The tape's info text. o "Used capacity": The real length of all titles of this tape. o "Play time" : The play length of all titles of this tape. o "Title statistics" displays statistics about each title. o "Title" : The title's view text. Choose an entry with the gadget left of this. o "Information": The title's info text. Menus ~~~~~ o "Info text verbosity": Lets you freely adjust the info text verbosity of all info texts in the statistics. o "Use preference values": The adjustments in the `VideoMaxe preferences' will be used. o "Show all" : All possible information will be shown. o "Rubric" : The `set window' will pop up and lets you edit the amount of information in the rubric info texts. o "Tape" : As above. o "Title" : As above. o "Project" : As above. You can exit the statistics window by clicking the "window close" gadget. 3.25. Error window ------------------- In this window errors are shown. The window is a (433) system requester and includes two lines of text. The first line is always "Error"; the second line consists of the command that has been tried to execute (left of the ":") and the reason for the error (left of the ":"). You must leave that window via "Continue". Example: You try to insert a title on a tape and you get: Error Insert: Length too big! That indicates that you can't insert that title on that tape because it is too long. 3.26. Information window ------------------------- In this window information (as text) is shown. The window is a (433) system requester and includes two lines of text. The first line is always "Information"; the second line consists of any informational text. You must leave that window via "Continue". 3.27. Busy window ------------------ In this window information is shown in a gadget while VideoMaxe is working. You have to wait until the executed routine is finished. Example: Loading a project. 4. Troubleshooting & Hints --------------------------- 4.0. VideoMaxe always starts up in the 'unregistered' mode! ------------------------------------------------------------ => 1st: You are not registered. Please read the manual how to register! 2nd: You haven't saved the prefs with the password! Type in the password in the `VideoMaxe preferences window' and DON'T FORGET to choose "Save"!! 4.1. VideoMaxe always shows odd 'screen open errors' when starting up! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- => There's a false screen mode (= a screen mode unable to display on your system) adjusted in the layout preferences. Choose your preferred screen mode in the `layout preferences window' and DON'T FORGET to choose "Save"!! 4.2. How can I quickly find a free place on my tapes for a spontaneous recording? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- => Choose "New title" in the project window, fill in the titles length with your wishes and choose "Get suggestion". Leave the title window via "Cancel" if you don't want to store that spontaneous recording... 4.3. While printing, VideoMaxe shows 'Unsupported printer command' error? Can I print anyhow? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- => 1st: I use the standard ANSI printer codes (see your OS manual). If this error occurs, this means that your in the Amiga prefrences adjusted printer driver can't translate the command. Normally this should mean that the printer belonging to the driver does not support that command, but -- at least with the original commodore drivers (sorry) -- everything is possible. 2nd: Yes. Don't cancel the printing and choose 'Ignore following errors'. Thus the non-supported commands will be ignored. However, I can't guarantee for the output, then....try it! 4.4. Some info/view texts are running out of their gadgets! ------------------------------------------------------------ => 1st: Select "Use abbreviations?" in the `VideoMaxe preferences window'. Thus abbreviations are used to make the info/view texts shorter. 2nd: Choose a smaller gadget font in the `Layout preferences window'. 3rd: Try to increase the width of the gadget in question by increasing the width of its window. 4th: Choose less information to be displayed if you can renounce some information. 4.5. How can I delete a title that is not last title of its tape? ------------------------------------------------------------------ => 1st: Not at all, as you would corrupt that tape unless the title's length is zero. Mark the title as 'unlocked', so it is free to be overplayed. 2nd: If you however urgently want to delete the title (as you did an error inserting it. for example), simply change its length to zero first and then delete it. 4.6. I inserted a title on a wrong tape! ----------------------------------------- => Choose "Copy active title" and insert that copy correctly. Then delete the wrong original.