ALeX: Project scene-handler

scene-handler V0.98.1 (1999-12-17)

This program mounts a MovieShop Scene / Partition.

The latest Version can be found under:
http://www.baud.de/video/scenehandler.html
My HomePage: http://www.kazik.de/alx/

Requirements

68020+, MUI 3.x, AmigaOS 2.04? (Tested: 3.1)
The GUI requires MUI 3.x (Tested: 3.8)

Overview

This program allows you to mount a MovieShop Scene / Partition.

Now you can access all the JPEGs and the sound directly!

The sound of a Scene can be replaced.

It's designed for MovieShop V4.2/V4.3/V4.8.

Using MovieShop V4.8

If you want to use MovieShop V4.8 Projects/Scenes you must tell it to the scene-handler. If you're starting from WorkBench, enable the ToolType "M48". If you're starting from CLI (even if you're using the GUI) you must add the option M48 (example: OPT=M48).

About V5 and MacroSystems

MacroSystems have not send ANY developer material to me - I've asked many times.
EVERYTHING I have figured out by myself!
Maybe I do starting support V5 when someone spent me a Draco (with everything I need).
Or if V5 is available for the Amiga - but this is less probable.

scene-handler5 is in progress. If there are no problems, I'll release in this year a first demo here. This version will have the same features like the "normal" scene.handler V1.0. (Maybe there is an problem with direct partition access, cause I can't test that.)

The 4GB Problem

This program don't support partitions above the 4GB border. Even if a Draco version of MovieShop can do that.

First, the scene-handler uses like many other programs (e.g. MovieShop on Amiga) the normal trackdisk.device. This device do not allow any access to data behind the 4BG boder. The problem is, the most programs do simply multiply and adds some parameters to get the address on disk. But there do not an check about overflow. So they do not know, that they are wrong. And with no check they think that they do access the data, but the address points always into the lowest 4GB, at example in the RDB!

So must the complete partition below the 4GB border or You'll run in touble.

When the partition is above 4GB, I'll show You that. If it's only a little bit above 4GB I do allow access to the data below the 4GB border, but be sure, other programs (like MovieShop) will destroy Your other partition / RDB when they're trying to access that data.

General Usage

Only Scene-/Project-Files with Video AND Audio are supported!!

The program (GUI&CLI) will mount a new device. If not other specified, the is the name "SCE:" (if already used: SCE0:, SCE1:...). The volume will have the name of the Scene-/Project-File.

In the new device you'll find all Scenes/Groups. The comment of a Dir/File shows the length, and other useful informations. A Scene can be many joines Parts. In a Scene directory you'll find PIC00, PIC01, PIC02,... which containes each one Part of the Scene - many JPEGs. And similar SNDxx.
And in each Scene and Group is a directory called PIC, wich contains all the Parts of a Scene / all Scenes and Groups of a Group. And similar SND.
If a Scene has only one Part or with the activated "Hide Parts" option, the Files/Dirs PICxx and SNDxx will be invisible.
All these Sound files, with the name SND and SNDxx are the RAW-Sound-Files - be careful when accessing.
The file SND.AIFF contains the same sound like SND, and a correct AIFF-Header.
Only 8 and 16 bit AIFFs are supported, aLaw/µLaw-AIFFs will look like 8bit AIFFs, and sould not be used.

To stop the scene-handler just send the packet ACTION_DIE to the handler (Programs like UnMount allow that, NEVER use "assign SCE: dismount") or send a CTRL-C to the program, or press the "Unmount"-Button (GUI Only).

Hey, please send me an Email, what you're thinking about it.

General Options

When launching from WorkBench, the ToolTypes must be used. When starting from CLI the CLI-Options must be used - even if the GUI is used.

DEV	With this option you can set the name of the device (e.g. "DF0"). The default is "SCE". ("SCE0", "SCE1", ... if the devices already exists)
VOL	With this option you can set the name of the volume (e.g. "WorkBench"). The default is the name of the Scene / Project-File.
M48	Switch this on, if you want to use MovieShop V4.8 Files. Using the CLI you must add this option to the options (see below).
16BIT	Enables the on-the-fly 8bit/A-/µLaw to 16bit conversion. Only the AIFF-Files are converted. It's not really fast, but it works! (Ignored on 16bit)

GUI Usage

To start the GUI, just lauch the program from WB, or use the parameter GUI.

Note: The CLI version is a little bit more powerful: You can load many Scenes at a time.

First, select the exported Scene (aka Scene-File) or a Project (aka Project-File) or a Backup-File to restore the data.

Then select the type you want:

View-Only	Just have a look to a Project-File, see what for Scenes are inside. No Partition access at all.
Read-Only	Read JPEGs and Sound.
Read-Write	Read JPEGs and Sound. Now, it's possible to overwrite the RAW-Sound. Important Note: Many Scenes do share a sound. By overwriting the sound, all scenes, which share the sound, will be changed!!
Backup	Make a backup from the Project. This option will generate some Files (of a specified size) with ALL data in it. The Project-File, Video- and Audio-Data (only used) will be stored.
Restore	You have to select one of the Backup-Files (DATA.XXX). Now you must enter the names of the Partitions to use (overwrite!). You can restore the data to another Partitions, than the original, they must be only big enough to keep the data. After that you must copy the backuped files (except the DATA.000) back to the device. After a correct restore there will be appear the Project-File on the device. you should use that Project-File, cause the references to the Video- and Audio-Partition are set in this file correctly.

CLI Usage

FILE

Just enter one Project-File or one or more Scene-Files (with the same parameters) an they will be mounted.

DEBUG

With DEBUG level greater than zero, you will see more or less debugging information of the file-system. (Only for internal use)

OPT=OPTS

With this parameter you can specify some options, which must be separated by comma's. Example: "OPTS=M48,WRITE" or "OPT WRITE,FORCE". The order is not important. Options:

M48	Read the General Options section and note about MS V4.8 above.
WRITE	Allows you to overwrite the RAW sound files. Please read the approximate note in the gui section.
FORCE	If the Video-/Audio-Partition expect another file, you can FORCE the use.
16BIT	Read the General Options section above.

BACKUP

Make a backup, using scene-handler. You must provide the size of each part in MB. Example: parts of 640MB "BACKUP=640". Please read the approximate doc in the gui section.

RESTORE

Restore the data. You must provide the name of the Video- and Audio-Partition, separated by a comma. Example: Video-Partition VID:, Audio-Partiton AUD4: results in "RESTORE=VID,AUD4". Please read the approximate doc in the gui section.

Restrictions

The Demo-Version (unregistred) has the following restrictions:

No writing.
No Partition access at all -> Project-Files can be only viewed.
Only the 1st Picture of each Scene will be available.

Disclaimer

This software is subject to the "Standard Amiga FD-Software Copyright Note".
It is SHAREWARE as defined in paragraph 4s.
For more information please read "AFD-COPYRIGHT" (Version 1.4 or higher).

Registration, Updates

The registration details can also be found at http://www.baud.de/video/registrationTXT.html.
Note to all user, who are registering before the Version V1.0 is out: If you have entered an EMail you'll receive V0.9x now (per EMail) and the V1.0 when it's finished.

I think, that I will release all updates as patches against V1.0. So never loose the original version! The patches will be available at my HomePage and on AmiNet (gfx/conv/scene-handerPCH.lha).
Maybe I do use later the key file / Reg.Nr.

History

History:
0.98.1	1999-12-17	Fixed a small new bug with the comments Fixed a small new bug with the hidden parts
0.98	1999-12-16	Fixed THE MSV4.2 / 16bit bug (only in that version is intel format used) Speeded up the 8bit/A-/µLaw to 16bit conversion Added support for Video only Projects/Scenes Added support for AudioClips in Video&Audio Projects. Locale Support (catalog in progress) Fixed a AIFF problem with frequencies below 16384 Hz
0.97	1999-12-04	Added a on-the-fly 8bit/A-/µLaw to 16bit conversion Fixed a AIFC/Memory bug Fixed a 8bit bug
0.96	1999-11-30	Fixed a big problem in the partition access Reactivated the Command Line Interface Updated the manual
0.94	1999-11-20	Added support for ALaw/µLaw AIFC-Files Made the output for non readable projects more readable
0.93	1999-11-16	Fixed one of the 16bit problems with MS V4.2
0.92	1999-11-16	Rewritten the 4GB-Check (bug in utility.library)
0.91	1999-11-10	Added a DEBUG line
0.9	1999-11-06	Added MovieShop V4.8 Support Removed a "Error: Comment is too long" bug. Finished the Restore function
0.8	1999-10-16	First release