MidWavi Pro - Shareware for Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP
What's new...
Version 2.81b
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting information on obtaining new Registration Keys if need be).
A problem was introduced by mistake in version 2.81 whereby in certain modes (Full Screen, Allow Original Size etc.), graphics would not be captured to the Clipboard when requested.
This has been addressed in release 2.81b and all should now be well.
30 trial for non-registered users.
Version 2.81a
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting information on obtaining new Registration Keys if need be).
Improvement to the Graphic Viewer:
During non TV modes (i.e. full screen - allow original size etc.), you may now also use the 'N' (or 'n') key to move to the next graphic or the 'V' (or 'v') key to move to the previous one. Note this key combination was chosen so that you can toggle very easily due to the close proximity of these two keys on your keyboard.
The UK freedb Server is off-line and a new Server Sites list comes with 2.81a.
If you have been using the UK Server, please choose a new one from the latest list.
Problem with printing full path name of a graphic file fixed.
Problem with MidWavi Pro not locating its Help file fixed.
30 trial for non-registered users.
Version 2.81
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting information on obtaining new Registration Keys).
A new option on the 'Tools' menu allows you to test ANY Zip file with a report showing the outcome on completion.
Zip-Unzip messaging has been improved.
The Audio CD play routine has been 'tweaked'.
30 trial for non-registered users.
Version 2.80
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting new Registration Keys if need be).
This is deemed to be a 'must have' update.
New to 2.80 is support for Zipping files from within MidWavi Pro!
By populating the File List Box with all desired files, you can Zip them up with a just couple of keystrokes fully automatically.
Unzipping to has been improved with an 'Abort' option added as well as feedback on the Unzip progress.
In addition, Unzipping is now fully automatic in that the files are Unzipped directly into the File List Box ready to Play/Display (not as previously into a File Selection Box).
Bear in mind that because MidWavi Pro automatically tries to empty the temporary directory (Folder) used to store your Unzipped files, if these are large in number, you may experience a small delay whilst MidWavi Pro is shutting down and deleting these files.
For full details, please see the 'Tools Menu' section in the Help file.
Also, some bug fixes concerning File List Box population have been made.
Zone Alarm (Pro) 3 users please note that you are advised to upgrade to the latest release (which at the time of writing is 3.0.118).
30-day trial period for non-registered users.
Version 2.77
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting new Registration Keys if need be).
A new option to allow you to unzip all supported media 'on the fly'.
This option is available on both the Sound & Video and the Graphics Viewer modules under:
'Unzip Files' off the 'Tools' menu, and can also be accessed by using the key combination of Ctrl+Z (or Ctrl+z), that is to say that whilst holding down the control (Ctrl) key, also press either the Z or z key.
A file selection dialog box will appear with the æzipÆ filter already in place (in other words, only files with a .zip extension will be displayed).
Pilot yourself to the desired directory (Folder) and select your zip files in the normal Windows manner (see more below).
MidWavi Pro is capable of handling more than one zip file at a time.
To select more than one file either:
╖ Hold down the control (Ctrl) key whilst left mouse clicking on a file name
╖ Click on the first file name required then hold the shift key whilst clicking on the last file name required to select all the files between the two.
Tip: to quickly select ALL files, click anywhere within the file name area and whilst holding down the control (Ctrl) key, press the æAÆ key.
Once your chosen zip files have been selected and the Open option taken, and subject of course to you having enough free space on your hard drive, MidWavi Pro will automatically do the following.
╖ Create (or use an existing) directory (Folder) called \midzip in your Windows temporary directory (usually C:\Windows\Temp\midzip or C:\WINNT\Temp\midzip)
╖ Unzip all the files found into the above directory (subject of course to you having enough free space on your hard drive)
╖ Display the contents of this directory in a new file selection dialog box with all supported file names shown for you to pick from
╖ Having made your selection, place the files into a List Box from where you can play/display them in the usual manner
Every time you close down (exit) MidWavi Pro, an attempt is made to automatically delete all the files in the above temporary directory thus freeing up space.
There can be occasions where not all files get deleted and you are quite at liberty to examine the temporary directory and æhandÆ delete filesàindeed you can even delete the \midzip directory itself if you so wish (MidWavi Pro will re-create the directory when it needs it).
Some example uses:
Note all file/directory names are only suggestionsàfeel free to æroll your ownÆ.
Create a directory called (say) æC:\Zipped MediaÆ
Using your favourite zip program (PKZip, WinZip etc) place your mp3 files into a zip called mp3.zip
Do the same with all other supported media e.g. mid.zip, avi.zip, wav.zip, med.zip, bmp.zip, wmf.zip etc. etc.
Then, when in the Sound & Video or Graphics Viewer module, hit Ctrl+Z (or choose UnZip Files from the Tools menu) to bring up the file selection dialog and pilot yourself to (using the above example) C:\Zipped Media.
You will then be presented with all the zip files in this directory (mid.zip, avi.zip etc. etc.).
At this point you may æcherry pickÆ the desired zip files (or indeed, all the zip files - subject to disk free space) and MidWavi Pro will unzip as detailed above.
So, every time you wish to play/display the files during the current session, merely re-visit the C:\Windows\Temp\midzip directory and make your choice.
30 day trial period for non registered users.
Version 2.76a
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Important bug fix release!!!
Various problems have been addressed regarding video sizing and List Box errors.
Do NOT use 2.76 - please change to 2.76a!!
Also, it should be pointed out that whilst play-positioning works fine on ASF sound files, you cannot position an ASF video file with much accuracy.
Version 2.76
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Support added for ASF (video), WMA (sound) and WMV (video) formats.
MidWavi Pro will not attempt to play any "locked" files (certain WMA files etc.).
Please note that graphic FIF files are now only supported on Windows 95/98 and Me.
IE6 (Internet Explorer Version 6) is now recommended to make full use of MidWavi Pro.
Version 2.75a
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting new Registration Keys if need be).
This is an important problem fix release.
A couple of issues raised by freedb have been addressed concerning some CD track titles and CD artist/name details not displaying properly.
Also, a problem whereby version 2.75 would not always display the last CD track title if a version earlier than 2.75 was used to create it has been found and fixed.
2.75a is now compatable with Windows XP.
Version 2.75
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting new Registration Keys).
A major problem was found with accessing freedb for data on CD's containing many tracks.
This whole routine has been completely re-written and has tested OK.
You will now also receive information (if known) regarding a CD's year of release and its genre (i.e. Rock, Folk, Country etc.).
This is backward compatible with pre MidWavi Pro 2.75 data files but of course only CD data submitted with 2.75 (and on) will contain this detail.
You can however edit the file midwavi.ini (found in your Windows directory) using any ASCII plain text editor (NotePad, WordPad - in *.txt mode etc. etc.) to add the year and genre details to any CD that you have already submitted with earlier versions of MidWavi Pro.
You do so as follows:
Start by making a backup copy of midwavi.ini...just in case!
Say you wish to add a Rock Genre release year of 2001, you should enter immediately under the Artist name and CD Title details but before the first Track detail...
Year:
2001
Genre:
Rock
Make sure you enter exactly as shown above (Year: and Genre: are case sensitive and MUST have the colon (:) at the end).
So far, 2.75 works with Windows XP (RC2).
Version 2.74a
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Improved checking for required ASPI layer presence when using freedb.
Version 2.74
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Free to registered users (please send an email requesting new Registration Keys if necessary).
'freedb' CDDB database access...
You can now obtain information about the currently loaded Audio CD using this option.
The process is completely automatic and only requires your intervention to confirm certain details or make selections.
An Internet connection will be required (to connect to the freedb database) if your local data file (see more below on MidWavi.INI) does not contain the required information.
Also, a so-called æASPI layerÆ is required for this and some systems may not have this installed.
If MidWavi Pro detects that the æASPI layerÆ is missing, a suitable warning message is issued and the use of freedb is forbidden.
Should you require an ASPI driver, they are freely available on the Internet and you could try (for example):
ftp://ftp.adaptec.com/software_pc/aspi/aspi32.exe
A search is first made in the MidWavi.INI file (located in your Windows directory) to see if details already exist. If so, the first Track title will be displayed on the Audio CD Player screen (else a æNo CDDB (freedb) information availableÆ message is displayed).
You can then visit the freedb screen (via the 'freedb' button and then the 'Get CD Details' button) where all Tracks are displayed to you in a List Box and you may make your selections as you would normally do by checking (ticking) or un-checking beside the Track Title(s).
You may also select (by ticking the 'Select' checkbox on the freedb screen) in the order that you wish to hear the Tracks and the fact that you will be able to read the Track Titles should make this process easier than on the Audio CD Player selection screen.
Remember that you can single right mouse click over the 'Select' checkbox on the Audio CD Player screen to see a list of æorder that you selected inÆ.
So, once again, if no details are found for the currently loaded Audio CD a æNo CDDB (freedb) information availableÆ message will appear.
You should then click the 'freedb' button and then the 'Get CD Details' button whereupon MidWavi Pro will attempt to connect to the freedb CDDB Server and obtain the details for you (this of course requires an Internet connection to be active at the time of the attempt).
Assuming that a connection is made (or not), one of four things should occur:
1. If an exact match is found, the details are presented to you and automatically saved to the MidWavi.INI file.
2. No match is found and you are so informed.
3. More than one exact match or an inexact match (or more) have been found and you are thus informed (more below).
4. There is a problem either with the freedb database or connection to it and again, you are so informed.
In the event of 2. above, later versions of MidWavi Pro will allow you to add (submit) these details to the freedb database for future use.
Item 3. above looks like a contradiction in terms (more than one exact match?), but, without going into details here, it is perfectly possible for the freedb database to contain different entries all with the same æpointerÆ.
In this event, you are presented with a list of possibilities to choose from (by ticking a box) and only one selection should be made.
Details are then recovered for your perusal and if not correct, you may click the Re-Select button to choose another selection (if relevant).
If no selections are correct, then of course the details required are not contained in the freedb CDDB database and you should take the 'Exit To Player' option (and in later versions of MidWavi Pro, submit these details to freedb).
Once a selection has been confirmed you should then take the Save option to store the new data in the MidWavi.INI file for future use.
If you attempt to return to the 'Audio CD Player' without saving the data, a warning is issued but you are not forced to save.
Once a freedb List Box has been æpopulatedÆ with Track Titles, all the information stays in it until you either eject the CD or end the MidWavi Pro session.
This means that you are free to toggle between the 'Audio CD Player' and the 'freedb' screens.
æSelect DriveÆ
This is an option on the freedb screen that you may never need (and will never need if your system has only one CD Drive) but just in caseà.
In simple terms, MidWavi Pro now uses two methods to determine a CD Drive. The most commonly understood method of drive letters (E: G: etc.) and the lesser-known ASPI device ID method.
Unfortunately, these two are not always synchronized together (although in most æstandardÆ systems they are).
MidWavi Pro checks for this and if problems are found, you are automatically presented with a list of the not so often seen CD Drive manufacturers drive description (rather than drive letters). You then choose from this list (by clicking on a selection to highlight it) and that æconnectionÆ is then maintained for the rest of the session.
If you change CD Drives (in the drop down drive selection box), the above sequence is repeated.
The last used æconnectionÆ is automatically maintained for use next time.
If you an unsure (by the manufacturers drive description) which drive to select, providing there is only one CD loaded in only one drive, MidWavi Pro will refuse all selections until you select the drive with the Audio CD in it.
In other words, please avoid leaving CDÆs in drives that are not in use (good idea at the best of times).
If you do have more than one CD loaded (in more than one drive of course), because of the synchronization problems mentioned above, itÆs possible to be (say) playing an Audio CD in drive H: but seeing the Track details (or garbage) of (say) drive G: .
This (at last!) is what the æSelect DriveÆ option is for. If taken, you are presented with the list of drives as above, and again, you should make your selection.
However, it is stressed again, that this situation is best avoided by only ever having one CD loaded at a time.
æSelect ServerÆ
Also on the freedb screen there is an option æSelect ServerÆ and this allows you to change to a freedb Server (site) that may be nearer to your locale.
The default setting is for the main freedb Server but æSelect ServerÆ will offer you a list of all known sites (e.g. uk.freedb.org which may offer a faster service to users in the UK etc.).
A pre-configured list comes with MidWavi Pro and is called æmidwavis.iniÆ (this file sits in your Windows directory).
Feel free to try different Servers (sites) to determine which is the fastest for you.
In addition, because Servers can be added (or taken off line) you have an option æUpdate Server ListÆ which does just that. This option will obtain the current list of sites and re-build æmidwavis.iniÆ for you.
It is urged that you make regular backups of your MidWavi.INI file (containing all the personal CD information that you have built). This file is located in your Windows directory (Win 9.x normally C:\Windows, Win NT & 2000 normally C:\WINNT).
Because it contains potentially valuable information to you, MidWavi.INI does NOT get un-installed should you choose to un-install MidWavi Pro (you can of course manually delete the file if you so wish).
Please note that the use of freedb is free (except for whatever your costs are for Internet connection - call cost - ISP cost etc. etc.).
Problems with 'dragging' an Audio CD play position in Windows 2000/NT 4 should have been fixed.
Problems with CD ejections have been fixed.
Many other internal changes made.
See also on-line Help.
Grateful thanks go to Luc Vigato for the use of his very splendid DiscIDCalcDLL.DLL routines.
Equal thanks to Joerg Hevers of freedb for all his help and testing.
30 day trial period for non registered users.
Version 2.73iC
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Code added to try and spot a system that does not have the standard driver for MPEG installed. A suitable warning message is posted if probems are found.
Version 2.73iB
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Some side effects were experienced with a 3rd party program used in the creation of 2.73i that should have now been "cured".
Registered users please note that if you copy the MidWavi Pro folder (sub directory) to a CD ROM so as to run from a CD then uninstall the hard drive copy (to free up space for example), you will then have to re-enter your registration keys for the CD version. If you leave your registered copy on the hard drive, you may run from either CD or hard drive.
Needless to say, effective running from a CD will entirely rely on the speed of your CD drive and system.
Version 2.73i
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Lots to get through here...
For versions 2.73i and on, there is no need to UNINSTALL any previously installed MidWavi Pro.
MidWavi Pro now uses the very splendid Inno Setup system for installation, and if you would like further details, please visit www.innosetup.com.
Free to registered users (please send an email requesting new Registration Keys if necessary).
Support added for Windows Me (Millennium Edition) so for instance, MidWavi Pro will know if the Windows Me CD Player is in use and turn it off for the correct operation of MidWavi Pro (as with previous versions for Windows).
You can now "Pause" a graphic Slide Show by hitting Ctrl+P (that's whilst holding down the Control key, hit the P - or p - key). You do this of course when a graphic is on display.
Also, in all non "TV Look" modes, you can achieve the same by taking the single right mouse click option over a graphic to bring up the pop-up Menu which now includes a "Pause" option.
In both cases, take the same option again to release "Pause".
Please note that whilst "Pause" is in effect, the cursor will change to an "arrow beside an hourglass" instead of the normal "arrow only" cursor.
A new option on the Graphics Viewer now allows you to maintain the aspect ratio of graphics when displayed in all modes except "TV Look" mode.
You will see a checkbox called "Maintain Aspect Ratio" (sorry, no keyboard shortcut - we've run out of keystrokes!) which, when ticked (checked), will keep graphics at or around their original ratios (height and width).
This means for example that on a "Resize to fill screen" option, this will not necessarily be the case if you are maintaining the aspect ratio (e.g. if the original was (say) 400 high and 100 wide, then there will be a gap at each side etc.).
You can also turn aspect ratio on/off "on the fly" by ensuring that the cursor is positioned somewhere within a graphic on display and single right mouse clicking. This will bring up the pop-up menu which now includes this new option.
The routines that refresh the screen when you stop (hit Esc etc.) a slide show or single graphic display have been completely re-worked and should now be very much smoother (little or no screen flicker).
On both the Sound & Video and the Graphics Viewer you now have the choice whether or not to sort files found by conducting a drive search. Whenever MidWavi Pro starts up, the default is for sorting to be OFF (much improved performance).
However, you can turn sorting on and off at will with the two modules working independently of each other. That is to say that you could for example have all sound and video clips sorted but all graphics un-sorted.
Please note, as has always been the case, files are sorted by filename only, not the full path.
See the "Tools" menu for this new option.
On all modules, you now have a single mouse click option "Check for new version" (off the "Help" menu) which will check for a later (updated) version of MidWavi Pro without you having to go to the web site...simply follow the prompts.
You also have this option on the updated "About" screen (again, off the "Help" menu).
Users are now urged to make regular use of the "Check for new version" option and not rely on emails advising of updates, as has been the case in the past. Thank you.
Audio CD Player: you can now single right mouse click on the "Play" button to start "Random" mode (this is consistent with the other modules).
MidWavi Pro now checks to see whether it is running from a CD ROM or other removable media. If so, suitable warnings are issued regarding non-removal of the CD or media and also offers an option to Exit if a single CD Drive system is detected.
Some corrections were made to the routines that determine file sizes. Anomalies could occur that have now been fixed. Also some bug fixes to do with graphic mode selection.
Problems have been found with MPEG files bearing very long filenames. If a file fails to play/display, this possible cause is now shown on the error message box.
Files not bearing a time and date stamp (some have been discovered) would cause MidWavi Pro to produce an error (not a crash) and MidWavi Pro would then be unable to complete the remaining file details (full path and name, size etc.).
This has now been corrected so that if MidWavi Pro discovers such a file, it will report its "Age" as "File has no date stamp".
Recent versions of MidWavi Pro have included a check for corrupt sub directories during a drive search.
In what has become something of a benchmark cover DVD (not ethical to name names here), TSoft has discovered that this particular DVD not only yielded the "no date stamp" problems that were addressed above but has now been shown to have 40 (yes 40) sub directory errors!
Previous versions of MidWavi Pro would bring up a message box indicating the bad sub directories name and you would then be required to click "OK" to clear the box.
Forty clicks (as in the above mentioned DVD) seemed excessive so the routine has been re-written as follows:
Now, at the end of a drive search, the total number (if any) of sub directory errors found is shown thus requiring just one click on "OK" to continue.
For the record, Windows 98 and Windows 2000 behave very differently in these circumstances as detailed below.
During a MidWavi Pro drive search of the above DVD, the following was found:
AVI MPEG WAV
Win 98SE 37 20 773 Total found on DVD 830
Win 2000 SP1 9 20 7 Total found on DVD 36
Total number of Sub Directory Errors reported
Win98SE None
Win 2000 SP1 40 (and they really were errors when checked with Explorer)
MidWavi Pro has its own methods for drive searching but using the built-in Windows "Find" option returned the same results.
So, this appears to show that whereas Win 98 will keep going in the face of errors, Win 2000 does not.
Possibly only Microsoft knows why this should be so (the "Industrial strength" of 2000 not liking corrupt directories perhaps?).
Anyway, you should be aware that it now turns out that depending on your O/S, you may have 36 or 830 supported files on a given DVD\CD\Hard Drive etc.!
To summarise the Ctrl Keys now at your disposal:
Audio CD Player - Sound & Video Player - Graphics Viewer
Ctrl+V will bring up the Windows Volume control (if installed)
Sound & Video Player
Ctrl+W will bring up the Windows Media Player (and play the highlighted file)
Ctrl+T will bring up the MPEG (mp2 & mp3) Tag viewer-editor as above
Ctrl+S will bring up the MPEG (mp2 & mp3) Artist name search option
Note, in Full Screen Video mode, Ctrl+S will bring up the "Slider" control
Graphics Viewer
Ctrl+C will copy the graphic on display to the Clipboard
Ctrl+P will pause/un-pause a Slide Show
None of the keys are case sensitive (e.g. Ctrl+P or Ctrl+p are the same thing).
And remember, MidWavi Pro makes extensive use of single right mouse clicks.
30 day trial period for non registered users.
Version 2.73H
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For versions 2.58 and on, please take the UNINSTALL option in the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs option before running SETUP.
Free to registered users.
You may now search a drive (including CD's) for mpegs (mp2 and mp3) files with TAG's (descriptions) to find an artist name.
An example:
Suppose you wanted to find all the mp2 and mp3 files on drive C: that have the artist name "The Beatles".
Go to the Sound & Video Player.
*** Start by selecting a drive letter in the drop down drive box. ***
Then, either hit Ctrl+S (that's whilst holding down the Control key, hit the S key) or take the Tools menu option "Search MPEG's for an Artist name - Ctrl+S".
An input box will appear into which you type your required artists name (upper/lower case is ignored).
The more specific you are, the more specific the search so that if for example you type in "bea" (without the speech marks), all artists names containing these letters will be returned e.g. "The BEAch Boys", "The BEAtles" etc. etc.
Click on OK (or Cancel if you wish to abort) and MidWavi Pro will search the selected drive for all mp2 and mp3 files that have your chosen artists name and automatically build a play list for you.
Please note that whilst the registered version will allow an unlimited number of "found" files to play (well, actualy, up to 24,000), the unregistered version will only play the first three files found (although all files found will be on display).
If your MPEG's tend not to have TAG's (descriptions), then why not edit them using the MidWavi Pro built-in MPEG TAG viewer-editor. See on-line help or details below under version 2.73G for details on this.
Also new, MidWavi Pro now supports the latest (version 7) Windows Media Player (as supplied with the forthcoming Windows ME).
See details below under version 2.73E for using the Windows Media Player and note that now, MidWavi Pro automatically first tries to use the version 7 player and if this cannot be found, the version 6 player is tried.
You can download the version 7 player from Microsoft.
To summarise the Ctrl Keys now at your disposal:
Audio CD Player - Sound & Video Player - Graphics Viewer
Ctrl+V will bring up the Windows Volume control (if installed)
Sound & Video Player
Ctrl+W will bring the Windows Media Player (and play the highlighted file)
Ctrl+T will bring up the Tag viewer-editor as above
Ctrl+S will bring up the MPEG search option
Note, in Full Screen Video mode, Ctrl+S will bring up the "Slider" control
Graphics Viewer
Ctrl+C will copy the graphic on display to the Clipboard
And remember, MidWavi Pro makes extensive use of single right mouse clicks.
30 day trial period.
Version 2.73G
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An MPEG (mp2 or mp3) Tag viewer-editor has been added to the Sound & Video Player.
What are MPEG Tags... quite simply a method of an mp2 or mp3 having details about itself embedded in the file itself i.e. you can detail:
The artists name
The song title
The album title
The year of release
Add a comment
Choose a "style" (genre) from a drop down list of choices
Most of the entries can be up to thirty characters long (and MidWavi Pro will prevent any excesses).
This information could then be manipulated later (i.e. search for all mpegs by a certain artist etc.) and indeed this sort of feature may well be added to MidWavi Pro in later versions.
If you have an mp2 or mp3 filename highlighted in the File Listbox, you may bring up the new Tag viewer-editor with details (if any) for this file displayed by either:
Taking the "Tools" - "MPEG Tag Viewer-Editor" option or...
Hit Ctrl+T keys (that's whilst holding down the Ctrl key hit the "T" key
If you call the viewer-editor without an mpeg being highlighted (or indeed without any files present in the Listbox), the viewer-editor will of course offer no details, but you can hit the "Select File" button to use the normal Windows file select procedure.
If the filename is too long to fit onto the viewer-editor's screen, you can right click on the filename itself to get the full filename displayed in a separate box (does not include the file path).
Once you have a file on display, you are free to edit any of the fields (descriptions) and Save this back to disk (this version does not allow any attempt to Save back to a CD ROM, which very often, you couldn't do anyway).
If no TAG exists, MidWavi Pro will append a new Tag to the end of the file.
You must take the Save option for changes to take effect.
Because the original will be over-written when taking the Save option, as always when changing data, please ensure you have backups!
Please be aware that MidWavi Pro only checks file extensions (mp2 or mp3) to make sure it really is an mpeg file.
DO NOT rename any other type of file to mp2 or mp3! MidWavi Pro would happily over-write the end of such a file and permanently damage the file in this way.
To summarise the Ctrl Keys now at your disposal:
Audio CD Player - Sound & Video Player - Graphics Viewer
Ctrl+V will bring up the Windows Volume control (if installed)
Sound & Video Player
Ctrl+W will bring the Windows Media Player (and play the highlighted file)
Ctrl+T will bring up the Tag viewer-editor as above
Graphics Viewer
Ctrl+C will copy the graphic on display to the Clipboard
New to the Graphic viewer:
When you elect to have the graphic displayed in non TV Look mode (by unchecking the TV Look Checkbox), the desktop icons are hidden to give a clearer display.
30 day trial period.
Version 2.73E
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Sound & Video Module...You can now run the Windows Media Player on any highlighted file in the File List Box...see the option on the Tools menu.
Also, the above option is offered if an error occurs whilst trying to play or display sound and video files.
Apart from the Tools menu option, you can call up this option with the keystrokes Ctrl+W (that's whilst holding down the Control key, hit the W or w key).
Please note that MidWavi Pro expects to find version 6.x of the Windows Media Player, if not, a suitable error message is posted.
The main reason for adding this functionality is because of the ever-increasing trend for file types not to be what they appear to be (e.g. MPEG video files masquerading as AVI files etc.).
MidWavi Pro does its best to play and display all types supported, but it does rely on the file name extension being accurate (e.g. an AVI is expected to end .AVI etc.) and by adding this new option, because the Windows Media Player is more tolerant in this respect, a greater degree of flexibility has been achieved.
So what this all means is that if MidWavi Pro refuses to play or display a file, you can immediately try to see if the Windows Media Player will work with the file.
Fixed some problems with the "Print" button in the Graphics Viewer module. Printing should not be permissible when in Random, Loop or Slide Show modes, but the "Print" button was being offered in spite of this.
Version 2.73D
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For versions 2.58 and on, please take the UNINSTALL option in the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs option before running SETUP.
Yet again, this release is FREE to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE updated Registration Keys).
In the "Search Results" box on both the Sound & Video and Graphics Viewer modules, you may now isolate the search to the filename only part of the full pathname by prefixing your search with the asterisk (*) character.
An example:
If you wished to locate only filenames containing the characters (say) "tiger" (without the speech marks of course), you would enter *tiger as your search pattern.
Of course, if you leave out the * character, the entire pathname is searched meaning that any directories (Folders) containing "tiger" would also be returned.
Bear in mind that, as ever, the search commences from the currently highlighted filename onwards.
Some problems with the "Control Click" method of selecting files have been cured.
*NEW* *NEW* *NEW*...
If you have access to a CD writer, you can now download a single file that will, when run, create a MidWavi Pro CDR or CDRW fully automatically! You can even run MidWavi Pro directly from the resulting CD!
Visit www.midwavi.com or www.midwavi.co.uk for full details.
Version 2.73C
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For versions 2.58 and on, please take the UNINSTALL option in the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs option before running SETUP.
Now, when you take the Drive Search option in both the Sound & Video module and the Graphics Viewer module, the list of files found is presented sorted by filename.
Whilst MidWavi Pro is completeting this task you may see the top of the MidWavi Pro window (screen) flash to indicate to you that MidWavi Pro is still sorting.
Please note that if you have any Play or Display lists from earlier versions, you would be well advised to re-build them in the new sorted format (see "MidWavi Pro Play & Display Lists" in the on-line help system for full details).
The "abort" Drive Search routine has been improved and should now be more responsive. This means that if you wish to stop a search, as before, you merely hit the Esc key to end the search.
Also, if you have Tool Tips turned ON, in the Sound & Video module, the current full file name (no path, just the name) will now be displayed if you "hover" the mouse cursor over the usual filename display area (i.e. the area just under the Font change buttons).
You do of course still have the option to single right mouse click in the file listbox to get full details of the currently highlighted filename.
Code has been added to react to any "bad" sub directories found whilst conducting a Drive Search.
Please remember that you can single right mouse button click all over the place in MidWavi Pro to get options or information...
An example...
Did you realise that if you single right mouse button click the "Display" button in the "Graphics Viewer" or the "Play" button in the "Sound & Video" modules, you will achieve instant "Random" mode?
This is a toggle action (i.e. a further single right mouse button click on the (now) "Random" button will revert back to the original mode). There are MANY more...try and see.
You may find that some AVI videos do not play properly or at all.
Well, apart from files that are just plain corrupted, it has been found that many so-called AVI video clips are in fact MPEG clips. Some players can cope with this but MidWavi Pro needs to "see" the real filename extension.
What this means is that if you have (say) a video clip called train.avi that does not play, try renaming it to train.mpg and see if it now works (obviously, if the file is on a read only device e.g. a CD ROM, you will have to copy it to a hard drive before you rename it).
The original site, www.tsimpson.demon.co.uk is, for the time being, still running but please always check the new site(s) for the latest information and downloads.
This has been reflected in some of the "links" within MidWavi Pro.
You can now "buy on line" from all of the MidWavi Pro web sites (see the "Buy now" options at the bottom of the Home page).
For versions 2.58 and on, please take the UNINSTALL option in the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs option before running SETUP.
Some of the latest Audio CD's do not report the fact that they are "Audio" (i.e. they are so called "CD Extra" discs containing audio as well as video and data tracks). This version should play the audio tracks correctly.
If MidWavi Pro senses this situation, a suitable warning is issued.
If you opt for "Load" when in fact the CD is a data CD (i.e. no sound tracks are present), the worst that will happen is that the reported track(s) will not (cannot of course) play.
Please remember that if you have Windows set to "Auto Play" CD's, Windows will "grab" and play the CD before MidWavi Pro can "see" it... see on-line help under "The Audio CD Player" - "Turning auto play off" for full details.
Version 2.73
------------
Please note that this version has been tested on Windows 2000 (RC2) without problems and indeed, in places, now has Windows 2000 specific code.
Yet again, this release is FREE to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE updated Registration Keys).
Support for playing "AU" sound format.
Support for playing OctaMED "MED" sound format from RBF Software (visit www.med.uk.com for full details).
For further details on MED playing, please see online Help under "MED" or read "OctaMED MED sound files and MidWavi Pro.Txt" that came with MidWavi Pro.
Now identifies O/S platform (Windows 95, 98, NT 3.51, NT 4 & 2000)...see Tools/System Status.
Can now visit web site or fire up e-mail from the About box (double click to activate).
Remember that right mouse clicking abounds in MidWavi Pro.
For example, right mouse click the "Play" button in the Sound & Video Player to toggle "Random" play mode on/off (same goes for the "Display" button in the Graphics Viewer).
Right mouse click the "Auto Play" checkbox area to toggle "Loop Play" mode etc., etc. - see online Help.
From the all the "Tools" menus, you will see a new option "Run OctaMED" (and that's exactly what it does - if OctaMED is installed on your system).
If MidWAvi Pro is playing an Audio CD when a request to "Run OctaMED" occurs, the CD will be stopped first.
Version 2.72
------------
Special Price Reduction - this version now only $18.00 (ú12.00 pounds sterling) to fully register!!! See "Registration Details" in on-line help.
You can now run endless (and Random) graphic-sound-video shows (the ultimate screen saver!). See below for more detail.
For versions 2.58 and on, please take the UNINSTALL option in the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs option before running SETUP.
Yet again, this release is FREE to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE updated Registration Keys if need be).
In the Audio CD module, an indication of your chosen Intro time selection is now shown in red at the top left hand corner of the CD decrementing/incrementing time display box.
That is, if Intro is ON then the information is shown whereas if Intro is OFF it is not.
If the red time indication IS on display, you may left mouse click anywhere in the red timer numbers to bring up the "Set Introduction Time" screen (i.e. same as single right mouse clicking on the Intro ON/OFF option in the "Tools" menu).
You can now run an endless graphic-sound-video show as follows (the ultimate screen saver!):
Random Play and/or Display:
You can now elect for a random play (and) or display of sound, video and graphics.
Either single right mouse click "Play" in the sound/video module or "Display" in the graphics viewer module (you can also take "Random ON/OFF" options from the "Tools" menu.
Please be aware of the following limitations:
MidWavi Pro now supports up to 24,000 filenames when using the powerful "Disk Search" option in the "Sound & Video" and the "Graphics Viewer" modules.
In both the "Graphics Viewer" and "Sound & Video" modules, the maximum filenames for random display is 24,000 (which is the maximum allowed anyway).
Random mode will play/display "for ever" (well, click "Stop" to end it).
MidWavi Pro will always start up in "Random Play OFF" mode but any "toggles" (changes of mode) will remain on a per session basis unless MidWavi Pro senses bad logic (i.e. trying to play one file randomly!!!).
Endless Loop (in sequential order):
In the Graphics Viewer module, you may now run a continuous Slide Show (i.e. your chosen graphic files can be displayed repeatedly such that when the last graphic in a selection is displayed the cycle begins again at the first).
You get to this new feature from the Graphics Viewer "Tools" menu or by single right mouse clicking the "Slide Show" checkbox - this toggles between "Slide Show" and "Loop Show".
The "Tools" option "Loop Slide OFF" toggles to "Loop Slide Show ON (Esc or Stop to end)" and back each time you click on it.
Clearly, with "Loop Slide Show ON (Esc or Stop to end)" (or "Loop Show") set, you have your endless Slide Show.
Use the checkbox "Slide/Loop Show" as an indicator of the mode you are in.
MidWavi Pro will always start up in "Loop Slide OFF" mode but any "toggles" (changes of mode) will remain on a per session basis.
The Sound & Video Player module now also has exactly the same option as above the difference being:
In the Sound & Video Player module, you may now run a continuous sound and video show (i.e. your chosen sound and video files can be played/displayed repeatedly such that when the last one in a selection is played/displayed the cycle begins again at the first).
You get to this new feature from the Sound & Video Player "Tools" menu or by single right mouse clicking the "Auto Play" checkbox - this toggles between "Auto Play" and "Loop Play".
The "Tools" menu option "Loop Play OFF" toggles to "Loop Play ON (Esc or Stop to end)" and back each time you click on it.
Clearly, with "Loop Play ON (Esc or Stop to end)" set (or "Loop Play"), you have your endless sound and video show.
Use the checkbox "Auto/Loop Play" as an indicator of the mode you are in.
MidWavi Pro will always start up in "Loop Play OFF" mode but any "toggles" (changes of mode) will remain on a per session basis.
As may be apparent, if you combine the sound and graphics loops, you could have a screen saver playing your selected pictures (full screen) and sounds endlessly (and/or randomly).
MidWavi Pro now "learns" about bad graphics and sounds it cannot load, and self deletes the offending file(s). Note, this does not mean it actually deletes the file(s), it merely unchecks (unticks) them from the ListBox. This should mean that when running in Slide-Loop-Random, you will only see a message once saying "Problem loading xxxx filename" etc.
The Slide Show engine has been optimised for minimal CPU usage.
Thanks to eagle eyed long time Beta tester John Pettitt (John was in at version 1.0!!!), the Slide Show engine has been re-written. John spotted that up to 100% of CPU time was being consumed by the Slide Show code, and whilst most people would not even be aware that this was the case, much effort has been put into addressing this potential problem in 2.72. It can now be said that very little CPU time is taken by the new code! My sincere thanks to John and his efforts in discovering this.
Bug fixes..er service packs...
Small problem of the default CD Audio Player Intro time of 10 seconds actually playing for 11 seconds has been fixed.
The edit box to change the Slide Show display time in the Graphics Viewer was not available but now is. My thanks to registered user Les Stewart for reporting this bug.
See on-line help for further details.
Version 2.71
------------
Yet again, this release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE updated Registration Keys if need be).
An option has been added to the CD Audio Player allowing you to set the Intro Play time between 1 and 120 seconds. The default is 10 seconds (and this default is set each time you run MidWavi Pro).
To set an Intro Play time, either single right mouse click on the Intro ON/OFF button or take the new option "Set Intro Play Time" from the Tools Menu. You can hit the "Esc" (escape) key to exit this option.
The Full Screen Video Slider control now has "Pause" - "Stop" - "Next" and "Previous" added to it as well as file size and duration information. You can hit the "Esc" (escape) key to exit this option.
Also, whilst in Full Sceen Video mode, apart from the Popup Menu "Slider" option, you can now invoke the "Slider" by keying "Ctrl+S" - that's hold down the Control key whilst keying S or s.
But, there is one "gotcha"...Because of possible screen corruption, you cannot call up the Volume Control (see below) or the Slider Control whilst a video is Paused.
Assuming you have it installed on your system, you can now call up the Windows master volume control ("Play Control") from the "Tools" menu on the Audio CD, Sound & Video and Graphics Viewer modules (or by keying "Ctrl+V" - that's hold down the Control key whilst keying V or v).
Please note that in any module, if the "Tools" menu is unavailable, providing the source has the focus (e.g. in Graphic Display "TV Look", force the focus onto a graphic by clicking anywhere within the graphic), you can still invoke the volume control by using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+V).
Version 2.70
------------
Yet again, this release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE updated Registration Keys).
If you currently have version 2.58 or later on your system, please uninstall it before installing this version.
A massive change means you no longer require the mpeg library (Mpegdll.Dll) so that's one file less on your system!
MPEG sound "dragging" (play positioning) and "Pause" are now much more responsive!
MOV video/sound files are now supported (inc full screen) but keep in mind that not all MOV files are created equal. If the Windows Media Player (version 6.x on) cannot display a MOV video, then chances are neither will MidWavi Pro.
You now have a "Pause" button on full screen video (see "Pause" option on the right mouse click menu).
You now have a "drag bar" for video positioning on full screen video (see "Slider" on right mouse click menu). "Slider" is disabled when "Pause" is active.
For very fine adjustment of video playback, you can use the cursor keys (up, down, left and right) to "move" the video forwards/backwards, and the "Home" and "End" keys to go to the beginning and end of the video.
You must make sure that the slider has the focus (by either tabbing to it or clicking on it) before you use the keyboard (and must respond quickly as the slider continually loses the focus - its meant too).
Please be sure to read the FAQ text file for full details on possible sound and video playback problems, and all users (Win 95-98-NT4) should note that for MPEG and MOV sound and video to work with MidWavi Pro 2.70 and on, you must have IE5 (Internet Explorer Version 5.x) installed on your system (i.e. Media Player Version 6.x or later). Should also work with IE4, but this has not been tested.
If you do not care to use IE5 (or IE4), you should stay with version 2.60 of MidWavi Pro BUT please be aware that there are now known problems with 2.60 (and earlier) regarding MPEG's that have a very low sample rate and besides, IE5 is very stable, and 2.70 and on will support many new formats (MOV sound and video in 2.70 for example), so why not give it a go anyway.
The "System Status" report (on the "Tools" menu) now shows the clock speed of your processor.
On most systems tested, the clock speed result can vary a tad (e.g. a 450 could be shown as running at 449 or on the next test ("Refresh" button,) 451 etc.) and maybe this explains why we get the "different each time" Benchmark results from Benchmark programs!
Improved "Eject" code on Audio CD Player (old code could cause a Blue & White screen!).
Now handles large JPG (JPEG) graphic files.
The "Sub Select" box is now automatically displayed after a disk search so that you can see what has been found.
Various bug fixes concerning full screen video mode and "Normal CD Player".
There were no releases between 2.60 and 2.70.
Version 2.60
------------
Yet again, this release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE updated Registration Keys).
Now offers to launch the Clipboard Viewer (see option coming off the "Edit" sub menu on the Graphics Viewer). If you do not have the Clipboard Viewer installed, a suitable message is given (you can add the viewer by way of the "Windows Setup" tab on the "Add/Remove Programs" area of the Control Panel).
CD Player now has an Intro(duction) scan option i.e. the first ten seconds of every SELECTED track will be played (in Random mode, for ever).
This button toggles ON/OFF and its caption will change to reflect its current state (i.e. when ON the button is called æIntro OnÆ and when off, æIntro OffÆ).
To use, select the desired tracks in the normal way then toggle the "Intro" button ON by clicking on it (or Alt+I) then click 'Play' ('Next & 'Previous' are also active).
You can toggle this button ON/OFF at will (even whilst playing tracks) so for example, if you hear the introduction to a track that you would like to listen to, toggle the button to OFF before ten seconds of the track has been played and the track will continue to play.
Cured problem whereby MidWavi Pro would not handle a very large bitmap (BMP etc.). It was not the size of the file, rather the size (width/height) of the graphic that caused the problem...will now crop a copy of the original graphic in order to display part of it!
Various other bug fixes some of which concerned the Registration screen.
Two new order options on the Registration screen including a voice Phone (or Fax) credit card line (Electronic Universe).
See on-line Help for further details.
Version 2.59
------------
Yet again, this release is free to registered users.
You can now send a graphic that is on display to the Clipboard by way of an "Edit" option on the Menu Bar (also supports the usual Ctrl+C)...will also ask at program exit whether you want to clear the Clipboard.
The Audio CD Player will now detect if you attempt to "Load" a non Audio (data) CD and offer to Eject any such CD.
If the Windows CD or Media Player are detected when you start up MidWavi Pro, it will now shut them down.
Attempting to run a 2nd copy of MidWavi Pro will now return you to the original (1st) copy of MidWavi Pro.
During a graphic print, you now have an option to "Centre" the printout on the page
(observe the effects of "Fit To Page" and "Centre" modes when combined).
Now allows (after a suitable warning) you to Print when a CD or sound file is playing.
Any key now aborts the "Print Preview" screen.
Bug fixes re Play/Display Lists.
Once again, a reminder that the single right mouse click can be used in many places within MidWavi Pro... e.g. when a graphic is on display in Full Screen or Original size mode, a single right mouse click will bring up a Menu of choices.
See on-line Help for further details.
Version 2.58
------------
Once again, this release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE Registration Keys if necessary).
Display Lists added to Graphic module...except in "Compact Mode". See on-line Help under "MidWavi Pro Play & Display Lists" for full details.
Menu Bar added to Graphic module (File - Tools - Help).
It's been the case for some time now, but not yet mentioned, that MidWavi Pro supports a "Wheel Mouse"... "as is" in Windows 98, with a driver in Windows 95.
So those of you with such a beast can use the wheel and centre button as normal in List Boxes etc.
MidWavi Pro now incorporates a "standard" Windows setup routine, by running the EXE file "SETUP"!
To be honest, it still doesn't need it, but certain commercial considerations have deemed it so.
For those of you out there (like myself) that like to know what is being put on your system, once you have run the "SETUP" routine, read the file called "Install.Txt" that will have been placed in your chosen MidWavi Pro directory.
This should tell you all you need to know.
Version 2.57
------------
This release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE Registration Keys which ALL Registered users prior to 2.57 will require).
MidWavi Pro now supports sound and video "Play Lists". Please see the text file "MidWivi Pro Play Lists.Txt" or on-line help under "MidWavi Pro Play Lists" for full details.
Un-registered versions will allow you to build and save Play Lists, but only Registered versions will actually play them.
Bug fixed that caused MPEG sound files to "Auto Play" even when this option was turned off!
Please be sure to read the "Install" file, the "FAQ" file, the "ReadMe" file and on-line help.
Version 2.56
------------
This release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE Reg Keys).
MidWavi Pro has been "re-built", and this process exposed some bugs that were hitherto unknown.
Therefore, 2.56 must in all honesty be regarded as a bug fix (er...Service Pack) release.
Amongst the things fixed added or changed are:
Now checks that the MPEG "engine" has been loaded.
Double-clicking to run a sound/video file was not working properly.
Dragging sound and video files to position them was not working properly.
The "Play" engine for sound and video has been partly re-written.
All the above issues have been addressed in release 2.56.
Please be sure to read the "Install" file, the "FAQ" file, the "ReadMe" file and on-line help.
Version 2.55 - MPEG Video Support (Windows 95/98)
-------------------------------------------------
2.55 is a massive upgrade...lots of changes...please read on...
This release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE Reg Keys).
Support for MPEG Video...Win 98 & Win 95 if an MPEG layer is present...see the FAQ text file for more detail on this.
Select *.dat from drop-down box for VideoCD to bring in MPEG video etc. etc. (couldn't include *.dat in search because it's a common file extension...maybe will add checking in another version, but this will slow the search down!).
Auto Play (sound module) is now always ON when you first run (but you have to click "Play").
List Box File names (sound and graphics) now appear in sorted order (except in certain situations when "Ctrl" clicking for file selection). Previously, if you clicked the first filename in a directory then shift clicked the last one (i.e. selected all the files), the list would appear showing "the last first and the first last". This no longer happens.
Problem with the compiler that was causing problems highlighting files has been fixed.
Problem "dragging" (position the play point) large files on CD fixed (i.e. WAV's could skip to the next selection as you starting dragging them etc.).
Fixed "Normal CD" (wasn't working in multi-drive systems).
Full screen option now added to the "Video" (AVI & MPEG) section.
The three video options now are:
"Resize" - Allow original size playback (that you can also drag/resize).
"Resize to fit" - Contain the video within the MidWavi Pro screen (the default).
"Full Screen" - Guess what!
As far as settings are concerned, "Resize" & "Resize to fit" are "remembered" between sessions..."Full Screen" always defaults back to "Resize to fit".
In full screen video and non "TV" graphic modes, added "right mouse" single click to bring up a popup menu that offers Next-Prev-Stop-File Detail etc. Also, if in "Play & Display" mode in the graphic viewer, the current sound filename or CD track playing is also displayed.
When NOT in "TV Look" (in the graphic viewer), the above change now means that you no longer use Left/Right mouse buttons to display next/previous graphics. Use the single right mouse click SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE GRAPHIC ON DISPLAY to bring up the menu which offers "Next", "Previous" etc. etc. If you right click outside the graphic, you'll be on the Windows desktop (except in full screen mode) so take care!
Also when NOT in "TV Look", you now have an option to turn the "Slide Show" mode ON (if its already on, the option is disabled - greyed out). Again, you get to this option from the single right mouse popup menu.
File selections are now "remembered" if you exit the sound/video module. MidWavi Pro used to empty the file list box (unless you opted for Play & Display) and this was a throw-back to an original design concept that no longer seems relevant (i.e. to conserve RAM in the days when it was very expensive).
Improvements made to the "engine" that moves you between modules (MidWavi Pro 2.55 should be more responsive than before).
Some, dare I admit it, additional bug fixes!
If all else fails, read the Help file! ;-)
Version 2.54 - MPEG Sound Support
---------------------------------
This release is free to registered users (please send an email requesting your FREE Reg Keys).
Support added for Layer 2 (*.mp2) and Layer 3 (*.mp3) MPEG sound files.
Registered users now have all the power of MidWavi Pro's "search drive" capabilities for finding and playing MPEG sound files (non-registered users can manually select from a directory).
Credits due (and thanks go) to...
Fraunhofer and THOMSON multimedia.
MPEG Layer-3 audio compression technology is licensed by Fraunhofer and THOMSON multimedia.
Eugene Mayevski (www.ig.com.ua/wabbit) and others for their efforts and MPEG library so generously donated to the public domain.
TSoft Ltd are making no extra charge for MPEG capability (i.e. the registered price of MidWavi Pro remains unaltered see Registration details in on-line Help) thus retaining the spirit of freeware MPEG.
The MPEG "Pause" button can be "slow" to kick in, but it DOES work!
To view custom colour Font palette, now click on the LAST item in the drop down list of colours.
You are now informed if none/no more can be found during a "search list box".
Bug fix re search option in graphics viewer (could only search visible list in TV Look mode etc).
Hint:
In the Graphics Viewer module, if you want to switch to either "Allow Original Size" or "Resize To Fill Screen" mode, simply un-check the box marked "TV Look". This will then allow you access to these options.
Hint:
The quickest way to get to the top of a File List Box is to hit the "Home" key.
The quickest way to get to the bottom of a File List Box is to hit the "End" key.
See on-line Help for further details.
Keep in touch - visit the MidWavi Pro web site often (this will always have the latest version available) - www.midwavi.com.
Version 2.53
------------
This release is free to registered users (but see notes for 2.50)
This version is suitable for Windows 95/98 and NT 4.
MidWavi Pro now has its own web site at www.midwavi.com and you are urged to visit the site on a regular basis to check for new versions etc.
You can now purchase MidWavi Pro from the Internet using your credit card (see on-line Help under "Registration details" for full details).
New search feature for sound, graphic and video files.
A new button has been added to both the sound and graphics modules called "Search Result".
This option allows you to search through the list of files that you, or search drive, have selected.
The search will always commence at the currently highlighted filename.
Suppose you want to know if you have a sound file with (say) the word "tigre" in it, then your search pattern will be "tigre".
If you want to see if there are any more "tigre" files, take this option again, and the last item searched for will be offered as the default to search for again (you can of course overtype this for a new search).
If a match is found, the file will be automatically highlighted for you ready for play.
The search criterion is important in as much as the whole of the filename (including its path) are included in the search, so, the more specific your search pattern, the more accurate the result will be.
An example:
If you have a sub directory called \tigresses, and elsewhere on the drive, a file called tigre1.mid, the search pattern "tigre" will yield both of these, whereas a search for "tigre1" will only produce "tigre1.mid"
Be aware that the search will always commence from the currently highlighted filename forwards, so keep this in mind if you are near the end of a list.
Tip: The quickest way to go to the top of a file list is to click anyway in the list, then hit the 'Home' key.
Tip: The quickest way to go to the bottom of a file list is to click anyway in the list, then hit the 'End' key.
Full information is also in the on-line help system.
1. No full disk ("Search Drive" option) searching for FIF files (but you can select them from a directory)...all other types may be searched for using the powerful Search Drive option - see On-Line Help.
2. UNREGISTERED versions will only Print graphics at their original size (but you can do a screen preview).
No other restrictions (its virtually a full version).
Just another reminder that right mouse clicking is supported all over the place in MidWavi Pro!!!
For example, to see file details, single right mouse click over a high-lighted filename (or graphic on display)...
To see the list of random CD tracks selected by MidWavi Pro, single right click on the "Random" CheckBox... etc. etc.
All secrets are revealed in the on-line Help file (yep, I know it's a pain to read 'em).
You can now purchase MidWavi Pro from the Internet using your credit card (see on-line Help under "Registration deatails" for full details).
Version 2.52
------------
*** Version 2.52 is for Windows 95 ONLY - Version 2.51 for 95 and NT 4 ***
This release is free to registered users (but see notes for 2.50)
MidWavi Pro now has its own web site at www.midwavi.com and you are urged to visit the site on a regular basis to check for new versions etc.
New feature for the Audio CD Player:
You can now cue (position) a CD Track to within one second of the desired play time by use of two new controls (a Slide Bar and "Cont" - i.e. "Continue" - Button). See on-line help for full details of use with mouse and/or keyboard.
New feature for the Graphics Viewer:
Now, in TV Look mode only, when you right click on a DISPLAYED graphic, the details shown will include its height and width (in pixels). Note, the graphic MUST be on display for this to work, and if you click outside the graphic, the size details are not included.
New features on the Help Menu:
Two new methods are provided for paying by credit card and a new menu option "Register MidWavi Pro" will take you to them.
A direct link to the new MidWavi Pro Web Site as been set up on the Help Menu option ("Visit MidWavi Pro Web Site"). This will work in much the same way as other programs do in as much as if you are using a dial-up script, your Browser will be automatically invoked, and if need be, your ISP dialled.
If not, you will need to make sure that you are on-line first.
For your protection, as from version 2.52 (actually 2.51 when downloaded from the web site) the MidWavi Pro download ZIP file is protected with AV (Authenticity Verification) codes. Whilst there should never be a problem with a ZIP downloaded directly from the MidWavi Pro web site, if ever you get the ZIP from elsewhere and receive an error message when unzipping, do not use the file.
Also, when unzipping, any file names that do not have -AV at the end will not have come from TSoft Ltd.
Er, sorry 'bout this, but more bug fixes with "Play & Display" & Compact mode
*** Version 2.52 is for Windows 95 ONLY - Version 2.51 for 95 and NT 4 ***
Version 2.51
------------
This release is free to registered users (but see notes for 2.50)
Fixed bug in "Compact" mode of Graphics Viewer that allowed the Splash Screen to overwrite parts of the MidWavi Pro control panel.
Version 2.50 - MidWavi becomes MidWavi Pro
------------------------------------------
This release is free to registered MidWavi users (but registered users are asked to send email requesting your free Registration Keys that are required for this version).
You can now purchase MidWavi Pro from the Internet using your credit card (see on-line Help for full details).
This is the first release of MidWavi Pro - a new direction in order to offer more functionality.
The downside is that external libraries will now be required in order to offer planned upgrades (the first of which is the new support for Fractal Image Format - FIF - graphics , more below).
However, the original goal and criteria have been maintained in as much as you still only need to copy three files (MidWavi.Exe, MidWavi.Hlp and DECO_32.DLL) into the directory of your choosing.
In other words, you still have complete control over what goes where and know EXACTLY what is going onto your system.
The price to register MidWavi Pro remains unchanged - see "Registration Details" in on-line help for full details.
To clarify the position, version 2.22 was the last version of MidWavi standard.
The new features are:
MidWavi Pro now supports the excellent FIF (Fractal Image Format) graphic format from Iterated Systems Inc.
For those of you not yet familiar with this format, it is a way of compressing graphics down to (in some cases) an amazing degree whilst maintaining good quality.
It is strongly recommended that you visit the Iterated Systems Inc. web site at www.iterated.com where you will not only find full information, but can also download (for free!) their software (as of this writing its FRACTAL IMAGER PLUS Version 1.6) that allows you to convert/compress and view graphics in Fractal Image Format.
In order to offer this new functionality, MidWavi Pro requires an external library file called DECO_32.DLL which should be placed in the same directory as MidWavi.Exe and MidWavi.Hlp.
MidWavi Pro now offers a pre-print screen preview that "shadows" the current printer setting (i.e. Portrait or Landscape mode) and page size. You are offered the chance to setup your Printer with whatever options are available to you before you make the actual print.
MidWavi Pro now offers many more printer output options including "Fit To Page" (NB whilst all versions offer a screen preview, UNREGISTERED versions will only Print graphics at their original size).
MidWavi Pro now offers "dragging" of a WAV, MID or AVI play position. What this means is that you can "slide" a "thumb" left or right whilst a sound or video is playing to affect the current playing position and see the effect in real time as the minutes and seconds change to reflect the new position within the file.
With some practice, you can position to within a second or two of your desired playing position. This is definitely one of those options that you need to "play" with to see the benefits.
MidWavi Pro now offers a horizontal scroll bar on file list boxes (Sound Player and Graphics Viewer) that allow you to "slide" the path/filename details left and right.
Remember that you can still single right mouse click over a highlighted (or displayed) file to obtain file details.
There are a couple of new limitations for non Registered users detailed below.
In addition to the new features above, MidWavi Pro retains all previous features of MidWavi but with a couple of new limitations for non Registered versions...
1. No full disk ("Search Drive" option) searching for FIF files (but you can select them from a directory)...all other types may be searched for using the powerful Search Drive option - see On-Line Help.
2. UNREGISTERED versions will only Print graphics at their original size (but you can do a screen preview).
No other restrictions (its virtually a full version).
MidWavi now supports multiple CD drives for playing audio CD's.
If your system has more than one CD drive, you will be presented with a drop-down list box of all the available CD drive letters. Click on the one you require to select it (this selection is "remembered" the next time you run MidWavi).
Just a reminder that right mouse clicking is supported all over the place in MidWavi!!!
For example, to see file details, single right mouse click over a high-lighted filename (or graphic on display)...
To see the list of random CD tracks selected by MidWavi, single right click on the "Random" CheckBox... etc. etc.
All secrets are revealed in the on-line Help file (yep, I know it's a pain to read 'em).
You can now purchase MidWavi from the Internet using your credit card (see on-line Help for full details).
Version 2.21
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This release is free to registered users.
Additions to the MidWavi Graphic Viewer module.
MidWavi now allows you to send BMP, JPG and WMF graphic files to the Printer. A new button called "Print" has been provided for this purpose (and you can also DOUBLE LEFT CLICK WITHIN A DISPLAYED graphic to summon the print).
Please note the following:
1. You can only print graphics when in "TV Look".
2. The file must be currently on display.
3. Printing of Icons is not supported.
4. You cannot print whilst MidWavi is playing CD tracks or sound.
5. You cannot print if a Slide Show is running.
MidWavi will either prohibit use or issue suitable warnings if any of the above criteria are not met.
In view of the fact that printing is (in the main) handled by your printer driver, it is urged that you ensure you have the latest version of the driver (same goes for the video driver!).
MidWavi will offer you options re the size of the printout and whether or not you want filename details printing.
I leave you to experiment with these settings, but as rule of thumb, it is probably well advised not to go more than one up on MidWavi's suggested default. An example:
When you have selected your file for printing, there are five possible output sizes - zoom x2, x4, x8, x10 and "Original" - and MidWavi will "select" what is considered to be the most suitable. If (say) x4 was the default, x8 is probably as high as you should go.
A sign that the "zoom" factor is too high will be that the printer merely form feeds the paper with no output on it!
If your printer driver supports it, you can opt for Landscape or Portrait output, Best Mode, Normal Mode, EconoMode, type of paper, number of copies and so on.
Help is provided for this new option under the "Print" section of "Displaying Selected Graphic Files" in the MidWavi on-line help system.
Once again, it is stressed that much will depend on the quality (or not) of your printer driver and in this respect all bets are off regarding the output you will obtain...please "play" with this option and see how it goes.
Version 2.20
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This release is free to registered users.
Now, when you take the "Sub Select" option, the totals for each file type are shown... e.g. suppose you have searched a CD ROM for ALL graphic types (.BMP, .ICO, JPG and .WMF) and there were (say) 112 WMF's, 78 BMP's, 590 JPG's and no WMF's then beside each relevant checkbox you would see 112, 78, 590 and 0 etc..
Also, when you return from a "Sub Select" option, the very first file name in your listbox now has the highlight (saves you the bother of relocating the cursor).
Version 2.20 now has "self personalising" (or is that "self personalizing") so that you can now receive the necessary information "on line" (email) to register and personalise your copy of MidWavi.
It is hoped that by mid February 1998, you will be able to purchase MidWavi using your credit card (see on-line Help for full details).
As with 2.19, JPEG (.jpg) is now supported (please see notes below under "Version 2.19").
Version 2.19
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Registered users release only (free release).
Support now added for JPEG (.jpg) image files. In "search disk" mode, you may now include *.jpg as a search option and like the other supported graphics (BMP, WMF & ICO), any JPG found will be automatically added to the list of found items.
Also, JPG is now an option under the "Sub Select" option.
Please keep in mind that you must allow sufficient time for processing large graphic files with 16 million colours (i.e. if you have the "Slide Show" setting at (say) 2 seconds, this may not be enough time to allow the graphic(s) to be processed and displayed).
In this event, the graphic(s) will only appear momentarily on screen (looks like flicker).
Obviously, the solution is to allow more time between "slides" (e.g. a setting of (say) 10 seconds or use the "Next" - "Previous" options in non slide show mode.
Version 2.18
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To be honest...a bug fix release!!!
Fast CD drives could cause MidWavi to eject an Audio CD disk soon after it started to play!!!
NT 4 users will probably have had various error messages on starting/closing MidWavi.
Both fixed.
Sorry 'bout that.
Version 2.17
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MidWavi now supports Windows NT Version 4 (earlier versions not tested/supported).
You can now leave an audio CD playing your selections whilst viewing graphics when you click the "Graphics" button on the MidWavi Audio CD Player screen.
Providing you are playing your selections when you hit the "Graphics" button, you will be offered the chance to leave your audio CD selections playing (i.e. you can listen to your selected CD Tracks whilst viewing graphics).
NB you must be already playing your audio CD selection(s) in order for this option to be offered.
Please note however that MidWavi will prevent you from trying to play audio CD tracks simultaneously with MID or/and WAV files.
Also, if you take the option to leave MID and WAV files playing when viewing graphics (see more details below under Version 2.16), any AVI playing at the time of the request will now be stopped immediately.
Version 2.16
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Loadsa new goodies in 2.16...
Now, when you hit the "Graphics" button on the AVI-MID-WAV screen, providing you are playing your selections when you hit this button, you will be offered the chance to leave your selections playing (i.e. you can listen to your sound files whilst viewing graphics).
NB you must be already playing your sound files in order for this option to be offered.
Please note that all (any) AVI selection(s) will be automatically de-selected (there would be no point in displaying them as you would not be able to see them on the Graphics Viewer screen!!!).
If however an AVI is currently on display when you take this option, it will be played to its end (you will be able to hear but not see it though).
Also, "Auto Play" mode will be forced to ON if you choose to leave sound playing (this is to allow a sort of "Slide Show" of sound whilst you are viewing graphics).
Please bear in mind that some systems may not take too kindly to playing WAV and MID files whilst trying to display graphics or search drives etc. (you will just have to try it on your system and see how it goes).
Now on exit, if you take the option to leave an audio CD playing, the whole CD will be played from the current track until the end of the CD (prior to this, the CD would only be played until the end of the current track).
Please note that, at present, MidWavi will only "see" one Audio CD Drive in your system, so if you have more than one CD Drive just ensure that Audio CD's are placed in the first available CD Drive letter or set a default CD Music Drive in the MultMedia control tab (contained in the Control Panel).
Version 2.15
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If an audio CD is playing when you exit MidWavi, you are now given the option to leave it playing (or not).
When you choose a drive to search, the chosen drive is now "remembered" so as to keep in sync (e.g. if you choose to search drive D: for sound files, drive D: will be the default offered to search for graphic files etc. etc.).
Version 2.14
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The 'All' checkbox has been replaced with a button called 'Sub Select'.
This button will yield a small box offering the chance to filter your original selections even
further.
Let us say that you are in the AVI/MID/WAV player module, and that you have taken the
'Search Drive' for 'ALL' option (which will build a list of all files found and automatically select them for playing) but you only wish to play (say) AVI and MID files.
If you take the 'Sub Select' option and then click the checkboxes marked AVI and MID, your selections will automatically be made for you from the original list meaning that only these file types will be selected for playing from the list.
This new option is also available in the Graphics Viewer module.
Play and Auto Play (Display and Slide Show in Graphic Viewer mode) will now commence playing from the highlighted file onwards (not the top of the list as was).
This means that, for intance, if you have a graphic on screen and click the 'Slide Show' option, the slide show will commence from the current graphic on display, forwards.
Actually, the original version of MidWavi used to behave like this, but it seems to have got lost somewhere along the way!
Depending on the setting (Elapsed Time or Remaining Time), progress bars now decrement or increment (formally only ever incremented).
MidWavi will no longer run if it detects it is running with 'Large Fonts' set.
See on-line Help for further details on all of the above.
Version 2.12
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A feature called sub selection (a kind of secondary file selection
option) has been added.
In both sound/video and graphics view modes, once you have made your
initial selection (i.e. the File List Box has been populated), you will
notice that every single file name now has its own CheckBox beside it (they
will all be ticked when first selected).
This means that by clicking IN THE CHECKBOX AREA of the file name, you
can toggle that individual selection ON/OFF (i.e. ticked/checked - not
ticked/unchecked).
Let us say that your initial selection produced ten file names. If you
were to then uncheck file names that appeared in the order 2, 4, 8 and 10
and then opted for a slide show, file names 1,3,5,6,7 and 9 only will be
displayed/played.
As an aid, a new CheckBox called 'All' has been provided the purpose of
which is to toggle ALL selections ON/OFF (ticked/not ticked). When 'All'
is ticked (checked) all selections will be ticked and of course when
'All' is not ticked (by clicking on the Check Box), no selections are
