Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/GRAPHICS/MDEM5C.ZIP/DOC/HISTORY.DOC

Text File | 1994-03-31 | 9KB | 203 lines

Version 5:
----------

MakeDemo has graduated to a family of programs. In addition to
being able to create and present information as an electronic
book or catalog on disk, now using the same methodollogy, create
database applications. All you do is design the screens to
include database information and you can have your real life
custom designed application up and running in less than an
hour. We know of no other tool like it.

Also you can use MakeDemo to create an "Install" program
custom designed to your application. You can tell your users
about your program along with the actual installation commands.
You put all the required info right on the screen as yuou do in
all MakeDemo creations. It's really so simple.

MakeDemo now can squeeze more screens into the same disk space.
Would you believe - almost double. And the screens appear faster,
especially on the old PCs and compatibles. Its a great
improvement. MakeDemo now includes a utility to convert your old
files to the new format.

We have enhanced the runtime modules in response to your comments
and requests.

1.      The ability to present your own individualized "XXX"
        screen for a more friendly exit.

2.      The ability to recognize a start-up command specifying
        the starting screen. (Useful for a context sensitive
        help system.)

3.      The mouse interface now more closely follows normal
        conventions. (Read: not as sensitive to unintentional
        doodlings.)

4.      Expanded capabilities of the integral "Help" system.

5.      Increased the number of presentation visual effects to
        include exploding and imploding windows, a radar
        display, a marque border of flashing lights, blocks
        piling up, to name a few.

6.      Increased preset ramping and arcade sound effects to now
        includes tunes. Write your own tunes right on the screen.
        Tunes play out even when the visual presentation effect
        is over and done with.

The manual is much improved with more details, especially a
"Quick Start" section.

In the interests of defining menu selections and screen segments
somewhat consistant, we've made some minor changes. Now, both are
defined by the color attribute on the top and right edges. (The
runtimes do not look at the left edge for determining the height
of a segment.) And now there's a way to use different colors
along those edges that doesn't upset the runtimes. As before, a
menu selection's length is determined by a change in both the
foreground and background colors, but now the color attribute of
that last character is included in the length calculation and
then replaced by the attribute of the previous character, thus
making selection layouts much easier.


Version 4.1:
------------

Along with some minor bug fixes, MSHOW now recognizes DOS level
menu selections. Now the creator of presentations can run DOS
programsd from within a MSHOW presentations. MakeDemo lends
itself well toward a DOS menuing systems where a comnprehensive
presentation might better precede running the actual program.

Along Comes Version 4:
----------------------

Now your presentations are totally your design. There are no
hard-wired screens for prompts, menus, help, etc. All screens
are kept in the presentation file. That includes your order
form as well, if you have one.

Now you can assign hot keys and function keys to your menus, as
you like it.

Your MakeDemo presentation can now have up to 2000 screens in one
file. And, the first time a presentation is viewed, your
presentation will create an index of screens to disk. The next
time your presentation is viewed, MSHOW reads the index into
memory and is ready to go almost immediately.

There is only one runtime of MSHOW.EXE provided, that for
presenting only one of your creations at a time. It can be used
by specifying the file to view at the command line, or it can be
combined (using a new version of WWP_MAKE.EXE) with your file to
produce a single executible file. And while creating this file,
you can "brand" the resulting creation to recognize a validation
code that, if correct, will cause your presentation to ignore any
imbedded "nag" screens that you have included in your file.

MakeDemo now has a real manual-on-disk in addition to the
fragmented "help" files of earlier versions that are now combined
into one. It is the same manual registered users receive.

The file format for a presentation remains the same. However,
there are some minor changes in the way menu selections are coded
on the individual screens. In that respect, this version of
MakeDemo is not compatible with earlier versions. Converting your
presentations over should take little effort: NOTE - read the
manual first to learn if the changes impact you.

And last but not least, we've included a stripped down MakeDemo
runtime, MLITE.EXE. Weighing in at around 13 k Bytes, this
executible when combined with a few screen presentation makes an
ideal front end for your own software.  Use it from a batch file
to get your customer up and running faster and conserve memory
when your program runs stand-alone.


What's new with Version 3:
--------------------------

One big improvement is the addition of "mouse support," which
really facilitates the process of creating and/or viewing a
presentation.  The features remain much the same, but the
execution is even more intuitive. Some of the screen presentation
methods have been augmented. The number of large fonts has been
increased and the menus are more complete and self explanatory.

The other big enhancement of version 3 is you now have the
ability to give your users more control over how they might use
your creations. You can simulate menu driven software for very
realistic demos.  Or you can create a hypertext sort of system
for quickly moving through a large presentation, a great asset
when creating a catalog or book on disk.

For those who might like to distribute their tutorials-on-disk,
MakeDemo gives you the power to serialize copies of your work,
much like that of MakeDemo, and put up a "registration
encouragement message" to discourage any hint of "freeware."

But probably the single biggest enhancement MakeDemo now gives
you is the ability to create single .EXE files with mouse
support, interactive menus, and integral "Help.".

Presentations created with earlier versions are not immediately
compatible. However, MakeDemo automatically converts them to the
new smaller file format.  In addition, previously registered
users need a new validation number to work with their existing
serial number.

Moving between screens for editing, etc. is much faster than
previously.  Now, instead of moving the screen to the end of the
file before allowing any work on it and then returning the
screen to its rightful place in the file before moving to the
next screen, you now work on the screen in place. It's much much
faster.

Version 2 was a major improvement:
----------------------------------

The sizes of MDEMO.EXE and MSHOW.EXE is reduced 80%, compared to
the originals. Version 2 integrates WindhamWoods Publishing
proprietary screen compression method freeing up disk space for a
total of 350+ screens on a 360 kByte diskette, segregated in as
many as 100 files. RAM requirement for ShowDemo reduced to about
60 kBytes, MakeDemo to about 120 kBytes.

Any presentation, or portion thereof, can be sent to a printer.

ShowDemo's user-friendliness has been improved: such as allowing
for jumping around within a presentation, going in and out of the
"auto" mode, and in general not holding the computer system
captive for the duration of a presentation.

Both MakeDemo and ShowDemo enables manual override of color
monochrome display formatting, using the function key, F5. Now,
when a monochrome display is connected to a color adaptor card,
you can switch over instantly without first exiting to DOS,
typing in some modifying commands, and then restarting the
presentation all over again. MakeDemo also allows viewing a demo,
being created in color, as it would appear on a monochrome
display.

ShowDemo now supports a growing number of presentation styles,
sound effects, and wider range of display timings.

Creators of presentation now can design their own "Help" facility
as an integral companion to their presentation(s).

From within MakeDemo "view" any ASCII text file or MakeDemo file
and import any sequence of "screens" into a work in process.

Choose from four large fonts when creating outstanding screens.
The font library is capable of user additions and customizing
using almost any ASCII text editor.

Full box creation with automatic correction for crossing lines.
Box library capable of user additions and customizing using
almost any ASCII text editor.