Wizard - ASSB Help

Active ScreenSaver Builder is a powerful tool for creating screen savers. We are aware that a lot of different commands with numerous options can confuse inexperienced users. Therefore we have put substantial effort to help them as much as possible by introducing Wizard-like user interface. Creating screen savers should now be easier than ever before through its three-step process. We hope that experienced users will love it as well, for they can now quickly create screen saver's base, and then fine tune it working the old way with all options available. Please, do not hesitate to send us comments and propositions on how to make this Wizard work even better in the future.

How does it work?

Whole process of creating screen savers with this Wizard is divided in three consecutive steps. Step one is used to define some prerequisites important for the process. Those include screen saver's name, target folder for files generated in the process, building blocks selection (images, medias, text messages) as well as what kind of final product should be automatically made by Wizard along with screen saver definition file. Remember, apart from standard .SCR file, with this version of ASSB you can get screen saver packaged as .EXE file for automatic installation.

Step two depends on decisions made in step one. Its purpose is to register all building blocks that are going to be used in some screen saver. As there are three possible types of building blocks: images, medias, text messages, step two is for the sake of simplicity divided into three sub-steps. So, if you do not tick checkbox for text messages in step one, Wizard will skip respective sub-step in step two. And you don't have to be worried about making the wrong decision in step one or anywhere else. You can always go back and forth through all of Wizard's steps to make changes without losing anything.

Step three is naturally the most complex as it has to deliver the power of Active Screen Saver Builder. With Wizard you will create screen saver sequence by sequence rather than command by command. For every type of sequence we have provided default settings which can result in logical action. Therefore, you can make basic screen saver with zero effort and still include all defined building blocks of all types. When you finally click on Finish button, Wizard will generate actual commands according to defined sequences, save them in screen saver definition file and generate .SCR and .EXE files according to the choice that you have made in step one.

Give it a try. It's much simpler using it than reading about it.

Folder for files generated by this Wizard

Defines target folder where Wizard will save .SSD, .SCR and .EXE files that are going to be generated in the process.

Browse

Use this button to change folder for files generated by Wizard.

Screen saver name

You can not start working on a new screen saver in Wizard before naming it. Wizard will check for existence of files with that name and extensions .SSD, .SCR and .EXE in folder designated for saving screen saver files. You will be able to continue only if none of those files exist in that folder.

Images

Tick this checkbox to include images in screen saver.

Media

Tick this checkbox to include media files in screen saver.

Text messages

Tick this checkbox to include text messages in screen saver.

Infinitely repeat screen saver

When this option is active, Wizard will place whole screen saver in an infinite loop which is the most usual working mode for a screen saver.

Wizard will generate .SCR file at the end

When this option is active, at the end of the process Wizard will make standard .SCR file usable on any Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 computer.

Wizard will generate installation .EXE file at the end

When this option is active, at the end of the process Wizard will make .EXE file containing screen saver together with automatic installation procedure suitable for wide distribution.

Cancel

Use this button to leave Wizard and discard everything.

Help

Opens this help document.

Next

Use this command to move on to next step in the process. You can always go back and forth through all of Wizard's steps to make changes without losing anything.

Text message

Type in your message in this box and it will be automatically added to the list of defined text messages to be included in screen saver. Text is shown in WYSIWYG manner with chosen font properties which are by default: MS Sans Serif, Regular, size 8. This box is also the place for all eventual editing.

Preview

Shows thumbnail of an area to be occupied by text message. Area size in pixels is shown below.

Font properties

Shows font properties for text message presented in the text box.

Change font

Use this button to change font properties for text presented in text box. Please note that change will always affect complete message. You can not use two dfferent font styles in the same text message.

Background colour

Determines if area occupied by text message will have transparent or background of exact colour. When transparent option is active, text message will be practically merged with background; just letters will cover any image that could exist behind.

Colour

Use this button to select exact colour for text message's background.

Add new text

Use this button only to add more text messages. A message being typed in text box is immediately shown in the list of defined text messages and does not require any further action.

Remove text

Use this button to remove selected text message from the list.

Defined text messages

Shows a list of text messages. Each text message can be used unlimited number of times for creating screen saver sequences; you do not have to make multiple copies in the list. Preview box shows thumbnail of selected text message.

Cancel

Use this button to leave Wizard and discard everything.

Help

Opens this help document.

Previous

Use this button to return to previous step of the process. You can always go back and forth through all of Wizard's steps to make changes without losing anything.

Next

Use this command to move on to next step in the process. You can always go back and forth through all of Wizard's steps to make changes without losing anything.

Tabs: Images/Media/Text messages

Depending on decisions made in previous steps you will have one, two or three different tabs in Step 3 dialog for creating action sequences. You start adding a sequence by first choosing appropriate tab: images, media or text messages.

Add sequence(s)

Brings up dialog for adding either one or several sequences with the same set of properties at once. This dialog features a replica of sequence properties controls available on sequence properties tabs. Parameters of currently selected sequence are transferred to this dialog so you can easily make more sequences based on already existing sequences.

When you get the dialog on screen, first set sequence parameters, then choose one or more items from the list and click on Add button. Standard Ctrl/Shift-Click multiselect shortcuts are available as well as Add all, Select all and Deselect all commands for working with the whole list.

Please note that this dialog serves only for adding new sequences and can not be used to change parameters of already existing sequences. To do that read next explanation for Apply to selection button.

Apply to selection

Changing parameters for a single sequence is as easy as selecting the sequence and setting its parameters directly; the effect is immediate.

However, Apply to selection button gives you even more power and convenience. You can use it to easily transfer parameters from one sequence to other sequences of the same type. The procedure is fairly simple. First you select a "master" sequence whith parameters that are going to be transferred further, then select other sequences that should take those parameters and finally click on Apply to selection button.

You can adjust parameters at any point of time in this procedure just bear in mind that adjustments always have immediate effect on the firstly selected sequence and that you have to click the button to apply them on the others.

Sequence properties

Each sequence consists of several elementar pieces and their vertical order of appearance within sequence properties tab exactly reflects the order at the time of execution. Being both graphics, images and text messages share the same set of properties with only slight changes in labels where necessary. Therefore we will explain them here together.

Image / Text message sequence tab properties:

Clear screen - invokes clear screen command at the beginning of the sequence.
Show - places image/text somewhere on the screen.
Move - moves image/text across the screen; you have to set starting and ending coordinates for the upper left corner of image/text area.
Wait - enables a pause in designated number of seconds after performing Show or finishing Move action before stepping on further;
it's quite necessary to have Wait in place after Show unless there is intention to get sort of blinking effect with image/text.
Hide image/text - invokes removing of an image/text at the end of the sequence before stepping on further to next sequence in screen saver; performing Hide at the end of the sequence makes Clear screen obsolete at the beginning of next sequence.
Effects - Tile and Stretch are full screen size effects so when you choose one of them positioning options become unavailable. The rest are image size transition effects, 61 in total to choose from, with special possibility to set random transition effect. We could classify transition effects in following 17 types: fade from black, dissolve/squares, box, cross, blinds, random bars, alternate bands, checkerboard, zig-zag, cover, uncover, wipe, shift, split, split scroll, strips, diagonal split.
Pause slider - use it to fine tune transition effect speed with min. position meaning the fastest execution and max. position meaning the slowest.

Media sequence tab properties:

Clear screen - invokes clear screen command at the beginning of the sequence.
Repeat - defines number of times for media file to be consecutively played.
Wait - if this option is enabled, screen saver will not progress with further sequences before playing media is over;
on the other hand, when disabled, screen saver will start playing media file and immediately continue with the next sequence;
to try to put it as simple as possible, enabling this option is mostly suitable for short breaks between sequences and disabling it suits situations when media file is playing while other sequences are also taking place.
Position - defines coordinates of upper left corner for playing avi media file.

Defined sequences

Shows a list of all action sequences that will form a screen saver. Sequence on top of the list will be the first sequence in the screen saver.

Remove seq.

Use this button to remove selected sequence(s).

Select all

Use this button to select all sequences of the same type as currently selected sequence. There are six types of sequences: Image/Show, Image/Move, Media/Audio, Media/Video, Text/Show and Text/Move. If there are no selected sequences this command will select the first sequence on the list and all other sequences of the same type. Please note one more thing here. When you are selecting more than one sequence manually you will be allowed to select only sequences of the same type as firstly selected sequence. This kind of sequence differentiating is necessary to provide you with the opportunity to set properties for a block of sequences at once.

Deselect all

Use this button to deselect all sequences at once.

Move up

Use this button to move highlighted sequence up one place in the list. Moving sequence up means it will be presented earlier in the screen saver.

Move down

Use this button to move highlighted sequence down one place in the list. Moving sequence down means it will be presented later in the screen saver.

Preview seq.

Use this button to see preview of an action sequence highlighted in the list of defined sequences.

Cancel

Use this button to leave Wizard and discard everything.

Help

Opens this help document.

Preview SS

Use this button to start screen saver in preview mode.

Previous

Use this button to return to previous step of the process. You can always go back and forth through all of Wizard's steps to make changes without losing anything.

Finish

Use this button when you are done with your screen saver. Wizard will finalize the process by converting all defined action sequences to Active ScreenSaver Builder's command language. Wizard will save .SSD, .SCR and .EXE files according to the choices made in step one.
Please note that click on the Finish button takes you beyond the point of no return! You will not be able to go back to previous steps and make more changes in Wizard after issuing this command.
All subsequent changes to the created screen saver have to be done in Active ScreenSaver Builder's command editor.