AIPICT 5.x & AIPICX 5.x: Questions and Answers

You can save/print this file for offline reference. Updated 04 May 2001.

Q. I get a 'program corrupt' error. Why?
A. For your protection, AiPICT and AiPICX run an integrity check everytime it is activated. It will report 'program corrupt' if its executable has been modified by:

Run your virus-scan immediately. If you suspect a bad disk defrag, then reinstall from program archive or redownload if the archive is corrupted -- it can be tested with ZIP utilities.

Q. What is the difference between AIPICT and AIPICX?
A. Both AIPICT and AIPICX use identical player, viewer and imaging code. AIPICX sports its own "Explorer" for fast thumbnails views of entire folders, Web Pages for Dummies and other HTML catalogs. AIPICT is simply fast -- it is designed to be minimally dependent on Windows DLLs and ActiveX components to load without delay; AIPICX is our platform for advanced "batch" capabilities -- it is designed to closely interact with your desktop environment.

Q. Can I play AVL slideshows with MP3 audio playing it background?
A. Yes. AIPICT v5 or AIPICX v5 support concurrent MP3 playback in AVL slideshows; MP3 audio continues to play while graphics are showing -- MP3 audio terminates when another audio file takes over or a video file is played. Bookmark slideshows are linear -- each file plays or shows until finished before the next file is shown or played. You can also use the Jukebox option to sequence multiple MP3 files to completely play each selection. Create or edit AVL files with AIPICX v5 or VIDFUN v3.6. If using VidFun, add or insert MP3 files with *.* any file (No validation) filter -- test AVL files only with AIPICT v5 or AIPICX v5. With AIPICX, you can interactively create, edit and test AVL scripts.

Q. Why can't I play the Win98 AVL Demo?
A. You need to insert the original Win98 1st Edition (or 2nd Edition) CDROM, depending on which demo you choose to run.

Q. Where can I get MediaPlayer 2 update?
A. You can download the MediaPlayer update (for Win95/98/NT) from MicroSoft.

Q. Why is AIPICX's Single-click option unavailable?
A. With older releases of Win95, you need to update your Common Controls (i.e., comctl32.dll); you can download v4.72.3611.1900 via SoftSeek.

Q. Why are AIPICX's thumbnails spaced so far?
A. The original version of Common Controls (i.e., comctl32.dll) shipped with the Win95 upgrade cannot variably space icons. You can download v4.72.3611.1900 version via SoftSeek.

Q. Can I write my thumbnail catalog to CD-R or CD-RW?
A. Yes! You can transfer your catalogs and images to any removable media (even upload to your Web site) -- the Web pages remain valid. CD-R image catalogs use "relative URLs"; you can select Tools|Create catalog to catalog an entire drive or nested folders (unattended) -- with optional Table of Contents and Home links.

Q. Can I upload my entire CD-R image catalog to my Web site?
A. Yes! Create an exact copy on your web site; create directories with the exact case-sensitive names and structure (parent and child directories); upload all files -- full images, thumbnails and web pages -- with the same case-sensitive names, into each of the directories. Before creating your catalog, rename files and directories (folders) with problematic characters (e.g., "#" and "%"). Click here to see a simple example with file comments.

Q. What is the best way to catalog existing image collections from CDs?
A. For each CD, use Create|Image catalog function with Fixed image catalog option. Use one parent folder (with a handy desktop shortcut) and create/use a sub-folder (named to match CDROM) for each CDROM catalog -- a _home.htm file is created with a Table of Contents and directory structure to review thumbnailed contents of your CDs without inserting them -- you can insert appropriate media only when you want to view the full images. The Contact Sheet option will avoid a lot of small thumbnail files - which eat disk space. The Frames directory option is another feature that makes it very easy to browse through your image collections.

Q. How do I delete all Web page thumbnails from my hard disk?
A. All thumbnails are saved to a thumbs sub-folder (or user-specified folder name); use the Windows Find applet to delete them.

  1. Click Windows Start button and select Find
  2. Search for "thumbs" (or user-specified folder name)
  3. Select Edit|Select all.
  4. Unselect items, if required.
  5. Right-click on one item and select Delete.

Q. How do I delete all HTML catalogs from my hard disk?
A. Except for pages which you specify, all catalog pages have a "_" prefix; use the Windows Find applet to delete them.

  • Click Windows Start button and select Find
  • Search for "_*.htm" then select Edit|Select all.
  • Unselect items, if required.
  • Right-click on one item and select Delete.

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    Q. The program terminates itself. Why?
    A. To protect you, AIPICX or AIPICT shuts down if it detects a modification to its executable -- run your virus-scan immediately. A bad disk defrag can also erroneously reorganize the executable's disk sector. Reinstall from program archive or redownload if the archive is corrupted -- it can be tested with ZIP utilities.

    Q. Are AIPICT and AIPICX the fastest JPEG viewers?
    A. Our test results indicate that. You can time it yourself. After viewing, select File|Reload and repeat process about 4-7 times to factor-out the effects of Windows cache and calculate average decoding speed. Using an Intel P133 system (32Mb EDO, Matrox Millenium, Quantum Fireball), set to 800x600x64K. 

        JPEG Image	Uses	AIPICX v4.x	Brand 'X'
   (full color)	....	AIPICT v4.x		
   ============	====	============	============
   1070x2257	  7Mb	  3.7 sec.	  4.1 sec.
   2804x1882	 15Mb	  6.0 sec.	  6.8 sec.
   3072x2062	 19Mb	 66.1 sec.	 86.8 sec.
    Results are particularly outstanding with images requiring 16Mb (or more) memory to decode.

    Q. Is AIPICX the fastest JPEG thumbnailer?
    A. Our test results indicate that. Again, you can time it yourself. Compare competing software with similar thumbnail sizes. Using an AMD K6-300 system (64Mb SDRAM, ATI All-in-Wonder Pro, WD 5400 rpm drive), the complete (albeit questionable) ScanMaster JPG collection (1000 images) on 24x CDROM was thumbnailed (96x72) with the following benchmarks: 

       Resolution     AIPICX v4.x 		Brand 'X'
   ============   ============		============
   1024x768x24M   627 thumbs/min.	497 thumbs/min.

    Q. I can't use Zoom functions? Why are images always centered?
    A. If you end a viewing session with Fit-to-Window enabled, window position and size is restored from last session. Otherwise, an optimal, centered window is created to minimize the need to scroll large images. Press Ctrl-F or select View|Fit to Window to toggle option.

    Q. Why are my JPEG files smaller when viewed?
    A. In Fit-to-Window mode, the full JPEG image may not be required; if a scaled sample is loaded (for speed/memory conservation), the status bar will show it. [1:2] indicates that only a portion required to show image at 50% was loaded. Disable Fit-to-Window and select File|Reload for full image.

    Q. How do I make Wallpaper?
    A. Any BMP file can be used as Windows Wallpaper. To use a JPEG file you downloaded from the Internet:

  • Load and view the full JPEG image (see notes above).
  • Select File|Save As and save the file to BMP format.
  • Right-click on your desktop and activate Properties.
  • Select Background tab; in Wallpaper section, click Browse button and select the BMP file you saved.

    • Q. Can I import unsupported graphics?
    A. With originating Windows apps, COPY it to the Windows clipboard; from AIPICT or AIPICX select Edit|Paste. You can also use other apps to convert to generic BMP (Wallpaper) format for use in AIPICT or AIPICX.

    Q. Why are my images or thumbnails grainy?
    A. You see dithering, a method used to display more colors on 256-color displays. Set JPEG quality to Best Quality. With AIPICX, if your thumbnails appear grainy or "posterized", you can disable "Dither thumbnails" option for solid colors (albeit "posterized"). If possible, switch to HiColor or 24-bit color video mode for optimal views.

    Q. I can't save to 24-bit JPG images, it is always gray, why?
    A. The option to save 24-bit JPG files is made available with 24-bit images - otherwise, only the 256-gray shade JPG (save) option is available. You can use the JPEG Compression Wizard by selecting File | Compress to automatically promote your image to 24-bit color and save with advanced JPEG compression options.

    Q. After extracting ZIP files (to same folder) some files are not listed in AIPICX, why?
    A. Auto-updates of list view yields to critical processes and may skip some items that are still decompressing. Right-click and refresh to see added files, if any.

    Q. Why do some thumbnails show an "!" icon in AIPICX?
    A. These are corrupted images or files that use a non-standard compression scheme (e.g., rare, proprietary JPEG file). Incomplete or partial downloads are still decoded. These files may still be viewable - double-click item or right click and select open to try viewing it.

    Q. How do I make a simple page with AIPICX?
    A. Go to desired folder with your images.

    1. Select Tools|Create|Simple page. If not viewing thumbnails, all pictures will be thumbnailed -- you will be prompted to select this menu item again. If no files are selected, you are prompted with No selection. Select all images -- just click Ok.

    2. When prompted for Upload folder (via Save As dialog), create a new folder:

      • Click Save in drop listbox and select C:.
      • Click Create New Folder toolbar button.
      • A folder called New Folder appears; rename it to MyUploads
      • Double-click MyUploads folder to make it current folder.

      In Filename box, enter MyTestPage, then click Save.

    3. When prompted for Page Title, enter My Thumbnail Page; click Ok.
    4. After reviewing page, upload all files in MyUploads folder to your site.

    Q. How do I make advanced pages for AOL with AIPICX?
    A. If you do not know how to create "MyPlace" subfolders, AOL has a private subfolder ready for you -- where you can upload your thumbnails or image maps; everything else should be uploaded to the root (i.e., what you first see at "My Place").

    Select Tools|Page Options|Set from menu and change the Subfolder option to private. When you create your page, thumbnails will link to private subfolder in your "Upload" folder. Upload contents of private (on your machine) to the private subfolder at AOL. Upload full images and HTML pages to the root (i.e., "MyPlace").

    Q. My Web page thumbnails appear broken on my site. Why?
    A. If you are not using the Simple Web page option then:

    Q. My Web page thumbnails do not link with full images. Why?
    A. If you are not using the Simple Web page option then:

    Q. How do I resume paused thumbnailing operation?
    A. Although fast, thumbnailing will yield to any critical process (e.g., drag and drop). In most cases, click the Thumbs button. Or select and click an unfinished thumbnail. Depending on current tasks (e.g., downloads in progress), AIPICX may continue to yield -- in which case, right-click (on any thumbnail) and select Update from popup menu. You can also select Refresh or press F5 to reset thumbnailing operation.