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IMAGE MASTER PLUS (SHAREWARE) by ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE (If it's good, it's ACCIDENTAL) Copyright (C) 1995 all rights reserved NOTE: To print a copy of this file from DOS, type "TYPE README.TXT > PRN" then push Enter. This program is SHAREWARE. Distribution of the UNREGISTERED version of this program is encouraged as long as it is copied in whole and remains unaltered. No fee may be asked for this program itself, but a nominal distribution fee may be charged for the diskette used to distribute this software as long as the purchaser of said diskette is informed that the fee for acquiring the diskette does not constitute payment of the REGISTRATION FEE. Vendors, see the file VENDOR.TXT for details. This program is converted to the REGISTERED version by obtaining a Registration Key Number from Accidental Software. See How do I register below for details. Minor upgrades to this program can be installed over the old version to provide REGISTERED USERS with the most current copy of the registered edition of this program (no additional key number is necessary). Check your program ABOUT information for the version number you are using. Visit our Home Page on the internet, you can download our most current software and try out shareware versions of any of our software for an unlimited period. Our Home Page address is "http://www.primenet.com/~accident" Distribution of the REGISTERED version of this software without purchasing this program by paying the registration fee or without a license granted from ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE is prohibited. NOTE: You may have a version of this program without the, file "VBRUN300.DLL" provided. If so, only 2 sample pictures may be provided. This was done to save disk space and download time. VBRUN300.DLL is widely available and in fact may already be in your windows\system directory. Vbrun300.dll is required for this program to function. It will be necessary to obtain a copy of VBRUN300.DLL in order to install and run this program. 1. IMAGE MASTER + is a screen saver and image viewer for windows that can use your own images and midi files. IMAGE MASTER can play music from a CD-ROM. Music can play as pictures are being displayed. You can select Password protection if desired. Messages can be left on the screen. 2. IMAGE MASTER + can be installed as a standard Window's Screen saver from Window's desk top, or can be used from the Program Group that IMAGE MASTER + makes for windows. IMAGE MASTER + can be used as both. 3. IMAGE MASTER + can be used as a screen saver and/or an image viewer. If you have installed IMAGE MASTER + as a screen saver, and want to use it from the program manager to leave a message or make your system password protected while you have to be temporarily away, you can do this by double clicking the IMAGE MASTER + Icon. If IMAGE MASTER + is running from the program manager, it will not invoke itself as a screen saver even if the amount of time has passed to call it as a screen saver from the desktop. 4. IMAGE MASTER + is ideal for corporations that need a screen saver that can use their own pictures or corporate logos. It is also ideal for users who want a way to display their own images (regardless of format) as a screen saver or as a stand alone program. 5. IMAGE MASTER + is now shipped with CSA, the Calendar - Scheduler - Alarm utility from Accidental Software. This utility provides a quick reference calendar and scheduler. It also allows you to Set an alarm so that items will pop up on your screen when the specified date and time are reached. NOTE: Touch Start must be running for the alarm portion of this application to function. See How do I use the program from the Windows Program Manager (#4.) below for information on how to active Touch Start each time windows is started. How do I install the program? 1. Install IMAGE MASTER + for Windows from a disk. a. Start Microsoft Windows. b. Insert the disk in the proper drive. c. From the Window's Program Manager, select FILE MENU and choose RUN. d. Type B:\SETUP and press Enter. Substitute your drive letter for "B:" if your disk is in a different drive. 2. Install IMAGE MASTER + for Windows from a modem download or "ZIP" file. a. Unzip your Image Master archive. b. Start Microsoft Windows. c. From the Window's Program Manager, select FILE MENU and choose RUN. d. Select Browse, then find the drive and directory to which Image Master Plus was downloaded and unzipped. Double click on the file "SETUP.EXE" then click on the O.K. command button. e. Follow the prompts from the setup program. f. If the setup asks you how many disks are provided with your Image Master + package, select one (1). Trouble shooting. 1. In some cases, if you are using a program that is accessing or using a DLL or other file that IMAGE MASTER + uses and installs, you may receive a message during installation that warns you that a file can not be installed since it is already in use by your system. You can choose Ignore to this warning and the program should install correctly. Known program limitations. 1. At least one program (America On Line) will cause the pictures displayed by Image Master Plus to loose their color definition if America On Line is maximized when this program runs as a screen saver. This problem will not occur if you are using a 15 bit or higher screen mode or America On Line is Minimized. 2. Image Master Plus requires that approximately 60% of windows system recources are free if you are attempting to use JPG compressed pictures. If the program behaves irratically or doesn't show your JPG pictures correctly, insure system recources are at or above 60%. How do I make IMAGE MASTER + the active screen saver? 1. Select "yes" to the inquiry during installation that asks if you want Image Master + to be installed as the current screen saver. This will place Image Master + as the current screen saver on your system with a 5 minute time of inactivity to start the program. The 5 minute "time out" will not take effect until windows has been exited and reentered after Image Master + installation. 2. You can select Saver Set Up from the Miscellaneous menu to access the Saver Set Up utility in the program. Turn the Image Master + screen saver function on or off as well as selecting the amount inactive keyboard or mouse time before the screen saver portion of the program starts. Alternative method for making Image Master + the active screen saver. 1. Once IMAGE MASTER + is successfully installed, it may be selected as the current screen saver from windows. a. From the Windows Program Manager, select MAIN. b. From MAIN select CONTROL PANEL. c. From CONTROL PANEL select DESK TOP. d. From DESK TOP select the arrow key next to SCREEN SAVER. e. From the menu, select IMAGE MASTER +. 2. The above steps will select IMAGE MASTER + as the current screen saver. Use the SET UP button to select the features of the program you want. It is possible to select and preview pictures, MIDI files, and CD-ROM audio. 3. Push the TEST button to run the screen saver program as a test. 4. Select the desired inactive time for the screen saver program to implement itself. How do I use the program from the Windows Program Manager? 1. If the Image Master + program group is not open, double click on the IMAGE MASTER + program group. 2. To run Image Master +, double click on its Icon. 3. The program will start in the Set Up Mode. Select the options you want, then push the Screen Saver button to start the program. 4. Touch Start: Double click the Touch Start Icon to activate the touch start hot corners. A green line appears at the bottom left of your screen to indicate where to place your mouse to start Image Master +. Touch Start activation can be terminated by moving the mouse pointer to the bottom right (red line) of the screen. If the Touch Start check box is activated, Touch Start will reactivate itself after the screen saver portion of Image Master + has terminated. Copy the Touch Start Icon to the program manager's Start Up program group to have Touch Start activate each time windows is started. Once the Icon has been copied to the Start Up Program Group, highlight the Start Up Groups Touch Start Icon, then select Properties from the Program Manager's File Menu. Next edit the Command Line Box by removing the "/I" switch. When you are done editing this line it should read "HOTSPOTP.EXE". NOTE: Do not remove the command line switch "/I" from the touch start icon that exists in the Image Master Plus program group. What are the program features? 1. Registered users can add up to 500 Bit Map files (500 images) in each of the 10 Slide Shows provided. These images can be located in any directory on your hard drive or floppy drives. You can even us your CD-ROM as a source of pictures. If you have Kodak's Access software, you can use Image master to show you photo CDs. 2. Registered users can add up to 100 Midi or Wave Audio selections for each Slide Show to be played as the program displays your pictures. 3. Set the length of time for the picture to remain on the display before the next one replaces it. This time ranges from 3 seconds to 1 minute. 4. Any image can be used as long as it a PCX or BMP file, (UNREGISTERED VERSION). The REGISTERED VERSION of Image Master + will access the following additional file formats. .DIB, .TGA, WMF, .EPS, .TIF, .JPG, CMP, .CAL, .IMG, .MAC, .MSP, .PCD, PCT, RAS, WPG. NOTE: Photo CD images (.PCD) require Kodak's Access Software. 5. You need not copy any picture or midi file to any other directory to use it. IMAGE MASTER + can find and use your files from any valid hard drive, floppy or CD-ROM drive and directory on your computer. 6. You can add or delete picture and midi files and set the picture delay through the standard setup button provided by windows for screen savers or by starting IMAGE MASTER + from the program manager by double clicking on its Icon. 7. You can use scanned images as long as the image is saved in a format that is compatible with IMAGE MASTER (see 4. above for details.) 8. You can display your pictures with their original size or you can select a size based on a percentage of your screen size. If the [ ] Maintain Original Picture size check box is not selected, the picture display size can be varied from 100% of the screen to 50% of the screen size. Pictures will retain the correct aspect ratio regardless of Screen mode or screen size selected. You can elect to have your picture displayed with a frame around it or without frame. 9. You can randomize the order in which your images are displayed. Click on the Randomize Picture Order check box to choose this option. 10. The speed that Image Master uses to put your images to the screen can be adjusted. Select Picture Attributes, then slide the selector bar to the slower or faster end of the adjuster bar to vary this speed. 11. Any mouse button press and most keyboard keys will terminate Image Master and return you to the application you were using before Image Master started. The following keys have special meaning. 1. If MIDI is selected, pushing the "M" key on the keyboard will toggle the MIDI selections playing to mute and back on again. 2. If you have CD-Audio selected, pushing the "space" bar will bring up an audio selector panel. You can select Previous, Next, Play, Pause, and Stop with this selector bar. 3. The "P" key will pause Image Master on the present image. Pushing "P" again will toggle pause off. 12. You can use a Password to protect access to your computer when Image Master is running. 13. You can leave a message for any visitors you may have while you are away from your computer, or messages you may want to display to the public. 14. You can use Photo CD as a source for your pictures (REGISTERED VERSION ONLY). You can also choose one of several options available for displaying your pictures such as gray scale and flipping your image. 15. CD-ROM audio is available in both the registered and unregistered versions. If your CD-ROM is capable of playing CD-AUDIO, you can select it as the source of music for Image Master. 16. Touch Start is available. The touch start Icon will will set a "HOT" corner that will allow Image Master + to be started by moving your mouse to the GREEN HOT CORNER of your screen. Touch Start can be terminated by moving your mouse to the RED CORNER of your screen. You can place the touch start icon in your windows start up program group to have it run automatically each time windows is started. Activate the Touch Start check box (in Utilities of Picture Attributes) to have Touch Start reinstate itself after Image Master + has run. Touch the lavender line at the top center of the screen to activate the CSA utility shipped with this program. How do I register? 1. How much? $19.95 2. Your program is converted to the Registered version after the proper registration code is received from Accidental Software and entered into the program. You will need to supply Accidental Software the REGISTRATION ID number for your program. 3. Obtain your REGISTRATION ID number from the Information sub menu of REGISTRATION. The REGISTRATION ID number is also on your registration form if you decide to print one. 4. Call 1-800-771-6746 or 1-619-247-2804 with your Visa or MasterCard and we will provide you with the Registration Key number you need to convert your program to the registered version. You can also FAX us at 1-619-247-6819 with your Visa or MasterCard Information. We will FAX your REGISTRATION ID number back after verification. 5. Alternately, print out a registration form and send it along with a check or money order to Accidental Software. ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE 13245 SKIOMAH RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA. 92308 We will send you the Registration Key number you need to enter into your program to convert it to the registered version. NOTE: You will receive a Registration Key Number only, no disk will be shipped. 6. You can Email us at Accidental@aol.com with your request. Insure you have included your Registration Key number and Visa or MasterCard information. After credit approval, we will Email your Key number back to you. 7. Registration Key numbers provided are good for only one computer. If you need to use Image Master + on more than one computer, contact Accidental Software for a site license. Additional Services from Accidental Software: 1. Site licenses are available. Contact Accidental Software for details. 2. Accidental Software can modify this program to provide a unique application for Company or other large groups of users. Custom applications can be developed to your needs. Contact Accidental Software for details. Contact: ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE 13245 SKIOMAH RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA. 92308 1-619-247-2804 -- VOICE 1-619-247-6819 -- FAX Common Questions! Q. When I double click on the Image Master Icon the program will not start. What is happening? A. Multiple instances of Image Master cannot be started. If the program was started by double clicking on its Icon and a subsequent click outside the form hides the application, it is still running in the background. You need to bring up the Windows Task Manager to switch back to Image Master + or minimize the program manager to reveal Image Master +. It is always best to end Image Master by clicking on the EXIT button in the Set Up form if you are not going to run the screen saver portion of the program immediately. Q. Can I use this program to display pictures of my business or family? A. Yes, you need to use a scanner to scan your image into a paint program. Once an image is scanned and retouched as necessary, save it as any file format compatible with this program. Select the User Bit Maps option button in Image Master. Find the file by clicking to the correct drive and directory. Highlight this file or as many files as you want to add to the list of Bit Maps to show. Once the file or files are highlighted, click the Add Files button to place them in the Bit Maps to Show list box. You can preview this or any file by double clicking on its entry in the Bit Maps To Show window. If your personal pictures are on a Photo CD, Image Master is the ideal tool for displaying them. Q. I want to use several of my own MIDI songs to be played by the program when my pictures are being displayed. How can I do this? A. You can select any valid MIDI file ".mid" that is available on your hard disk. It can be placed in a List of Songs to Play (up to 100) that will be played in order. Once the last file is played, the tunes will start over in a continuous loop. Choose the drive and directory that your MIDI files are on. Highlight this file or as many files as you want to add to the list of Midi Files to Play. Once the file or files are highlighted, click the Add Files button to place them in the list of Midi Files to Play. You can listen to any Midi file in the Midi Files To Play window by double clicking on it. Q. When using JPG or other large 24 bit images with Image Master +, my MIDI music occasionally degrades. Can this be prevented. A. These files have extremely high compression ratios, and as a result monopolize your processor so that there is no time left to play your MIDI file. The only way to cure the problem is to covert your image file to a format the has less compression. PCX and BMP 256 color files will not interfere with the MIDI as the pictures are decompressed. You could also inactivate the Enable Music check box or Mute (press the "M" key on the keyboard) the MIDI so it will not play. You can listen to CD-Rom audio instead without interference from highly compressed 24 bit images. Q. When using Photo CDs to show my images with Image Master, MIDI music I am using seems to degrade as some pictures are displayed. How can I cure the problem? A. Very large 24 bit images can take a tremendous amount of processing power to decompress and decode. These large files combined with the slow access time of most CD-ROM drives can use your system resources so that the processor time needed to play your MIDI files is no longer available. You could copy your PCD files to a hard disk, the faster access time of a hard disk should help; insure you are using the Retain Bit Map Size option, then choose a smaller display size for your images. You may have to disable your MIDI with the enable music check box or the "M" key on the keyboard if the problem persists and is bothersome. Uninstall. Use this Icon to remove Image Master Plus from your hard drive. This Icon will remove all files that were installed to your hard drive by this program, with the following exceptions. MCI.VBX THREED.VBX VBRUN300.DLL These files may be required for other windows programs and are not removed by uninstall for this reason. These files reside in your windows\system sub directory and can be manually removed if desired. Uninstall will not remove the Image Master Plus program group from windows. The Image Master Plus program group must be removed in the usual manner by the user. Image Master program files installed to your hard disk! The following is a list of files IMAGE MASTER PLUS installs to your hard disk or generates as the program runs. This list can be used for uninstall information if desired. Files in your Windows directory.... SSIMAGEP.SCR SSIMAGEP.EXE HOTSPOTP.EXE IMCALP.EXE REMOVEP.EXE IMASTERP.INI IMASTERP.RRG IMASTERP.GRP LEADDIB.DRV EXCLUDED.MSP MESSAGE.MSP MIDI.MSP TRANSIT.MSP SLIDES(1 THRU 10).MSP SLIDET(1 THRU 10).MSP Files in your Windows\System directory... FXCMP210.VBX FXLBL210.VBX FXSND210.VBX FXTLS210.DLL LEAD45.DLL LEADDIB.DRV * MCI.VBX * THREED.VBX * VBRUN300.DLL Files in the graphics directory used by this program... PP(1 THRU XX).MST SI.MID README.TXT * Delete these files with caution since they may be used by other programs. Version changes. Version 1.3 1. Added a sliding scale for image sizes. 2. Added sliding scale for image display times and associated processor warnings. 3. Added a form on top message so the screen saver would overlay the Microsoft Office MOM bar or other dominant program menu bars. 4. Added desk top screen saver activation and time out manipulation from the Utilities Menu within the program. Version 1.4 1. Changed the Utilities feature to correct an Out of Stack Space error caused by activation of this menu item on some machines. Version 1.5 1. Replaced LEAD40.DLL with LEAD45.DLL and updated all VBXs to the most recent version. 2. Improves program cancel at startup. 3. Allows newly registered versions with code registration to access all file types without restarting the application after registration. 4. Improves touch start interface to more smoothly work with windows 95 and add more options. Touch Start setup moved from Image Master Plus program to the touch start icon. Version 1.6 1. Adds the capability of displaying your pictures while maintaining their original size. 2. Replaced two image transitions found to have problems displaying some pictures with non standard height to width ratios. 3. Transtion 51 has been changed and can now be selected as a valid transition. The total image transitions is now 101. Version 1.7 1. Corrects password protection to prevent circumvention with extended key combinations. Version 1.71 1. Corrects installation of LEADDIB.DRV (necessary for display of photo CD pictures). 2. Increased mouse movement necessary to cancel the program to prevent false cancle events as the program runs. 3. Modified touch start by adding an option to require a mouse click to activate a touch start application. This prevents unintentional intiation of these applications. Version 1.72 1. Corrects a problem that caused a premature quit signal to the program when running as a screen saver on some systems. Version 1.74 1. Adds the capability to play WAVE Audio with slide shows. 2. Adds the capability to print a copy of Help topics. 3. Adds the capability to print a hard copy of slide show picture lists, Wave Audio lists and Midi lists. Disclaimer: This product is distributed "as is". All warranties, either expressed or implied, as to the software quality, performance, or fitness for any particular reason are disclaimed. You will bear the entire risk of relating to the quality and performance of this product, and will, in no event hold ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damage resulting from the use of this software.