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- ReadMe for MIDI Genie 0.99c copyright ⌐ 1997 Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen
-
- Purpose of MIDI Genie 0.99c
- --------------------------
- MIDI Genie 0.99c is a MIDI file playing programs for Windows 95
- (Can anyone out there test it on Windows NT and tell me the result?)
-
- Features including:
- * CD player like control playing buttons.
- * Sequential playing of multiple MIDI files, wave files, AVI files.
- * File box to select files in the storage device, user may click 'add' button
- to add a file to the end of a play list.
- * Drag-and-drop to insert files in an exact position of the play list box.
- * Arrange and sort the order of files in the play list box with both clicking
- buttons and drag-and-drop methods.
- * Remove, delete or rename file in play list box with mouse click or key press.
- * Save the path and name of songs in the play list box to Media Play List
- files (*.mpl) and retrieve them later to play in the same order.
- * Four playing modes supports: Auto, Repeat, Loop and Random, could be toggled
- in menu or directly on label.
- * Convenient interface including popup menus and speed buttons.
- * Flexible display: can show windows fully or partly, can also stay on top of
- windows of other applications.
- * Save options to store your prefer options of playing modes and display, your
- favorite list could be auto loaded when the program starts.
-
- System Requirement
- ------------------
- Windows 95
- A soundcard (Wavetable is much better than FM)
- Installed MIDI driver (shoud have shipped with every soundcard)
-
-
- Installation
- ------------
- Simply unzip MIDIG99c.zip then run setupex.exe.
-
- Differences between ver. 0.9.0 and ver. 0.92
- --------------------------------------------
- Not many differences...
- I have:
- * Fixed a bug happened when showing the about box (It was covered by the main
- window and couldn't be seen), no stay-on-top when it's full size now
- * Fixed a too obvious bug in codes of 'display control only' button
- * Added a menu check item 'Menu' under 'Display', you can hide the main menu
- by unchecking it.
- * Added a pop up menu on control buttons, you may restore the hiding main
- menu by checking 'Menu' under 'display'. (So many menus!)
-
- Differences between ver. 0.92 and v0.99c
- ---------------------------------------
- Too many!
-
- * Added drag-and-drop feature to add, insert and rearrange the play list.
- * Fixed the inaccuracy of the counter, now it's as sharp as a CLOCK.
- * Counter display in two modes: Remaining time and Elapsed time.
- * Support wave file and AVI file playing now.
- * Added a file type selection box to select file types.
- * Support delete file and rename file now.
- * 'Goto Current' command scroll and highlight the current opening file in play list.
- * Message to remind user to save the content of play list file has been changed.
- * Save options at any time or choose whether save it on exit.
- * If options has been saved, MIDI Genie reappear in the same postion next time.
- * Autoload load the same (mpl) file and play the same song as last exit.
- * Non system adminstrator user of Windows NT should be able to install MG now.
- * Fixed tons of bugs......
-
- Sample MIDI
- -----------
- This version of MG also installed a MIDI file 'Waiter and Reaper' in the target
- directory. Well, it's an amateur work made by me. If it does not sound too good
- to you, don't complain, I already comprehended that!
-
- Cost
- ----
- This version of MIDI Genie is free for you to trial. It means you may use it with
- no charge, not even one cent! (Beware: This program is not, and will never be a
- Public Domain. The author plans to release a version 1.0 shareware with fully
- bug fix and more features.)
-
- However, if you feel happy in using this program, you're welcome to help the
- author in any following ways:
-
- Distribute it to your friends, FTP sites, WEB sites, BBS, the more the better.
- Submit a bug report via E-mail or post.
- Suggest improvements and new features.
- Teach me a few tricks in programming. (DOS, Windows, C++ Builder, Visual Basic...)
- Correct my spelling and grammar mistakes
- Help me to get a job (It's really sad to be unemployed!)
- Any small amount of donation...one cent? :-)
- etc, etc...
-
-
- How to Contact Me?
- ------------------
-
- Email to: jyen@tig.com.au
-
- WEB Page: http://homepages.tig.com.au/~jyen/index.html
-
- my postal address
-
- Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen
- PO Box 230 Kensington
- NSW 2033
- Australia
-
- Help
- ----
- Sorry, no help file is available at the moment. Here are some hints:
-
- * You may keep the mouse pointer over the same button for a while, then you'll
- see some hint text.
-
- * You may click right mouse button on the file box, list box or control
- buttons, you'll find several different popup menus.
-
- * You may double click at the label of play modes besides the counter to toggle
- their status.
-
- * Double click the middle : between Minute and Second switch counter display
- between Elapsed time and Remaining time.
-
- * Try to drag file from file box to play list box. You can drag multiple files
- if you shift-click or ctrl-click somes files before you drag.
-
- * Try to drag file in the play list box to change their orders.
-
- * You can remove items in the play list box very quick by pressing 'delete'
- button on the keyboard. If you feel confused about this with the 'Kill the
- file!' function, don't worry, whenver it's really deleting a file forever,
- there will always be a warning message for protecting your files.
-
- * About play modes: Repeat always override Random and Loop, Random always override
- Loop. Auto is compatible with them in any case.
-
- * Want to autoload a play list you like when the program starts? Easy. Just
- choose 'save options' in options menu or click the 'save options and
- layout' button when that list is playing. This will also save the names of
- current file box directory and the last directory where you have saved or
- opened a MIDI play list file.
-
-
- Bugs
- ----
- If you save your options when the window is stay-on-top. Then next time you
- activate MIDI Genie but do not click on MIDI Genie window instead switch to
- another application immediately, stay-on-top function is not going to work.
- You may change the dislay a bit, then stay-on-top is going to work again.
-
- Other bugs? I hate them, but they like me. So please submit bug report to me.
-
-
- Thanks List
- -----------
- Thanks to people in Borland C++ Builder Newsgroups:
- Kent Reisdorph, Michael McDonough and many more...
- Thanks to Ylian Saint-Hilaire for his free sharing of Digitbox component.
- Thanks to Alan GARNY for his free sharing of Threaded Timer component.
-
-
- Disclaimer
- ----------
- I've tested this program for many times on my Cyrix 686-166 with 32 MB RAM and
- MAUI Soundcard. It never caused any problem to my software and hardware. It
- shoud be preety safe because the Media Play List file (*.mpl) including only
- normal file and path name in plain text. But I still have to insist here:
- I will not be responsible for any damages caused by this program, no matter to
- whom, your computer, your wife or your dog. It's your business. You run your
- own risk in using this program. Sorry,
-
-
-