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-
- WHAT'S NEW FOR VERSION 4.20
-
- There are more features in this version than ever before.
- Included in these changes are some external programs. But
- first, for those who have seen previous versions of The
- Multimedia Workshop, let me tell you what's new:
-
- The first version was called BLACKBOARD. It introduced
- ASCII-Vector-Graphics, but could create pictures only in
- monochrome CGA-HI mode. With it, the shareware disks,
- Bicycle Tune-Up & Repair, Non-Medical Pain Relief, and
- Oxy-Acetylene Welding were created. (They are still strong
- sellers in their original form.) This early version had only
- two fonts in two sizes.
-
- Then I made a variation of Blackboard which worked only
- in VGA-HI 16-color mode. This was named ANOTHER PROGRAM.
- Still only two fonts.
-
- The next step was combining the two programs. In fact
- the new ANOTHER PROGRAM version 2.0 included all seven video
- modes, up to 256 colors. Here, I introduced 10 scalable
- fonts, independently scalable vertically and horizontally,
- for a total of around 600 font possibilities. Also, new for
- this version was the ability to use mouse OR keyboard.
-
- From there we went to a new product and a new name, THE
- MULTIMEDIA WORKSHOP (versions 3.0 - 3.2). This was the first
- to incorporate .PCX capabilities, and CHANGE PALETTE COLORS.
-
- And with this version 4.20, we have all of the previous
- stuff plus BLOCK ANIMATE, MARK CENTERS, file encryption,
- better .PCX support, new BUILD menu, DOS WINDOW, LOOP, TAKE
- BREATH, optional Speech synthesis, use of Sound Blaster on
- properly-equipped computers, and the ability to run
- executable programs and batch files from within a
- presentation. Additionally, the menu system has been
- entirely rebuilt, and there is much more on-line help. Plus,
- there are many more little services and invisible
- improvements such as faster display features.
-
- One of the best of these little services is the ability
- to interrupt a script as it is being presented. Press any
- key to temporarily interrupt a loop or repeating animation,
- and press [Esc] if you want a premature exit from the script.
-
- File encryption is accomplished by a new external program
- called ENCRYPT.EXE. It uses two techniques of encryption, so
- there is little chance someone will break the code.
-
- BLOCK ANIMATE is a very nice self-contained animation
- feature. For more information see the MENU - GENERAL
- REFERENCE chapter.
-
- Optional speech synthesis through the ordinary computer
- speaker is accomplished through the symbiotic use of PC-TALK,
- provided by C.S.S. Inc. The program is provided within The
- Multimedia Workshop, but purchase of the Speech Library is
- required. The Speech Library is 1 megabyte of speech and
- sound effects for use with PC-TALK. For more information,
- see the MENU (Menu.doc) chapter.
-
- _____________________________________________________________
- end of chapter.
-
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-