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/flash or text messages.
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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.
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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.
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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 sequences tab properties:
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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, 84
in total to choose from, with special possibility to set random
transition effect. We could classify transition effects to
following 24 types: fade, dissolve/squares, box, cross, blinds,
random bars, alternate bands, checkerboard, zig-zag, cover,
uncover, wipe, shift, split, split scroll, strips, diagonal
split, snake wipe, snake shift, snake spiral, crossed, boxed,
triangle, roll.
Pause slider - use it to fine tune transition effect
speed with min. position meaning the fastest execution and
max. position meaning the slowest.
Absolute image file URL (optional) - this textbox is
visible only for Image sequences tab and displays absolute
image file URL parameter if it was entered in Step 2a. You
can not edit the parameter here! To do that you have to go
back to Step 2a, but please note that any change you make
that way will affect only sequences created after the change,
so you will also have to recreate all sequences that used
the image whose URL parameter is changed and existed before
the change was made.
Absolute text file URL (optional) - this textbox is
visible only for Text sequences tab and displays absolute
text file URL parameter if it was entered in Step 2c. You
can not edit the parameter here! To do that you have to go
back to Step 2c, but please note that any change you make
that way will affect only sequences created after the change,
so you will also have to recreate all sequences that used
the text whose URL parameter is changed and existed before
the change was made.
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Media/Flash sequences tab properties:
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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 or .SWF file.
Absolute media/flash file URL (optional) - this textbox
displays absolute media/flash file URL parameter if it was entered
in Step 2b. You can not edit the parameter here! To do that
you have to go back to Step 2b, but please note that any change
you make that way will affect only sequences created after the
change, so you will also have to recreate all sequences that
used the media/flash file whose URL parameter is changed and
existed before the change was made. |
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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.
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Remove
seq.
Use this button to remove selected sequence(s).
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Select
all
Use this button to select all sequences of the same
type as currently selected sequence. There are seven types of sequences:
Image/Show, Image/Move, Media/Audio, Media/Video, Media/Flash, 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.
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Deselect
all
Use this button to deselect all sequences at once.
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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.
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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.
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Preview
seq.
Use this button to see preview of an action sequence
highlighted in the list of defined sequences.
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Cancel
Use this button to leave Wizard and discard everything.
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Help
Opens this help document.
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Preview
SS
Use this button to start screen saver in preview mode.
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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.
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Finish/Make
Use this button when you are done with your screen
saver. Wizard will take you to the Make dialog where you will decide
what kind of final product you want to get along with screen saver
definition (.XIS) file.
Please note that click on the Finish/Make 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 Internet ScreenSaver Builder's command editor.
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Wizard
