ReadMe File for
MCIShow(C) Shareware Version 3.0
Copyright Bill Buckels 1996-1999
All Rights Reserved.

A Multimedia Presentation System For Windows
--------------------------------------------

MCIShow is a script driven Multimedia Presentation System. It uses the
standard MCI (Media Control Interface) for all playback and it has been
tested on a variety of platforms... Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and Windows
98. It comes with a comprehensive user's manual in the form of its
Windows .HLP file, and with complete C Language Source Code. It is
distributed as ShareWare, and may be distributed freely. Registration is
$10.00.

The types of Multimedia Events supported by MCIShow are:

1. .BMP Windows Image Files
2. .WAV Windows Digitized Speech (Sampled Waveform) Audio Files
3. .MID Midi Music Files
4. .AVI Windows Digitized Audio/Video "Video Clip" files.
5. CD Audio

The MultiMedia support for .WAV, .MID, and .AVI files and CD-Audo
require the Windows MCI (MultiMedia Control Interface) Extensions to be
installed. A sound card must also be installed. (The MCI MultiMedia
Interface must be working outside of MCIShow before MCIShow can play
MultiMedia files.)

General Description
-------------------

At the core of MCIShow is the .MCI file. This is a MultiMedia Control
Script. The MCIShow slideshow script in the standard Windows .INI file
format. Multimedia Events in the .MCI script can be combined with
control events, programming logic and subroutines

MCIShow is distributed with several sample .MCI files that demonstrate
how a .MCI script can written and used to control MultiMedia Events. You
can use these as a starting point to write your own slideshow scripts.

During playback, the MCIShow program reads each event in the script
(sequentially by event number ) and plays it back.

MCIShow is almost a simple Multi-Threader. It runs several events
simultaneously. A group of events makes-up an event sequence. Midi and
CD events events can overlap sequences of Bitmap, Wave, Avi, Clear, and
Pause events.

These event types can share the same space in time in the MCIShow
slideshow, and they overlap with others. This is unlike many slideshow
programs, which want to link the background to base a group of
MultiMedia events and disrupt the flow of the storyboard.

For example, if my CD soundtrack backs-up my Wave file playback, or I
use Midi in the background during Bmp Picture sequences, I surely don't
want to link these to a single slide. I may not want to cancel my
background events until they are done.

The Bmp command is used to load a Windows .BMP file and has several
options. BMP files can be scaled and-or loaded positionally, or loaded
to center (center load is the default).

Midi play can take place during all events. Avi play is a special case
and by default midi play is turned-off before Avi play. Midi play can be
optionally turned-off during wave play, cd play, and during the loading
of a Bmp file.

The Wav command plays digitized Sound Wave Audio Files The Wav event
plays until finished or until the slideshow is stopped or advanced.

The Avi command is used to play Avi Video Clips The Avi event can cancel
all other multimedia play, clear the screen (by default), and centre the
Avi file. When play is completed, the Avi playback window is closed.

The Avi command can loop several times. This is useful if you want to
play a movie clip over and over during a presentation, since the file is
not reopened and loaded each time, just rewound and replayed.

Cd audio play can take place during all events.

Although the list of features goes on, and a complete reference can be
found in the Windows .HLP File,  MCIShow is a presentation system ONLY
and does not edit .MCI Slideshow Scripts or Multimedia and Graphics
Files.

Also, MCIShow is not free. Make sure that you read the licence agreement
before installing MCIShow onto your computer.

Program History
---------------

The MCIShow program is the improved version of the MultiMedia slideshow
program that I wrote in the Spring of 1996 for one of the students in
our family. Its first use was to present a Multimedia Science Fair
Research project on Genetic Engineering. The Slideshow Programs that we
already have don't have the high quality of Multimedia presentation
features for Bitmap, Wave, Midi, Avi, and CD events that we needed for a
fast, clean and simple presentation.

The first version was written in a about 2 weeks, with routines that I
had developed beforehand during many evenings and weekends of
programming and just plain fun. I have also spent years writing similar
applications both commercially and for my own use.

I made the decision to distribute the MCIShow prototype as Shareware, in
the hope that MCIShow's Multimedia features combined with clean
simplicity will prove useful to others. It is really a good effort.

I hope you find MCIShow a useful and simple tool for Multimedia
presentation. Please register if you do.

Packing List
------------

The files that are shipped with MCIShow are as follows:

MCIShow.EXE - The MCIShow Multimedia SlideShow Program
MCIShow.HLP - Windows Help File For MCIShow
*.MCI and *.INC - Demo Media Control Scripts
*.BMP - Bitmap Files used by The Demo
*.WAV - Wave Files Used by The Demo
*.MID - Midi Files Used by The Demo
*.AVI - Movie Files Used by The Demo
SRC\*.* - The Source Code for MCIShow
TOOLS\*.* - MCISHow Utilities and Utility Source Code
HLP\*.* - MCISHow Helpfile Source

Sample Files
------------

All sample files provided with MCIShow were either created by Bill
Buckels or are thought to be a fair use of content that is in The Public
Domain. They are provided for educational purposes. Regardless, Bill
Buckels assumes no liability whatsoever for the use of these.

Installation Instructions
-------------------------

Unzip the file MCIShow.ZIP complete with pathnames. A directory called
MCISHOW will be created for you.

Then just add the MCIShow.EXE program anywhere you please in your
WINDOWS program manager. Add MCIShow.HLP as well. These 2 files must be
in the same directory. In your windows properties, make this your
start-up directory for MCIShow.

During your use of MCIShow as a Multimedia presentation system, you will
need to use script files containing each Multimedia Control Event. These
.MCI script files are loaded and run from within the .MCI show
environment.

Use Windows Help to read the MCIShow.HLP Windows HELP file for more
info.

Trial Period
------------

If you create and present Multimedia Presentations in the Windows
Environment, MCIShow is an excellent value at only $10.00 for the
Registration Fee. If it fits some of your needs, and you continue to use
this program, we expect you to register.

MCIShow comes with a 30 day free trial period. This gives you enough
time to see if it fits your needs.

Try It Out! We encourage you to try all the features that are described
in the Windows Help for MCIShow, and run the demos.

Many sample scripts come with MCIShow. If you have a Multimedia Capable
system, you should be able to run all of these without changes. To make
changes, or experiment, just use Windows Notepad and save your own
versions of the .MCI script files under a different .MCI filename. Make
sure you use the .MCI extension.

This is an EASY WAY of trying-out the features explained in the MCIShow
HELP and shown in the examples.

But you will only have 30 days to try MCIShow. Sorry about that, but we
feel that the 30 day period is plenty of time for an evaluation. And you
won't miss MCIShow if you don't use it anyway, so no harm done!

Licence Agreement
-----------------

This program is the exclusive property of the author, Bill Buckels. It
is not free (except as otherwise noted). It is distributed as ShareWare.
This means that you get to try it before you buy it, and you also get to
give your friends copies to try. You must give your friends a complete
set of the files that are distributed with MCIShow if you do pass it on.

MCIShow is not copy protected, but will display a registration notice on
startup until registered. After you register, a thank-you message with
your name will be displayed on startup.

If you continue to use this program you must register with Bill Buckels.

Shareware Registration is $10.00 per installed copy and must be paid
within 30 days of installation. School, Group, Family and Commercial
Discounts apply. Payment is by Cheque or Money Order only,  to the
address below.

Bill Buckels
589 Oxford Street
Winnipeg, Mb, Cdn R3M 3J2

Email: bbuckels@escape.ca
Website: http://www.escape.ca/~bbuckels

Except as otherwise noted, this Shareware version of MCIShow may only be
used by registered users at educational institutions and by registered
private individuals for non-profit purposes and community services, and
by registered businesses not in the Software Industry.

In most cases, at the discretion of the author, Bill Buckels, a similar
licence and conditions of use that apply to individuals and schools,
etc. will also apply to Software businesses, who also may be given
rights for royalty free distribution.

Special Commercial Licences and Custom Versions of this program can also
be obtained from the author. Additional fees will apply.

In the case of private and public educational institutions, as a
registered school class, you are entitled to use any of the material
included in MCIShow in the development of curriculum, and other
deliverables, provided that credit is given to the author, and that a
complete version of MCIShow and its files are made available to the
recipients of the curriculum. Except where noted, all users of MCIShow
are expected to register.

Warranty and Liability
----------------------

This program and its files are thought to be free of defects.
Regardless, Bill Buckels assumes no liability whatsoever for the fitness
of use of MCIShow, or any loss or damage resulting from its use.

If you cannot abide by these conditions and the conditions stated in the
Licence Agreement and elsewhere in the MCIShow program documentation, do
not use this program.

We apologize for errors or omissions. They were not intentional. If you
are a registered user, and you encounter a program bug, we will provide
you with support. If you aren't registered we won't.

We also apologize for the length of detail in the registration options
that we have listed. I feel that the registered users of MCIShow receive
good value for the registration fee, and I am trying to be as fair as I
can possibly be. So I have tried to accomodate, through the options
listed, a registration plan that you will be encouraged to use.

End of ReadMe
