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AVL Slideshow Tutorial

You can save/print this file for offline reference.
To download and use the tutorial files:
  1. Read and agree to the following:

    Some of the images provided in this tutorial originated from the Visual Rythms CD ROM Stock Photo Library (Volume 1) featuring the Work of Paul Smith (c) 1993 Aztech New Media Corp. Per stated licensing agreement, included image files may ONLY be used in conjunction with the AiPICX Slideshow Tutorial. It may NOT be transferred, resold, duplicated, or used as a part of any other image.

    A similar notice is embedded in each JPEG file as a JPEG comment. Under no circumstance are the contents of the avl_tutorial.zip archive to be copied or distributed separately.

  2. If you agree with above, then click here.
  3. After downloading, create a folder called "Tutorial".
  4. Extract all the files and place them in the Tutorial folder.

Instant Slideshows

Instant Slideshows sequentially run all bookmarked multimedia files.
  1. With any version of AiPICX (or AiPICT), use Open Dialog to select multiple files.

    You can click one filename then press Ctrl-A to select all files in current folder. Alternatively, you can drag and drop multiple files from Windows Explorer (or other applications) on the Viewer window to bookmark various multimedia files. You can also, use AIPICX's Explorer to select multiple files then, click Open button to bookmark multiple files.

  2. From menu, select File|Bookmarks|Run or press Ctrl-R.
    To change the random effect assignment and fixed wait for Instant Slideshows,

AVL Slideshows

Unlike Instant Slideshows, AVL Slideshows are created with a Slide Editor/Album. You can assign individual properties to each slide as well as, visually rearrange slide order; AVL files can also be used as screen savers.

AVL Remote Control The AVL Remote Control resembles a typical remote control for presentations. As such, you can present and discuss slides for unlimited periods as well as jump to any slide in your presentation. It is activated when you stop a slideshow by clicking the slideshow window (or by pressing Esc key) during playback. It is available only when a slideshow is launched from the Slide Album. It is also quite useful for testing and fine-tuning your slideshow or presentation.

Previous, Next, First and Last buttons navigate to and display the corresponding slide in "pause mode". You can use the scroll bar to select any slide or type the slide number directly in the edit box; clicking the Go to button displays the specified slide. The Play button continues playback of slideshow from specified position. The Stop button terminates the slideshow; keyboard users can press the Esc key for the same function. Keep in mind that individual slide properties are executed per slide; as such, if a slide has no background color property, the background is not cleared ... and so forth.

Lesson 1: My First Slideshow.

  1. Select Tools|Slide Album or press Alt-S. The Slide Album window appears.
  2. From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Add Slide(s) (or its toolbar button).
    Navigate to Tutorial folder and open all the demo files.
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



    • If Properties box is hidden; right-click on the toolbar and check "Properties box" from pop-up menu.
    • If thumbnails are not visible then select View|Thumbnails from Slide Album menu (or its toolbar button).

  3. From Slide Album menu, select File|Run (or its toolbar button). While the slideshow is running, click anywhere on the slideshow or press the Esc key several times and you will be returned to the Slide Album. This is how you create and test your slideshows.



    To assign a 3 second wait property to 05_bamboo.jpg, select the slide. From the Properties box click the Wait property to change the selected slide's wait state. To assign a 3 second wait to all of the slides ...

    • From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Select All or click any filename then press Ctrl-A.
    • From the Properties box, click the Wait property.

    The above-mentioned steps can be used to change any slide property for all slides.

  4. Add random effects. Select all slides, and click Effect from Properties box.
  5. From Transition Effects dialog, select Randomize All, then click Ok button.
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



  6. Run your slideshow. You will notice that a "hand pointer" cursor appears during the 3 second wait you specified for each slide; this indicates that the slide is in a wait loop. You can overrride the wait loop by right-clicking anywhere on the slideshow. If you assign a very long wait property, you can use the delay to discuss your slide (e.g., presentation) then right-click to proceed to next slide. The last slide is a "blank" slide. That is intentional; this way you can assign nifty effects to "fade out" the previous slide and "fade in" the next slide.

  7. Change the Effect property of 99_blackout.jpg to "Mosiac, small".
  8. Change the Wait property of 99_blackout.jpg to "0" (no wait).
  9. Change the Effect property 01_flowerpots.jpg to "Mosiac, small".

  10. Run your slideshow. Since there is no delay assigned to 99_blackout.jpg the slide "fades out" then "fades in" the next slide. By now you probably tire of seeing the "bamboo transition", lets change the slide order.

  11. Click the thumbnail of 05_bamboo.jpg. With the left mouse down, drag it to 03_window.jpg. The slide order has now been changed. Run the slideshow.

  12. Save your work. From menu, select File|Save (or its toolbar button).
    From the Save Dialog, change Save as Type to AVL Slideshow.
    Save it as "MyFirstSlideShow" in the Tutorial folder.

Lesson 2: Inserting Audio in Slideshow.

  1. Select Tools|Slide Album or press Alt-S. The Slide Album window appears.
  2. From Slide Album menu, select File|Open (or its toolbar button).
    From Open Dialog, go to Tutorial folder. Open "MyFirstSlideShow".
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



    • If Properties box is hidden; right-click on the toolbar and check "Properties box" from pop-up menu.
    • If thumbnails are not visible then select View|Thumbnails from Slide Album menu (or its toolbar button).

  3. Select (click) the first slide. In this example it is 01_flowerpots.jpg.
    From menu, select Edit|Insert Slide(s) (or Add toolbar button with shift key pressed).
    From the Insert Slide(s) Dialog navigate to your \Windows\Media folder.
    In this example, select Flourish.mid, then click Open button.
    A new slide is inserted at the first position -- i.e., before 01_flowerpots.jpg.
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



  4. Change the Wait property of Flourish.mid to "0" (no wait).
  5. Run your slideshow. Audio will play and continue to play while showing your graphics. You can replace this audio slide with an MP3 file and it will continue playing until the slideshow loops back to the beginning and starts all over again.

  6. Save your work. From menu, select File|Save (or its toolbar button).
    From the Save Dialog, change Save as Type to AVL Slideshow.
    Overwrite "MyFirstSlideShow" in the Tutorial folder.

Lesson 3: Zoom & Positions in Slideshow.

  1. Select Tools|Slide Album or press Alt-S. The Slide Album window appears.
  2. From Slide Album menu, select File|Open (or its toolbar button).
    From Open Dialog, go to Tutorial folder. Open "MyFirstSlideShow".
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



    • If Properties box is hidden; right-click on the toolbar and check "Properties box" from pop-up menu.
    • If thumbnails are not visible then select View|Thumbnails from Slide Album menu (or its toolbar button).

  3. From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Select All or click any filename then press Ctrl-A.
  4. From the Properties box, click the Zoom property; adjust magnification to 200%.
  5. Run your slideshow. All images are now fitted to your entire display.
    If you have images of assorted sizes, all images are upsampled to fit your display.

  6. From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Select All or click any filename then press Ctrl-A.
  7. From the Properties box, click the Zoom property; adjust magnification to 25%.
  8. Run your slideshow. All images are now tiny and centered on display.

  9. From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Select All or click any filename then press Ctrl-A.
  10. From the Properties box, click the Position property. Set X Pos to "50" and Y Pos to "50".
  11. Run your slideshow. All images are now positioned at specified x,y coordinates.

  12. From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Select All or click any filename then press Ctrl-A.
  13. From the Properties box, click the Position property. From dialog, click Auto button.
  14. Run your slideshow. All images are centered (default).

Lesson 4: Image panels in Slideshow.

  1. Select Tools|Slide Album or press Alt-S. The Slide Album window appears.
  2. From Slide Album menu, select File|Open (or its toolbar button).
    From Open Dialog, go to Tutorial folder. Open "MyFirstSlideShow".
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



    • If Properties box is hidden; right-click on the toolbar and check "Properties box" from pop-up menu.
    • If thumbnails are not visible then select View|Thumbnails from Slide Album menu (or its toolbar button).

  3. From Slide Album menu, select Edit|Select All or click any filename then press Ctrl-A.
  4. From the Properties box, click the Position property. Set X Pos to "22" and Y Pos to "33".
  5. From the Properties box, click the Panel property. Set Width to "320" and Height to "240".
  6. Run your slideshow. All images are fitted to a 320x240 window at x,y coordinates 22,33.

Lesson 5: Slideshow comments.

  1. Select Tools|Slide Album or press Alt-S. The Slide Album window appears.
  2. From Slide Album menu, select File|Open (or its toolbar button).
    From Open Dialog, go to Tutorial folder. Open "MyFirstSlideShow".
    Your Slide Album should look like this:



    • If Properties box is hidden; right-click on the toolbar and check "Properties box" from pop-up menu.
    • If thumbnails are not visible then select View|Thumbnails from Slide Album menu (or its toolbar button).

  3. Select Index|Populate|Comments with Filename
  4. Run your slideshow. A single line appears with the filename of the slide. Whatever is contained in the slide comment property is displayed. In this case, filenames appear as a convenience for those that want to know what slide is showing. Slide comments appear at the top or bottom of your display, depending on your Options setting. To change the slide comment position:

    • Select View|Options and click Slideshow tab.
    • Change Text position.

  5. Select 01_flowerpots.jpg.
  6. Change its Comment property (e.g., "What's growing here?").
  7. Run your slideshow. "What's growing here?" appears instead of the filename.