Copyright: ® Copyright 1994 Software Dynamics GmbH


Help File Authors

Thomas Deharde, Lars Schrepel & Sharon Dirks

Software Dynamics GmbH

Am Fallturm 5

28359 Bremen

Germany


The Crew

Sharon (Fair y) Dirks

Ted (Tester) Dirks

Randy (Mastermind) Earp

Thomas (Daf) Deharde

Dietmar (Debug) Hufendiek

Andy (Play Boy) Prieser

Johannes (Scan Man) Vogel

Stefan (Biker) Näwe

Lars (Show Man) Schrepel

Software Dynamics GmbH

Am Fallturm 5

28359 Bremen

Germany


Line Art Image

Line art images contain areas of solid black and white pixels.


Halftone Image

Halftone images contain black and white pixels arranged in a pattern to simulate grayscales.


Copy

The section of the image you have selected has been copied to a temporary file and will remain stored there until another copy operation is performed.


Copy to Clipboard

The section of the image you have selected has been copied to the Windows Clipboard. The copied area can now be pasted to any application supporting the Windows Clipboard function.


Drag and Drop

With this function you can move one or more files or items to another window or frame quickly by selecting them and then dragging them to their new destination.

When dragging an item, the mouse cursor will change to the [image] or [image] symbol to indicate that the item can be dropped onto the current location. If the mouse cursor turns to the [image] symbol, the item cannot be dropped onto the current location.


Selection with the mouse

The File Selector Window displays files in a small size so that you can easily select the files you want to include in a presentation. Files can be selected the same way the Windows File Manager works.


OK

Press the "OK" button to accept the current settings.


Done

Press the "Done" button to finish working with the current dialog.


Cancel

Press the "Cancel" button to undo the settings made or to leave the dialog.


Help

This option shows the program's Help file index.

To display the Help file:

1.	Select "Help" from the control panel.

2.	The help file will appear.

3.	Select the desired topic from the list provided or use the Search function to locate a particular topic.


Info

This button shows the program information window containing copyright information and the version number for the actual program.


Power

Press the "Power" button to close the program window..


Password

When the check box beside Password is selected, the screen saver can only be de-activated when the correct password is entered in the text box.


Password

The Password button is used to access the Windows password dialog box.

Enter your personalized password and click on OK. To de-activate the screen saver you must enter this password when prompted by the dialog box to do so.


Info

The Info button is used to display information on the selected video.


Start Offset

This option allows the starting point within the selected video to be set.


End Offset

This option allows the end within the selected video to be set .


Duration

This option allows the duration within the selected video starting with the Start Offset to be set.


Video Control Area

This area shows offsets, duration and the current position within the selected video. Set the red bar to the position you want to see.


Video Control

This control allows you to change offsets and the duration within the selected video. Use the mouse to move or resize the Video Control.


Back Button

This button allows you to set the red positioning bar back one step. The red bar can be set in 25 steps.


Pause Button

Pressing this button halts the selected video or animation. Press the Pause button again to continue.


Stop Button

Pressing this button stops the selected video.


Play Button

Pressing this button plays the selected video from the current position indicated by the red bar of the Video Control Area.


Forwards Button

This button allows you to preset the red positioning bar. The red bar can be set in 25 steps.


Set Start

Pressing this button sets the starting point while playing the selected video.


Set End

Pressing this button sets the end point while playing the selected video.


Test

Pressing this button allows you to watch the edited sequence of the selected video.


Replace

This option allows the selected video to be replaced with a new one.


Preview Area

This area shows a preview or the the edited sequence of the selected video. It is also used to set the size and position of the selected video.


Preview Area

This area shows a preview of the selected video.


Display Size

The Display Size is used to change the size of the selected video. Use the Custom option and the Preview Area to set the video to any arbitrary size.


Preview

This area shows a preview of the currently selected video frame.


Open

The Open command is used to load a new video file.


Type

Allows you to choose the image type, either full color or 256 colors, in which the actual frame will be saved.


Frame Number

This text edit box shows the number of the currently selected video frame. Type a number to get the desired frame or use the frame selector below to browse through the video.


Frame Selector

The frame selector is used to select a frame while stepping through the video. The selected frame is shown in the Preview area.


Image Type

Allows you to choose the image type in which the wallpaper will be saved.

The following types are supported:

16 Colors, 256 Colors and True Color


Image Type

Allows you to choose the image type in which the image will be saved.

The following types are supported:

256 Colors and True Color


Image Size

Determines the image size in which the wallpaper will be saved. Use Aspect Ratio to keep the original proportions of the video frame.


Export

The Export button is used to add a video frame to the Files Available list in the main window. Selected files will be saved into the Windows directory in the BMP file format in the size and image type selected.

The converted images can now be selected from the Files Available list box for inclusion in the Wallpaper list.


Import

When the Import button is activated, a dialog box will appear on the screen where video frames can be converted for use as wallpaper.


Image Type

Allows you to choose the image type in which the video will be saved.

The following types are supported:

256 Colors and True Color


File Type

Allows you to choose the file type in which the video will be saved.

The following types are supported:

Video for Windows (AVI)


Image Size

Allows you to choose the image size in which the video will be saved.


Frames

Allows you to choose the number of frames in which the video will be saved. The more frames are being chosen, the smoother will be the morphing effect.


Preview

This area shows a preview of the currently selected video morph.


Display Image

This option lets you watch the transformation of the image while previewing the morphing process. If this option is swwitched on, you will get a clear preview of the morphing process. However, this option is very time consuming.


Display Mesh

This option lets you watch the transformation of the area settings while previewing the morphing process.


Before you start

Read the "Readme" file

Make sure you read the "Readme" file for the latest release notes which could not be included in this document.


Hardware Requirements

For best results, the following system configuration is recommended:

IBM compatible PC/AT 80386/486

4 Mb RAM (minimum)

8-16 Mb RAM (recommended)

VGA or Super VGA video adapter

40-120 MB hard disk

Mouse

XA compatible CD-ROM drive


Software Requirements

MICROSOFT-DOS 3.1 or higher

MICROSOFT-Windows 3.1 or higher


Help File Shortcuts

This Help File supports the following keyboard commands:

ESC key	Exit the Help File

HOME key	Main Index

LEFT ARROW key	Previous Topic

UP ARROW key	Previous Topic

RIGHT ARROW key	Next Topic

DOWN ARROW key	Next Topic

PAGE UP key	Back


Index

This option shows the Help file index of the program.

To display the Help file:

1.	Select "Index" from the "Help" menu.

2.	The Help file will appear.

3.	Select the desired topic from the list provided or use the Search function to locate a particular topic.


Info

This option shows the program information window containing copyright information and the version number for the actual program.

To see the program information window:

1.	Select "Info" from the "Help" menu.

2.	The program information window will appear.

3.	Click on OK to close the dialog box and to return to the program window.


Using the Mouse

The mouse is a very important tool when working with the program and is represented on the screen by an arrow cursor. Most mice have two buttons. When using a two-button mouse, mostly only the left button is active.

The keyboard can also be used as a shortcut to using the mouse.

When inside the program, press the Alt key and then the underlined letter displayed in each menu heading to access that menu. Type the underlined letter of the desired command listed in the menu to access the command.

For example, if you want to see the program information dialog:

1.	Type Alt + H to open the "Help" menu.

2.	Type "O" to access the program information dialog.


Standard Procedures

This manual assumes that you have Microsoft Windows installed on your computer and that you are familiar with its features and functions.

Many explanations about how to use certain features of the program have been kept to a minimum. Unless otherwise stated the procedure for selecting a menu item is as follows:

1.	Point at (Menu Heading) on the menu bar. Click and drag down to (Command). Release.

2.	The (Command name) dialog box will appear on the screen.

3.	Make any selections required by using the list box, check box or clicking on the radio button with the mouse.

4.	Click on OK with the mouse to accept the entry or on Cancel to cancel the operation.


Making Selections from Menus

Select a menu to display the options available in that menu. If an option is highlighted, you can select it. If it is grayed, it cannot be selected.


Moving Puzzle Pieces

1.	Seloect an image using the "Open" command from the File menu.

2.	Select the number of puzzle pieces and the orientation of the pieces from the Setup dialog box.

3.	Select Preview, Statistics and/or Hint Mode from the Options menu.

4.	Click on the puzzle piece you want to move. Holding the mouse button down, drag the puzzle piece to the desired location.

5.	Drop the puzzle piece into the new location by releasing the mouse button. The puzzle piece which was previously in this spot will be moved to the location of the puzzle piece you just moved.

6.	If "Rotation" was selected in the Setup dialog box, rotate puzzle pieces by either double-clicking the left mouse button or single-clicking the right mouse button.


Preview (Options)

Preview

Displays a preview of the original photo to help you while solving the puzzle.

  Turn the preview off to add a degree of difficulty!


Statistics

The Statistics box displays information such as the Photo CD filename, the number of moves made, the percentage of the puzzle solved and the total amount of time spent on the puzzle.

  When you close the program and haven't finished solving the puzzle, the next time you start the program the puzzle will be automatically loaded where you left off. The statistics will also appear where you left off and the clock will not start running until you make your first move with a puzzle piece.


Hint Mode

The Hint mode is a useful option if you're stuck and can't go any further with the puzzle, for example, if you have selected very small puzzle pieces.

To use the Hint Mode:

1.	Select "Hint Mode" from the "Options" menu.

2.	Click with the mouse on the puzzle piece you want to move. It will appear framed in red to show that it is selected.

3.	A second puzzle piece will be framed in red. This shows where the selected puzzle piece should be moved.

4.	Holding the mouse button down on the puzzle piece you want to move, drag it over to the highlighted puzzle piece. Drop the puzzle piece into the new location by releasing the mouse button. The puzzle piece which was previously in this spot will be moved to the location of the puzzle piece you just moved.


Settings

In the Settings dialog box you can choose the number of pieces the puzzle should have and whether the pieces should be rotated or not.

Pieces horizontal	Enter the number of pieces horizontally up to 16 pieces.

Pieces vertical	Enter the number of pieces vertically up to 16 pieces.

Rotation	When the Rotation box is checked, the puzzle pieces will be rotated adding an extra dimension of difficulty.

OK	Click on the OK button to accept the changes made.

Cancel	Click on the Cancel button to exit the dialog box without accepting the changes made.

  To rotate puzzle pieces either double-click the left mouse button or single-click the right mouse button.


Randomize

The Randomize command randomizes the display of the puzzle pieces. When an image is selected, the puzzle pieces are automatically randomized using the setting made in the Setup dialog box.

Randomize can be used at any time while working on the puzzle to re-sort the puzzle pieces.


Solve

When Solve is selected, the puzzle pieces are put in the correct order, thus solving the puzzle.

  Use this option when you're stuck!


Grab Video Frame

The "Grab Video Frame" command is used to load a Video for Windows AVI file.

To load an AVI file:

1.	Choose "Open" from the "File" menu.

2.	Select the drive and directory from the directory list and click on the desired filename in the files list to select.

3.	Double-click the filename to load or click on OK.

4.	The Grab Video Frame dialog will appear. Make your selection and click on OK.

5.	The selected frame will appear randomized in the number of pieces and orientation which were set in the Setup dialog box.


Grab Video Frame


Grab Image File

Open Image File

The "Open Image File" command is used to load an image.

To load an image file:

1.	Choose "Open" from the "File" menu.

2.	Select the drive and directory from the directory list and click on the desired filename in the files list to select.

3.	Double-click the filename to load or click on OK.

4.	The selected image will appear randomized in the number of pieces and orientation which were set in the Setup dialog box.


Exit

Exit is used to close the program window and return to the Windows desktop.

To exit the program:

1.	Select "Exit" from the "File" menu.

2.	If you have not finished solving a puzzle when you exit the program, the unfinished puzzle will be stored in BMP file format in the "Puzzle" subdirectory on your hard disk so that you can pick up where you left off at a later date.


Glossary

  Video Puzzle Help File

Glossary

Introduction

General Information

File

Play

Options

Help


Introduction

Welcome to the Software Dynamics Video Puzzle!

The Video Puzzle lets you turn frames from a Video for Windows file into desktop jigsaw puzzles!

Load your favorite video and select a frame, select the number of puzzle pieces and the degree of difficulty or turn on the "Hint" option to help you solve the puzzle.

And if you're not finished solving the puzzle, just close the Video Puzzle - the next time you start the program, the puzzle will be exactly there where you left off.


General Information

Before you start

Hardware Requirements

Software Requirements

Using the Mouse

Standard Procedures

Making Selections from Menus

Help File Shortcuts

Moving Puzzle Pieces

Trademark Information


File

Grab Video Frame

Open Image File

Exit


Play

Settings

Randomize

Solve


Options

Preview

Statistics

Hint Mode


Help

Index

Info


Trademark Information

Microsoft, MS-DOS und Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Video Puzzle is a trademark of Software Dynamics GmbH.