ReadMe for MIDI Genie 0.99c copyright © 1997 Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen Purpose of MIDI Genie 0.99c -------------------------- MIDI Genie 0.99c is a MIDI file playing programs for Windows 95 (Can anyone out there test it on Windows NT and tell me the result?) Features including: * CD player like control playing buttons. * Sequential playing of multiple MIDI files, wave files, AVI files. * File box to select files in the storage device, user may click 'add' button to add a file to the end of a play list. * Drag-and-drop to insert files in an exact position of the play list box. * Arrange and sort the order of files in the play list box with both clicking buttons and drag-and-drop methods. * Remove, delete or rename file in play list box with mouse click or key press. * Save the path and name of songs in the play list box to Media Play List files (*.mpl) and retrieve them later to play in the same order. * Four playing modes supports: Auto, Repeat, Loop and Random, could be toggled in menu or directly on label. * Convenient interface including popup menus and speed buttons. * Flexible display: can show windows fully or partly, can also stay on top of windows of other applications. * Save options to store your prefer options of playing modes and display, your favorite list could be auto loaded when the program starts. System Requirement ------------------ Windows 95 A soundcard (Wavetable is much better than FM) Installed MIDI driver (shoud have shipped with every soundcard) Installation ------------ Simply unzip MIDIG99c.zip then run setupex.exe. Differences between ver. 0.9.0 and ver. 0.92 -------------------------------------------- Not many differences... I have: * Fixed a bug happened when showing the about box (It was covered by the main window and couldn't be seen), no stay-on-top when it's full size now * Fixed a too obvious bug in codes of 'display control only' button * Added a menu check item 'Menu' under 'Display', you can hide the main menu by unchecking it. * Added a pop up menu on control buttons, you may restore the hiding main menu by checking 'Menu' under 'display'. (So many menus!) Differences between ver. 0.92 and v0.99c --------------------------------------- Too many! * Added drag-and-drop feature to add, insert and rearrange the play list. * Fixed the inaccuracy of the counter, now it's as sharp as a CLOCK. * Counter display in two modes: Remaining time and Elapsed time. * Support wave file and AVI file playing now. * Added a file type selection box to select file types. * Support delete file and rename file now. * 'Goto Current' command scroll and highlight the current opening file in play list. * Message to remind user to save the content of play list file has been changed. * Save options at any time or choose whether save it on exit. * If options has been saved, MIDI Genie reappear in the same postion next time. * Autoload load the same (mpl) file and play the same song as last exit. * Non system adminstrator user of Windows NT should be able to install MG now. * Fixed tons of bugs...... Sample MIDI ----------- This version of MG also installed a MIDI file 'Waiter and Reaper' in the target directory. Well, it's an amateur work made by me. If it does not sound too good to you, don't complain, I already comprehended that! Cost ---- This version of MIDI Genie is free for you to trial. It means you may use it with no charge, not even one cent! (Beware: This program is not, and will never be a Public Domain. The author plans to release a version 1.0 shareware with fully bug fix and more features.) However, if you feel happy in using this program, you're welcome to help the author in any following ways: Distribute it to your friends, FTP sites, WEB sites, BBS, the more the better. Submit a bug report via E-mail or post. Suggest improvements and new features. Teach me a few tricks in programming. (DOS, Windows, C++ Builder, Visual Basic...) Correct my spelling and grammar mistakes Help me to get a job (It's really sad to be unemployed!) Any small amount of donation...one cent? :-) etc, etc... How to Contact Me? ------------------ Email to: jyen@tig.com.au WEB Page: http://homepages.tig.com.au/~jyen/index.html my postal address Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen PO Box 230 Kensington NSW 2033 Australia Help ---- Sorry, no help file is available at the moment. Here are some hints: * You may keep the mouse pointer over the same button for a while, then you'll see some hint text. * You may click right mouse button on the file box, list box or control buttons, you'll find several different popup menus. * You may double click at the label of play modes besides the counter to toggle their status. * Double click the middle : between Minute and Second switch counter display between Elapsed time and Remaining time. * Try to drag file from file box to play list box. You can drag multiple files if you shift-click or ctrl-click somes files before you drag. * Try to drag file in the play list box to change their orders. * You can remove items in the play list box very quick by pressing 'delete' button on the keyboard. If you feel confused about this with the 'Kill the file!' function, don't worry, whenver it's really deleting a file forever, there will always be a warning message for protecting your files. * About play modes: Repeat always override Random and Loop, Random always override Loop. Auto is compatible with them in any case. * Want to autoload a play list you like when the program starts? Easy. Just choose 'save options' in options menu or click the 'save options and layout' button when that list is playing. This will also save the names of current file box directory and the last directory where you have saved or opened a MIDI play list file. Bugs ---- If you save your options when the window is stay-on-top. Then next time you activate MIDI Genie but do not click on MIDI Genie window instead switch to another application immediately, stay-on-top function is not going to work. You may change the dislay a bit, then stay-on-top is going to work again. Other bugs? I hate them, but they like me. So please submit bug report to me. Thanks List ----------- Thanks to people in Borland C++ Builder Newsgroups: Kent Reisdorph, Michael McDonough and many more... Thanks to Ylian Saint-Hilaire for his free sharing of Digitbox component. Thanks to Alan GARNY for his free sharing of Threaded Timer component. Disclaimer ---------- I've tested this program for many times on my Cyrix 686-166 with 32 MB RAM and MAUI Soundcard. It never caused any problem to my software and hardware. It shoud be preety safe because the Media Play List file (*.mpl) including only normal file and path name in plain text. But I still have to insist here: I will not be responsible for any damages caused by this program, no matter to whom, your computer, your wife or your dog. It's your business. You run your own risk in using this program. Sorry,