Digital Workshop

Hi

I've made a jpg shown while the Opus programme is loading. (See scrolling graphics) It's very big now and I would like a "loading bar"
of some kind to show loading progress.

Any ideas anyone?

Has anyone made a "Flash" jpg? which Opus recognises?

Thanks

sorry Mike, but I'm a bit confused.

?? Were you intending to attach something?

Do you mean "Splash screen" or are you really saying something about publishing Flash/Flex?

If you are in fact publishing Flex for example, there is an option in the Publishing process ('Settings' >>> Options Tab >>> Preloader > custom (select one... 'Std Bar' for example)

Typically you would use a Progress Bar as a means of reassuring the User that a download over the internet is actually happening. Is that your intention here? Or this simply for an Opus exe installed on the system?

Hi Larry

Thanks for your eternal interest; you're a gem.

My programme is well on its way thanks in no little measure to you.

Musicians are pretty hopeless; you have to draw spectacles on music
where there's something they might miss.

I've bought several Toshiba A10 computers and each musician uses one: e.g. alto sax, trombone, trumpet etc.

I've set up the programme so it auto starts. So...... they turn on
their computer and say"Nothing's happening Mike!" because several
Mbs are loading.

I wanted to include something on the cover dialogue so I could
say "When that clock's finished; when that bar is full etc. you can
carry on!"

I'm sure it's possible to make a loader - like this -
(See
http://www.mikelockey.co.uk/indexx.html )
but can I do that to a cover dialogue?

I don't want to put the link on here because the music is copyright
but if you let me have your E-Mail I'll send you the link so you can
view the programme up-to-now.

Mine's mikelockey(at)ntlworld.com

Regards

Okay, so if this is a Full OpusPro pub type, the Options for 'Progress Bar' when publishing... is not applicable.

If you do not need to be exact about how much time left or showing percent complete for "application start-up", there are a few ways to go.

First this observation. If I set Firefox application to be part of start-up when I boot my laptop, guess what? --- I would not see it for 3 or 4 minutes. That application just does not have priority over Windows OS getting itself started and my Anti-Virus program asserting itself, etc etc.

So I think it is just a fact of life. Try this: Launch your Opus Pub MANUALLY (not as part of system Start-up) and then tell me how long it takes to show up.

If you say >20 seconds and that is the issue you want to solve... we can come up with something.

But if you are looking for something to tell them How-Long before Windows OS will be ready to go --- I cannot help you there.

Hi Larry



I'm a bit more advanced than that and understand. So, I guess do the musos.

It's a question of them not seeing a static screen while my Opus publication loads.

The time will obviously increase as I add new numbers and appropriate
picture files. For argument's sake - let's say 45 seconds.

If you download the file, you'll get the idea.

Send me your E-Mail : I'll give you a download link.

Regards
Mike

Mike,

Send me the link as well? I'm most interested to see what takes 45secs to load...

Mack

Had to ask... to hone in on the scenario. Thx.

Assuming you've looked at some Opus options for 'preloading' resources -- that option may help, or it may become part of the obstacle.

In any case I think you could use Opus' "Views" to your advantage.*** It works like this:
- Create simple page, named 'Page_Progress', in a new Chapter. You could set Chapter Properties to make the page size 'very small'. Also set options for the page to 'Display in new window' and probably 'Always on top' (checkboxes). 'Okay'
- Add whatever animation object you want... maybe with the caption 'Loading'. Just set the action to start 'On-show'... for the page.
- (later) we can work on 'estimating' how long time to load will be, and timing the bar or whatever to that value.
- Now back on your first page, add
1) using trigger Page -- Pre-Show, action to GoTo Page_Progress
2) using trigger ButtonXYZ -- OnShow, and action (category: Windows) to Close Window... and choose Chapter 2 (or whatever you named it)

This last step could also be handled in OpusScript --- by using command to 'Close View'.

Above when I said 'ButtonXYZ', I am thinking just about any Graphical object would work here (for attaching the trigger)... that that first page does not display anything until your images are ready. Concept is: as soon as anything on main page displays, close the small progress window.

- - - - - - - -
There may be even a simpler way to do this with MultiFrame where Frame0 holds the animation/progress-bar, and you simply navigate to the next Frame which holds the images/sheetmusic after a specified time delay. Theory is that the large images are not being asked to display immediately, and could pre-load in the background. However I have not tested.

I'll take a look at your pub when I get the link.

*** If you want to get a look at how simple the Chapter/Page "in new Window" is, you can view this sample pub. Play with it, change some settings, and see how it works. Might be scripts though. viewtopic.php?t=3045&highlight=exit+dialog

Sorry Mackavi -
I don't want to breach any copyright laws;
the music is copyright - bought by me for use -
so I'll decline your invitation. Zipped, it's over 30Mbs.
The 45 secs was a guesstimate to work on.
I haven't timed it.
Thanks for your interest.

Larry
I really do appreciate your kind efforts.
I'll pursue your advice later today.
Thanks again.

Fair enough.

Just for reference, I've just finished an e-book program at 17mb with 40 A4 pages that loads almost instantly (about 1/2 a second) which is why I was wondering what was causing the lag.

Hope you fix the problem.

Mack

I guess the laptops I'm using are a bit old but I reckon the biggest problem is the "nervousness" of the musicians.
Formerly, they would search a paper folder for music page 85 whilst chatting to their colleagues and having a quick sip.

Now it's all sorted. The programme loads automatically (but not instantly!!).

Then all they do is press the spacebar (Mainly - almost foolproof )

Not being very computerate some of them don't understand why it doesn't happen instantly.

I'm not bothered by the delay but it will help if Larry's suggestion works.

Kind regards

Here are a few more suggestions that might help overall

1. I've read online somewhere that .PNG files are preferable for line drawings and such (compared to .JPG). File sizes are likely in the same ballpark.

2. Should you ever want to play with image manipulation, take a look at IrfanView. Good for converting formats, changing color depth, resizing, and decreasing file size (setting a lower image quality).

In addition, IrfanView has a very handy Batch process. So you can select 50+ image files and run them all thru the same conversion in one process. Has 'advanced' batch options there too for file renaming, applying some of the above transforms, etc. Pretty good price at 'free'.

3. The OpusPro Help files have a topic on 'optimising' an Opus publication. It will take some time to follow the other topic links there... see 'preload' for example. All in all, it's a good review to understand how Opus 'operates'.

Larry

Hi Larry

I tried a variety of picture formats and .jpg fits the bill best.

I'm an old hand at image formats - got all the main programs.
Haven't met Irfan view - I'll take a look.

I've read the help files a few times - not all of them!

Regards
Mike

The nice thing about OPUS is there are usually alternative ways to accomplish things. I'd like to propose you consider the ability of OPUS to link OPUS programs (Launch). You could create a one Page Presentation which should load almost instantly, then have instructions on that opening/starting/first Pub which informs the viewer that depending on their computer's capabilities, it could take a few moments to load the rest of whatever you want to show them. You could have a Button for them to press (which will make them feel good they are doing "something" which Launches the main Publication, and you can have some fancy graphic which moves until the second Pub takes over.

I gather you plan on expanding your offering's size, so this will become more of an issue later, when the Pub becomes giant size. You might consider breaking it into sections which are Launched at different times. This, again would give you the ability to keep Pubs smaller. Why load everything if you are only going to need one large section?

Again, this is just a concept/idea you might want to consider. There certainly will be a huge difference between old, low RAM, slow CD-ROMs, small/fragmented hard drive systems, and new, more powerful ones -- so whatever you build using what you have been discussing will vary greatly.

Thanks for your kind comments, Demofred.

Larry hinted at something similar - seems a good idea.

I haven't launched a program from Opus since 1997 - when it had a different name! So I'll have to check it out.

I'm quite happy with my present program which fits the bill fine and meets my musical requirements.

I am supplying (and testing) the computers and they are wiped clean of other rubbish.

But I don't want to split it up. It's easy for me to add new items and less complicated for the users.
"It's gone off again Mike!!"

Cheers