Digital Workshop

Hello All,

I developed a multimedia CD-ROM using Opus 04 SR1. I've had two complaints from customers regarding Windows 98. They report multi-colours in the publication window. This is the only OS that problems have been reported with, from over 150 users.

I directed them to install DirectX 9, but the problem remains. Unfortunately it is not possible to find out the direct specs of the customers computers, they were only able to tell me one was a Dell (White Model), and another an IBM. I imagine that they are the 233MHz to 400MHz systems from 1998 with onboard graphics.

Has DW or anyone experienced similar problems with Windows 98?

Also may I suggest that DW develop a mini application which developers can include with their software, so it will check the customers system spec and email it back to us the developer. This would be of great help to both us the developers and also to DW.

Joe

If they mean 'bands' of colour, as opposed to smooth gradients, the problem is almost definitely their current Colour Depth settings. Please ask the client to try the following:

- Minimise all open windows to display the Desktop
- Right-click on an empty area of the Desktop and select Properties
- Select the Settings tab
- Ensure that the Color Quality or Color Depth is set to at least High Color - 16 bit (although if higher settings are available, use these)
- Click Apply and OK to confirm the changes
- Now try running the publication. The banding problem should be resolved

Kind regards,

Robin you're the best.

I'll call them and double check what they are seeing, and I'll try your suggestion.

At what colour depth does this happen on?


Thanks for the quick reply,

Joe

There are thousands of third-party applets which can perform this function. Please see http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads9.html for a comprehensive list. I have used ASTRA32 in the past and have found it produces excellent, detailed reports.

Kind regards,

In most cases, the colour depth is only set to 256 colours, which does not offer a deep enough palette to allow smooth, convincing gradients, although I have heard from developers who have found their clients' machines to be running at 16 colours.

If the client is unable to set the colour depth higher than 256 colours, it is likely that they are still using the proprietary Microsoft display drivers which came supplied with Windows 98 rather than the graphics card manufacturer's official drivers optimised for their hardware. If this is the case, they will need to use the following steps to locate and install the latest graphics drivers:

- Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > System

- Select the Device Manager tab (if you are using Windows 2000 or XP, you will need to select the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button)

- You should see a list of hardware types currently installed on your machine. Click on the plus-sign next to the Display Adapters entry to display the corresponding component

- Make a note of the make, model and any other information displayed

- Now visit the manufacturer's website (in most cases, this will be either www.nvidia.com, www.ati.com or www.matrox.com) and click the Download Drivers link on the homepage

- Follow the on-screen instructions to locate the latest drivers for your model of graphics card. Once located, download and install the drivers using any advice given on the manufacturer's site.

Once the latest drivers are installed and the system restarted, try setting the Colour Depth to 16-bit or higher.

Kind regards,

Thanks for the info Robin,

I know there are many 3rd party applications, I use PC Wizard myself. But all these applications need to be installed by the end user and not all are offered free. They are also difficult for novice computer users to use.

DW already has System Information as part of the About Opus from Opus itself. If it was possible for DW to spin this off into a stand alone application. This would enable us the developer to add our logo and email address to it. So Opus Pro 04 would need to have some kind of option in the publication options for adding this to your publication.

We could then supply the exe with out publications/CDs and they can click a button and all their system details would be emailed to us the developers. The application would need to be able to run as an exe, ie the user wouldn't need to install the app.

This would help us and DW to solve end-users problems.

Joe

On a simple level the colour depth and screen resolution are available as system variables. You could always write a pub to send those in an email.

Hi

The problem is though a lot of the time the Opus produced publication just refuses to work. So it's not possible to create something with Opus to get the system details.


Joe

You do not mention this problem in your original post. If the publication refuses to run, the most likely culprit is a faulty graphics driver. However, it is also possible that the first page of your publication contains overlapping exclusive transitions which are flooding the processor with requests and causing the publication to lock up. Please disable the Exclusive setting on any object transitions, republish and see if this new version runs correctly on the client machines.

I notice that you are using Opus Pro 04 SR1, which is three versions out of date. I would therefore strongly recommend downloading and installing the latest SR4 update from ftp://ftp.digitalworkshop.com/pub/opusu ... 04_SR4.exe

Kind regards,

Hi Robin,

I've solved the problem, upping the graphics colour solved.

The publication was originally developed with Opus SR1 back in August and this is the version which was sent out to customers on CD. So any future versions will be re-published with SR4.

Thank again for your help.


Joe