Geddes Productions
|
Geddes Productions
|
Startup sequence abbreviatedCode added to help prevent script errors when recreating a bookFixed - the wrong instructions were provided to reduce hardware accelerationChanged video handling back from DirectShow to the previous way of handling videos (using Windows Media Player) because some users experienced problems with DirectShowAdded a "Show Taskbar" option in the view menu (at the top of the screen) for those without the "Windows" key (with the windows logo on it) on their keyboard to enable them to access other programs or the Start Menu when running StoryMakerAdded a check box in the reinforcements screen to turn the warning about videos (with the assistance for turning off hardware acceleration) on or offFurther changes to video handling (to try and address issues some are experiencing)Added a box when working with sentences showing what reinforcement is currently selected for a sentenceAdded the ability when selecting sections of a video to go forward or backward one frame at a time to allow precise control over the sections. Other smaller changes also added to this processChanged the uninstaller to address a problem reinstalling after StoryMaker uninstalled with the user selecting to not remove shared databased filesA major re-write of the video handling to allow a bigger range of video types and to bring greater stability when using video with both Windows Vista and Windows XP. Microsoft DirectShow is now used to handle all videos except mov (QuickTime) and realvideo.Included a warning when using wmv videos about the need to reduce hardware acceleration of ATI graphics cards. There is a fault with these cards that causes problems with all applications using wmv files unless hardware acceleration is severely restricted. Instructions are given to assist with this.Now when choosing video sections, the preview screen shows the endpoint of the section when the end marker is moved as well as the beginning when the beginning marker is movedChanged the volume level options for sounds other than speech. This gives greater flexibility with specifying volume levels for videos etc.Numerous small changes with the way video previews workChanged the timeout period from 10 to 15 seconds wherever timeouts are used with books and sentencesChanged the file selection box for choosing pictures etc from a file so that under Vista a larger number of thumbnails can be viewedFixed a script error when clicking on abc for the child's dictionary when no words had been allocated for that letter.Fixed a number of Vista issues associated with selecting files and also with setting the microphone level when recording soundsModified importing and exporting of books and dictionaries to remove the floppy disk option and make it easier to use removable drives such as USB flash drives.The lists of sentences no longer show an "*" beside added words.Added an option that allows words in the dictionary to be spoken when the mouse is over the word. This option is found in the "Dictionary" section of the options menu that is available when creating a sentence or book.StoryMaker will now prompt you to check for updates when 3 months or more has passed since the release date of the version you are runningFixed problem when using a picture as a reinforcement page sometimes not displayed correctly afterwardsFixed problem when a page of a book had no pictureThe book reinforcement will now also be played at the end of viewing a book if that option has been selected for reading a book.Disabling playing page and book reinforcements when reading a book now operates correctlyWhen pictures used in books have been moved, now gives the option of locating the pictures when a book is loadedGives more help when video codecs are needed for video files in StoryMaker. This is especially helpful in Vista because of the lack of codec natively included in Vista.For downloaded version, fixes a problem with possibly failing to install when US language selectedFor recording or changing sounds, a button now opens the recorded sound for editing if a sound editor such as WavePad, Audacity or SoundForge is installedChanged the sound processor in all versions of Windows to QuickTime if that is installed and if not, in Vista to DirectSound, to reduce the gap between sounds and fix occasional sound malfunctions in Vista.Fixes a problem in recreating books where the option of what to ask for was not always correctly storedChanged the sound processor in Windows Vista in an attempt to fix occasional sound malfunctions in Vista.Allows the mouse wheel to be used to scroll up and down in important screens with large listsGives an option for avi files to be chosen for videos when running under Windows Vista if the appropriate codec pack has been installed (any of a number of free codec packs can bring this functionality)Now when replaying a book the pages can be advanced by clicking the mouse button on anything. This give children with very little motor control the ability to control playing back a story.Solves a few issues that appeared in the last update and further improves support for Windows Vista.Added an option to display a small copy of the page picture when recreating books. This assists the the child to understand the meaning of the page they are recreating.Added an option to display an arrow above the next word to be clicked when clicking on the icon to replay the page words when recreating a page.Fixed - selecting a thumbnail for a word in the dictionary resulted in that being displayed in the picture option when creating a pageFixed - entering a new child name identical to a name already in the list could cause the program to hangImproved Support of Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.Support of Microsoft Vista operating system Added the ability for the child to select a picture before creating a sentence or page of a book. That pictures is displayed as a thumbnial while the page is written and then offered as an option for the picture for the page or sentence.When selecting a letter of the alphabet for the dictionary the keyboard can now be used as well as the mouse.Fixed a problem where pictures where not converted to smaller sizes if the pathname to the picture was too long.Several other fixes and improvements.Fixes the "Capitalise first word of sentence" option (which had ceased to work after a recent update). Also when an added word has a capital at the start of the word the user is asked whether the word should be added with or without a capital (this also is the way StoryMaker used to function). Fixes a problem with adding a new word to the added words list when editing the child dictionary. This will no longer cause an error.Solves a problem with StoryMaker resizing pictures in which the aspect ratio was not preserved.Further changes to the display of alphabet letters to make it easier for a child to select a letter.Fixes problems with dragging and dropping words or rearranging the words using dragging and dropping when creating sentences or books.Fixes problem which caused StoryMaker to crash when changing options if creating a book using a dictionary.Resized the buttons for moving through the pages of a dictionary to make them easier to click on.Changed the display of letters of the alphabet when selecting starting letter for a dictionary to make it easier for the child to select the letter.Solves a problem with importing books in which previous pictures in the import folder with the same name were replaced which could have resulted in pictures in imported books being swapped.Offers to automatically resize pictures when choosing pictures whose size is likely to give problems with printing.Offers to automatically resize pictures to thumbnail size when choosing pictures to display as thumbnails for words in the child's dictionary.When creating books or sentences using a dictionary, an option has been added that allows words to be dragged and dropped into the sentence or page instead of just being inserted at the cursor position by clicking the left mouse button. This means the child can choose where to place the word in a sentence and also means they can create sentences by choosing the words in any order.A button has been added to allow for words in a sentence to be rearranged by dragging and dropping. This appears when creating books or sentences using the dictionary option.An option has been added for recreating books that will add the words from the next page and/or the previous page to the words displayed. This means the child has more word options to choose from and means they are less likely to just randomly click words until they hit the correct one. This brings some of the advantages of an overlay board to working with the screen and mouse.An option has been added for recreating books that allows the user to turn on or off the "greying out" of a word after the correct word has been clicked on. If greying out is not selected words that are repeated on a page are only displayed once in the list of possible words to click on.When pictures are chosen that are on a digital camera or other removeable drive storyMaker will now allow you to rename them when it copies them onto the hard drive (as well as the option to resize them if they are too large).The tutorial and help files have been rewritten to include the latest features and are installed with this update.The menu bar has been completely reworked. It now only occupies the left portion at the top of the screen and is always in the same place even when StoryMaker runs at a resolution that does not fill the whole screen. This solves a problem with laptop computers whose screens are wider than 1024 pixels but only 768 pixels high. It also solves a memory leak problem that could result in StoryMaker crashing at the end of a long sessionA variety of problems that could occur when recreating books.When exporting books with reinforcements that use the same video file, an option has been added to allow for not copying the same file each time.After printing a sentence or books, the user is now given an option to reset the printer. This resolves problems with subsequent printing. This means if the user has selected a printer which is not he default printer or changed print quality those selections will be lost. Other selections, such as margins and number of book pages per sheet of paper, are preserved.Many other problems have been resolved.Fixes problems with book reinforcements when using videos for book reinforcementsFixes problems with pictures as reinforcements.
Fixes a problem with viewing books when the pages advance automatically.
Solves an issue with IntelliTools IntelliKeys® overlay boards with the latest drivers when clicking on the words in a book.Allows for the monitor resolution to be changed when running StoryMaker on a monitor that does not fit the 4:3 ratio of traditional monitors.This update is needed by those using IntelliKeys keyboards who have version 3 of the driver for the USB keyboard installed (or who use version 3 of Overlay Sender).