1- To create your project
On launching the software, choose "Create a new project".
Then decide the dimensions in pixels of your multimedia application.
The project brings together all the pages (or grids) which you see in the background at the start of the software.
2- To create a page (or grid)
Give a number and a title to the first page of your presentation.
Each page includes 50 columns and 62 lines. :
- one line sound.
- one line video.
- one line background.
- 20 lines image.
- 4 lines animations.
- one line character.
- one line panorama.
- 20 lines text.
- 10 lines hot-zone.
- one line keywords.
- one line long text.
- one line variables NEW.
The page reads itself in the order of the columns.
It begins with column 1 line "sound" and finishes column 50 line "variables".
All the elements situated in the same column appear simultaneously.
A picture and a text put in the same column appear at the same time.The application passes to the following column when all that column has finished appearing.
As soon as a column is empty, the execution stops, passing interactivity to the user.
The number of pages is not limited.
3- to add your medias (images, videos, sounds, texts...)
On a page, you can :
- Add an element (image, sound, video, text, animation, character...) by double clicking on a cell of the grid (column 1 if the page is empty).
- Position visually each element using the "positionning" mode.
- Verify the order of appearance of your elements using the "Storyboard" mode.
- Visualize the result, clicking on the button "Read" (arrow toward the right) of the icon bar..
4- To distribute your application, click on the button "Export presentation".
Follow the software, then choose the method of distribution : cd-rom, internet, screensaver, video (vcd, svcd, dvd)...
MediaMixer, WebMixer, and TwinPlayer have the same motor and only differ in their possible outputs. You can modify the files generated (pmx, mmx, ini) using any of the three packages..
Your first project
To start this project, there are two possibilities:
- At the launch of the software, choose "Create a new project".
- Or, click on the first icon (to the left of the icon bar).
Keep the default values and especially the proposed measurements (640 x 480 pixels) for your multimedia presentation. Click on OK.
Then create your first page, entering « intro » in the « title » cell. Then click on OK.
Add an image, by double clicking in column 1 on the line « screen background »
Select "Create a solid image".
Change the effect of transition « immediate » to « left-right »
Validate by clicking on the button OK.
Add a text by double clicking column 2 on the line « Text 1 ».
If necessary, use the scroll of the grid to reach this line.
Enter "Hello" in the large cell for the text.
Change the effect of transition "immediate" to "top-bottom".
Validate by clicking on the button OK.
Click on the read button (arrow towards the right) of the icon bar.
Your application will then execute. You will see a graduated background appear from the left towards the right of the screen.
The word Hello then appears on the left at the top. Close the application by pressing on the key Escape on the keyboard.
Now add interactivity.
Double click in the cell "Hello", column 2 text line 1.
Click on the tab "Action".
Change the first filter "No action" to "Go to column".
Enter 4 in the slot which appears.
Validate by clicking on the button OK.
Add a background column 4 by double clicking line « Screen background ».
Select "Create a solid image".
Click on the tab "Action".
Change the first filter "No action" to "Go to column".
Enter 1 in the slot which appears.
Click on the read button (arrow to the right) in the icon bar.
Your application will then execute. The graduated background, then "Hello" appears.
Click on "Hello".
The solid background then appears.
Click on the solid background, the graduated background then "Hello" appears again.
Close the application by pressing on the Esc key of the keyboard.
Click on the button « Create your application » in the icon bar.
Save by giving a name to your project, for example "first".
On the screen "Export your presentation", keep all by default and click on OK.
The software encapsulates all your medias.
It tells you in which directory it has created the final application.
It then offers to launch it.
This application is ready to be distributed to others..
See some examples.
Some examples are delivered with the software in the sub directory « examples » (by default c:\program files\mediamixer4\examples, c:\program files\twinplayer4\examples or c:\program files\webmixer3\examples).
These examples are small in size, so that they can be easily downloaded.
They will give you a good idea of what can be achieved and allow you to be quickly operational to achieve your first presentations.
Grid mode : to come back to the grid when you are in the storyboard mode.
Positioning mode : to place or simulate the selected element in the grid.
Storyboard mode : to visualise step by step the current page in the form of vignettes.
Reads / plays the projet : plays / executes the current page (offline version). MediaMixer or Twinplayer.
Reads / plays the project : plays / executes the current page (online version). WebMixer or Twinplayer.
Final application : create / export your presentation ready to be distributed.
To obtain help.
To ask a question or read previous answers (forum).
quits the program.
The menus
File menu :
New : creates a project.
Open : opens an existing project.
General properties : to link external software to MediaMixer (TwinPlayer, WebMixer).
Project properties : modifies the project's properties.
Save : saves your project. Give a name to your project (PMX and MMX files generated).
Save as : saves the current project with another name.
Print: prints the current page or all the pages of your project.
Export presentation: create an application ready to be distributed with the current project.
1, 2, 3, 4 et 5 : Allows you to directly access the last 5 projects.
Quit : quits the software.
Edit menu :
Cancel : reverses the last action and returns to the previous version of the page.
Copy : copies the selected cells in the grid.
Copy page : copies all the current page.
Cut : copies then deletes the selcted cells.
Paste : replaces the selected cells with previously copied or cut cells.
Paste special : Opens the Paste Special window. Enables you to paste only a portion of the previously copied data (transition effects, actions, etc.).
Coller la page remplace le contenu de la page en cours par celui de la page copiée précédemment.
Clear : clears (deletes) the selected cells.
Clear row : Clears the selected cells in the grid.
Clear column : Clears all cells located in the row of the selected cell.
Insert Column: Cuts all columns starting with the column of the selected cell, then pastes them one column further to the right, freeing the selected column.
Select All: Selects all cells in the grid.
Select Row: Selects all cells in the row of the selected cell.
Select Column: Selects all cells in the column of the selected cell.
Project menu :
Project files : lists all the multimedia files in your project (globally or per page).
Keywords List: opens a window listing the keywords created in the current project.
Pages menu :
Position element : allows you to position the selected element in the grid.
New Page : opens the New Page window, allowing you to add new grids to your project.
Change the number and the title of the Page : to modify the number and the title of the current page
Delete Page : deletes the displayed grid from the project.
Studio menu :
This menu launches the external software linked to the software and listed in the General Properties window.These applications open the files contained in the selected cell(s). They allow you to scan or modify an image, record a sound, play or assemble a video, as well as create text without leaving the software.
Mode menu :
Grid mode : displays the grid for the current page.
Storyboard mode : displays the grid in storyboard format.
Play / preview page : plays the current page.
Help menu :
Help : displays the contents of the Help.
FAQ - your questions : 200 faq - online forum.
About : provides information on version number.
How do you uninstall the software ?
On the desktop, double-click on the icon allowing software uninstallation.
OR
Follow the steps:
1- Close all the programs
2- On the configuration panel, select "Add/delete programs"
3- Select 'TwinPlayer 4' or 'MediaMixer 4' or 'WebMixer 3' in the list of programs.
4- Then click on "Add/delete".
The program and all its components will be destroyed.
