- OperaOmnia - by OiPaz - Version 2.22 -- for 32 bit Windows Systems URL: http://web.mclink.it/OiPaz/ eMail: OiPaz@mclink.it --- 0. Table of Contents -------------------------------------------- 0. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Legal Stuff 3. System Requirements 4. How to INSTALL 5. How to UNINSTALL 6. How to Use 7. For Developers! 8. Release History 9. Feedback, Suggestions, Bug-Reports A. Acknowledgements --- 1. Introduction ------------------------------------------------- OperaOmnia is a versatile program for the management of music, texts and images collections, optimised for MP3s and for use on non-rewritable supports like CD-Rs. OperaOmnia automatically classifies the multimedia contents of the disk and offers direct and intuitive consultation. Future updates will be available in my HomePage, at the URL http://web.mclink.it/OiPaz/ --- 2. Legal Stuff -------------------------------------------------- OperaOmnia is *FREEWare!*. This means You pay NOTHING to its Author and that You will not receive any kind of customer support. NO guarantee, either implicit or explicit, is offered on the software or for damages that its use may cause. The Author declines any responsibility for the notoriously frequent conflicts between Microsoft-produced software components. Everybody can use and redistribute OperaOmnia on the condition that they will not ask any money for it, except for the hardware support and mailing expenses (which must be documented). Another condition for the free distribution of OperaOmnia is that the software must always be delivered together with these files (.inf e .ocx are hidden files): AutoRun.inf -Auto run of the CD-R Leggimi.txt -Readme.txt in Italian Readme.txt -This file of informations RichTX32.ocx -Additional Control [Varie]\VB6 Setup.exe -Installation of the required libraries --- 3. System Requirements ------------------------------------------ OperaOmnia requires an IBM-compatible multimedia PC with at least a Pentium 100 MHz processor (or similar). OperaOmnia works under 32 bit Windows and does not need particular resources apart from the normal RunTime Visual Basic v6.0 libraries which are included, if needed, in the file [Varie]\VB6 Setup.exe OperaOmnia requires an external program to play music files. The directory [Varie] should contain a complete distribution of WinAMP, but any other program capable of managing Playlists in M3U format will do. --- 4. How to INSTALL ----------------------------------------------- Before installing anything we suggest You just try to run OperaOmnia: it may run already! If it does not run automatically, just use the file [Varie]\VB6 Setup.exe and follow the prompts. It could be necessary, once and for all, to register then file RichTX32.ocx by typing, in a DOS Window, the command: regsvr32 RichTX32.ocx If regsvr32.exe is unobtainable, You should provide the full path (usually it is in the subdirectory SYSTEM, or SYSTEM32, of the main Windows directory). It is also possible (and highly advisable) to create a shortcut to the OperaOmnia.exe file of the CD-R in the Start Menu or on the Windows Desktop. If the program does not start automatically when You insert the CD-Rom into the reader, You can click on this link or double-click on the program icon to run it. Before creating a link to the executable we suggest You consult §6 to have a complete list of the available command line parameters. A program for playing music files is also needed if Your computer does not have one already. The directory [Varie] should contain a complete distribution of WinAMP, but any other program capable of managing Playlists in M3U format will work. --- 5. How to UNINSTALL --------------------------------------------- If, for some reason, You do not like OperaOmnia, just close it (if it is running) and... that's it! OperaOmnia does NOT leave any traces on the HD or Registry, so in theory You do not need to remove it. However, if You added links or shortcuts to the executable in the Start Menu or on the Desktop, or if You had to install Visual Basic libraries, these can be cancelled and removed. Remove the Visual Basic libraries through the usual "Add/Remove" applet in Windows Control Panel, but be careful: they may be shared by other programs! --- 6. How to Use --------------------------------------------------- Select the album and tracks You want to listen to, and press on "Play"! By holding down the key You will make multiple selections in the albums or tracks list. Holding down the key, the selected tracks will be played. If the tracks are in MPEG-Audio format, OperaOmnia will automatically show the total duration of the selected tracks. Text notes or images associated to the selected albums will appear in their windows. OperaOmnia can be called with the following command line parameters (n indicates the number of pixels): /L:n -initial width; /A:n -initial height; /X:n -initial horizontal position; /Y:n -initial vertical position; /MAX -maximizes main window; /AZ -lists tracks in alphabetical order; /2 -halves the main window; /3 -hides images; /DUPLICATI -displays only duplicated tracks; /ORIGINALI -displays only original tracks; /ROOT:percorso -specifies the directory address of all the multimedia contents; /? /H /HELP -shows informations about OperaOmnia. Caps and blank spaces are not compulsory. Any incorrect parameter will be ignored. The program can also be run without mouse, with the usual Windows character interface. Some more hot keys are available next to the usual active keys: - correspond respectively to the ten keys of the main window of OperaOmnia, ordered from top to bottom; changes the state of the albums select-deselect button; does the same with tracks; halves/doubles the dimension of the main window; or display the "Informations About" window; inverts the selections in the albums or tracks lists. The use of OperaOmnia should be intuitive and immediate. Each button has its own descriptive ToolTip, which appears when holding the mouse pointer on it for a few seconds. --- 7 For Developers! ----------------------------------------------- If You want to realise a CD-R that runs OperaOmnia, You MUST include all the files listed in §2 together with the file OperaOmnia.exe. The .exe file analyses the contents of its directory and subdirectories, therefore it need to be inserted in the directory root of the CD-R. This will be given for granted in the rest of this ReadMe file (if You want to insert it in another directory, You will just have to update the AutoRun.inf file). It is advisable (but not compulsory) to insert a complete distribution of a M3U player in the directory [Varie]. Rules You should follow: a) Insert a 480x480 pixels image, in JPEG or GIF or BMP format, with .jpg or .gif or .bmp extension, in the directory [Varie]; OperaOmnia will display it in a CD shape, as "cover" of the program. The file name will appear in the title bar of the program. The file can be left empty. It is suggested to avoid the use of GIF files with trasparency, as it would slow down the start-up of the program. b) The album list displays all the directories with a name starting with "[", having up to five characters and ending with "]". Always try to have all directory names that can be unambiguously identified by their five characters in brackets. For example, You can use this format: [nnnn_] Xxx where nnnn is a four-digit number (usually the year) and "_" can be substituted with a letter when more directories have the same year, in order to avoid repetitions. Xxx is an optional title; the two empty spaces before the title are optional too. The directory [Varie] appears in the list only if it contains music (see rule c). Any other directory will be ignored. c) The contents of each directory/album must follow this classification: -All music tracks must be in a subdirectory called Brani and have a three-characters extension; -All texts (in TXT format) must be in a subdirectory called Testi and have a .txt extension; The tracks list displays only the tracks accompanied by a text file; -All images (in JPEG, GIF or BMP format) must be in a subdirectory called Immagini and have a .jpg, .gif or .bmp extension; GIF animation is not supported. Any other subdirectory will be ignored. Any pre-compiled PlayLists or any other elements that OperaOmnia does not use directly can be put as much as You like. d) The text file name must be the same name of its corresponding music file (except for the extension) and can have any of these formats: nn) Xxx nn. Xxx nn - Xxx Xxx where nn indicates the progressive track number in TWO digits; the other symbols have the meaning described above. The two empty spaces are obligatory when present. The last format listed (free format) is not suggested, as it would not allow chronological track listing. It is also possible to use the format described in §7.b for directory names (only suggested for the tracks in the directory [Varie]). e) The text notes of each album should be put in a TXT file called Nota.txt within the subdirectory Testi. It is also possible to insert an introductory text for the whole collection in the directory [Varie], in TXT or RTF format, .txt or .rtf extension. If RTF is used the font of the last type (which can be a blank space) of the file will be used to display all the others texts and notes of the collection. f) Images (of any dimension) must always be square-shaped. If an album has no images, or if there are no selected album, the "cover" is displayed (see §7.a). g) The same track can often appear in more album directories. In this case, to avoid wasting space, the music file can be included just once in the CD-R, and substituted with a link in the other directories. The link must be a text file with .OO extension, containing only one line with the complete address of the music file, relative to the OperaOmnia executable file. h) The translation of a track's lyrics will automatically next to the original lyrics if there is enough room and the TXT file has this structure: Original lyrics (in K lines) (Blank line) -+----+---------+----+- (Blank line) Translated lyrics (in K lines) Please note that there are 16 blank spaces before the separator. This should be all, I hope! Otherwise just try and try again, and look at the content of a pre-existing OperaOmnia multimedia collection to help clear Your doubts. --- 8. Release History ---------------------------------------------- Version 2.22 - February 22nd, 2000 Added the parameter /MAX. Reactivated automatic display of images when only one album is selected. Reversed the functionality of key. Eliminated routines (not working) for managing RTF format in the texts of the tracks. Minor cosmetic changes. Version 2.21 - February 21st, 2000 Added the file ReadMe.txt in English. Merged the two windows of texts and notes. Replaced the key with . Swapped functionalities of right click and left click in the start-up window. Fixed a bug in the manager of parameter /?. Fixed a bug in the calculation of the durations of the selected tracks. Fixed a bug in the manager of de/selection buttons of albums and tracks. Minor cosmetic changes. Version 2.20 - November 11th, 1999 Added a pointer to the original album next to the duplicated tracks name. Activated right Mouse button, double clicking and keyboard for closing the start-up window. Substituted the faulty Setup.exe file. Eliminated "OK" and "ReadMe" buttons from the start-up window (which can now be moved around). Fixed some defects in display. Minor cosmetic changes. Version 2.11 - November 2nd, 1999 Improved and use in the album and tracks selections. Compiled in native code with Visual Basic v6.0. Fixed a bug in refreshing images when pressing the key. Version 2.10 - October 2nd, 1999 Added capability to display only original albums and tracks, or only the duplicated ones. Added management of and keys in the album and tracks selection. Added management of and keys in image selection. The key and the black arrow now work also when the main window is maximised. OperaOmnia does not list the directories with no musical content in the albums any more. Minor cosmetic changes. Version 2.00 - September 1st, 1999 First publicly distributed release. Version 1.59 - May 1st, 1999 First complete beta demonstrative release. --- 9. Feedback, Suggestions, Bug-Reports --------------------------- Any comments, suggestions and (most of all) bug-reports are welcome at OiPaz@mclink.it It is advisable to specify "OperaOmnia" in the subject field, and to report the version and some info about the Windows and Visual Basic environment of Your computer. --- A. Acknowledgements ---------------------------------------------- The Author wants to thank all the people who helped him with ideas and valuable suggestions, and the beta testers. Thanks for Your patience! :-) And, obviously, thanks to Laura!! Well, that's about it, happy playing!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------- OperaOmnia is a registered trademark of OiPaz. ;-> Visual Basic, Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft. ---------------------------------------------------------------------