New users:download the latest version of Aliu's Magic Lantern from
the internet at http://www.aliu.com/aml/download.html
and install it by double-clicking over the installation file (named
AMLsetup.exe). This will run the installation wizard, which will guide
you through the installation procedure.
If you intend to use MP3 or WMA audio files in your slide shows, you will
need Microsoft's
Windows Media Player. If you run a newer version of Windows, then Media
Player is probably installed in your computer; otherwise you'll have to download
it from Microsoft's web site.
To run the workbench program:
- double-click the workbench's icon
on Windows desktop
- or select "AML Workbench" in
"
Start/ Programs / Aliu's
Magic Lantern" menu
If you have never used the program before, read the one-page
Quick tutorial (how to make a new slide show)
Registered users: If a newer version of Aliu's
Magic Lantern is available, download and install the trial version of the
program. Your registration information will still be valid with the newly
downloaded program.
Some users reported display problems with the
Projector program, which were due to local DirectX installation, or buggy
video drivers. In most cases, a small black square appeared near the mouse
cursor, or the pictures were strongly distorted. If you experiment such
problems, start the workbench program, open the Preferences dialog box, "Projector" tab, and
set option "Graphic mode" on "GDI".
If you have a Microsoft Intellipoint wheel-mouse, you may experience GPF errors (program crashes) while rolling the wheel. This is due to a bug in Microsoft's program "point32.exe", and Microsoft did not release the corresponding fix yet. To avoid these annoying GPF errors, just close the Intellipoint mouse icon in Windows task bar (right-click the small mouse icon, and select the "Remove" option).
If your computer runs Windows 95 with an old version of Microsoft Internet
Explorer, you may see this error message when accessing AML's on-line help:
"Microsoft HTML help viewer not found". AML's on-line help uses Microsoft's
new ".chm" help file format. The help viewer requires that Microsoft
Internet Explorer (version 3.02 or later) be set up on user's computer. It
is not required that Internet Explorer be used as the system's default browser,
or that the Internet Explorer icon be visible on the user's desktop. This
documentation is also
available on-line for your convenience, in plain html format.
To read Aliu's Magic Lantern documentation, you have 3 possibilities:
- Install the Microsoft HTML help viewer on your computer by setting up
Microsoft Internet Explorer (3.02 or later). Internet Explorer 5.0 or later
is recommended. If you haven't already, download the latest version of Internet
Explorer at http://www.microsoft.com/ie.
- Download the documentation in plain HTML format and read it with your
usual browser:
A zip file containing all the documentation is available at http://www.aliu.com/aml/dl/amlhelp.zip
- If you do not wish to install additional software, you can simply read
this documentation on-line at http://www.aliu.com/aml/help/
Aliu's Magic Lantern runs under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows
XP, Windows NT and Windows 2000.
It does not run under Windows
3.1, Unix or Apple-MacOs.
Minimal:Pentium-133 processor or equivalent, with 32 Mb of
RAM, 16 bits video board (65536 colors : S-VGA board with 1 Mb of memory), and
640x480 resolution screen.
Recommended:Pentium-400 processor or equivalent, with 128 Mb RAM,
32 bits video board (S-VGA board with 4 Mb of memory), and 800x600 resolution
screen.
MP3/WMA warning: Playing MP3 or WMA audio files requires much more
processing power than playing wave or midi files. Older computers cannot handle
both MP3/WMA audio and AML image transitions. If you plan to put your slideshows
on CD-Roms, keep in mind that other people's computers may be much slower
than yours, and that MP3/WMA music may not play correctly on their hardware.
So you'd better use wave files on CDs: they work for everybody.
