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scan the CD-cover as image bitmap and maintain it in the database | |
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display all existing cover-images in 'Thumbnail' |
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show a single image in fullsize view or scale it | |
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define certain areas of the image as 'Title-Area' and associate them with a track in the database | |
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start playing a title by clicking on the associated area on the cover image |
Overview:
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For each CD there may exist up to 9 image files (front-/backside, inlet etc.) |
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All images are stored in OS/2-bitmap-format (.BMP) |
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There is no relation between the names of the image files and the name of the CD (they are linked internally to the database record of the CD volume) |
Scanning: |
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You need a TWAIN-compliant scanning device |
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You also need a scanning frontend program, such as swos2 from the package CFM_Twain |
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In order for the scanning device and CDMagic to cooperate correctly there must be some parameters specified in the Settings Menu. (s.below) |
Continue ('Do The Scan')
Settings-Parameters For Scanning:
(to be invoked by the Main Menu item "Settings"):
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Description of parameters:
[
Scanning of a CD-Cover |
Using the Cover Thumbnail window |
How to create click-sensitive title-areas
]
Facts & Figures |
Using the Cover Thumbnail window |
How to create click-sensitive title-areas
]
Facts & Figures |
Scanning of a CD-Cover |
How to create click-sensitive title-areas
]
To create click-sensitive Title-Areas proceed as follows:
[
Facts & Figures |
Scanning of CD-Cover |
Using the Cover Thumbnail window
]
Name stem for cover images:
The images that you scan in the scanner frontend program must be saved
under a specific name. This name consists of a name stem and a one-digit
serial number (that's why you can only have up to 9 images for each CD):
xxxxxxxn.bmp
where: xxxxxxx is the name stem (max. 7 characters), n is a number 1 to 9.
The name stem you must enter in the Settings window.
Example: You specify in the Settings: COVER
In that case you must name the images when saving them in the
scanner frontend program:
COVER1.BMP, COVER2.BMP, ... , COVER9.BMP
Full path and name of scanner frontend program:
You must specify the full name of the scanner frontend program; if it is
NOT in the PATH, then you must specify the program name including its
drive and full path, e.g:
C:\CFM_TWAIN\SWOS2.EXE
Path for BMP-files:
Name of directory, where the image files are to be stored.
2. Scanning of a CD-Cover
Before scanning a CD cover you must have the CD stored in your database, i.e.
you must have at least one track from it grabbed and encoded and
given a name to the CD volume (that is the normal case).
In the scanner frontend program you do the scan and save images using names like this:
Recommended scan-parameters:
For an adequate balancing between image quality and file size you can use
these values:
Number of colours:
256 is more than enough
dpi (dots per inch):
120
This value determines the pixel-
Brightness, contrast:
Depends on the quality of your scanner and your personal preferences.
3. Using the Cover Thumbnail window
In order to browse through your CD collection you use the 'Thumbnail'-
From the Main window menu bar choose the 'Cover-Images' item. In the
upcoming window click the 'Start'-Button.
You now see all your cover images one by one in a 'Thumbnail'-Previous page / Next page
If your cover has more than 1 page (more than 1 BMP-file) then you can turn
these pages backward and forward (Previous and Next). The same effect is achieved
by pressing the <PgUp-> and <PgDown>-keys.
Exit
You leave the fullsie view and return to the Thumbnail-view.
Show titles / Assign title to area of cover
This function shows a window with a list of the tracks of the CD
(i.e. those tracks that you have ripped and converted; no empty titles)
For that reason only a short overview is given here:
>
Show Title-Areas:
The specially marked 'Title-Areas' are made visible.
>
Mark Title-Areas:
Pressing this button starts the marking of the Title-Areas.
>
End Title-Marking:
After having marked all titles you must close the process by
pressing this button.
>
Play whole CD:
Has nothing to do with Title-Marking. Plays CD completely.
4. How to create click-sensitive Title-Areas
A click-sensitive Title-Area is an invisible rectangular area on the cover image
which is linked to a track from that CD and which starts this track to play when
it is clicked upon.
Step-1:
Select a cover from the Thumbnail-
Step-2:
Invoke the context menu (right mouse button); choose 'Next page'
until you see the page where the title names ar printed upon.
Then from the context menu you choose
Show titles / Assign Title Areas. The window named 'Titles of CD'
with a list of existing tracks from that CD appears.
Step-3:
You should place both windows side by side: on the left side the picture of the cover
while on the right hand the title list window. It is most convenient
if both windows do not overlap each other.
Step-4:
Start by clicking the button Mark Title-Areas.
Now you mark a rectangular area on the cover:
first you click on the upper left corner, then you click
on the bottom right corner.
Now you should see a filled rectangle on the cover.
Step-5:
Assign a title using Drag and Drop:
With your right mouse button you draw the appropriate entry from
the title list window into the filled reactangle (keep mouse button
pressed while dragging, release button when over the reactangle).
Step-6:
Repeat Dragging and Dropping for each title from the title list.
(Step-4 and -5)
Step-7:
Finally you must close the process by clicking the
End Title-Marking button.
Step-8:
After termination of the marking process both windows are closed
and you return to the Thumbnail-
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