Yasl version 1.3 (build 2) by Ndb - 11th March 2002 *********************** Built for DivX 4.12 (std 4.12 codec supplied not the bundle version with Playa). ********* This is an AutoLauncher for CD's containing DivX movie(s) etc (will also work with mpeg movies etc see below). There are no .ini/.cfg files or any other form of setup file/program to worry about. Just pretty much put your movie(s) and Yasl etc on the CD and you got an Auto-Launching Movie and then some. !!A full guide with pictures is available at the Yasl HomePage: address at the bottom!! Contents of Zips **************** Yasl13e.zip: Yasl.exe readme.txt CVCD.rtf (Yasl 1.3 help file) Autorun.inf DivX.ico Yasl_13.zip: Yasl.exe readme.txt DivX.ico autorun.inf video_ts:- movie.avi movie.bmp f1.avi f2.avi clip.avi system:- DivXcodec.exe (DivX 4.12 std codec) CVCD.rtf start.wav extras.ysl extras:- this folder is empty (see below) Installation ************ Just unzip Yasl_13.zip somewhere (folder named Yasl_13 could be good) - done. If Yasl13e.zip -> Create the folder and file structure as outline below. Uninstallation ************** Just delete the folder - done. Usage ***** ** When refering to Yasl_13 folder I am talking of the folder containing the Yasl files and it's 3 folders (video_ts etc), in case you named it other than Yasl_13. Yasl itself is a stand alone program, but it does require certain folders to be present on the CD. All the folders and contents are present in the Yasl_13 folder. Below is the CD/folder layout (there are 3 folders in total:- video_ts, system and extras) **************************************** ** KEEP TO THE FILE NAMES SHOWN BELOW ** **************************************** Put in CD Root - not in any folder, just straight on the CD Yasl.exe <--- Yasl executable Autorun.inf <--- tells windows to start Yasl on CD insert and display DivX.ico DivX.ico <--- Icon for the CD (can use your own icon, just name it the same) ***Don't leave this readme.txt on the finished CD - Doh!*** video_ts - movies in here (total of 3 movies i.e. Main movie and 2 Features) ******** movie.avi <--- Main movie (all must end in .avi) movie.bmp * <--- A picture in Windows BitMap format (about 120x150 in size) f1.avi * <--- feature movie one f2.avi * <--- feature movie two clip.avi * <--- little movie clip - no sound (uncompressed @ h=72 w=88) * not needed for Yasl to work, but does add a little something to the CD. You can leave out all the above files, but what would be the use of Yasl without a movie. All movie files must end in .avi or Yasl will ignore them. Don't forget that clip.avi MUST be uncompressed (could use RLE compression ??), so keep it short for space. You don't need audio, as it won't be played. This will help keep the size down. The other three movies are normal DivX compressed movies and movie.bmp is just a std (uncompressed) Windows Bitmap. The bitmap will be sized to fit, but best to keep around the size shown above for space etc. As to the feature movies - if Yasl finds either or both f1.avi and f2.avi, it will show button(s) on the interface to launch them. ********************************************************************************************* *MPEG MOVIES can also be used, just name them as above and Media Player will still play them* *even though their named as AVI files - !NOT CLIP.AVI!, this must be an AVI file (as above).* *Will (should) work with other files Media Player can play as std, try some out and see. * ********************************************************************************************* system ****** CVCD.rtf <--- A quick help file - readable by WordPad (std with 95 and above). DivXcodec.exe <--- DivX 4.12 codec which Yasl can install if not found on system. start.wav <--- Wave file that plays when Yasl starts (can use your own). extras.ysl <--- only keep this file in here if you have put some extra stuff in the extras folder, otherwise remove it (see below). The 1st two files must be present, but start.wav is not essensual, it just adds a little something. It's just a std wave file, so you can make (or take) your own and personalise it a bit more. You can also make your own help file, once again name it the same as above. CVCD.rtf is in Real Text Format which can be read with WordPad and any WP. Yasl looks for the presence of the file extras.ysl in the system folder. If it finds it the "Extra Content" button is displayed on Yasl. This tells the user that you have placed some extra stuff in the extras folder (see CDVD.rtf). They can then open the extras folder when they click the button or via the popup right click menu and view, play, run etc the stuff you put in there. It does depend on them having the software needed to open what you put in there. Try it out and see. If nothing is in the extras folder remove extras.ysl - Doh! A far nicer way of displaying the extras is shown below via a html interface. extras ****** index.htm <--- optional HTML (webpage) interface to launch/show the stuff in the extras folder (exaple on Yasl HomePage). *Tip if you don't want the user opening the extra's without using your interface, just remove the extras.ysl (above). If Yasl finds index.htm (.htm NOT .html) at launch it will place a "More Features" button to open it. This way you could build a Webpage frontend for your extra goodies i.e. list your pictures as thumbnails, or launch programs/more clips etc like a real online Webpage would. It all makes it a bit easier for the user and looks cool too :) Like before if index.htm is not there Yasl will not show a button. As mensioned above if you only want the extra's accesed via your web interface, remove extras.ysl ok. General Stuff ************* When you open the Yasl_13 folder, what you see is what you will see if you explored the finished CD. I find it best to delete the contents of the video_ts folder (and this readme.txt of course) to make a nice template for burning. Then launch your burning program (I use Nero), open the the Yasl_13 folder and drag the contents into the program. Now you can save as a template for making DivX CD's. All you have to do then is load up the template each time you wish to make a CD and just stick your movie(s) etc in the video_ts folder (and rename to the names above), any extra stuff into the extras folder (remove extra.ysl if no extras) then burn it. You could make templates for "with extras" and "without extras" and so on. Simple eh ;-)) Yasl Tips ********* You don't have to burn a CD to test your compilation, You can put all your files in the Yasl_13 folder (in their correct folders) and run Yasl from there. This way you can get to grips with Yasl and see how it all looks and works before burning. If it don't work from the Yasl_13 folder, then it may not work from the CD, keep this in mind. If you find your clip.avi is just to large use Virtual Dub etc to change the frame rate to desimate by 2. This will almost half the file size and won't look any different. Read the CVCD.rtf for an idea of what Yasl does and what the user will expect it to do. All 3 folders should be present on the CD or Yasl could throw a wobbler :-o Plus this will keep your CD's uniform. Try to keep to the sizes for clip.avi and movie.bmp as per the examples:- movie.bmp = Height 150 Width 120 clip.avi = Height 72 Width 88 Best not to leave the examples on the CD - doh!, unless you really like them :-p !!!!! THE NAMES MUST BE IDENTICAL TO THOSE SHOWN ABOVE !!!!! (see the examples). !!!!! Clip.avi MUST BE UNCOMPRESSED and needs no audio !!!!! (this is important). General Tips ************ I also find it a good idea to convert (downsample) the sound from 48k -> 44k when making DivX movies, as a lot of systems (sound cards) out there still can't play 48k sound as std and have to down sample on the fly. This causes bad audio sync problems and makes the movie seem crap. The difference in quality between 48k and 44k is nought unless your some kind of music geek and if so they should make their own ;-p. If you use something like FlaskMpeg or DVD2AVI etc they can do it for you, or do it with VirtualDub when you up the Volume "you don't up the volume" ummm! very slack. ****************************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************** Yasl was written (bodged) in Delphi, so requires no extra stuff (i.e. dll's etc) and works on Win95 and above (not sure about NT4). I know it's a peice of crap, hey you gotta laff If you do feel the need to tell me how crap it is, you can mail me here :- belongakev@ntlworld.com and check http://www.andersok.freeserve.co.uk for updates etc. Cheers Kevin.