Troubleshooting text file for WindowPictures

This is a set of questions/answers which can solve most of the problems.

After reading carefully the whole text file, and in case that you still have some problems, you can contact us (do not send us the questions which are already on this list).

Please inform us if you have any questions, comments or suggestions for improving WindowPictures(see General Information : How to contact us ? ).

N.B. Some questions only concern the version 1.2, which is not available now.

FIRST

- windows is translated into several languages, but not WindowPictures. The use of WindowPictures will be explained in English and of course with English version of windows, ex : button, menu, window title and application names are given in English. Sometimes the words can be different if your version of windows is in Spanish, German or Japanese …So you have to translate these names in your mind. For example, the button 'Start' on the task bar is (probably) named 'empezar' or 'iniciar' in Spanish. Well, if you cannot follow our instructions, recall to translate the names in your own language.

## Summary

1 Technical questions
1.1 System and softwares working
1.2 Display
1.2.1 Palette and colors
1.2.2 Text
1.2.3 Size, dimensions
1.3 Using WindowPictures
2 Commercial questions
3 To contact us

### 1 Technical questions

### 1.1 System and softwares working

Q: After being registred, and receiving my unlock key, I type my key in 'Configuration.exe'. Everything worked perfectly until a message appeared saying 'Your test period is over' in spite of my key ! What does it mean ???

A: You probably type a wrong code key, please try again. If it does not work, WindowPictures is probably altered. In that case, contact us by giving your user-code, your unlock key, and your address, of course (see General Information: How to contact us ? ).

Q : With windows 95 or 98, how to avoid the automatic start of WindowPictures at each system start ?

A :

- - click on Start button,
- - choose the Parameters line,
- - click on Tasks bar,
- - choose the tab Programs on the Start menu,
- - click on the button Delete,
- - open directory Startup,
- - select WindowPictures,
- - click on the button Delete

Q: WindowPictures slows down my computer, my hard-disk is a little bit noisy and its diode often flashes, how to speed up ?

A: You are probably lacking of RAM (random access memory). Using windows 95, you should have at least 16 Mb of RAM in order not to be slow down by WindowPictures. If you have less than that, you can choose a subject (with the configuration button of Configuration.exe) which the sum of its pictures and textures is smaller. They represent textureed screen backgounds, without a big picture. Thus you can easily save 1 or 2 Mb of RAM .

Q: I cannot modify and keep the windows background permanently (desktop, for windows 95 or 98) even if i use the control panel of windows. How to change the background ?

A: While WindowPictures is running, it takes the control of the background, so from now on you must configure IT (do not use the normal control panel for that):

- Run Control panel of WindowPictures in the Start menu,
- click on the button Windows display configuration
- click on the button Background,
- search for your picture and wait until it is transformed to be usable for WindowPictures
- click on OK.

### 1.2 Display

Q: Icons on desktop become blue when selected, but their text does not change.

A: It is normal.
A next version of WindowPictures will change the text in a sort of sun glasses.

###

1.2.1 Palette and colors

Q: Sometimes the windows of colors choice (for example in the control panel) draw textures instead of plain colors ( see gray 192,192,192). How to change it ?

A: In WindowPictures version 1.0, there is no way to prevent that. You can try to choose a quite similar color (for example 200,200,200), but according to the applications, it could work only if your video adapter is configured for MORE than 256 colors (32000,65000,16 million colors or more). By all means, you are advised to configure your video adapter with 15 bits (32000 colors) or more, to avoid any problems.

Q: WindowPictures is displaying only gray pictures and textures, and very slowly. How to display beautiful colors ?

A: Your video adapter is probably configured for 16 colors. You have to configure it for 256 colors, or better for 65536 colors, or even more : see How to change the colors number of the video adapter ?

Q : Wrong colors for some big pictures (ex : the blue sky becomes gray-green). How can I find the right colors ?

A : Your video adapter is probably adjusted to 256 colors (8bits), you should adjust it to 32768 colors (15bits) or more. For more information, see question How to change the colors number of the video adapter ?

Q: How to change the colors number of the video adapter ?

A: To configure your video adapter for 256 colors, or better for 65536 colors, or even more :

- use the menus Start / Parameters / Control panel,
- open the Display icon,
- choose the Configuration tab,

- in the list 'Color palettes', choose a palette with more than 256 colors, that is to say 15,16,24,32 bits or more.

You can content yourself with 256 colors, but you might have other problems.

If you cannot find a choice with more than 16 colors (4 bits), that means you did not install your video adapter's driver, which is usually delivered on a diskette with your adapter. Otherwise, try to use driver of windows:

- click on the menus Start / Parameters / Control Panel,
- open the Add peripheral icon,
- follow the instructions..

### 1.2.2 Text

Q: In Netscape Composer, if an image is set as the page background, texts background is another texture when WindowPictures is running.

R: You can avoid this problem by changing the Page colors int the menu Format. Then click on Use custom colors, then on Background and choose a plain color (but not white 255,255,255).

Q: In some softwares, a few text lines keep a plain background instead of a background with a picture, how to display them normally ?

A: For us, this problem appears only with a famous word processor. WindowPictures is not responsible for that. This word processor uses apparently a non standard text display technique (that is scandalous from this publisher !). So the publisher of this software has to adapt his software to WindowPictures, and not the contrary. Send him a letter to invite him to do it.

However you can stop the display of the picture background for the WHOLE text, temporarily.

- run the Configuration.exe (in the menu Start / WindowPictures),
- click on the button Configuration of the windows aspect,
- disactivate the ticked square of Window (top left hand side)

You can activate that square again later.

Q: Inside some windows, the horizontal scrolling causes a bad display of the background picture.

A: For all the windows, this version hasn't got the solution for that problem yet. But next versions will correct that. Don't forget (if you are registred, of course) you will get for free all the versions 1.x, with numerous problems corrected. You are welcomed to inform us of problems you have encountered (see the question: If I have any problems, how can I tell you ? ).

Q: When I select a text or other elements, in some applications, a pack of multi-colored pixels appears instead of the normal reversed colors.

A: You have to configure your video adapter for more than 256 colors, see the question: How to change the colors number of the video adapter ?

Q: The text insertion causes an ugly shifting picture of the background.

A: This version of WindowPictures cannot solve that problem yet. You can update your version for free, by using the next versions 1.x.

### 1.2.3 Size, dimensions

Q: Problem about size ? The button and dialog-box texts exceed their frame, or a part is missing. How can I reduce them ?

A: See the question The windows of WindowPictures exceed the screen, some buttons are hidden, How can I reduce them ?

Q: The windows of WindowPictures exceed the screen, some buttons are hidden, How can I reduce them ?

A: You have to change the default windows font size. You can only do this with a resolution higher than 640*480 pixels (ask windows why !). How to change that ?

- activate the menu Start / Parameters / Control panel,
- click on the Display icon,
- select the Configuration tab,
- change the 'Font size', for example with the button 'personalize'.

This is the way to reduce the size of all windows fonts.

According to the sub-version of windows 95, if you work in a resolution of 640*480 pixels, you must change the resolution with the control panel. Once, you have changed the font size, you can come back to 640*480. You will have to re-start many times. Thanks who ? Thanks windows 95 !

In case (surprising) it doesn't work, the video adapter driver is probably the main cause. Try the windows driver (which was delivered with windows) instead of the one (we suppose) you have installed from the video card maker's diskette.
Q : With a screen resolution higher than 800*600 pixels, big pictures are repeated in mosaic instead of taking the whole screen.

A : Next WindowPictures versions will solve this problem. If you are registred for the present version , you will get for free all the version1.x, so this problem will be solved for you very soon.

1.3 Using WindowPictures

Q: How can I create my own subjects and personalize the complete Windows look ?

A:

- Run the Control panel of WindowPictures (in the menu Start).
- Then click on button windows display configuration.
- At bottom right, choose a subject which will be the base. And click on the button Apply, in that way, you will able to see your modifications without closing the Control panel.
- Click on the button Save subject as to give a name to your new subject.
- To apply a texture to any element of the Windows interface, click on the name of the pictures on the right of the element description.
- For example:

- at top, click on the name of the picture on the right of the element Window.
- Now a picture choosing box appears.
- The list of the textures delivered with the software is available in the default directory.
- If you want to apply your own picture, navigate int the directories as you want (you can see than many picture formats are available). In that case, once the picture chosen, WindowPictures will transform it in its own format, it will take a few moments.

- When your subject is ready, if you want you can give it to other people.

- Click on OK to validate your subject.
- You have to copy all pictures you used into an empty directory. For example, create a directory named C:\subjects.wp with the Windows explorer.
- Find the installation directory of WindowPictures. In general, it is C:\WindPict except if you installed the software on another disk. In this directory, there is a file named as your subject with .SUB at the end (Surf.sub as example). Copy this file in your pictures directory (C:\subjects.wp).
- The last thing is to archive the entire directory (C:\subjects.wp) in a ZIP file.
- If you do not want your subject too big, you should work with compressed JPEG pictures at a great ratio (30 to 50). You will lose quality but you will able to distribute your subjects on one diskette as example.
- You can sell your subjects, send them to magazines (distributed with a CDRom) or distribute them on Internet. We are interested in your subjects, we will very happy to see them, tell us your web site address ( where we can see your subjects).
- Please consult the help page for graphists, you will find more details, specially how to sell your subjects or distribute them.

### 2 Commercial questions

Q: How can I buy WindowPictures ?
A: Run the Control panel of WindowPictures (int Start menu). Then click on button Registration form: to purchase WindowPictures.
You can consult the information page about purchasing.

### 3 To contact us

Q: If I have any problems, how can I tell you ?

A: Please inform us if you have any questions, comments or suggestions for improving WindowPictures. Make sure that the problem is not already treated in the set of questions/answers.

You can write to us, see the question at the end: General Information : How to contact us ?

In any case, you must:

- give us

- your computer processor reference (ex Cyrix 6x86 p200+),
- the operating system (ex windows 98),
- the RAM amount (ex 16 Mb),
- the hard-disk free space in the directory WindPict (ex 200 Mb),
- the video mode when you get in trouble (ex 1024*768 with 65536 colors).

- tell us, if possible, all the loaded applications when the problem appeared. You can type ONE TIME the CTRL+ALT+DEL keys, write the application list, then click on 'Cancel'. In any case you have to expose at least the application that causes you problem.
- describe briefly the way that you are always in troubles. Ex: I run the explorer, then I scroll the right window with the vertical scrolling button (with the mouse).

Q: General Information : How to contact us ?

- On Internet, our Web site is: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/window_pictures
- Our email addresses,

- commercial questions: window_pictures@compuserve.com
- technical questions: SupportWP@aol.com

- by postal mail, to:

Michel BERTRAND
B.P. 334
38204 VIENNE Cedex
FRANCE