VB-Amp Pro Readme
=================

Version: 1.00, Jan 1, 1999

Download the "vbaskins.zip" file for sample skins in the new format.
If you develop a new skin please send it along and I will add it to my
VB-Amp Pro skins web page.

If you have any feedback or ideas please e-mail me! 

Steve Gray  sgray@acs.ryerson.ca
http://www.ryerson.ca/~sgray


Requirements
------------

* VB5 Runtimes (including: MCI, Common Dialog, SSTab controls)
  (Available by downloading SJGPlay complete release for VB5)
* ActiveMovie 2 or Microsoft Media Player 5.2 or higher (recommended)
  Needed for MCI driver to play MP3 (and other) files. If you can't
  play MP3 files in Media Player it won't work with VB-AMP either!
* May require editing of system files to enable MCI driver.
  If you know for sure that ActiveMovie2/MP is installed and you get
  the message "not a registered MCI device" do the following:

  << Windows 95 >>
     Edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
     In the [MCI] section add the line: ActiveMovie=mciqtz.drv
  << Windows NT >>
     Use REGEDIT to add the following key:
     
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\MCI32\ActiveMovie

     Set the value to: mciqtz32.dll


Development
-----------

  VB-Amp and VB-Amp Pro are (C)1999 Steve J. Gray. I am releasing the
source code for public use, however I retain the copyright. If you
would like to use the code in your own projects you are welcome to.
I would appreciate a credit of some kind.

  If you would like to contribute please e-mail me. Below are some of
the ideas and thoughts for future releases. If you feel you can code
any of the things on the list let me know. I will coordinate all
enhancements and submissions and make them available on my web site.

  If you have any comments or suggestions, requested features etc
please don't hesitate to contact me.

  And lastly, my thanks go to all those who have contributed code and
suggestions.


To-Do List / Ideas for Future
-----------------------------

* Documentation :-)
* Multi-state status indicators
* Analog Dial controls
* Multiple region skins
* Volume slider(s)
* Read Mp3 file for actual settings
* Improved ID Tag display/editing
* Simple scope or frequency analyser
* True shuffle play (no repeats for entire playlist)
* Convert to MediaPlayer control, XAudio or...???
* Continuous playback? (requires dual Activemovie or MP controls)
* WinAmp Skin Importing
* Lyrics playback (like SJGPlay)
* Implement Auto On/Off events
* AutoDetect CD changes for Visual Playlist Selector
* Playlist sorting
* Front-end for an cdda extractor/encoding engine
* CD Audio support with CDDB


Revision History
----------------

V1.00 - Jan 1/1999
	- VPS now scales to screen size
	- VPS now allows for categorization
	- Now remembers skin and file directories
	- Fixed leading zero's on digital displays
	- Updated skin.txt file (removed references to FMTuner:-)
	- Changed skin format to allow commas in comments
	  (useful for disabling element by adding ";," to start.
	- Added skin comment command
	- Added skin position (top left, bottom right, etc)

Preview Dec 13/1998
	- Initial Preview Release
	- Skins 90% complete
	- Visual Playlist Selector (VPS)
	  (displays 16 playlists with album covers)
	- Some Preference options not working
