Do not modify... the help window relies on it
Best viewed with an editor / font with fixed-width letters

About / What is QuickPlayer
---------------------------

  Thanks for using QuickPlayer.
  QuickPlayer is an GUI (Graphical User Interface) for
  Firelight Technologie's (http://www.fmod.org) fmod.dll.
  This means, QuickPlayer manages the playlist, menus,
  options, ... (What you actually see) and uses fmod.dll
  to play back (...) sounds/music. (What you hear) (load/
  play/pause/volume/time/seek/...).
  Additionally, QuickPlayer "supports" Infrared Remote
  Controls (See Section "IR Support")

  As long there are bugs or requests, QuickPlayer is
  under development. The latest official version can be
  found at http://www.ctuser.net. For suggestions,
  questions, requests or bug reports, send eMail to
  info@ctuser.net.
  
  So I optimized code (sharing, groups, ...), size grew
  with each new feature. QuickPlayer has now approximate
  400kb / compressed 120kb. The source code & resources
  take about 320kb (6200 lines / 83000 bytes pure code).

  This document will give you additional information of
  QuickPlayers features. It will not contain any infor-
  mation about basic features that any player offers.

Copying / License / ...
-----------------------

  QuickPlayer is freeware. You may use and copy for
  free. If you copy QuickPlayer, you must copy both
  "QPlayer.exe" and "QPlayer.txt". If you want to copy
  "FMod.dll", see Firelight technologie's homepage
  (http://www.fmod.org).
  If you want to copy "mswinsck.ocx" or msvbvm60.dll,
  see Microsoft's homepage (http://www.microsoft.com)

  You may not sell or lend, modify (if you want to
  translate it, please contact me: info@ctuser.net),
  decompile or disassemble)
  Any commercial usage is prohibited

Version history
---------------

  new: New feature
  bug: Essential bugfix (Programm hangs, ...)
  Fix: Other bugfix (Display, ...)
  Chg: Changes (Optimation, ...)
  Del: Removed 'feature' (Automation, ...)

  (Some bugs may not affect the previous version, but an
   unreleased pre-beta version)

  1.00 beta 17:
   - Chg: Setup dialog if crashed will no longer open if
          only default settings were used (Output mode,
          Soundcard, IR Remote support)
   - Chg: Smaller and faster spectrum analyzer (less but
          broader peaks)
   - Chg: Mouse gestures not saved in presets
   - Fix: Title displayed when skipping/ending songs
          with Infrared Remote
   - Chg: "Skip songs after ... minutes" set to 6 mins by
          default
   - Add: Ctrl+G for "Goto directory"
   - Add: Refresh / Crossfade Icon in QuickPlayer has
          Tooltip (So you will never see it)
   - Fix: QuickPlayer / Playlist gets focus after
          deleting files (After deleting files
          QuickPlayer did not respond on keyboard events
          so it was current application)
   - Chg: "Skip songs after ... minutes" saved in presets
          (may be used for some kind of intro-mode, ...)
   - Fix: Right-clicking on the Repeat or Volume button
          will no longer change repeatmode / show (hide)
          volume slider
   - Chg: Lots of Readme (QPlayer.txt) changes
   - Bug: QuickPlayer crashed under some conditions when
          crossfade window was open (e.g. "finish /
          autocrossfade")
   - Fix: Little Title display ("show titles when
          minimized" / IR Commands) arrangements.
   - Fix: Help window closes on escape
   - New: IR supports Sleep-timer
   - Fix: Saved files extensions all lowercase (ini/ps?)
   - New: Check for accurate streams (Optional / Default)

  1.00 beta 16:
   - New: QuickPLayer opens setup dialog if crashed
   - Fix: Copyright for QPlayer.exe
   - Fix: Startup dialog shows current operation correct
   - Fix: Find song works when no song is selected
   - Chg: When (re)loading playlist, the refresh icon is
          displayed
   - New: When using 'Removed played songs' and auto-
          refresh and last song in list is removed, an
          autorefresh is performed
   - Chg: CDA and Midi files disabled by default
   - Fix: Current song now selected after deleting files
   - Bug: Some playcontrols disabled during (un)pausing/
          skipping/stopping (Skipping multiple songs at
          once no longer plays/displays wrong song,
          Fading ((un)pause/stop/skipping) no longer can
          be interupted, ...)
   - New: Now you can choose Playlist-DoubleClick action
   - New: Presets
   - Chg: Infoscreen, no more Professional Edition
   - Fix: Icon problems (****** visual basic / Resource
          Editor
   - New: Mouse gestures
   - Fix: First seconds of song no longer loop when
          starting player using "Playback on startup"
          and some other conditions

  1.00 beta 15:
   - Fix: 'Old song remaining'-label (Crossfade window)
          fixed, and no longer disappears
   - New: Crossfading can be aborted
   - Fix: Crossfading: When restarting new song at 100%
          Volume, new volume and crossfade scrollbars
          are disabled
   - Chg: Updated IR-Settings (Crossfade options only)
   - Fix: Refresh-Indicator (Icon) now displayed when
          adding a directory
   - Chg: Lot's of Menu/Label-Captions changed
   - Chg: Removed some strings that should not be
          localized from the resources
   - Chg: IR Support now saved as standart ressource
   - Fix: Spectrum analyzer shows correct spectrum
   - New: Spectrum analyzer disabled when minimizing
   - Chg: Global keys disabled (still not functional)
   - Del: Removed crossfade window toggle/on/off support
          for IR. When attempting a crossfade function,
          the Crossfade window will opened automatically
   - Chg: Modified crossfade icon (small icon only)
   - Chg: Crossfading and "MD Record Mode" enabled in
          "Single-Repeat"-Mode
   - Fix: No more tabstop for Spectrum analyzer
   - Bug: Error when using AutoRefresh with timer
   - Bug: QuickPlayer stops after finishing song if
          playlist is empty
   - Chg: Infoscreen
   - New: Timer settings (Start/stop playback, Shut down
          Computer)
   - Chg: When using Autorefresh, menu "Autorefresh"
          (previous: "Autorefresh Setup") is checked
          (similar to Timer settings)
   - Chg: Lots of QPlayer.txt updates
   - Fix: Adding single files works
   - New: When playing/paused, Play/Pause is checked for
          TaskIcon menu
   - Chg: Current title / position bar layout
   - Chg: When setting volume with the menu, the volume
          bar no longer appears
   - Fix: No longer multiple songs selected on startup
   - Fix: Random song no longer selects directories
   - Chg: Improved random mode
   - Fix: Mini-Menu no longer shows double-seperators
   - Chg: Faster track skipping

  1.00 beta 14:
   - New: fmod scans now mp2/3 for accurate Length
          (a fmod-flag I forgot to use)
   - Bug: Crossfade-Window cannot be closed during
          automatic crossfades (QuickPlayer crashed)
   - Chg: Help Window no longer sizeable (text is
          optimized for windowsize).
   - Chg: Source code optimation
   - Chg: Delete file optimation
   - New: More crossfade-features for IR
   - Chg: Infoscreen modified
   - New: Option to associate playlists with QuickPlayer
          (Smart registering)
   - New: Now removing missing files when loading
          playlist (If option selected)
   - Fix: Find current song works after Refresh
   - New: QuickPlayer uses standard ressources (So they
          can easily modified). Required for multilan-
          guage support (All but IR-support).
   - Chg: Quits faster
   - Chg: Setup dialog size (for multilanguage support)
   - New: Disabling file deleting will hide menu-entries
          (Does not affect IR settings)
   - New: Removing all autorefresh directories will hide
          menu-entries (Does not affect IR settings)
   - Fix: Removing all autorefresh directories will
          remove old refresh songs
   - Bug: Removed bug when removing [non-]autorefresh
          songs
   - Bug: "Save playlist as..." uses correct filename
   - Fix: "Add directory..." works with drives correct
          (e.g. "C:\")
   - Fix: QuickPlayer now support " when for filename-
          parameter (long file name support)
   - Fix: When refreshing / adding files / ..., the
          Refresh-Icon will be displayed
   - Fix: When starting without playing, QuickPlayer's
          caption is now "QuickPlayer"
   - Fix: Directory display shows nothing if empty
          playlist, correct title if one or more direc-
          tories
   - Add: QuickPlayer will inform you is FMOD.DLL is
          missing (no more ugly error message).
   - Bug: Random mode and empty playlist caused divide
          by zero error
   - Bug: Finding next song with crossfade / endsong
   - Bug: Minimize to tray (didn't hide/show player)
   - Bug: Moving mouse above 513/516 pixel-colums was
          interpreted as taskiconclick
   - New: Spectrum analyzer
   - New: Global Keys (Ctrl+Alt+KEY)
          (Not yet functional, but option is included)
   - New: Select random item (r)
   - Chg: Key 'r' is now assigned for select random item
          Use 'd' for random mode instead

Behaviours, Bugs, Errors, Problems
----------------------------------

  Known problems:
   - When using "Minimize to tray" and not "Always show
     trayicon" with "Show player", clicking on the
     trayicon will show QuickPlayer, but the next icon
     will still get your click-event, too
   - So Forms / Controls are disabled, vb still accepts
     keyboard events. If you find anything that works so
     it should not, please eMail me (info@ctuser.net)
   - During usage of menus (and similar events),
     QuickPlayer may not handle different events
     (e.g. Fade in/out will pause until menu usage has
     finished).
   - QuickPlayer may crash on some Trackers or faulty
     MP3s
   - Problems with CD Audio (e.g. does not detect track
     end.
   - When crossfading to streams (wav/mp3/wma...) from
     the same CD, sound might 'stutter'
   - When using Ctrl+[key], and releasing Ctrl before
     [key], QuickPlayer may react on [key]

  As QuickPlayer uses an external dll-file (fmod.dll),
  any problem/error could be:
   - QuickPlayer error/bug
   - fmod.dll error/bug
   - other software error/bug (e.g. Operating system)
   - multimedia device problem (e.g. no device, device not
     installed (properly), device in use by other appli-
     cation; incompatibility; directx problem)
   - media error (invalid/damaged file)

  What you should do:
  Of course I'm testing my software and find most errors
  myself. Additionally, a good friend of mine tests any
  version (alpha, pre-beta, beta, ...).
  If you find an error anyway (that's why it's a beta),
  here's what you should check first:
 
   - FIRST of all, please check if you have both the
     latest version of QuickPlayer and fmod.dll
     (http://www.ctuser.net; http://www.fmod.org)
     (QuickPlayer has beed tested with fmod.dll 3.60
     and 3.61, but other versions should also work)
 
   - Test other players; if an error occurs:
     other software error/bug, multimedia device problem
   - Test same media file with other players: if the
     error occurs: media error
   - Test same media file with fmod player
     (http://www.fmod.org). If the error occurs:
     fmod error/bug (...). Check their homepage
   - Test it with QuickPlayer:
     If the error occurs with QuickPlayer only (oops),
     it is properly my fault (or one more strange
     Microsoft Visual Basic 6 behavior). You can do me
     a favor and find out what you did that caused the
     error (bug) and find the fastest / easiest way to
     reproduce this error and eMail your report
     (info@ctuser.net).
     Please also check if the error depends on one or
     more settings (repeat mode, fading, ...)

Stop / Next Song / End song / Play next - Differences
-----------------------------------------------------

  Stop:      Stops current song. Does not jump to next
             item. (When "Play next" is set, QuickPlayer
             will not stop but remove your "Play next"
             command)
  Next song: Stops current song and play next item
             "Remove played song", "stop each song" and
             "MD Record Mode" options are NOT be processed
  End song:  Stops current song (simulates the song ended)
             and plays next item
             "Remove played song", "stop each song" and
             "MD Record Mode" options are processed
  Play next: Selected playlist item will be played after
             the current item. To skip a "Play next"
             command, press "Stop" once (does not stop
             current song)

Drag'n'Drop
-----------

  Adds files/directories to playlist end
  Dropping on the form or playlist will insert files only.
  Dropping on the default play buttons will jump to first
  inserted, file and:
   - Previous button: dropping not supported
   - Play button:     Play new file(s) immediately
                      (no crossfade support)
   - Pause button:    No additional function
   - Stop button:     No additional function
   - Next button:     Play new file(s) after current song
   - End song button: Ends current song, play new file(s)
                      (with crossfade support)

  You can also drag items from your playlist to the
  explorer or other programs. (Dragging to the explorer
  will copy files)

Mouse Gestures
--------------

  (Thanks to Opera Software (http://www.opera.com) for
  using gestures. Once used to gestures, I liked them, so
  I decided to support gestures for QuickPlayer, too.)
  
  Mouse gestures allow you to do actions by special
  mousemoves. Do do this, rightclick on the playlist (be
  shure not to click on an marked item), hold down and
  move...

  Left          Previous track
  Left   Up     Pause
  Left   Down   Stop
  Right         Play
  Right  Up     Next track
  Right  Down   End song
  Up            Play next
  Up     Left   Add file(s)
  Up     Right  Add directory
  Down          Restore window
  Down   Left   Maximixe
  Down   Right  Minimize

Crossfade General Readme
------------------------

  QuickPlayer supports automatic "crossfading" (works with
  streams only). You can also crossfade yourself using the
  crossfade window.
  Please note: If QuickPlayer does automatically crossfade
               (or assist you), it does fade in the new
               song and immediatelly fade out the old, but
               it's not really crossfade, but it fades and
               crosses songs. (Should be better than a
               real crossfade if song volumes differ or
               the songs allready fade)

  If enabled, QuickPlayer will autocrossfade 16-12 seconds
  before songend. (current song lenght must be above 30
  seconds total length)

  A perfect crossfade would be:
   1. The new song starts at 0% volume
  [2. Using headphones to hear the new song, attach both
      songs speed, ...
      Not supported in QuickPlayer]
   3. The new song fades in, the old song fades out.
      (You may play both songs for some time if they match
      each other)
   3. Stop old song / finish (New song should be at full
      volume, the old song at 0%)

Crossfading for beginners
-------------------------

  Please note: If QuickPlayer does automatically crossfade
               (or assist you), it does fade in the new
               song and immediatelly fade out the old, but
               it's not really crossfade, but it fades and
               crosses songs. (Should be better than a
               real crossfade if song volumes differ or
               the songs allready fade)

  Tip: If you make any mistake or don't know what to do,
       simply press press "Finish / automatic crossfade".
       This will finish your crossfade and you can start a
       new one.
  Tip: During crossfade an icon will be displayed to
       indicate that the crossfade is in progress / not
       yet finished.

  Crossfade modes:
   1. Fullautomatic
        - Press "Finish / automatic crossfade"
   2. Simple
        - Press "Fade in" to fade in the new song
        - Press "Fade out" to fadeout the old song
   3. Simple crossfade
        - Press start (>) to beginn playback of the new
          song (at 0% Volume)
        - Slowly slide the scrollbar at the bottom to the
          left
   4. Manual fading
        - Press start (>) to beginn playback of the new
          song (at 0% Volume)
        - Use the left scrollbar to fade in the new song /
          use the right scrollbar to fade out the old song
          (When both fade in/out are finished, QuickPlayer
          will automatically stop the song)

  Tip: QuickPlayer automatically enabled/disabled features
       whenever [possible / not / no more] needed.
       During crossfading, you can press "Finish /
       automatic crossfade" at any time to let QuickPlayer
       complete.

Crossfade window elements
-------------------------

  Element functions:    Restart Start FadeIn FadeOut Stop
   - Start (>)            xxx    xxx
   - Fade in                     xxx   xxx
   - Start (100%)         xxx    xxx   ---
     (full volume)
   - Fadeout                                  xxx    xxx
   - Stop                                            xxx
   - Finish /                    xxx   xxx    xxx    xxx
     automatic
   - Bottom scrollbar                  xxx    xxx   (xxx)
     (stops when finished)
   - Left scrollbar                    xxx
   - Right scrollbar                          xxx   (xxx)
     (stops when finished)

   - Skip (>>): Skip to next song
   - Abort: Aborts crossfading
   (To be able to skip or abort, the new song must still
   be at 0% volume, old song still at full volume)

   - Left label:  Shows elapsed time of the new song
   - Right label:  Shows remaining time of the old song

  Tip: If you make any mistake or don't know what to do,
       simply press press "Finish / automatic crossfade".
       This will finish your crossfade and you can start a
       new one.
  Tip: During crossfade an icon will be displayed to
       indicate that the crossfade is in progress / not
       yet finished.

IR Support
----------

  So QuickPlayer can receive commands from WinLIRC, I
  cannot promise it works on any hard-/software.
  (I currently use a Packard Bell remote control /
  receiver with WinLIRC 0.6 on Windows 98 SE)

  This version will NOT work with Microsoft Windows XP
  Media Center Edition Remote Control (if it really
  supports IR Controls). You need a Infrared remote
  control and receiver that are compatible with and has
  been setup in WinLIRC. As WinLIRC uses network inter-
  face, you may need either virtual or hardware ethernet
  adapter. (WinLIRC fails to initialise on my computer
  untill my ethernet adapter is installed). To use your
  IR, QuickPlayer requires MSWinSck.ocx (in QuickPlayer
  or Windows system directory).

  Open QuickPlayer Setup page, check "Infrared remote
  support (via WinLIRC)". On success, you can click on
  "..." to setup your remote. If you use a "firewall", you
  will have to permit both QuickPlayer and WinLIRC:
   - QuickPlayer: Outbound TPC/IP connection, port 8765
                  [to your computer (Name or IP)]
   - WinLIRC:     Inbound TPC/IP connection, port 8765
                  [from your computer (Name or IP)]
  Please note that QuickPlayer may "stop responding" for
  some time when trying to enable IR (waiting for
  WinSock). It's not a QuickPlayer problem (not my fault).

Settings / Presets / Playlist
-----------------------------

  The INI-file is compatible with most previously saved
  files and may be compatible with future QuickPlayer
  versions. Some settings, of course, may be ignored
  when using different versions

  The playlist (m3u-file) is compatible, but when using
  QuickPlayer playlists with other players / other
  QuickPlayer versions (or versewise), only the playlist
  itself (filelist) will be loaded. Any additional
  settings will get lost.

  Preset files (PS0-PS9) are similar to the INI-file.
  Use them to quickly changes multiple settings at once.
  You can use up to 10 presets.
  (You may open a preset-file and remove any line that
  should not be used when loading)

  The following settings are stored in the playlist (m3u):
   - Remove missing songs
   - Remove played songs
   - Repeat mode
   - Autorefresh directory count and refresh interval
   - Last played song
   - Autorefresh directories
   - Playlist (non-refresh songs only)

  The following settings are stored in the INI-file:
   - Fading (Fading)
   - Show elapsed time (ShowElapsedTime)
   - Show titles when minimized (AlwaysShowTitle)
   - Spectrum analyzer (ShowSpectrum)
   - Follow current song (FollowSong)
   - Stop after each song (StopEachSong)
   - MD Record mode (MDRecMode)
   - Crossfading (CrossFading)
   - Volume (Volume)

   - Crossfade window (CrossFadeWindow) and its position
     (CrossFadeWindowLeft, CrossFadeWindowTop)
   - QPlayer window position and size (WindowLeft,
     WindowTop, WindowWidth, WindowHeight)

   - Check for accurate streams (CheckAccurate)
   - Skip songs after ... minutes (SkipAfter)
     (0 if disabled)
   - Playlist doubleclick action (PlaylistDoubleClick)
   - Tray icon settings (ShowTrayIcon, MinimizeToTray,
     TrayLeftClick, TrayRightClick)
   - Disabled file types (DisabledFiles)
   - File delete confirmation (DelFileSett)
   - Global Keys (Ctrl+Alt+KEY) (GlobalPlayKeys)
   - Mouse gestures (MouseGesture)
   - Shutdown on IR-Sleep timer (IRTimerShutdown)

  The following settings are stored in the INI-file but
  will be removed if any error occur:
   - Output device settings (OutPutMode, SoundCard)
   - PLay on startup (PlayOnStartup)
   - Infrared remote support (IRSupport)

  The following settings are stored in presets:
   - Name (Name) (must be first line in file)
   - Fading (Fading)
   - Show elapsed time (ShowElapsedTime)
   - Show titles when minimized (AlwaysShowTitle)
   - Spectrum analyzer (ShowSpectrum)
   - Follow current song (FollowSong)
   - Stop after each song (StopEachSong)
   - MD Record mode (MDRecMode)
   - Crossfading (CrossFading)
   - Crossfade window (CrossFadeWindow)
   - Volume (Volume)
   - Check for accurate streams (CheckAccurate)
   - Skip songs after ... minutes (SkipAfter)
   - Playlist doubleclick action (PlaylistDoubleClick)
   - Tray icon settings (ShowTrayIcon, MinimizeToTray,
     TrayLeftClick, TrayRightClick)
   - Disabled file types (DisabledFiles)
   - File delete confirmation (DelFileSett)
   - Mouse gestures (MouseGesture)

  The following settings are stored in the IRC-file:
   - All IR asignements / buttons

  The following setting is stored in the Windows regestry:
   - Run at windows startup (HotKey_LocalMachine,
     Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run,
     QuickPlayer)
   - Register playlists
   - Default playlist program

Keyboard shortcuts
------------------

  All functions (except special IR commands) are
  available via menu. The keyboard command / shortcut
  is mentioned there, e.g.:

  Play (x)         -> Pressing x will start playback
  Find...   Ctrl+F -> Pressing Ctrl+F will open the find
                      window

  When using Ctrl+[key], be shure to release [key]
  before releasing Ctrl, or QuickPlayer may react on
  [key]

  If keyboard commands don't work, you may have to press
  tab once or click once on your playlist.

Skip songs after ... minutes
----------------------------

  The "Skip songs after ... minutes" setting affects the
  time the current song really has been played, not the
  current position.

Credits
-------

  Jan Vorel (thats me):
   - Programming
   - Layout (design)
   - Testing
   - Readme file
   - Homepage (Text, screenshots, ...)
   - IR Support & testing
   
  Christian Falk:
   - Beta tester
   - Nerved me to add crossfade features
   - Crossfade suggestions & testing
   - Found bugs that occured on special settings
   - Tested QuickPlayer with different sound cards, 

  Ali Chaudry:
   - Missed the possibility to delete a song ("Remove
   - and delete file")
   - lots of discussions (...) resulting in better
     performance / compatiblity,
   - Showed me UPX

  Thomas Vorel:
   - Convinced me to add a shut-down feature to save
   - power when using QuickPlayer to fall asleep
   - ("Timer settings").

  Firelight Technologies:
   - For developing fmod.dll
   - Support requests (especially Visual Basic API
     related)

  Jim Paris:
   - WinLIRC

  ------------------ General Credits: ------------------

  ULEAD System:
   - Photo Impact (best image editing programm)

  PlanetSourceCode:
   - For Visual Basic Source Codes to see how to use API

  Markus F.X.J. Oberhumer & Laszlo Molnar:
   - for developing UPX

  Grennady Feldman
   - Win32Pad (Notepad replacement)

  Toshi:
   - ExeScope: Additional resource operations / checking

  Lothar Rossipaul:
   - Wörterbuch (For some translations)

  Microsoft:
   - Windows 95/98 (Expensive and built-in Internet
     Explorer, but currently Microsofts best operating
     systems)
   - Visual Basic (So expensive, buggy and no response
     to my bug-report, but fast, easy to use and runtime-
     debugging)
   - MSDN (Some API-sourcecode, so very hard to find,
     and one code even caused regular kernel32-errors)


