That would work, of course. But it relies on the "web person" to check frequently.

If the server has enough disk space, and of course if the server and net connection can handle the infrequent bandwidth of downloading for the few people who will need 9.0c, then the redistributable could be on that server, and would always work - although it might not be the most current version.

I'm sure that Jim can sort out the tradeoffs.

Just wondering... does the installer version expire?.. will the beta's continue to expire even though the newest (next?) version will need a key?

R

The installer version on SereneScreen.com does not expire, even without a Key Code.

My "BetaBetas" on Fish-Byte.com (no installer) will have a 14-day lifespan. We don't want these things running loose in the wild too long.

About once a month, the new features and bug fixes which prove stable will be incorporated into an update of the official Beta on SereneScreen.com.

Jim just an FYI but the download on Fish-Byte.com loads a 404 error page not found. Just in case folks go to your site for the demo.

I corrected the 8k Installer link at the start of this thread yesterday.
I just corrected the 8k Installer link in the "BETA RELEASE & DOWNLOAD" thread.

I believe this site is fine but the Fish-Byte site (http://www.fish-byte.com/) the download link which goes to (http://www.serenescreen.com/download/index.asp) is broken.

Ah

OK, that one's mine. Fixed.

Also added an updated News section to fish-byte.com.
http://www.fish-byte.com/news2.htm

:):):)

Looks great Jim. I caught a typo though, "invertabrates" should be invertebrates.

Cheers,
Rainy

Thanks, fixed.

I know this is off topic, but i was just wondering... looking at the SereneScreen logo and remembering a thread back in 2001. Are the Butterfly Garden, Terrarium and Aviary still planed somewhere in the steps 5 through 2,543,921? ;)

No, those are just the steps to finish MA3. Those other programs come after that.

Nice to hear, thats what i meant. But didn't you say MA3 will never be 'finished'? :D

That's true, but the curve should eventually start to level off.

Windows 7 - Installer 8k
 

INSTALLER TEST, Windows 7

I just used the installer version to put MA3 on an absolutely-virgin Windows 7 Ultimate System. The hardware is an Intel D945GNT mainboard, built-in graphics (no add-on card), 1 GB memory. No "upgrade" drivers from Intel were installed - just whatever drivers arrived with the Windows 7 Beta 1 Installation (and whatever updates it installed automatically).

Oh, it's 32-bit Windows 7.

Good news:

Installer apparently ran correctly.

MA3 version 8k seems to run nicely, There was no sign of the "can't find compatible Direct3D device" message.

Strange news:

A. After installing MA3, the "screen saver" panel shows TWO apparently-equivalent entries: "SereneScreen Marine Aquarium 3" and "PSereneScreen Marine Aquarium 3" - the only difference being the leading "P". This situation survived selection of another screensaver, and survived a reboot. Brief testing - either one worked, apparently identical.

B. The Fish Settings after installation had 14 fish selected, but all of them were on the top row. Quantities in order: 3,3,2,2,2,2. All other fish seemed to have the "disable this fixh" box checked. I don't recall that being the situation in any other "virgin installation", but perhaps I just didn't notice? Is that setting by design? Does it happen with Vista and XP?

There are a few other things that I haven't checked, but that's the initial report.

The "PSereneScreen" business sounds vaguely familiar, but I could be wrong. I have no idea what could cause it.

The fish settings are normal for an unregistered copy.

Sorry if this is in the wrong place.
I have just purchased the upgrade and it is fantastic but i just wanted to know (in simple terms) how i can put a logo on the crystal?
Craig

Unfortunately, right now there is no simple answer to that. It can of course be done, but for simple, you might need to wait a bit until Jim gets a few more features added.

You have two choices.

1. Tell us what you want and someone here can make it for you.
2. Wait patiently for the simple to be added. :)

If you are comfortable with Photoshop, you can use my Logo Creation Guide here to make a PNG-24 file at 256 x 256 pixels.

Name the file AltLogo.png and put it in the Aquarium's data folder. On XP this is c:\documents and settings\(yourusername)\Application Data\Marine Aquarium 3\

The next time you start the Aquarium (by double-clicking, not as a screen saver), press L to toggle the logo.

Note that the Beta is strictly a test, so you cannot set your logo to appear all the time, only by running the Aquarium manually and pressing L.

Hey, feldon32, I just tried using your Logo Creation Guide to put a close-cut photo of my daughter-in-law onto the crystal in MA3 Beta 9a. Your method still works without a hitch (I used no Bevel on a photo, of course). I just named the png file I made "AltLogo.png" and placed it in \Application Data\Marine Aquarium 3 in place of the usual file by that name. Comes up on the L key whether the screensaver times in by itself or I start it with the Display Properties\Screen Saver panel. Thanks.

Glad it worked. :)

For the record: under Windows 7, dxdiag says it's running DirectX 11.

MA3 (Installer version) runs fine.

A. It's there for a fresh install on Windows 7, and selecting PS.... in the screen saver list works the same as selecting S......

B. For Mark Knight - to get rid of the PSereneScreen entry in the Screen Saver list, it's only necessary to right-click the desktop icon, and then select "Install" in the drop-down list. Presto - PSereneScreen disappears from the list.

That's as good a clue as I can provide.

Mark did some more experiments, and found some vital information. Apparently this has been a major problem for installer-writers for some time. The double-listing and "P..." listing are caused by the Windows Registration not having been completed (not the SereneScreen installation, but the original Windows Registration). He found a way around the problem by changing the format of one of the commands. Now he's making the rounds of all the Installer Forums, dispensing his new wisdom.

Well done, Mark! I bet you feel like a kid showing off his new toy after Christmas! :)

So, having tracked down that problem, next up is what's holding up cold fusion as a practical energy source. Are you up for that? ;)

lol, if he figures that one out then he can look for ET, and Jimmy Hoffa. :)

:D

Any idea when the installer will be updated to the latest version, like 9b? :)

Prolific is making some changes to the license agreement wording.

I don't really see why anyone would be concerned about which version is in the installer, though. Just use the installer, then replace the MA3 file with the latest one.

just wonderd when we would see the changes with the clock in it.

Just download Beta9b.

When I set MA3 to do both screens, when it goes to my wide screen it cuts off the bottom of the image. Here's a screen shot. The red line is where the screens split and the black is the missing part. Isn't it supposed to adjust according to each screen?

ma3screencutoff.jpg

I found that if you set the screen settings so that the screen heights are equal to the shortest screen then it will work properly but the taller screen will display a lower quality.

Both screens have to ideally be set to the same resolution. - See these threads...
https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...55&#post108755
https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...25&#post109825
https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...26&#post109126

Do you have the option to set both your screens to the same vertical resolution? - If so try that.


Edit: I see in your second post, (posted whilst I was looking up those links), that you have now done that! :)

Regarding mulitmonitors: While there are still some items we need to address in out-of-the-ordinary setups, you'll generally get whatever you asked Windows to do in Display Properties:

Thanks for the help. So, it's not supposed to adjust the resolution for each screen individually? Well, I guess that would take up too much processing power unless you rendered it all in the higher quality first and then for the smaller screen just had it save the pre-rendered image as a smaller size. I know you don't have much time but it's a suggestion.

It does adjust the resolution individually. There are just some very tough problems regarding where in the overall scene each monitor gets its picture from, in order to not overlap the other screen or the outer edges.

Just so I know I'm doing things right. Since I now have a key to get the latest version I:

1. Download latest beta.zip
2 Rename Ma3beta.scr to MarineAquarium3.scr
3. Overwrite the MarineAquarium3.scr in Syswow folder with the renamed beta.

Is that correct?

Also if I do it that way then am I correct in assuming at 14 days or sooner the new renamed version will expire and I will need to download another beta version?

Yes, that will work!