ReadMe File for MIDI Genie 1.90 Shareware release
Copyright (c) 1997-98 by Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen
An EarsNest Soft Production

Table of Contents
=================
Purpose of MIDI Genie
What's new in v1.90?
MIDI Genie Features Summary
System Requirement
List of Files
Installation
Expiration
Registration
Help
Disclaimer
Acknowledgement


Purpose of MIDI Genie
=====================
MIDI Genie is a program for playing and managing mid, rmi, avi, wav files and
audio CD on Windows 95/98/NT.  Its purpose is to replace the plain media
player in Windows system with advanced features and easier controls

What's new in v1.90 (since v1.80)
=================================
1. Begin to support audio CD playing.  To play audio CD tracks simply select 
   your CD-ROM drive with drive box then add ".cda" files to the playlist  
2. Now the whole program window is resizable, the only limitation is the size
   of your Windows Desktop work area. This is fully compatible with Full View
   Drag feature in MS Plus! and Windows 98/NT4
3. Add files to the playlist from the second instance is now supported on
   Windows NT.  Plus three kinds of responses can be set beforehand when
   new files are added from the second instance:
   1.  Only add the new files to the playlist, do nothing else
   2.  Play the new files immediately
   3.  Always ask
4. Two new advanced options:
   * Always auto-check a file after it is finished
   * Close MIDI Genie when the playlist is finished
5. You may specified a customized MIDI reset file now
   (User of previous version please select the auto MIDI reset type again.
   All new options setting are available in the configuration window that can
   be opened by the "Configuration..." command under the Options menu)
6. Can copy/move only checked files in the playlist, and recall recent folders
   that have been copied to in a drop down list
7. Now you can copy the current playing file in the Zip mode
8. A new "One Touch Cursor" toggle button to help those who don't know how to
   double click very well
9. A new Information Window for showing playlist summary, file information,
   and missing files in a playlist record.  All the text in the information
   window can be copied and the font size is adjustable.
   (Right click on the playlist box to find the command "Playlist Summary".)
10. "Multimedia Setting" command for quick access to the standard Multimedia
   Property setting
11. Remove files that cannot be played (corrupted, wrong format, wrong file
    name, not supported on NT, etc) from the playlist automatically
12. Change in command-line parameters to preset play modes:
    Use /mode +a +l +r +m +s to turn on auto, loop, repeat, random or shuffle
    Use /mode -a -l -r -m -s to turn off different modes


MIDI Genie Features Summary
===========================
* Play mid, wav, avi, rmi files and audio CD sequentially with playlist
* Play from Zip file to save your precious drive space
* The smartest player in handling the second instance of itself:  Add files
  from second instance to the playlist and decide whether playing the the new
  file right away, either according to preset option or the choice of the user
* Search all drives for supported files and add them to the playlist
* Work with other INTERNET applications such as Netscape Navigator and
  NewsReader, or any application that can download files and launch files
* Show detailed information of MIDI files and generate playlist summary
* A track bar for adjusting the playing position accurately
* 5 play modes: Auto, Loop, Repeat, Random and Shuffle
* Auto MIDI reset in GM, GS, XG and customized mode, plus manual system reset
* Save playlist to file (.mpl) and validate retrieving playlist
* Move, copy, rename, delete files, create folder and remove folder without
  opening Explorer, no limitation even when the file is opened, auto save
  playlist file after changes in file name or path
* Drag and drop to add new files to the playlist, rearrange order of files,
  copy and move file, and add all files in one folder to the playlist
* Resizable window with different parts that can be hidden or shown, can
  always stay on top, or shrink to a small tray icon
* Control playing of files with adjustable waiting time and skipping time and
  many advanced options
* Instant load the recent 15 playlists
* Auto Load the latest playlist and play the last file

For more details, please check the online help file by pressing F1 when you
run MIDI Genie.


System Requirement
==================
Windows 95/98/NT4 (Service Pack 3 recommended for NT4)
Pentium class CPU
Soundcard

List of Files
=============
These files are in the pack of the MIDI Genie Zip archive file
The file name should be midig???.zip, the ??? refers to the version number of
MIDI Genie. For example: midig190.zip is version 1.90 of MIDI Genie.

MIDI_Genie.exe	The main executable program file of MIDI Genie
setup.exe	The setup file - installer and deinstaller program
Mgenie.hlp      The online Windows help file for MIDI Genie
Unzdll.dll      The dynamic linking library file for Zip file extraction
ReaMe.txt       This Read Me document file
File_id.diz     The description ID file for MIDI Genie
Gm_reset.mid	MIDI reset file for GM compatible device
Gs_reset.mid	MIDI reset file for GS compatible device
Xg_reset.mid	MIDI reset file for XG compatible device

Two sample MIDI files:

A_Walk_to_Seashore.mid
The Waiter and The Reaper.mid

Copyright (C) Jonathan H.L. Yen, all rights reserved

Under the conditions of not to modify or remove any file in the pack, you may
freely distribute this MIDI Genie program pack.


Installation
============
Unzip 'midig???.zip', then run 'setup.exe'.
To uninstall MIDI Genie, simply run 'MIDI Genie Setup' from MIDI Genie program
group later and choose 'Uninstall MIDI Genie' radio button to proceed. 

Expiration
==========
Certain features of MIDI Genie will expire after 30 days.  The program will
still be useable after that. But only those who register MIDI Genie can
enjoy the full features of the program after the trial period.

Features will be expired after 30 days are:

Add files to playlist from second instance
Play file from Zip archive
Move and copy files
Create and remove Folder
Drag-and-drop from Explorer
Manual system MIDI reset
Generate playlist summary
Drop folder to the playlist
Search all drives and add all files to the playlist
Shrink to tray icon
Instant load of recent 15 play lists


Registration
============
Check MIDI Genie Help File to see details of shareware license, benefits of
registration and other information.


Contact Information
===================

Email Address:

earsnest@kagi.com

Home Page of MIDI Genie and EarsNest

http://earsnest.hypermart.net
http://members.tripod.com/~EarsNest/
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~jyen/


Postal address  

Jonathan Hsiao-Liang Yen
EarsNest Soft
P.O. Box 230 KENSINGTON
NSW 1465
Australia


Help
====
A online help file is available. You can press F1 at any time to trigger
this help file when MIDI Genie is running. You can also run it independently
from the MIDI Genie program group.

TIPS:
* If you don't have an idea where all the multimedia files are on your
  computer system, try the new "Search all Drives" command under "List" menu.

* You should keep the mouse pointer over the same position for a while, then
  you'll see some hint text that can show you the purpose of all those buttons
  and different parts.

* Try to drag folder to the playlist.  You can even add a whole drive of files
  to the playlist by one move!

* Try to drag files from file box to playlist box. You can drag multiple files
  if you shift-click or ctrl-click some files before you drag.

* Try to drag file in the playlist box to change their orders. 

* Drag a file from playlist to directory box to move/copy that file to the
  dropping directory.

* You can remove items in the playlist box very quickly by pressing 'delete'
  key on the keyboard.  If you feel confused about this with the 'Kill this
  file!!!' command, don't worry, whenever it's really deleting a file forever,
  there will always be a warning message for the protection of your files.

* Use keyboard shortcuts if you can.  When using keyboard feels pretty clumsy
  in the beginning, it is more efficient after you become familiar with all
  the key combinations.

Disclaimer
==========
This program is provided as it is without any warranty. 
The author and EarsNest Soft is not responsible for any kind of damage
to any life form, object, information and data caused by any version of
this program.

If you do not agree with this statement, please run MIDI Genie Setup and
remove MIDI Genie from your computer immediately.

Netscape and Netscape Navigator are registered trademarks of Netscape
Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries.

All trademarks, brand names and product names mentioned in this ReadMe file
and help files and Home Page of MIDI Genie belong to their respective owners.


Acknowledgement
===============
Thanks to:
All people on Borland C++ Builder Newsgroup: TeamB and others
All people ever contributed to Delphi Super Page
Rauf Gereyhanov, Ylian Saint-Hilaire, CRESTO Sylvain share their excellent
and free components with all the people 
Szekeresne Zsuzsa did some beta testing and reported many bugs
If you're interested in programming with zip and unzip DLL, you can find them
on Delphi Super Page - http://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/delphi/
Find Info-Zip's Home Page at - http://www.cdrom.com/pub/infozip/
Also many thanks to all the people who have given feedback and encouraged
me in developing this program.
