WebCRE Shareware Quick Start Guide

Welcome to WebCRE! This guide will take you through the installation of the
product, then show you how to create your own streaming video for your Web site.


Installation

If you haven't already done so, install WebCRE on your Windows 95 or Windows NT workstation, using the INSTALL program. (Notice that the entire WebCRE software  solution, including sample files, comes on a single 1.2MB diskette.)

First, select START/RUN, then type A:\INSTALL.BAT and press Enter. This copies the Setup program to your hard disk and launches the program.

The Setup program then:

*  Creates a directory on your hard disk (C:\PROGRAM FILES\WebCRE).
*  Adds the WebCRE plug-in to your browser. (This plug-in is only 200KB in size. Compare that to other video programs requiring plug-ins of 1MB -  3MB or more.)
*   Installs the three WebCre applications:

	MakeWCRE
	CRE Sound Converter
	CRE Movie Mixer

*  Adds the WebCRE application icons to whatever Program Group you select.
*  Displays the Sandalwood logo.

You're now ready to create your WebCRE movie.


Creating a WebCRE Video

Creating a playable WebCRE video is no more difficult than converting still
images from one format to another. In fact, it's easier, since you can
drag-and-drop most of the files into the WebCRE applications.

1. First, you need your source video and audio files. Your video files must be
 in BMP format; the audio must be in WAV files. (Our full-featured
WebCRE supports multiple file format,s including AVI for video and MIDI for audio.)

Typically, you'll use a 3D rendering program to output BMP files. You can also use a video editor to convert an AVI file into BMPs. It's easiest if you store all the BMP files for the video in one directory.

2. Run the MakeWCRE program. 

This is the compression program that converts your BMP files into WebCRE movies. In this shareware version of the program, you can save movies to play back at a screen size suitable for 14.4 modems. (Our full version supports any combination
of frames-per-second and screen size, literally limited only by the client.)

3. Type your source Frame Rate if it's different from the default of 30fps.

4. Type the output Frame Rate. In the Data Rate box, WebCRE shows you how many bytes per second your client needs to play back the movie. (Keep in mind that 1200-1300 bytes/second is about as fast as 14.4 modems can deliver.)

5. Leave the other settings at their defaults. 

Our experience has shown that the default settings deliver a quality video
for most users. (After you experiment with WebCRE for a while, you'll develop your own settings preferences. You can save your own settings in our commercial version.)

6. Click on the Add Files button. WebCRE displays the Select Files dialog box.

7. Select the directory where you stored your BMP files, then select the files you want to convert. To select the entire contents, click on the first file in the list. Scroll down to the last file name in the list. Press the Shift key while clicking on the last file name.
WebCRE highlights all the files in the list.

8. Click on OK. WebCRE now displays the files you chose in its file window.

9. Click on Compress. The program asks you to name the compressed CRE file.

10. Type in a name and click on Save.

WebCRE now compresses your files into a single CRE file. This compression takes approximately one minute per megabyte of data. (Your mileage will vary, based on processor speed.)


Creating a Sound File

The next step is to create an appropriate sound file to add to your WebCRE movie. Your shareware version supports the conversion of WAV files to SPC format.

1. Run the CRE Sound Converter program. You can now drag and drop your WAV file onto the program icon.

If a drag-and-drop operation is too easy, use the Converter's File menu to call up a file selection dialog to pick the WAV file you want to convert.

2. The program asks you to name the SPC file. Name it, then click on OK.

Adding Your Sound File

You're now ready to complete your movie by adding the sound file to your CRE file.

1. Run the CRE Movie Mixer. You can now drag-and-drop the name of your CRE file onto the mixer. (Again, if you prefer, you can choose File and select the CRE file you want.)

2. Select the SPC sound file you created with the converter program. Click on Open.

3. Name your completed WebCRE movie file, then click on Save. If you want, you can give it the same name as your source file. WebCRE asks you if you want to replace that file. Choose Yes if you do.

WebCRE announces that your wonderful creation is now complete. (In this shareware version, the program adds a brief advertisement to the start of each movie you create.)

Test your movie by launching your browser and typing in the file's path as the URL. 


Adding Your WebCRE Movie to Your Web Site

When you're ready to show the world your creation, you can embed the movie just as you would any other media in the HTML document. For example, the command

<Center><P><EMBED src="funco.cre" width=192 height=128 fps=10 snr=20></P></CENTER>

will display the WebCRE movie "funco.cre" in a box 192 pixels by 128 pixels at 10FPS. The snr= parameter is one of our filters to improve the onscreen image.
Remember, an embedded WebCRE movie starts playing immediately after the user goes to your page. Your visitors don't have to wait one or two long
minutes, as they do with older technologies.

You can learn other ways of embedding WebCRE videos in your Web pages by looking at the source documents for our Web site.

WebCRE has many options for the artist to play with to improve his or her movie. While you're experimenting with WebCRE, if you find a creative way to set the options, email us at Webmaster@Webcre.com and we'll share your discovery on the WebCRE site.

If you would like your users to play WebCRE movies without a plugin, contact us at info@sandalwood.com.  




Thank you for choosing WebCRE. We know you'll find new and exciting ways of using WebCRE to deliver training, demonstrate products, or just plain dazzle your visitors. We look forward to seeing you on the Web!

Sandalwood Software
(801) 379-0789
http://www.webcre.com/