CompuServe Messages

Bob: Well, I've been meaning to, but hadn't gotten around to setting up the MCI drivers — but, since you asked, I thought I'd try. I made a directory for it (I used C:\PARMCI) and unzipped it into the dir. I started Windows and opened the "Drivers" section of the Control Panel. I selected "Add", and then "updated or unlisted driver". I gave the dialog my C:\PARMCI dir, and selected the "(MCI) DPS Personal Animation Recorder" object (the only one it offers, of course). It presents you with the setup screen, but there's nothing to do yet but hit "OK". I selected "OK" to get out of the "Drivers" dialog, and then fired up the Media Player. I was able to open drive H: (my PAR drive) and access my ANI files. Then, if you pick the "Device" pull-down and select "Configure…" you get the dialog that allows setting fps, frames/fields, and WAV file association. Then, I just hit the play button! At this point, you can delete the PARMCI (or whatever you use) directory. While we're on the subject of Windows drivers, esp video drivers, it really ticks me off that none of the Video for Windows drivers, etc report their version number in the ControlPanel/Drivers dialog — I'm always getting things that have SOME version of the VFW drivers, but I never know if they're newer or older than the ones installed — and most of the time, the darned install programs don't even bother to check, they just go ahead and copy older files over newer! How's things? By the way, there's a new-ish XTC live CD (import) called "Drums and Wireless" full of BBC recordings (from "White Music" to things from "Oranges and Lemons")– you can get it through CD Connection (they advertise in CompuServe magazine — you reach them via modem). I order from them a lot, they've got good prices and nice search capabilities. Later, Dave