Ani Pro in Dos Window
12 messages in this thread
I'm attempting to run ANI pro 1.3 in a dos windows from WFWG 3.11 on a stand
alone Pentium/60 w/16 meg,a Nokia 17" w/a PCI ALI VGA card with 1 meg and
running at 1024×640 and ample disk space.
I'm able to load it and it runs in 640×480 but it is marginally stable.
Since it takes a considerable amout of time to load the program each time I
play with the bells and whistles ( and many times a reboot is also required) I
was hoping you might have some more recent info for running the Ani Pro 1.3 in
a DOS window. The "New features and Enhancements" manual is dated 10/92 and I
assume you've all had more time to tweak with the various bells and whistles of
the operating system and the technology explosions since 10/92 to add a little
insight into what might improve performance.
Can you throw me a map to steer me in the right direction?
Many thanks.
Brian,
There were problems with 1.3 running in a DOS window. Frankly I'm surprised you
could get it to work at all. We have an update called 1.3a that fixes the DOS
window problems.
You can receive this update by sending in the Bug Report orm in the back of
your installatiion manual. As the bug you are reporting, say you want to run
AAPRO under windows. You will be shipped a copy of 1.3a.
-b
Thanks for the reply.
I'm disturbed by two things:
(1) That I am required to send in a Bug Report orm to recieve an apparent
maintenance release of the program. Couldn't the funtion of obtaining a
maintenance upgrade be more efficiently performed via this forum or some
electronic means to expedite the procedure? And/or shouldn't AD notified me of
the upgrade when I registered?
(2) That the copy of AD Ani Pro 1.3 that I just purchased two weeks ago doesn't
contain the 1.3a version. How long has the fix been available?
Addressing these two items would have saved me the wasted time I spent fiddling
with an apparent older version of the program which has the bug in it.
It disturbs me when I waste time and things are ineffiecient.
Would you at least have a fax number I can expedite the submittal of the bug
report?
Again thatnks for your time and info.
Brian,
I am sorry you are disturbed, I understand your frustration. The 1.3a
version of AAPRO is not a maintaince upgrade. It is actually the
international release of the software.
The 1.3a build of Animator Pro did fix two problems; inability to
operate under Windows, and a problem with 8bit fonts for our foreign
customers. Since the fix of the program required a recompilation of
the ANI.EXE file, we would not be able to post the fix on our CIS
forums.
Unfortunately Autodesk Product Support does not make the policy
regarding how the public is made aware of fixes to software. However, when
someone does report one of these problems, we try to replace it as quickly
as possible.
As for why your dealer sold you a 1.3 version is unknown to me. 1.3a is
the version of AAPRO that Autodesk is currently shipping to dealers. A new
copy of AAPRO _should_ have been 1.3a.
I'm sorry you ran into this problem and spent unnecessary time trying
to solve it. You can fax us your bug report at 415-507-5300, or contact
our Customer Service department at 707-794-1450 to expedite your
replacement.
Again, I'm sorry for this inconvenience. I will report this matter to
our Multimedia Division.
some further b&m from bm.
I called Customer Service per your letter and stated they hadn't heard of
version 1.3a! The rep took the message and said she'd look into it and give me
a call back Tues, Sept 6th (after the holiday weekend). So I'll keep my fingers
crossed!
Secondly, I had a coupon for the POCO programming documentation and attempted
to order it since a lot of what I am doing is capturing screens from my own
animation progams with PIXELPOP (i like it except it's limited to 99 frames
only before I have to move em or overwrite em). Then I JOIN the frames in
animator pro to create a flic file. I'm hoping the POCO language will help me
automate the procedure since it's a simple loop.
Well your Customer Service rep stated the offer for POCO was over, had been
since Nov 93. And that to get it AD's gonna nickel & dime me $25 plus shipping
and handling! Gets me to thinking, who's manning the ship over there at
Autodesk? I'd appreciate your forwarding this to the appropriate dept, either
AD needs to get in order and/OR AD needs to get your "authorized dealers" to
clean up their act . They shouldn't be selling dated software! ( Like the
coupon has NO exiration date so if we want to get technical!)
Sorry to bruden you with this business office bs, but could you forward this on
to the the appropriate division.
Many thanks.
Brian,
Sorry, you have been getting one bad break after another. I assure you this is
not standard, you must have gotten someone brand new or something. We have
people calling in for AAPRO 1.3a all the time, although admitedly it would be
better for you to FAX the Bug report (back of the install guide). Tracking
records are much easier that way.
The $25 kit is for the Animation Support Libraries. It is a developers kit and
I reccommend it if you are doing any type of programming, but it contains
references to POE (which is compiled POCO). POCO should still be available for
free. You are right, there is no expiration date on the coupon, because this is
something that shouldn't expire.
I will forward this e-mail, along with your other one, to a supervisor in
Customer service and get this straightened out. Expect someone to get in tough
with you shortly.
-Brian
Brian,
Just a note to thanks for the info. I think I've got what I need on order.
I'm quite pleased with Ani Pro, I judge how good a software product is by how
fast I can get something working and with Ani Pro within a week of getting it
I'm sailin! As I stated earlier I'm creating animations with my own software
and PixelPop'n the images to GIF files. I then Join em in Ani Pro to create a
FLC file. I find the Record button great, I only have to join one of em and let
the program do the rest. I then create the titles with AniPro, lots of fun, and
then slap it all together with the scriptfiles.
Presto! Much easier then my former technique which I've been using for the past
10 years or so to create animations.
I tip my hat to you all at Autodesk for a great program!
Thanks again for the info.
Hi Brian,
I'm glad Brian R. and Jeff in Customer Service were able to get you operational
with the latest AAPro rev. As an added tip that might streamline your animation
process further, try using the Poco routine NUMPIC.
You state "I'm creating animations with my own software and PixelPop'n the
images to GIF files. I then Join em in Ani Pro to create a FLC file.". If you
Pixelpop the .GIFs, they should be sequentially numbered. Go to the Poco
pulldown menu and select NUMPIC. You have several options available but you
want to use "Load Pics as Flic" Specify the name of your first image. The
next panel will let you know how many images were found, and inquire about how
you want the images joined. For a brand new animation, choose "Insert".
Numpic will process everything, much faster than the Record, and you'll end up
with your animation.
I hope this tip comes in handy,
Bob P. (PS Adesk)
Brian,
I'm glad you were able clear up problems for the other Brian. I have been
following this thread for the last couple of days and was afraid that I would
not be able to get the POCO routines.
I have several questions. I bought version 1.3 back in February 1994, and
finally got the program transfer papers in order from the original owner and
sent off to your home office about 2 months ago. I would like to update to
version 1.3a so that I can run under windows and get the POCO routines that
Brian had mentioned in his correspondance to you and the rest of the ASOFT
staff.
1) I have a fax/modem. Can I send in my request for version 1.3a with a fax
request?
2) Can I make the request for the POCO routines also by fax?
3)Are you suggesting that we chip in the $25.00 for some extra routines that
will work with POCO and enhance its use? Can this request be made by fax also?
Jim Strenk
Hi, Jim. The fax number for Autodesk Customer Service is 707-794-1309.
You can use it to request free updates for any of our software (including AAPro
1.3a), or to order those products that are sold directly by Autodesk (like
Animation Support Libraries, $25).
No separate POCO product is now available; POCO is included in ASL.
In your letter, include your shipping address, phone number, and AAPro serial
number (and credit card info if you choose to buy ASL)
BTW, it looks like your transfer of license has gone through (and why is your
name so familiar to me…?)
Regards, Jeff Eisel
Sorry for the aggravation, Brian.
Mail (not post) your AAPro 1.3 serial number, shipping address and phone number
to me and we'll send you the 1.3a update and Animator Support Libraries
(w/ POCO) at no charge.
Regards, Jeff Eisel
Jeff,
Thanks for the info. I today got on order the items I needed finally through
your Customer Service number. So all's in order.
I'm very pleased with Ani Pro. In the two weeks I've had it I've been hammering
out the flic file animations and my clients are quite pleased (We won't even go
into the techniques I formally used to create em, lets just say they were a bit
crude!).
I just want to be sure to have the latest version so that I get all the bells
and whistles!
Thanks.