UGather(TM)

A multimedia database manager for multimedia files.
Copyright ©1996-1999, Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Created by Kyle Hammond and Rick Peifer, General Biology Program

Version 2.1.9 - March 31, 1999

Description

UGather(TM) was designed to help manage libraries, large or small, of multimedia content. With UGather you can quickly set up different databases of images, QuickTime movies, and audio files, and store many different types of information related to each file. You can use UGather to browse through a database of mixed multimedia content, previewing images, movies, and audio files, and then select a subset of your database for multimedia presentations. With UGather, you can search through your database hierarchically or by keyword. You can even sort the database by eight different criteria, such as filename, location, date last used, etc.

With UGather's text fields that support drag-and-drop, you can store large amounts of text related material with your files. The description field also supports command-clicking of URLs using Internet Config (version 1.1 or newer). Internet Config is available at: <ftp://ftp.share.com/pub/internet-configuration/>

To use this feature, install Internet Config, then type in a URL in the description field. While holding down the command key, click on the URL to launch an appropriate application.

Currently, UGather requires the QuickTime(TM) 2.5 or higher. Through QuickTime, UGather supports several graphic file formats, QuickTime movies, and audio (AIFF/AIFC, AU, WAV) files. Through Quickdraw 3D(TM), UGather supports 3DMF files.

The supported graphic file formats are:
CSCR, SCRN - really PICTs stored in the resource fork
With QuickTime 2.5:
PICT, JFIF/JPEG, GIF, MacPaint, Photoshop (2.5 and 3.0), SGI .rgb and QuickTime Image File format
QuickTime 3.0 adds:
BMP, PNG, TIFF, TARGA and others

System Requirements

UGather runs on any computer running MacOS System 7.1 or newer and contains native PowerPC code.

UGather defaults to using 5 MB of memory. Less memory can work, with a realistic minimum of 1.5 MB. Less memory means fewer files can be in any one database. UGather will take advantage of as much memory as it is given. Check the Memory Usage display under the Apple menu for detailed information.

QuickTime version 2.5 or later is required for display of graphics and movies and live video. We recommend using the latest version of QuickTime, available from Apple Computer, Inc. at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/.

Quickdraw 3D is required for viewing 3DMF images. Quickdraw 3D is not available for 680x0 based Mac OS computers.

Installation

If you are reading this, the application is already installed. Simply move the application folder to the location you prefer.

The PDF user manual is available free at http://upresent.umn.edu/.

Also, under the Help menu (Mac OS 8+) or the Question Mark menu (System 7), the online UGather Guide contains some helpful pointers. Balloon help is available for almost everything, so just turn it on and point at different things. If the Appearance Manager extension is installed, most windows will have two buttons in the lower left. These allow quick access to the help systems.

You are not permitted to distribute this program to anyone without the prior written (or e-mail) consent of the authors: Kyle Hammond or Rick Peifer.

Disclaimer

We have attempted to quash as many of the bugs in this software as we can, however we make no warranty, implied or express, as to the correct functioning of this software. When using this software, the user assumes all responsibility for damages caused, directly or indirectly, by its use.

Reports of bugs or comments should be directed to upresent@tc.umn.edu.
Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Kyle Hammond
Rick Peifer

Acknowledgements
Thanks to our testers: Roger S. Jones, Jane Phillips, Mark Sanders and Denise Woodward.

QuickTime and QuickDraw 3D are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. UGather is a trademark of the Regents of the University of Minnesota.

Original file name: UGather ReadMe - converted on Monday, 1 November 1999, 18:33