UPresent(TM)

A multimedia presentation 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 2.1.1 - March 31, 1999

Description

UPresent (formerly MacPresents) is a multimedia presentation application that has been used to give presentations to tens of thousands of students at the University of Minnesota and around the world. It has been designed for flexible, interactive control of presentations, and a short learning curve. Learning how to use the application takes only minutes, even for the novice. Developed over the past eight years with input from faculty, staff and students, UPresent makes the ideal presentation tool for the classroom.

UPresent allows you to define up to 55 menu titles, each containing up to 100 graphics, video, audio, 3DMF, text, videodisc sequences, or links to URLs and software applications. A scripting feature allows you to assemble menu items in any sequence for a presentation. You can construct multiple presentations (scripts) within a UPresent datafile, and move seamlessly between them during a presentation. The application also allows you to embed scripts within scripts. You can even set up scripts to run as automated slide shows, not only with graphics but with QuickTime(TM) movies and transitions. A videodisc editor provides the opportunity to re-purpose videodisc for inclusion in digital presentations. Text tools allow you to quickly add text to your presentations. Live video can be viewed from any video input hardware.

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

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

UPresent defaults to using 10 MB of memory. Less memory can work, with a realistic minimum of 5 MB. UPresent will take advantage of as much memory as it is given; larger resolution monitors require more memory.

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 UPresent 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, Denise Woodward, Allison Courant, and Jeff Nielsen.

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

Original file name: UPresent ReadMe - converted on Monday, 1 November 1999, 18:38