1. How to achieve perfectly smooth chat scroll?
The following options may significantly affect the quality of the chat scroll:
Thread priority - increasing the priority makes the scroll less sensitive to other applications activities.
Use DirectDraw - using DirectDraw may speed up the drawing on some graphics cards.
Wait for Vertical Sync - tries to synchronize the scroll with the monitor frequency, thus avoiding flickering.
After altering these options, pay attention to the processor usage and readjust the options if necessary.
The above listed options are located in Main menu - Tools - Options - TV Chat - Advanced.
2. How to decrease processor usage?
Processor usage can be decreased by following these guidelines:
Reduce the text scroll area to the smallest size actually needed (TV Chat Profile - Display - Text placement). This is especially applicable for the horizontal scroll, the text frame should be only a bit higher than the text itself. Note that the size of this frame has great impact on overall processor usage and scroll smoothness.
Check the Use DirectDraw option.
Turn off processor demanding effects, such as full screen opacity and transparency, font outline and shadow effects.
Lower the screen refresh rate. This setting can be changed in the video card control panel.
Avoid using other applications which are not necessary for your TV Chat service on the same computer.
3. When should I use the Use DirectDraw option?
In general, if the Use DirectDraw option is checked, better performances should be expected. However, on some computers with older graphics cards, it is possible that performances may be even decreased. Therefore, you should monitor processor usage to make correct decision about using this option.
In case that the Transparent background color option is checked, the Use DirectDraw option has no effect and DirectDraw will not be used.
4. How to ensure that the TV Chat graphics is always displayed on top of other applications?
The Main Toolbar - Tools - Options - Modules - Full Screen - Always on Top option ensures that the TV chat graphics is always displayed above other applications.
5. How can I display the TV Chat graphics over video or flash animations?
Use the following options to display the TV Chat graphics over video or flash animations played simultaneously by other applications:
Check the Always on Top option.
Adjust the TV Chat area by using the TV Chat Profile - Full Screen - Placement options.
Check the Transparent background color option.
Set the Background color to black or dark gray color to get better font anti-aliasing. In general, background color should be matched with prevailing color of the background video.
If you set the Background image, areas painted in background color will be transparent.
Drag your player window underneath the chat. Note that some players have options to play video directly on the desktop.
6. How can I display logo or separator image in between chat messages?
The TV Chat Profile - Advanced - Separator options enable you to display images in between messages. You can select dimensions, position and transparent color in order to blend separator into the background image.
7. Is it possible to select several background images and cycle them periodically?
Yes, by using the TV Chat Profile - Advanced - Background options you can set the path for loading multiple background images. Here you can also specify the cycle time interval and options for removing background images in case of chat inactivity. The wildcards ( * ) and ( ? ) can be used for specifying a single path for multiple images. For example: the path c:\images\back*.bmp will load all .bmp images with names starting with back from the c:\images folder.
8. How to keep the TV Chat graphics on the screen while SMS Studio is minimized?
When the options Always on Top and Run in the taskbar status area are checked, the TV chat graphics will stay on the screen even if SMS Studio is minimized.
9. How to save the TV Chat visual options?
By using TV Chat Profile - Profile >> Button - Save to File (Load from File) you can save and load chat visual settings independently from other service options.
10. How to display custom images or users’ pictures?
To display pictures associated with users, you should use the following settings:
Check the TV Chat Profile - Advanced - Picture - Show pictures option.
Set the Pattern option for making paths to users' pictures.
Specify the desired image position on the screen.
For example, you can store contacts' images in the D:\Images folder. Now make a column named Picture in the Address Book and fill it with the names of the contacts' picture files. Finally, set the TV Chat Profile - Advanced - Picture - Show pictures - Pattern field to the following pattern D:\Images\%MsgFromPicture%. SMS Studio will now make the path to the user's picture by using the Picture field from the Address Book.
| Copyright © 2002-2010 CodeSegment. All rights reserved. |