Basic Operation or So Now What!!!

At first look Presentation Manager can seem quite daunting, but do not be discouraged this section is here to help. We will take you through the simple concepts introduced in the software to get you into the software quickly and allow you to discover the power of the software in your own time.

Displaying an Image

All the data can be accessed through the palette. So for our first trick let's display an image on the output screen. So how is it done? Simply move the mouse over one of the images shown in the image palette and press the left mouse button. Voila!!! The image is displayed in the Preview Window and the Output Window. Neat. This simple concept is used throughout the software to display data quickly without needing to create a sequence.

Now for another quick trick. Move to another image and instead of clicking the left mouse button, this time press the right mouse button. The image is now only displayed on the Preview Window. This feature allows for a very quick previewing of any data you wish to send to the output.

Getting Access to all the Images

Okso you can see a few images displayed in the image palette but there are more images that that right? Right!  The images are grouped into folders stored on the computers harddrive and only one group at a time is shown. The text between the gray arrows shows the number of images in the current group. To navigate the current group you can click the gray arrows. The double arrows will move you ahead a page and the single arrows will move you ahead an image.

There are two ways to select a new group of images. The first and quickest way is to click on the grey bar that displays the name of the current group. A list of groups available will be displayed. Simply clicking on the group you want to select will move to that group. If there are many groups then the list will show arrows at the top and bottom of the list so that you can scroll to view the other groups available.

The second way to access the image groups is to use the blue arrows located at either end of the image palette. These arrows allow for sequential navigation of the image groups.

Displaying a Song

So I can display an image but now I want to sing something! You see those tabs above the image palette? These allow access to other types of data. You should see Movies, Songs, Bibles, and Other. Click the Songs tab to show the song palette. Navigation is exactly the same as with the image palette, in fact all of the data palettes navigate the same way. So by clicking the group name you can see a list of available song groups. These groups can be changed, but that's for later on in the manual.

Showing a song is slight different to showing an image. You cannot just click on the song title and have it display all the verses for you! Instead when you click on a song title it will expand to show the verse that belong to that song! Cool huh? Now if you left-click on a song it will display for you, and yes, you've got it! Right-clicking will preview the song verse.

A neat little trick here is that once you've clicked on a song verse you can then use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to easily navigate the song!

So there a long list of songs and scrolling through them all is somewhat tedious. A fast way to find a song it to type the song title into the search box above the song list. Presto!! As you type the list shortens to a list of songs you are looking for. Not sure about the title? Type in some of the song text into the search box and then press the search button. Now you have a list of songs that contain the text you typed in. Still don't have the right song? Type in some more text and press the search button to search your previous search results. Neato!

Want to know another nifty feature. Right-click the song title and you can edit the song right there!  No messing about.

Adding a new Song

Okay so you still cannot find that song. Well you can add it to the song database pretty easily. Click the 'Song' button on the top right of the toolbar and you'll get the song editor. Here is a more detailed explanation of how to use it. Once you've entered your song data use the File tab to save the song into the database, and hey presto, you should now see it in the song list. It did not appear? Not to worry here's another neat trick, right-click the group name and you'll be able to reload the song palette.

Give me the Word!

Songs are pretty easy right? So is displaying a Bible passage. Select the Bible tab and away you go. Everything is pretty much that same a the song palette, except of course you cannot edit the Bible!

Want more than one verse at a time type in the reference and select a range using the '-' sign. For example to display 3 verses type from 1 Peter, type '1 pet 3 12-14' and press the Enter key. Now as with the song you can navigate the Bible passage using the up and down arrow keys. To reset the number of verses simply retype an address specifying only one verse and press the Enter key again.

Changing the Rendering Style and Transition

templates So you don't like the default rendering style. Easy to change, not to worry. Change the template by selecting another template.

To edit the template right click on the template slide and select Show - this template is now in the preview. In the preview you can right click on the entity and change the fonts, colors..... see templates.



Okay, I think that you are ready to now play around and see what delights Presentation Manager has in store for you. Do not forget to read the rest of the manual to get the most out of the software. Definetly read the 'Building a Playlist' section to find out the powerful preparing functions of Presentation Manager.