DanceMaster Updates
Once you have installed DanceMaster
on your computer you will be able to update to the latest version
by downloading it from these pages. These files don't contain the
Set-Up program and OS components, so they are much smaller than
the full installer. If you have the Advanced
Edition, you will have to login to the Advanced Updates page with
your registration name and number. Remember to not use any
spaces or "&" in your name - i.e. "Clark &
Sandy Godfrey" would become ClarkSandyGodfrey".
Click on the links at the left to download the corresponding files.
When asked, choose "Save this program to disk". A directory
window will open, asking you where to put the file. Save it to your
desktop, then double-click on it to run it. You can copy it to any
other DanceMaster computers
you have, and when you are through, you can delete it.
Remember, you don't want to try to use these files unless you have
already installed DanceMaster
on your computer, either from the CD that I sent you or by downloading
the full installer from the Downloads page.
This update corrects a long-standing bug in the way that bookmarks
are stored. It includes an updated DB Mod utility which will fix
bookmarks in old databases to work with the new Player.
The biggest changes have been "under the hood" - a few
long-standing bugs fixed and a new internal structure for Dance
Modules. But there are a few new features as well.
- Fixes a problem with the Remote Control that was introduced
when X-10 changed the way the transmitter works. Also re-arranges
the location of some of the buttons.
- Enables the use of the <F12> key to set bookmark #1 (for
those of you whose computers won't let you use the <F1>
key).
- Adds a ninth bookmark (using the <F9> key).
- The "+" and "-" keys now control the music
volume on the Play screen.
- The Player now exist cleanly when you close it - it doesn't
leave any fragments running in the background.
- Dance Modules have been re-structured for greater speed and
reliability. The Player now exports.DM3 modules (which previous
versions can't read). It CAN import most .DM2 modules, though.
This is, of course, the long-awaited Vista compatible version of
the DanceMaster player. (It should work equally well on Windows
XP.) In addition to running on old and new computers, this version
fixes a few long-standing bugs in the player and adds a few new
features.
- It is now much easier to rearrange dances in "Tonight's
Program".
- The Dance Log screen is now expandable.
- Several issues with the Timer have been fixed
- Double-clicking an entry on the Playlist now opens it in the
Play screen.
- The dance list automatically refreshes after a dance has been
added or deleted in the Dance Details screen.
- If there is no default venue, instead of complaining about it,
the program now assigns the first one in the Venues list.
- The Venues screen has been civilized somewhat.
- The Player no longer crashes when you load a playlist that contains
a dance which has been deleted.
- Your assistant can now signal you from the floor using the remote
to tell you that the music and cues are "Okay", as well
as telling you that they need adjustment.
And there may be a few others that I don’t remember.
Plus, of course, the handling of Dance
Modules has been completely re-written. Note that this means
that older versions cannot read Dance Modules created by version
3.4. (3.4 CAN read version 3.3 dance modules, though.) This may
cause some awkwardness for a while, for which I apologize, but it
should straighten itself out as soon as everybody updates to version
3.4.
- Runs under Windows Vista - except for Dance Modules.
- The Dance History table in the database file is no longer created
on the fly when the program loads.
- Edited dances are no longer reassigned to the Dummy Song.
Adds DATABASE BACKUP and RESTORE to make it easier to prevent a
disaster.
Adds DANCE MODULES to easily move dances between computers.
In addition:
- DM no longer crashes
if the voice intro is more than 30 seconds long. It still won't
let you DO that, but at least it doesn't crash.
- The blank rhythm in the Dance Details Rhythms list has been
removed, and both that and the Categories list now default to
"ALL".
- The Player now attaches
new dances to the Dummy Song when you enter them, so you can now
see new dances in the Record Librarian.
- It no longer displays a black "Name" field on the
Dance Details screen with some non-standard Windows themes.
- You can now enter a "0" (zero) in the "Plus"
field on the Dance Details screen.
- You can scroll through your list of venues using the up and
down arrow keys.
- You can double-click on a dance in the Playlist screen to load
that dance in the Play screen.
- The "Resume Previous Session" button would cause a
crash if you had deleted one of the dances it was trying to resume.
Now it handles that situation more gracefully.
- Having a "zero-length" voice cues file name no longer
causes it to crash.
- It now uses the bookmark lead time correctly.
- Loading a saved playlist now clears the previously loaded playlist.
- If you have the Select Screen on top and you press the "PLAY"
button on the remote, DM will not crash but will simply play that
dance - provided:
1) You have opened the Play screen at least once. If not, it will
beep at you.
2) There is a music file for the selected dance. If not, Winamp
will crash and you will have to close and restart the Player.
That should be fixed in a future release.
3) You have downloaded Winamp 5.24 or later and installed it into
your DanceMaster\Winamp folder. Earlier versions of Winamp might
or might not work with a given dance.
- Keyboard operation
Now you can use the keyboard to perform many of the functions
you need on the stage - starting and stoping the music, changing
the speed, scrolling the cue card, turning voice and/or intros
on or off, etc.
- Remote control: CM19A (USB Remote) support / multiple code
sets
You can use either the serial interface MR26A or the USB interface
CM19A remote control receiver, and you can pre-define up to three
code sets (house code / bank switch combinations) for use with
each receiver. You can easily switch between code sets if you
need to do so in a hurry.
- 8 Comm ports for the remote control
This makes it easier to configure your serial remote if you choose
to use that one.
- Allows new Venue name to be typed in the Main Menu
You still need to go to the Venues screen and add it there –
just be sure to spell it the same way. But this saves time when
you get to the dance and discover that you forgot to create a
venue for it. (Note - this feature was removed in 3.4)
- "Needs Fixing" button on Play Screen / Report of
dances Needing Fixing (in the Librarian)
When you run out of cues before you run out of music at a dance,
just click this to remind yourself to do something about that
when you get home. Librarian can print a report of dances that
need fixing.
- Dances can be in more than one Category
Now the same dance can be in “New Dances”, “Romantic”,
“Cue & Do”, and “Christmas” and will
pop up when any of those categories are selected.
- Progressive search in Categories & Rhythms on the Dance
Details Screen
When entering a Category or Rhythm, just type one or two letters
of its name to select it.
This update fixes the not-saving-bookmarks problem, and while
I was in there, I tweaked a few other things as well.
The Player now actually
uses the Bookmark Lead Time, so the music will start a bit before
the bookmark.
I removed that annoying "Bonk" (or "Beep",
depending on your Windows version) that happened whenever you
opened the Play screen for the first time.
Your Cuer's Assistant can request speed changes using the remote
control, the same way (s)he can do with voice and music volume.
When you use the "Speed" button on the remote it will
either change the playback speed (by 1/2 RPM at a time), or flash
a message on the Play screen, depending on the Main Menu setting.
You can turn Voice Intros on or off from the floor using the remote
control. (You're welcome, Chuck.) Use the "Speech" button
(third button, left column), then "ON" or "OFF".
Of course, that only has an effect if Voice Cues are on.
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