Maximvs Video Tutorial: POTCO Video Capture And Creation

[Maximvs]

STATUS: March 2009 - Replacing the broken links with new ones (new approved Picture Sites for POF) - Currently Revamping Information For New CamStudio Video Capture Program (Much Easier!) - Pics To Be Re-Posted Once Complete
============================

POTCO Video Creation Tutorial – Maximvs

Table Of Contents

Post One
Forward
- Opening Statement
- Lets Begin…
- Warning
- Reward
The Requirements
- Background
- The Simple List
The Goods
- Overall Steps and Tips
- The Step By step Instructions
- Three Areas To Explore
Post Two
Camtasia (Video Capture Program)
- Instructions: Installing Camtasia Studios (Video Capture Program)
-- Setup Camtasia BEFORE Using It In POTCO...
Post Three
Video Capturing and POTCO
- Instructions: Video Capturing In POTCO
-- Starting POTCO
-- Starting Camtasia
-- Using POTCO and Record Your Scene
-- Complete Camtasia and Encode Your Video
--- Doing More than One?
Post Four
Creating The Video Using Widows Movie Maker v2.0
- Instructions: Windows Movie Maker and Making Complete Videos
--Tips on using Windows Movie Maker and Video File Creations.
Conclusion
Post Five
Additional Notes And Features
- Newer WMM Version May Block Some Music
- Using Camtasia After 30 Days


=================================


Forward:

- Opening Statement

This tutorial covers the creation of video from POTCO using only one of several formats (some may use another Video Capture Program such as FRAPS, some may be more knowledgeable in Camtasia and use it to fully produce their Video instead of switching to Window Movie Maker). This tutorial is provided as just a guide (though a detailed one) on one way to produce videos.

I as the tutorial creator take no responsibility in how the information is used, computer issues or crashing, or any other problems which may arise from using this tutorial as it is provided ‘as is’ to inform people that it is possible to make POTCO Video – but from that standpoint alone (sorry if you blow it up – your on your own – even if every step was followed exactly).

Also, those even more savvy than myself and have time should explore the many extra options – there are many cool things that can be applied to Video Creations not listed in this tutorial due to time constraints… and I’ve seen some really nice stuff created by very talented people out there in many games. If you are lucky enough to have this experience, then I and many others look forward to watching your creations.


- Lets Begin…

So - want to capture Video from POTCO?

Its a brave new world in there, and those who have the patience, time and practice to do it can make Videos from POTCO to share with friends. For those who take this adventure and succeed - the reward is something exceptionally cool

- Warning...

The road is not easy though (if it was - everyone could and would do it). You have to have some knowledge about computers and how they work, along with some administrator permissions. You have to know file locations, and understand that it will take several (if not MANY) tries to get the feel and the methods down right. Time is not your friend - as you cannot do much during compiling of video, time take to assemble video pieces and time to put it together and post it. Finally, understand that you always risk messing up your computer completely, and I cannot be responsible for that or even be able to help you out...

I've provided the basic steps here to do Video Creation almost to a Step-by-Step basis. I would love to have time to help with all the little quirks people run into - but just can't, RL is just too busy to spend hours trying to troubleshoot issues. If you take it on, your on your own...

Also, I cannot be responsible for what you make. There are different laws in different places, and the steps provided are 'as-is' for just creating videos. What you create is your business, and your responsibility.

If you don't think the above is to your taste - then sit back and enjoy the videos that others create

- Reward...

But for the bold - the prize can be yours Watching your creations come to life on the screen as Director, Producer and Actor is quiet the ~rush~... Nothing is more cooler than having others watch your work and even if they don't like it, know that they watched something you created... it's Wicked.

Provided below are the instructions in a explained and step-by-step format to get a Video Capture Program running, capture Video in POTC, and finally put it together for posting...

Good luck Pirate….



Requirements:

- Background

Capturing Video from POTCO is demanding on a computer in all areas. First, minimum requirements for POTCO are not good enough to try and then run a capture program along side - if the game is choppy already then a capture program will DEFINITELY bog your system to an almost standstill.

The CPU will have to run both POTCO and the Capture Program in real-time and can be taxing. The Video Card Memory will be pushed more as the Capture Program and POTCO try to maintain a high Fame Rate. The Computers Memory will also be pushed as it loads both programs and keeps them running. Finally, once the capture is done you need a LARGE amount of Hard Drive space as files are dumped, compiled and put together.

Not to say you cannot do video capture - but take note - don't be surprised if your computer locks up if your specs are not somewhat above the baseline.

- The Simple List

In short form:
- Windows running at least 1024x768 - if not 1280x1024. You need the desktop space...
- POTCO Running stable in a Window Format at 800x600... the rest of the space is for the Capture Program Interface...
- A Video Capture Program (Camtasia, FRAPS) meeting the programs specs.
- Windows Movie Maker (comes with XP, I don't have Vista to test)
- System Which Can Run The Above Necessary Programs (Memory, CPU and Hard Drive Space In Extra Supply and a Good Video Card never hurt)


The Goods:

- Overall Steps and Tips

a) So there are actually several major steps in doing video where you switch between POTCO and the Video Capture Program. Once you have POTCO running in a window Format and you have the Video Capture Program running where you are in POTCO then quickly have to switch over to the Video Capture Program then switch back to POTCO. Be prepared to start and end your scene in a safe area as the CPU switches from Game to Video Processing which may cause you to come to a standstill (dead is not pretty - unless its part of your scene ).

b) Another recommendation is know your Keyboard Keys for using Weapons (F1-F6) and turning on/off the Game interface (F12)! Nothing is worse than getting setup, start the video capture, remove the Game Interface - then can't remember how to Draw a Weapon or worse know the Number of the Weapon Selection (like 4 is Hex on the Pistol, not 5... not good to die quickly from shooting a Molusk with just Silver Bullets before Hexing them). If required - write down the Keys for all the Weapons your going to use (don't forget those numbers on weapons with multiple choices) - including Ship and Cannon numbers! (sinking a flagship with Fire Cannon is never fun when you meant to use Lighting or Regular Cannonballs, and firing the Left Broadsides when you meant to fire Right Broadsides doesn't look pretty... unless you wanted to sink ).

The above is a LOT easier when not removing the Game Interface (F12). Obviously, if you can see your weapon selections, just use the mouse. If you need to board the flagship, just click the Board button and a way you go... the big challenge of doing these scenes is once the Game Interface is off... you have to know your stuff.

c) Keep in mind - you basically have four views which to capture video from:
- Ship View: your sailing, camera can be turned and zoomed from ship - great for slower song sections using different zooms and turns, good for some faster song areas in ship fighting, and once you get the hang of it - bonus cool if you can pull off a full flagship boarding which can be used in both fast and slow songs
- Cannon View: using cannon only one view with limited movement of cannon - while shooting cannon good for a fast quick section of a song, ok to good for multiple fire rounds of a longer song piece
- Weapon / Run View: with weapon drawn or running, only back view with no zoom or pan option - Weapons are great to good for quick song areas, running is good for mid-paced songs needing to 'go somewhere'
- Standing View: no weapon or movement, can zoom and pan - good for action shots or talking of players in a song - bonus cool if you can position yourself behind another Computer Player then use the zoom just right to only show that player and exclude yourself for additional scenes for many music bits (see Guitar Players in my MTV Video as an example)

It would be awesome if you could pan your pirate with a drawn weapon - but you can't. it would also be cool if you could pan while running - but nope. Pan around the cannon would also be a bonus - meh. Remember to live with the limitations...

d) When recording Video Clips – be careful not to record TOO Long of a clip (try to keep each clip 2 minutes or less). Anything over that – you run the risk of Lockup and Crashes as it will take forever to compile and convert to AVI. If you are planning a 6 minute video – be prepared to do several clips and not try to capture the entire Video in one shot.


e) Recording a Video Scene will ALWAYS be longer than your actual need, so plan for it! Lets say you want to capture your pirate running down the beach. To do this you: need to get your pirate in the right position, start the Video Capture, remove the interface, do the actual run, stop running, return the interface and stop the Video Capture.

In this case, it's like being director of a movie with the cool Chop Board and getting to say action! The first part of the video and the last part will be cut off - leaving the middle piece. PLAN AHEAD for these cuts! If your scene is too close to the start of end of the video - you'll get 'editors chop' where some may actually see a second or two of your interface before the actual scenes starts.

Which leads to the final Tip...

f) Finally, anyone can use the steps to make a video recording - the REAL question becomes making a complete video! It isn't about just capturing some Video Footage and then putting it together with some music in Windows Movie Maker and zap...

Its really about the planning BEFORE the video is made. Just like making real movies, where they have storyboards of the entire movie laid out to 'show' the movie and what is going to happen at each scene - creating a good video is about a) Picking the right song b) Visualizing in that song what scenes from POTCO could fit in each area piece of the song then c) Going off and capturing those video pieces.

No sense picking a song which you can't capture video pieces for (remember - your limited to basically four views, think ahead). If doing a fun piece like a dance party - then this isn’t so much a worry, just keep moving from place to place and capture the dance - but if your trying to 'visualize a storyboard' for a song or big project keep the angles in mind...

- Three Areas To Explore And Complete

So we actually have three sections here:

First, getting and installing a Video Capture Program (in this case it will be Camtasia). I'll assume you already have POTCO Installed and working correctly (if not - you have a long way to go and need to go do that first! go play the game already!)

Second, is how to actually just Capture a Single Video Piece using a Video Capture Program. You'll need to do these steps over-and-over to get many different Video Clips. Be prepared for some quick-pace-switching and some s-l-o-w-processing.

Third are the steps to create a video in Windows Movie Maker using all those captured pieces and some sound. Here use the Save Button A LOT! Windows Movie Maker crashes fairly regularly and you DON'T want to lose an hour of hard editing!!!

[Maximvs]

Camtasia (Video Capture Program)

I currently now use CamStudios - VERY easy to install, free, and has no strings attached! For this tutorial I am going to use Camtasia from TechSmith as it produces a clean image. I would of used FRAPS (another Impressive looking Video Capture Software - seen an example of it used to capture a WOW Attack scene with 2 Level 70 Characters... it was cool) but FRAPS puts a logo over the video as part of its Trail Offer - and I didn't want a big logo over my Video Clips... but for those that can use FRAPS carry on!

- Instructions: Installing Camtasia Studios (Video Capture Program)

At the time of this tutorial, Camtasia Studios 5 was available, FULLY functional for a 30 day trial. Now for a secret... if you know the install day of the program, and the day before it runs out... to keep using it past 30 days just set your Windows Date / Time back to that day before expiry and presto! It works again! (They did not put a calculation date range in the program and it just looks directly at the systems date, so as long as its in the Installed Date Range - you can use it again!) I'm sure they won't make that mistake again...

Remember those systems requirements? Here they are with a few comments:
- Windows XP or Vista (there is a MAC option, but I cannot explore it)
- DirectX 9 or higher (same as POTCO)
- 1.0 GHz CPU Processor - Recommended 3.0 GHz for Video Capture (well Duh! That's why we want it! You may be able to push a 2.0 GHz - but - be ready for the choppy!!! - I currently have a 3.0 GHz)
- 500MB RAM - Recommended 2GB RAM (I have only 1 GB and it works good for the most part, but anything less than 1GB, your on thin ice anyway...)
- 60MB Hard Drive Space (HAHAHAHA! Have At LEAST 10GB FREE SPACE on top of any other space you need!!!! The Conversion Alone Uses 300-600 MB PER Video Clip!!! The things they don't tell you...)

1) Go to Camtasia (feel free to search the 'Net' for the site) and Click the Free trail Download Button

2) Look over the Requirements Page - then Click the Free Trial. If it skips this page you will go to the Download Now Page. Click the Download Button.

3) If you have File Protection on, click the link that says: (i)Click Here If Your Download Does Not Start - Save the Downloading file to a place where you will be able to easily find it (take a break - it will be several minutes for the download)

4) With he Installer now downloaded, Double Click the File to start the Install. Click Run on the Security warning.

5) Nice Welcome Box appears, click Next Button



6) Click the Accept The License Agreement Dot, Click Next Button



7) 30 Day Trail Box Appears, Click Next Button



8) Install Path Is Displayed, Click Next Button



9) The Add-In for Microsoft PowerPoint screen Arrives, Click The checkbox to Remove The Checkmark - then Click the Next Button (note* This is Personal Preference - as this is a trial and we are only using it for POTCO, the less integration with other software the better!)



10) The Install Live Output Support Box Appears, Click Next Button (note* Once again, its Personal Preference if you want to try to capture Video from a Web Cam - but this is trial software so in my case I don't chose the option and go Next.)



11) Ready To Install Box Appears - Click to Remove the Launch Tour checkmark, then Click the Next Button (note* the Tour is nice - but I provide the links below so no need for it here).



12) OOOh, its installing When Done Click the Finish Button!

--Setup Camtasia BEFORE Using It In POTCO...

With the program now installed - we want to 'tweak it' a bit before we actually use it to Capture Video in POTCO. So lets run it and make those tweaks!

1) Start Camtasia on the Desktop Icon or from your Start Menu > Programs Area.
2) The 30 Day Trial Window Appears, Click Finish Button



3) NOW Were Cookin! The Project Window Appears! We will ALWAYS Use the New Screen Recording Option from this window - and you should leave in the Show This Dialog Box At Startup! It makes using the program MUCH easier for what we want it for - Video Capture... Click the New Screen Recording Option - and Camtasia shrinks to the Tool bar



4) The first time - you get asked to watch a Tutorial Video - just Click the OK Button - I'm the tutorial for POTCO hehehe. This Box Never Appears Again (unless you want it to).
5) Here we go... the Video Capture Box Click the Tools Menu, then Click the Options Menu Choice



6) Click the Video Tab. Click the Manual Dot, then in the Frames / Sec(ond) box Type In 60 over that default 5 value - oh yea... we want Real Time Click the OK Button to complete this option.



Now - your ready to get some POTCO Video....

[Maximvs]

Video Capturing and POTCO

Now the adventure begins in the world of POTCO. Note – Camtasia can be used to capture any Video off a PC, but this tutorial is focused at POTCO and getting these treasured scenes from the game. Feel free to explore Video Capturing once you get better at doing videos.

- Instructions: Video Capturing In POTCO

Here are the steps to do a capture of POTCO using Camtasia. Note Capturing Video in POTCO is not just the capture – but there are several steps after the capture to do in Camtasia which need to be done once you hit the Stop Recording button – make sure your pirate ends up in a safe spot or else…


-- Starting POTCO
1) Start POTCO and log in.
2) If not already so, change the screen to a Window Format under the Options Screen to 800x600 (note: This is the old options Screen - The New Screen has the options under the Display Tab



-- Starting Camtasia
3) Start Camtasia (the Load Screen will appear, showing the Quick Start screen)



4) Click the Video Capture option shown in the quick Launch Screen (Camtasia will minimize and show the Video Capture Tool box)



5) Click the Select Area to Record Button, then Click the POTCO World Box (the inside of the box edge - The Record Button Appears at the ready)







-- Using POTCO and Record Your Scene
6) Position your Pirate to start your scene (ship, town)



7) Click the Record Button - You are now Recording!! (Note the attached Recording Bar at the bottom of POTCO)
8) Press the F12 Key on the Keyboard to remove the Game Interface
9) Proceed to do your Pirate Scene



10) Press the F12 Key on the Keyboard to bring back the Game Interface
11) Click the Stop Recording Button (Camtasia will display a Review Screen)





-- Complete Camtasia and Encode Your Video
12) Click the Save Button on the Review Screen (Camtasia will render the video to prepare to produce a file - NOTE - this can take some time and you should not do anything while processing! When complete, the Produce Video Box Appears)
13) The Save Box Appears. This Folder is in the My Documents section under a new Folder called Camtasia Studios. Save your new File here. This Will begin the Post Save Options and the actual encoding from Camtasia to AVI Movie Format.



14) In the Post Save Box, click the Produce My Video In a Shareable Format, then click the OK Button



15) If not already selected, click the Custom Production Settings, then click the Next Button



16) Click the AVI Option in the list, click the Next Button



17) If not selected already, Select the highest Color Setting from the Video Colors box and the highest Framerate from that box by clicking each item and changing the option. Click the Next Button to continue.



18) As a recommendation select the Preset Box and click the 640x480 or 800x600 setting. The reason is the ‘condensing’ of the video in many cases produces a slightly crisper picture in the end. Click the Next Button to continue.



19) Some extra options (none required), click Next Button to continue
20) The Finish Screen – note the filename of your Video Clip in the top line (you need it for later). For faster completions (not MUCH faster mind you), remove the checkmarks from Show Production Results and from Play Video After Production. Click the Finish Button… and hang on….



The Video will now go from its Captured Encoded State (when you first ported it out of POTCO and saved that file) to an actual AVI Video File. Once again you play the waiting game and everything comes to a standstill at times. But, once its done…

YOU GOT A VIDEO CLIP!

--- Doing More Than One?

If your doing several Video Captures, you’ll notice that the Capture Box (step 4) is waiting in the bottom corner and is ready to go again. Get your Pirate to their next Scene and do it again! Rinse and Repeat until you have enough clips to put together a Video.

If you did the whole video in one shot that’s fine, or you have finished getting all your clips and are ready to process them – then proceed with the final phase… Windows Movie Maker (and yes – you can exit Camtasia now using the Close X Buttons and you should exit POTCO – you’ll be too busy to play at the moment anyway).

[Maximvs]

Creating The Video Using Widows Movie Maker v2.0

You have Installed a Video Program, then used that Video Program to Capture Video Clips – Finally, its time to put those clips together to make a Complete Video. The hard part (or what I think is the hard part anyway) is over… now we just sit back (well, not REALLY but…) – splice and dice - and in the end have a Video…

This sections though it has the Generic Steps will require some practice and playtime. The steps below import a Video Piece and a Music Piece, though you will want to import all your pieces for making a larger video.

- Instructions: Windows Movie Maker and Making Complete Videos


Windows Movie Maker comes with Windows XP (do not have Vista so I am unsure) and is under the Start, Programs Menu. The steps below are for importing clips and sounds / music, then put it all together.

1) Start Windows Movie Maker under the Start Button, Programs. The first time you start this program you will want to switch the bottom view from Storyboard to Timeline – click the Show Timeline Button at the bottom of the screen. Now wer are ready to go



2) Click the Import Video Menu Option listed on the Left Side of the screen under the Capture Video Title. The File Box appears



3) Click the My Documents Option on the left, then Double Click the Following Folder on the right – Camtasia Studios. Here – you will see all the Yellow Folders of the Video Clips you just made in Camtasia. Double Click the Yellow Folder of the Video Clip you want to Import. You will then see the AVI Video Clip of the Video you made – double click the Video to import it into Windows Movie Maker (note – other Video Files and Locations I will not know for your computer – you must know where you keep other AVI or Movie Files).



4) If you have created several clips, you will need to repeat steps 2 and 3 to import all your video clips.

5) As a Video is imported, it may ‘break’ the video into pieces (its weird I know… but I think it’s because it see different framerates and tries its best to split your clip into framerate pieces. No matter, we can take the pieces and put them back together on the timeline shortly)

6) After importing your Video Clips, then its time for your Music. Click the Import Audio or Music Menu Option listed on the Left Side of the screen under the Capture Video Title. The File Box appears

7) Click the My Documents Option on the left, then proceed to Double Click the Folder where your music resides (Use the Video Import Pic above for reference - I will not know this for your computer – you must know where you keep your mp3 or wav files). Double click the Music File to import it into Windows Movie Maker.

8) If you want more than one Music file, repeat steps 6 and 7 to import all the Music for your creation.

9) Before beginning, notice the Music imported does not create a New Collections Folder – it puts it into the Currently Displayed Video Collection (this is a pain, because now you have to remember this Video Collection for your imported music).

10) If you have imported more than one Video Clip, use the Collections Selection Box at the top to select which Video Pieces you want to insert into the timeline (for several clips you will have to change continuously between collections so you can drag them down to the timeline). Remember which Collection has the music in it!



11) Click and Drag the Music Pieces to the Audio Timeline Line to place the music in. Note the length of time in the timeline window.



12) Feel free to listen to the clip, use the Test Video Player on the Right to ‘view’ the Clip (though you have no video yet – the music piece will play).

13) Use the Collections Box to display which video piece you want to insert into the Video Timeline Line and proceed to click and drag a Video Clip onto the timeline. Note if your song is 2 minutes long but the Video Clip is only 18 seconds in length – the Video will be over WAY before the music is

14) Continue to repeat step 13 to continue adding Video Clips to the Video Timeline.



15) When your Video Matches the length of your Music, your almost done!

16) SAVE Your work Under The File > Save Menu Option (Or The Save Disk Button) – this will NOT produce a Video, but a Snapshot of your collective work. DO THIS OFTEN!

17) Click on the File Menu then click Save Move File – THIS produces the Movie File (continued next step)! We save our work before this so if we want to make changes to our video later – we just open the Collection Saved – NOT remake the entire video. You do this only when you are ready to finally produce the final video!

18) The Movie Wizard starts. Click My Computer then the Next Button



19) Enter a Name if you wish for the Video (if the name already entered you want to change), click the Next Button.

20) The Movie Settings screen shows. Click the Show More Choices Blue Link, then from the Other Setting Box Select the Video For Local Playback (2.1 Mbps) – ‘go big or stay home’ – that’s the saying I have. You’ve come this far – you don’t want to see some mini-grainy video now… go big. Now, if this choice isn’t an option – try for the biggest Local Playback you can. (note – below it will indicate File Size – to post on YouTube this MUST be under 100MB – so if the higher choices put you over this limit – you may need to lower the setting to fit). Click the Next Button.



21) The FINISH Screen – Click the Finish Button! And once again – you wait…..

DONE! Go get that video!!!!

Its probably in your My Videos location under My Documents (the Windows Default Location for Video Creation).

-- Here are a few tips on using Windows Movie Maker and Video File Creations.

a) SAVE OFTEN, LIKE EVERY 5 STEPS! Windows Movie Maker crashes a LOT! You don’t want to do an hours work then have it crash – its breaks your heart ( I KNOW THIS PERSONALLY – SAVE OFTEN!) After you add a clip, save. Make adjustments to length of a clip, save. Snip a scene, delete the piece – then save. Clicking on the Save button on the top every minute or so is the best thing you can do for yourself.

b) Music and Video Pieces can be ‘adjusted’ in length. Though you can not make then longer – you can click and drag the edges to make then shorter – for example: you put in a 15 second video piece that you only want 5 seconds of it, click and drag the back of the piece (you’ll see the arrows when your muse is on the edge) and drag the piece to the length of five seconds.

c) Remember the tip on making a Video Clip where you will ‘cut off the start and end pieces’? To do so – once your piece of Video in the timeline, click on the Timeline Time itself where you want to ‘snip’ the video (it will place the Indicator Bar) then click on the Clip Button on the Mini-Video Player on the Right (the button looks like two mini-vid clips with a line through the center). Click the piece you don’t want then hit the delete key on the keyboard *poof* its gone! You’ll do this a lot for multiple clips as you need to cut off the Game Interface you recorded at the start and at the end of each clip!

d) Use the Time Zoom Buttons on the Timeline to really focus on a piece of time and for cutting at just the right moments (the + and – Glass Signs on the Timeline Time just beside the Show Storyboard / Timeline Button)

e) Finally – this takes practice! I did it for over a year before coming to POTCO, so I made it look easy (and still messed up – but can you tell???) Not to say you need a year to make a simple video – but do not expect to make one in a day. For your first test – do an easy – two capture video for practice. Don’t try to do the big prize the first day. Then try capturing some more video pieces and make a larger one with a song. Then add on to that and soon you’ll have something to show the world...

Conclusion

You made it to the end… After you watch your creation on your desk 60 times (ok , maybe that’s just me – right after I finish a video I make a coffee, sit back, and play the new video over-and-over with a big smile on my face) you gotta get it posted. Hello YouTube! Upload your video, get the link from them to share it – then bring it to us here in POF!

Over the next several days I'll review the steps, add screen steps, and make adjustments / corrections where needed.

Thanks to all those who like the vids I’ve made, POTCO for making a pretty cool Pirate Game, my Guild and my friends on POTCO, and my family (for not killing me for all the time I play the game and create videos )

[Maximvs]

Additional Notes And Features

This section is for Additional Notes and Features which are discovered by myself during Video Creation or by those who have had issues / Questions and we have been able to find answers to problems. The basic steps above cover much about creating videos, so this section will be about discovery and assistance.

Windows Movie Maker Blocking Some Music

Some are having trouble with WMM putting music to their selections, and this may be caused by the newer versions of WMM preventing the files from being added to Collections.

As I use WMM v2.0 and appear to have no issues using it with music, Click Here To Download WMM 2.0

1) First, create a Folder on your computer for holding the files (for example - create a folder called WMM).

2) You will need WINRaR to unpackage the file, and place the files inside into that Folder on your Computer.

3) Once completed, right click the moviemk.exe file and Click the Create Shortcut option, to create a Shortcut of the program.

4) Take this new Shortcut and place it somewhere other than the folder (for example, click and drag the shortcut to your Desktop or Quick Launch Bar)

As always, you should scan the file for any viruses as a safety precaution, and as I do not own Vista ther may be extra steps involved to give permission for the program to run. This will also not replace any current version of WMM you may have - but as I cannot test this there is no guarentee that it will not a) inherit the more later version's traits or b) not damage the other WMM - This is at your own risk!!

Should I get confirmation that this works I will update this post to keep everyone informed - but remember, the risk is always yours to take.


Camtasia After Thirty (30) Days

After the Thirty Day Trial of Camtasia, the program will stop functioning. This can be 'circumvented' by resetting the date back on your computer just before the expiry date. Unfortunately - POTCO will not like the past date and though it will play, will only play for short periods of time before crashing. To avoid this issue, follow the steps below.

1) Double Click the Windows Time Clock in the bottom right corner of the screen and set the date back to before the Camtasia Expiry Date. Apply / OK the Time Box to close.

2) In Post Three on Capturing POTCO Video - do steps 3 and 4 first to start the Camtasia Program (skipping steps 1 and 2)

3) Once the Camtasia Capture Window appears - once again double click the Windows Time Clock, and reset the date back to the current date. Click the Apply / OK Box

4) Now proceed to do steps 1 and 2 of the POTCO Section Three steps - skipping steps 3 and 4 (because Camtasia is already running) and proceed to step 5.