Bring On the Multi-media!!

Now let's add some "flash" to our flashcards!! In this session we'll add .WAV and .MID audio as well as .JPG graphics and even a small .AVI movie to our file. Again, we'll start with our trusty NECAPS.FLU file...

Note: WinFlash's ability to handle .AVI, .MID, and .WAV files depends on the necessary system hardware and software being present on your computer. Before beginning this segment, please take a minute to check out your system by double-clicking on a file of each of these types in My Computer (or Computer in Windows Vista). There should be at least one of each in the My WinFlash Files directory's Tutorial subdirectory. AVI should play a movie and .MID and .WAV should play a sound. Click here if you'd like help in using My Computer to carry out the suggestion above. If one or more of these files does not play, please consult your system documentation for information on the installation of the needed drivers. Also check for the obvious - are the speakers turned on, is the mute control off, etc.

Supported Multimedia File Formats lists all graphic, video and audio file types supported by WinFlash along with further information on system requirements.

Of course, your system may not currently be equipped to use this type of file and you can certainly obtain the majority of WinFlash's benefits using only the graphics and text capability. If this is the case on your machine, simply ignore the steps below dealing with .AVI, .MID and .WAV files. If you will be using .FLU files constructed by others which contain references to this type of file, you can suppress the warning messages that would be generated by unchecking Option|View|Enable Audio/Video.

.WAV's and .JPG's

1. Start WinFlash and open NECAPS.FLU.

2. Start the WinFlash editor and enter 6 in the small edit box next to the button labeled "Go To Pair #" and hit Enter. This will bring us to the Rhode Island Q&A pair in the state capitals series. For our first audio exercise we'll change this Q&A pair's hint to an audio hint. Click on the Hints/Comments tab or type Alt-c. Click and drag to select the text of the current hint, Starts with a 'P'. Click the Browse button next to the Hint 1 edit box and double-click on STARTSP.WAV in the listing of files that appears. This will replace the current text hint with the filename STARTSP.WAV. Make sure your audio is turned on and then click the "Play" button to the right of the text to see what it sounds like. Hints and comments can be text, any supported audio file type or an executable file. The second Comment in Q&A pair 3 of the Quick Tour demo file is an example of an executable comment.

3. Next, let's add an audio file that will play on the opening of a Q&A pair's Question dialog. Type Ctrl-n or click the blue single right-arrow button. This will bring us to the Q&A pair about "the shot heard 'round the world" - let's add that shot, now...

4. Move to the editor's Associated Files page by clicking its tab or typing Alt-f.

5. Click the Browse button in the Associated Files For Question box that is to the right of the Audio Or Video File edit box. In the file list that appears, double-click on SHOT.WAV. This will automatically enter this filename in the edit box next to the Browse button.

6. Click the Play button associated with the Audio Or Video File edit box. You should hear the rendition of the "shot heard 'round the world". Now to hear how this will work in the context of your file, click on Preview Pair. The shot will accompany the display of the question!

7. Click the correct answer button (4), Click the "Check My Answer" button, and then, in the Answer dialog, the "Show Next Question" button to return to the editor.

Note: If you're using WinFlash Educator, you can also record your own .wav files for any Q or A using your sound card, a microphone and the Direct Record Audio File feature on the Associated Files page in the editor. See Recording Your Own Sound Files for more information on this topic.

8. Now let's add a little graphic interest to the Q&A pair. Click the Browse button in the Associated Files For Answer box that is to the right of the Graphics File edit box. In the file list that appears, double-click on MINUTE.JPG. This will automatically enter this filename in the edit box next to the Browse button. Now click the Display button associated with this edit box. This will bring up a graphic of our Massachusetts Minutemen. You can size (by dragging the border of the Viewer's window) the graphic larger to see detail if you wish.

Note: When constructing your own files, you can use graphic files of any of the following types - BMP,CMS, ICO,GIF,JPG,PCX, PNG, SCM and WMF.

9. Close the viewer by clicking on its System Menu (the little "x" on the title bar).

10. Now try out the Q&A pair again by clicking Preview Pair. This time we've got BOTH sound AND graphics content!

11. Next associate the graphics file GEORGE.JPG with the answer of Q&A pair 8 and the graphics file GEORGE2.JPG with the answers of Q&A pairs 10 and 11 (9 and 10 if you're using WinFlash Basic).

12. For "extra credit" go back and associate the file NE.JPG with both the question and the answer of Q&A pair 1 through Q&A pair 6 (and the answer ONLY of Q&A pair 9 if you added the "Name the six New England States" Q&A pair in the previous tutorial segment). Move immediately to pair 1 by clicking the blue left-facing double arrow. This technique is good for adding a little color and interest to an otherwise-dull text file with very little work - just locating (or creating!) one appropriate graphic file. We used this approach with the Multiplication Table demo file.

Tip: If you have Scholar or Educator you can associate a graphics file with every Question that doesn't have one specifically assigned and a different one for every Answer that doesn't have one specifically assigned by entering the files in Options|View|Hints, Comments, Tips & Associated Graphics Files.

.MID's and .AVI's

1. Now let's add a .MID file (a more compact form of storing music information than the .WAV format) to our file. Add a new Q&A pair to the end of the file.

2. Move to the Question Text page and check the Fill-In-The-Blank radio button at the top. In the Text For Question edit box type Shifting gears and battlefields to a more recent historical event, what was the last year in which the New England sports team associated with this tune won its World Series® event?

Note that we've intentionally added a ® character that's not available from the keyboard. How to easily obtain this character? Place the cursor in the Question Text box right after "World Series" where you want the ® character to be placed. Then click on the bottom button in the row of text effects buttons - the one with the Σ in it. In the Insert Symbol dialog that appears, double-click the ® character in grid of displayed characters. Bingo - you've now added this special character to your text.

Insert Symbol can be used in this manner for adding accented characters used in foreign language studies, too, and for any time you need quick access to non-standard characters contained in your font. WinFlash Educator contains an even more powerful tool for entering these characters - the Glossary Buttons.

3. Move to the Answer Text page and enter the following in FIB #1 through FIB #3 2007, 07, '07. Select "History" from the drop-down list of Categories. Uncheck the Use Multiple Fill-in Mode box if it is checked.

4. Move to the Associated Files page and click on the Browse button associated with the Question's Audio Or Video File edit box. Double click on the file BALLGAME.MID - this will automatically add the filename to the edit box.

5. Click on the Browse button associated with the Answer's Graphics file edit box. Double click on the file FENWAY.JPG - this will automatically add the filename to the edit box.

6. Now try out the Q&A pair by clicking Preview Pair. You'll note that the amount of sound delivered by the .MID file for its size is huge in comparison to the .WAV format!

7. Because of the very large size of any meaningful AVI file, we've had to be content with including a dull one, just to demonstrate its use. Add another new Q&A pair and reset its pair type to Standard. Enter "Video" as its Category.

8. On the Question Text page, type Video Demo in the Text For Question edit box. Move to the Answer Text page and type, again, Video Demo in the Text For Answer edit box.

9. Move to the Associated Files page and click on the Browse button associated with the Answer's Audio Or Video File edit box. Double click on the file VIDDEMO.AVI - this will automatically add the filename to the edit box.

10. Now try out the Q&A pair by clicking Preview Pair. You'll see we haven't exaggerated the dullness of the "movie"! We'll leave it as an "exercise to the student" to track down an interesting AVI file relevant to this file and compose a proper Q&A pair to substitute for this last boring one!!

11. Exit the editor and take a final tour of your handiwork! Then close the file by clicking on the File|Exit This Q&A File menu item or click Ctrl-q.

You've now completed the enhancement of your file with audio and visual multi-media content!!

The fifth exercise will explore the testing capability included in WinFlash. If you'd like to continue with that exercise now, just click Taking A .FLT-file Test.

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