BACKDROP Sampler Version 1.8.1S
Copyright (C) 1995 by Automedia, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

                            C O N T E N T S
                            - - - - - - - -
                            
                I.      INSTALLING THE BACKDROP SAMPLER
                II.     FILES CONTAINED IN THIS RELEASE
                III.    KNOWN ISSUES WITH BACKDROP
                IV.     TECHNICAL SUPPORT

                            - - - - - - - -

I.	INSTALLING THE BACKDROP SAMPLER

1. UnZIP the contents of the distribution ZIP file to a temporary directory.
2. From Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 or Windows NT, run SETUP.EXE.  Follow the on-
   screen instructions.
3. Be sure to delete the contents of the temporary directory used in step 1.


II.     FILES CONTAINED IN THIS RELEASE

    ACCUSFT5.DLL            Imaging library (installed to WINDOWS\SYSTEM).
    BACKDROP.EXE            The Backdrop primary Windows executable.
    BACKDROP.HLP            The help file for Backdrop.
    BACKDROP.INI            Backdrop options file.
    BACKDROP.WAV            Backdrop opening sound (optional).
    BDADWIZ.INI             Backdrop Addition Info Wizard file.
    BDBMPGRP.INI            Backdrop picture collection file.
    BDSCRGRP.INI            Backdrop screen saver collection file.
    BDWAVGRP.INI            Backdrop sound collection file.
    ISKBHOOK.DLL            DLL required by BACKDROP.EXE.
    README.DOC              This text file.
    SETUP.EXE               Uninstaller.
    
Backdrop is all contained in the installation directory (typically \BACKDROP),
with the exception of the ACCUSFT5.DLL file which must be installed in the
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.  In addition, a single section is added to the 
WIN.INI file, [Backdrop], that is used to communicate options with the Backdrop
screen saver BDWALL16.SCR.

The uninstall icon created at installation time will remove all 
traces of Backdrop, except for itself and the ACCUSFT5.DLL library, which may
be in use by other applications.


III.	KNOWN ISSUES WITH BACKDROP

A. WINDOWS NT

When using Backdrop under Windows NT, the default screen saver, BDWALL16, does
not allow you to set a separate picture change interval for screen saver mode.
This is due to a limitation of 16 bit windows applications to communicate with
each other in the secured Windows NT environment.


B. SCREEN SAVERS AND BACKDROP CHANGE INTERVAL

Due to a Windows limitation, if you set the change interval in Backdrop 
preferences to a value that is less than the inactivity timeout you have set
to start any Windows screen saver, the screen saver will never start.  Windows
treats the act of changing the desktop wallpaper as activity, and, thus, the
inactivity timeout will never be reached.  If your Backdrop change interval is
always greater than your screen saver inactivity timeout, you will never 
experience this problem.


C. JPEG

The AccuSoft Image Format Library that Backdrop uses to perform low-level
image input and output does not fully support writing to JPEG format picture
files (picture quality is dramatically lost, even at the lowest compression
levels).  Because of this, and because of AccuSoft's failure to see this as a
problem with their library, Backdrop can not support the editing of or exporting
to JPEG files in this version.  We are in contact with AccuSoft and hope to 
find a resolution to this problem.  NOTE: Backdrop fully supports importing 
and viewing of JPEG files, so you can still include JPEG files in your 
collections.  In addition, if you indicate that your pictures are not to be
converted to bitmaps prior to editing, then you can still edit JPEG files
(assuming your editor supports JPEG).


D. LONG FILENAMES AND WINDOWS '95

The Set System Sounds feature of Backdrop can not always properly convert
long filenames to their eight-dot-three equivalent.  This is a logical 
limitation and can not be avoided.  Try to avoid long filenames for sounds
until the Windows '95 version of Backdrop is released.


IV.	TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Only limited technical support is available to users of Backdrop Sampler.

FAXes may be sent to Automedia at any time at (916) 631-0506.

Internet: support@ailink.com
Web: http://www.ailink.com

BBS: (916) 9xx-xxxx (V.34 support) (Coming Soon!)

/***************************** End of Document *****************************/
                           README.TXT: 12/28/1995
