Mp3FE - Front end GUI for Mp3 CDs.
Copyright S.Rigg 2000.  sprhelp@cwcom.net
Version Beta 1.0.0

This software is freeware and can be distributed as such prodided all files in the archive are included. These files are:-

Mp3FE.exe	The program.
Readme.txt	This file.
Licence.txt	Legal stuff.

Description.

Mp3FE provides a graphical front end for running MP3 Albums off a CD. The window will display an image button for each album which should be configured to contain an image of the album cover. Clicking an Album will then load the relevant tracks and play them. So far there is only the ability to play, stop, select next and previous tracks, and also double click a track from the list to play from there.


Usage.

The way the program is intended to be used is described below.

The albums should be placed in folders which indicate their Artist and Title. These folders should be placed down from a selected "Root" folder. For example:
	
	C: -
	    |
	    --My MP3s -
		       |
		       --Artist1 -
		       |	  |
		       |	  --Title1
		       |	  |
		       |	  --Title2
		       |
		       --Artist2 -
				  |
				  --Title1
				  |
				  --Title2

etcetera. This indicates that My MP3s is the chosen root. Mp3FE.exe and associated files should be placed in this root folder. The first time the program is run, the user is asked for the number of albums that will be put onto the CD. The data for each album should then be entered. The album title is self explanatory - Usually 

	Artist1 - Title1

will suffice. The album folder then needs to be specified. The easiest way is to simply use the folder select button to select, in this case,

	C:\My Mp3s\Artist1\Title1

Then the image is selected. This must be a bitmap image and it is a good idea to use an image of the album cover, either by downloading from the web or scanning your own.

This is to be completed for the number of albums selected earlier.

Once all data is successfully entered, the main display window will be shown containing all the entered album data. Clicking an image will load the tracks into the list where they can then be selected and played.

Once the configuration has been completed, it will not need doing again. There will be some extra files in the root folder. One contains the data, one the images and the other is an autorun file to fire up the cd automatically upon insertion.

Note: It is not necessary to store the bitmap images with Mp3FE. All the images are stored in a file called images.dat.

That's really all there is to it. All that is required now is for everything in c:\my mp3s to be burned on to the cd. Just make sure that the program and data files are in the root of the cd drive. For example, the above path will become:

	E:---Mp3FE.exe
	   |  Images.dat
	   |  ...
	   |
	   -- Artist1 -
		       |
		       -- Title1

And so on (where E is the letter of the CD Writer). Once this cd is placed into a cd tray and inserted, the application should start up with the images present and ready to play.


Installation.

Read the section "Usage" above.


Troubleshooting.

If any problems are encountered, then e-mail details of the problem, how it can be reproduced, and details of the equipment setup to

	sprhelp@cwcom.net

I am also interested in any feedback on usage, bugs, possible enhancements and general feeling about the product.


Revision History

July 2000	Beta 1.0.0 Released.

