Chat with the Imaging Team from Windows XP
Host Guide_KenM
Welcome to today's TechNet Chat. Our topic is Chat with the Imaging team from Windows XP. Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome.
Host Guide_KenM
The Input Room (below) is where guests can enter questions for our Hosts today.
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Host Guide_KenM
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Host Guide_KenM
Please feel free to begin posting your questions in the room below. Please begin your questions with aQ:, this will help us quickly identify the questions.
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Introducing the Windows Imaging Team, SeanK_MS, CoopP_MS, ShaunIv_MS, PoYuan_MS, David_MS, ByronCh_MS, RickTu_MS, MS_Brian_B
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
We've had some questions pre-submitted. I want to answer them now:
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: Will the photo printing wizard allow custom sized photos?
A: There are no current plans to support this.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: Will the photo printing wizard allow for custom layouts?
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: We are looking at making the templates extensible in the next version.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: Will there be more options for file naming upon acquisition?
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: Yes, we are looking at more flexible ways to name your files upon acquisition. Including keeping the original file name & using the EXIF time/date stamp.
Host Guest_David_MS
Q: Butters : what's up with ms paint
Host Guest_David_MS
A: Paint now supports reading more image formats. It also supports scanning/acquiring images from cameras and scanners with WIA drivers.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: when are we going to see a decent image editor in Windows. MSPaint is a little lacking.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: Probably never in the form you're asking for. We're at heart a platform provider. We want to build the pieces that allow other people to build cool image editing apps.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: Will the Scanners&Cameras wizard ever learn to work with Twain? There are scores of devices that don't have a WIA driver (like my Polaroid PDC 2300z camera for one).
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: The WIA wizard has been written from the ground up to work with WIA only. We can't really comment on our future plans other than to say we are always looking at what features our users need & want and try to address them.
Host Guest_David_MS
Q: rd50 : The printing Wizard works fine. For many pictures it is tiresome to click Next, Next, Next. Can we send a picture directly to the printer?
Host Guest_David_MS
A: You can drag an image file directly to the printer's icon to get an automatic full page print.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
The feedback you've given today is great, though, as it gives us a better idea of what features you'd like to see in the next OS.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: Any possibility you guys can come up with a "stitch" capability?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: We would like to provide a framework for a 3rd party to do this, but we probably wouldn't it in the operating system. Look at the Panorama Factory (https://www.panoramafactory.com)
Host Guest_David_MS
Here's brief list of the XP Imaging features that our team delivered:
Host Guest_David_MS
Picture and Fax Viewer, Photo Printing Wizard, Scanner and Camera wizard, MSPaint, WIA service (driver interface for apps), Scanner and Camera folder, Camera browsing in Explorer
Host Guest_ByronCh_MS
Q: Is there a way to rename a printer in Windows 2000 Pro when "rename is greyed out from the "File" menu?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
And the My Pictures Slideshow Screensaver!
Host Guest_ByronCh_MS
A: If "rename" is greyed out, it's because that functionality is not available. Typically this is due to insufficient permissions or the connection type doesn't support it.
Host Guest_David_MS
Shlomi can you clarify? What application are you asking about?
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: Is there any way of using XP imaging to display TIF images inside of an Internet Explorer (5.x) window. Trying this always seems to load the Picture & Fax viewer instead.
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: Not currently. The fact that is worked in W2K was because Kodak Imaging (which was dropped) implemented an ActiveDocument interface and registered it for TIF files.
Host Guest_David_MS
Q: Shlomi : I have question (only one): How I can change the default subfolder from "C:\Documents and Settings\shlomii\Start Menu" to another folder.
Host Guest_David_MS
A: When you right click the Start button and choose "Open", you are opening the folders that provide the set of shortcuts which get shown on the Start menu.
Host Guest_David_MS
You can change where this folder tree is rooted using the TweakUI tool. If you want to always open Explorer in a specific folder, you should create a shortcut to that folder on your desktop and use the shortcut
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: Is there any way of using XP imaging to display TIF images inside of an Internet Explorer (5.x) window. Trying this always seems to load the Picture & Fax viewer instead.
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: Our current plans our to cover this functionality in a new scripting layer making it possible to convert TIFs to something IE can display on the fly.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: pic/fax viewer is the default jpg viewer for XP. If I change the association to IE, all the images open new windows. How can I make them all open in the same window?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: It sounds like you just need to restore the associations. Try running this command from the Run Dialog on the start menu: regsvr32 shimgvw.dll
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
**Q:**Do you support JPEG 2000?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: No, we do not natively support it in the OS
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: So why was Kodak Imaging dropped without an adequate replacement ? Is there any way GDI+ or SHIMGVW.dll can be used to display TIFs in IE?
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: GDI+ can be used to convert a TIF to a JPG. But you'd need to write C++ or C# code today to do it.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: When I insert a CF into my reader how can I get a certain program to open up. I know about right clicking on properties of the drive and going to the autorun tab but the program I want to run is not on the list. Can you add other programs onto the list?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: Yes, it requires the program to provide a drop handler. Most programs will not be able to do this, so it would require an update from the author.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: How come (JPEG 2000)
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: There are non-technical reasons why we are not supporting it. The OS is extensible, so 3rd parties can provide support.
Host Guide_KenM
For those new to the chat - Our topic is Chat with the Imaging team from Windows XP.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Butters: That is the extent of my IE knowledge, sorry!
Host Guest_David_MS
Q: Why can't I use the Scanner and Camera Wizard to copy MP3s to my Kodak MC3 camera?
Host Guest_David_MS
A: This is a 2 part problem. First, WIA was only designed for transfers from cameras, not sending to.
Host Guest_David_MS
Second, the camera doesn't use a standard PTP protocol mechanism for transfers to the device.
Host Guest_David_MS
We are working on two way communication with devices in the next major release.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: in icon creation, do you lean towards vector or raster?
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: In general, I lean away from icon creation completely. :-)
**Host Guest_David_MS
Q:**krzdg : David what do you consider "next major release" meaning how long is that going to take?
Host Guest_David_MS
A: The plans are still being made, it's definitely further out than this year. I can't be more specific because I really don't know when.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: I've got one PC that seems to have lost the ability to see that a USB drive is actually a Camera's flash card. What controls this function?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A:https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroupfaq.mspx
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
(that is the new WindowsXP newsgroup FAQ)
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: Another question/suggestion, on the scanner wizard, it would be most helpful if you could add a simple button asking if the user had more images to scan. it's a pain at this time
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: We are looking at how to make this easier for the next version of Windows.
Host Guest_ByronCh_MS
Q: Does/Will the scanner wizard support the ability to enable negative scanning by turning on the light and inverting the picture?
Host Guest_ByronCh_MS
A: The Scanner/Camera Wizard does not natively support negative scanning, but this is something we're working with vendors to support in the next release.
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: How do I know how many pages are on a page fed scanner? How do I know when to stop scanning?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: When idtGet[Banded]Data returns WIA_ERROR_PAPER_EMPTY
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: and support multi-picture tiff
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: The wizard supports multipage TIFF today, but only on scanners equipped with document feeders
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: Will the scanner wizard support image correction on the fly?
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: For the next release of the OS, we're looking at supporting auto-fixing of images (including color correction).
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: I see on your picture that you all have different laptops of different brands and all... do you get to pick what laptop you use or is that picked for you? was that laptop assigned to you today or do you normally have it with you for when you need it?
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: Developers typically don't get laptops, but we are very lucky so we take what they offer without complaint :)
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: Is it possible to code in VB6 for GDI+ , any samples ?
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: Yes, using declare but it is very hard. This is one of the reasons we are currently planning on a new scripting layer. To make these things easier for VB6 and VBScript.
Host Guide_KenM
We are going to have to wrap up this chat in about 10 min. We'll be working on the final answers for today.
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: I'm not sure what you mean by 'auto-fixing' but de-skew, de-speckle, lightening and darkening would be useful
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
A: We are looking at de-skew for sure, lightening & darkening (automatically), but not really at de-speckle.
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: SeanK_MS - any sample code for VB/GDI+ ?
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: I started doing one but had too much trouble, that was the genesis of planning a new scripting layer.
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q: For all you out there? Would there be interest is a chat for VB/VBScript for Imaging
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Q: Someone told me about adding an autorun file to my cf card Will this work! And if it will what would the file look like?
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
A: Look at this MSDN article: https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/Shell/programmersguide/shell_basics/shell_basics_extending/autorun/autoplay_cmds.asp
**Host Guest_David_MS
Q:**rd50 : How do I convert a .tif file to a .jpg file on XP with no added software?
Host Guest_David_MS
A: Load it into the Picture and Fax Viewer, choose the Copy To button, and select JPEG in the save as type
Host Guide_KenM
We'll be wrapping things up in just a few moments. Would anyone like to add anything?
**Host Guest_SeanK_MS
Q:**In the last 5 minutes can someone explain VB to fakespike?
Host Guest_SeanK_MS
A: 21 days is the quickest I'm aware of. :)
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Q: Have you liked this forum to talk to us? Would you like to see us host future chats around this technology?
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
We will attempt to do a VB for imaging chat.
Host Guide_KenM
Thanks for joining us today and thanks for the questions. It's time for us to go now. You'll be able to find the transcript of this chat soon on the TechNet Web site at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/trans/default.mspx Please see the chats schedule for upcoming topics.
Host Guest_David_MS
au revoir
Host Guest_ShaunIv_MS
Thanks!
Host Guest_RickTu_MS
Thanks everyone.
Host Guest_Cooper_MS
Thanks.
Host Guest_ByronCh_MS
Cheers everyone! Back to our small offices