Product: FXTools Gold 5.0

Summary: FXTools is a comprehensive tool package designed primarily for building multimedia presentation applications. Over 100 built-in effects compliment excellent audio and video support. Getting up to speed with the dozens of custom properties is made easier by plenty of sample applications.

Suggested List Price: $399.00 ($599 royalty-free bundle)

FXTools Gold 5.0 is a set of controls for developing multimedia presentation, computer-based training, kiosk, advertising, and demonstration applications. If you need an eye-catching demo or you’re building a kiosk application, FXTools can give you the power to stand out from the crowd.

FXTools was first released in 1993, and this fifth version utilizes the latest improvements in graphics and imaging technology, including DirectSound and MMX.

FXTools includes a manual and comes on CD-ROM. It’s the first commercial package I’ve installed that came on a sampler CD and required a lengthy serial number and registration code. It was a bit confusing at first, since I couldn’t locate the license agreement the package warned I should read before opening, and the CD said nothing about being a registered version. Oh well, after I found the registration codes and braved the sampler CD, installation proceeded without a hitch.

Since FXTools includes a written manual, I perused that before diving into the tools and sample applications. Then I read it again. The manual is really essential to getting started with this feature-rich toolset. It briefly explains the various controls and their properties before discussing the capabilities in depth. Be sure to read the manual through the first three chapters or you’ll have trouble understanding FXTools.

The help files included with FXTools are fairly standard, but it would be helpful to have short examples on using the various properties and methods. The tools are extremely powerful and feature rich, and they have literally hundreds of possible effects. They also have dozens of custom properties – I counted about one hundred six custom properties and over three dozen custom methods on the FXImage control alone! Pegasus has a short but informative FAQ at www.pegasustools.com/support/fxtools.htm, and I’d like to see more of that sort of information in the help file.

FXTools installs with three compiled demonstration programs that include source code. However, the source code was missing a few files, plus it requires that you install the Sheridan 3D Controls included as an option for VB 5 and 6 users. Pegasus technical support assured me those samples are fixed on the latest release and e-mailed me a copy of them. The compiled programs ran fine, and they give you an idea of both the capability and complexity of the package.

Also included, and more useful, are the VB sample apps that demonstrate a few aspects of the package. These ran without any problems and should be the starting point for both learning how to use FXTools and as building blocks for your own applications.

There is something I should emphasize at this point: FXTools appears to be targeted at presentation developers. This is a fantastic tool for creating demos and enhancing kiosk applications, but it isn’t for creating games or generic applications. If you really want to develop a database application with rotating text and fading transitions from one screen to the next, then by all means take a look at FXTools.

Fortunately for Pegasus, one aspect of presentation is growing exponentially: the Internet. FXTools includes sample HTML documents and Internet development instructions. The instructions are in the help file under "Internet Development Tools". They assume you are using The Microsoft ActiveX Control Pad, available from Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/workshop/misc/cpad/default.asp.

Another file you’ll need if you plan on utilizing the sound capabilities of FXTools to their fullest is Microsoft’s latest DirectX software. The FXSnd control can play sounds and music using the standard Windows MCI interface, but the really cool stuff is possible only with DirectSound. You can download the needed software at http://www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp.

FXTools is a set of nine controls. The graphics formats supported by the FXImage control includes the most popular BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, TGA, and TIF, plus others such as the proprietary Pegasus ePIC format, which they claim gives you the best compression, best rendering, and fastest loading of any compressed format. Built in effects such as fading, transparency, hotspots, and reversing provide a great deal of control over how to display and transition the image.

The FXLabel control is sort of a container control for text-based operations similar to the way the FXImage control handles pictures.

The FXRText control includes the usual built-in effects such as wipes and fades, plus eight font styles and colored shadows. Text can be scrolled and faded, and TrueType fonts can be rotated.

Similar to the VB Shape control, the FXShape control adds such oddities as octagons, diamonds, and stars, plus the ability to create custom shapes.

These four controls share properties and methods, and it can be a bit confusing trying to determine which control does what. You can store an image in the FXLabel and FXRText controls, and you can compose text in an FXShape control. All four support hotspots and animated effects. The sheer number of properties and methods is staggering – over seven hundred between them. The power is certainly there – just keep the samples and manual handy. Fortunately, all those properties and methods are practically identical between the controls. Learn one and you’ve learned them all.

A moving text, sound, timer, "URL", and video control round out the package. The URL control is similar to VB’s Internet Transfer Control, but includes events to make download progress easier to track and display. The moving text control uses motion paths and includes a speed setting.

All of the controls run in separate threads. That is, they don’t interfere with each other or halt an effect while another executes. In a traditional VB application, you’d have to carefully manage Timer events to insure everything flows smoothly. FXTools has taken care of that for you.

If you are going to create an application to be resold, Pegasus requires a $10 royalty for every copy sold beyond $100,000 in sales. However, they have a $599 royalty-free bundle, and it’s really the way to go. The bundle adds SuiteFace, CapturePro, and PhotoPRO Gold. SuiteFace is a set of user interface controls, CapturePro provides image and video acquisition, and PhotoPRO adds image enhancement capabilities.

Whether you need to write a demo of your latest and greatest program or build a kiosk program or a web site, Pegasus Software’s FXTools could be just the thing you are looking for. You should plan on spending some time learning how to use all the features, as the potpourri of properties and methods can be a bit overwhelming. You’ll often find yourself referring back to the various sample applications. Pegasus’ technical support responded quickly to my inquiries. FXTools deserves a close look if you need to create powerful and visually exciting presentation applications.