Winamp CD Case
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By CloseToSoftware (1998-2005) - www.closetosoftware.com


Winamp CD Case IS FREEWARE AND DISTRIBUTED "AS IS". NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. YOU USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF LOSS WHILE USING OR MISUSING THIS SOFTWARE.


1. This program is useful if:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	1.1. You use Winamp 5 (should work with 2.x too);
	1.2. You organize your musics in folders (e.g. one folder per CD);
	1.3. In each folder you save the CD's cover image file (see item "4.3.1. Scan for cover method" below).

	Don't have any cover yet? No problem! 

	Winamp CD Case can download them for you!

	In addition, try to organize your mp3 collection first. For each album create a new folder (e.g. Artist - Album title). This will make easier to download covers (specially with the first program listed below). Then download and install one of the following applications:

 http://louhi.kempele.fi/~skyostil/projects/albumart/
 
 http://home.comcast.net/~s3oftware/fr_interior.htm
 
 http://str8dog.com/category/2.aspx

	Soon, you will have lots of covers!



2. Requirements and installation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Windows XP and Visual Basic runtime 6.

If you've installed an Alpha version you can delete all files (to avoid keep unnecessary files).

To install, just unzip ALL THE FILES in one single folder. A setup will be provided after alpha/beta stage.



3. About
~~~~~~~~~

Winamp CD Case is a skinnable Winamp front end that shows a CD jewel case and the song's album cover (if available) with high quality image resample. It will also display a notifier with the song's title and artist. The author of the default CD Jewel Case is Brainbug.


To show current song title: click the cover.

To start search for a missing cover: double click the cover.

To show Options: click the right middle part of the CD jewel case.

To Exit: double click the left part of the CD jewel case.


Player hidden buttons:

	Play/Pause: middle bottom of the cover area (cover, not the entire jewel case!)
	Next: right bottom of the cover area
	Previous: left botton of the cover area
	Volume up: top right of cover area
	Volume down: left of the Volume up button


System tray feature:

	Right click to access the menu (Previous, Play, Pause, Stop, Next, Show, Search cover, Show log, Options, About and Exit).
	Click to bring the Winamp CD Case to foreground.
	If the balloon tip is set (Options>General>Settings>Show balloon) left click it to bring the Winamp CD Case to foreground.



4. Options
~~~~~~~~~~~

To show Options: click the right middle part of the CD jewel case. Available settings (per tab):

====================
4.1. "General" tab:
====================

	4.1.1. System tray: 
	-------------------

	Check "Show" to add Winamp CD Case icon in Windows' system tray or notification area (next to Windows' clock); once System tray is checked you can also set if you want to see a balloon tip with song's title and artist (just check Show balloon) or not.


	4.1.2. Hide tooltips: 
	----------------------

	Check to hide tooltips for invisible buttons (case and cover area).


	4.1.3. Always on top: 
	----------------------

	Check to always show Winamp CD Case on top of other windows.


	4.1.4. Magnetic borders: 
	-------------------------

	Check to make Winamp CD Case dock or clip to one of the screen sides (like Winamp).


	4.1.5. HotKey:
	---------------

	Once pressed it will bring Winamp CD Case to foreground so you will be able to see the CD jewel case; the default hotkey is Ctrl+F11, but you can change it... Check "Toggle on top" if you want to change the "Always on top" option everytime you hit the hotkey.


=================
4.2. "Case" tab:
=================

	4.2.1. Skin:
	-------------

	Press "Open" button to select a case skin (a valid png file is required); to create a skin use the default CD jewel case as a model (case.png). Note that tranparency is supported now.


	4.2.2. Size: 
	-------------

	Select one of the 5 case sizes available.


==================
4.3. "Cover" tab:
==================

	4.3.1. Scan for cover method:
	------------------------------

		4.3.1.1. "Any image": 
		-------------------------------

		This is the default method. Instead search for a pattern (see 4.3.1.2.) it will scan for any image file (jpg, jpeg, gif, png and bmp) in the song's or album's folder, then it will display the first image found.


		4.3.1.2. "The folder.jpg and the alternative cover": 
		----------------------------------------------------------

		This method will search for the folder.jpg image file (and/or the alternative cover if any set) in the song's or album's folder. This is useful since some users have more than one image file in the album's folder, but just one is the cover.  



	4.3.2. Cover resize: 
	---------------------

	Select whether you want to mantain the image ratio or stretch it to fit the case.


	4.3.3. Alternative cover: 
	--------------------------

	If Winamp CD Case didn't find the default "folder.jpg" picture in song's folder it will look for a second image pattern (e.g. albumart.jpg). This is used if "Scan for folder.jpg and the alternative cover" method is set (see 4.3.1.2.).


	4.3.4. Custom image if there isn't a cover: 
	--------------------------------------------

	If Winamp CD Case didn't find any cover at all, it could display a custom image. Press "Open" button and select an image. The default image is "NoCover.gif". This is valid for both scan for cover methods (see 4.3.1.).



=====================
4.4. "Download" tab:
=====================


	4.4.1. "Download cover automatically": 
	---------------------------------------

	Check this option to download a cover from Amazon.com if it's missing. This feature works silently unless you check one of the prompt options below. If a cover is found then it will be displayed automatically. Winamp CD Case takes the ID3v2 and ID3v1 tags to search for a cover. However, you can use folder's name instead ID3 tag (see option below). The download will work as long as Amazon.com will allow.


	4.4.2. "Show searching image": 
	-------------------------------

	Check it to show a "cover searching" image when a new search starts. Use the image provided or press "Open" button to select a custom one.


	4.4.3. "Prompt before download": 
	---------------------------------

	Check it to be prompted before the download. You will see the query strings and you can change it if you want to.


	4.4.4. "Prompt after download": 
	--------------------------------

	Check it to be prompted after the download is finished. You can accept the cover or not (the cover will be deleted).


	4.4.5. "Search by folder's name instead ID3v2 & ID3v1": 
	--------------------------------------------------------

	Check it to search a cover considering the folder's name (album or song's folder).


	4.4.6. "Create download log": 
	------------------------------

	Check it to keep tracking of every cover downloaded.



=================
4.5. "Font" tab:
=================
	
	4.5.1. Title text format:
	--------------------------

	Press "Font" button to configure the font, font style and font size; click the little square to set the font color of the song's title of the notifier.


	4.5.2. Artist text format: 
	---------------------------

	Press "Font" button to configure the font, font style and font size; click the little square to set the font color of the song's artist of the notifier.


	4.5.3. Don't wrap text: 
	------------------------

	Check so the title and artist text won't be wrapped (they will be shown in just one line each).


	4.5.4. Center text: 
	--------------------

	Check so the title and artist will be centered in the notifier.


	4.5.5. Text shadow color: 
	--------------------------

	Check it to drop a shadow in title and artist text; you can also select the shadow color for title and artist text separately.


=====================
4.6. "Notifier" tab:
=====================
	
	4.6.1. Always visible:
	-----------------------

	Check it so the Notifier won't be unloaded.


	4.6.2. Always hide: 
	--------------------

	Check it so the Notifier will not be shown (unless you left click the cover area).


	4.6.3. Show at top: 
	--------------------

	Check it to show notifier at top of the CD jewel case


	4.6.4. Show on mouse hover: 
	----------------------------

	Check it to show notifier by moving your mouse over the CD jewel case.


	4.6.5. Show for (seconds): 
	---------------------------

	Write the interval that the notifier will be shown (1 to up to 60).


	4.6.6. Background:
	-------------------
 
		4.6.6.1. Show: 
		---------------

		Check it to show a background image.

		4.6.6.2. Open button: 
		----------------------

		Select a png image for the notifier's background. Note that transparency is supported now. The default background is "aero.png".

		4.6.6.3. Offset color: 
		-----------------------

		Due to the variations of font color and background, sometimes is necessary to configure an offset color to compensate the font and background transparency. In most of the cases the best offset is one that matches the image background. Please note: if you set the font and offset with the same color, the font will be transparent and then you will not be able to see it.


===================
4.7. "Winamp" tab:
===================

	4.7.1. Start Winamp: 
	---------------------

	Check to start Winamp when Winamp CD Case starts. Press Find button to locate Winamp (if necessary).


	4.7.2. Play when start: 
	------------------------

	Check it to play when program starts.


	4.7.3. End Winamp when exit: 
	-----------------------------

	Check it so when you exit "Winamp CD Case" Winamp will be ended too.


	4.7.4. Exit when Winamp is ended: 
	----------------------------------

	Check it so when Winamp is ended, "Winamp CD Case" will be ended too.


===================
4.8. "About" tab:
===================

	Information regarding the program, credits, support and donation (to help Winamp CD Case development).



5. History
~~~~~~~~~~~

07 Apr 2005 - Beta 2
	
	Download cover by reading ID3v2 and ID3v1 tags
	Options: Cover: scan for any image
	Options: Cover: scan for folder.jpg
	Options: Download: Download cover automatically
	Options: Download: show searching image
	Options: Download: prompt before download
	Options: Download: prompt after download
	Options: Download: search by folder's name instead ID3
	Options: Download: create download log
	System tray: search cover
	System tray: view log	
	Font selection improved
	Color selection improved
	Italic font support added
	About moved to an Options' tab
	Readme.txt updated


02 Apr 2005 - Beta 1

	New engine
	Transparent PNG support for case
	Transparent PNG support for notifier
	Read hidden image files too
	Options: General: Show balloon (title and artist)
	Options: General: Magnetic borders
	Options: General: Toggle on top
	Options: Case: five case sizes now
	Options: Font: shadow for title and artist separately
	Options: Notifier: Always hide
	Options: Notifier: Show at top
	Options: Notifier: Show for (seconds)
	XP icon added
	Mouse hover bug fixed
	Magnetic borders bug fixed
	Auto exit bug fixed
	Small bugs fixed
	Some improvements
	Readme.txt updated


21 Mar 2005 - Alpha 9

	Options: Show notifier on mouse hover
	Added Pause status feedback
	Magnetic borders (clip to one of the screen's sides)
	Some improvements
	Small bugs fixed
	Readme.txt updated

	Last alpha version stage.


16 Mar 2005 - Alpha 8

	Options: Custom case and notifier shadow color
	Options: Always on top
	Options: (Notifier) Always visible
	Options: Notifier background image
	notifierback.gif added (notifier background sample)
	Player buttons position bug fixed
	Readme.txt updated


13 Mar 2005 - Alpha 7

	Font tab added
	Notifier tab settings changed	
	Options: Don't wrap text
	Options: Center text
	Options: Text shadow color
	Options: Gradient (set start and end color)
	Options: Border style (default, button, single, none)
	Font/Notifier size bug fixed
	Some improvements
	Small bugs fixed
	Readme.txt updated


11 Mar 2005 - Alpha 6


	New shadow system added
	Volume up: top right of cover area
	Volume down: top left of cover area
	Tooltips added for all invisible buttons
	Options: System tray added
	Option: set shadow for case and notifier
	Options: Hide tooltips
	Options: Winamp tab interaction added
	Options: Start Winamp
	Options: Play when start
	Options: End Winamp
	Options: Exit if Winamp is ended
	Options: About button added
	Some interface improvements
	Small bugs fixed
	Readme.txt updated


03 Mar 2005 - Alpha 5

	Added XP shadow effect
	Font selection bug fixed
	Better error handler (message and ErrorLog.txt)
	Some improvements
	Small bugs fixed
	

02 Mar 2005 - Alpha 4

	Case skinnable (now you can create your own case!)
	Two skins: "case.gif" and "case neo.gif"
	Options: Skin: select a skin
	Options: Case size: select one of the 3 sizes
	Options: hide player buttons when start
	Pause, Prev and Next invisible buttons added in cover area (bottom)
	Real hand system cursor added to invisible buttons
	Some improvements
	Small bugs fixed
	Readme.txt updated


01 Mar 2005 - Alpha 3

	better case artwork
	cover fits better in case
	Option: mantain ratio of the cover
	Option: stretch cover
	Option: customize notifier font
	fixed error when mp3 has no tag
	some improvements
	small bugs fixed
	Readme.txt updated

26 Feb 2005 - Alpha 2

	two lines song's notifier
	cover fits better in case
	Ctrl+F11 brings Case to foreground
	Options added (click left top of CD jewel case)
	Set a alternative cover (e.g. albumart.jpg)
	Set a default image if there isn't a cover
	Set a custom hotkey
	saves window position
	some improvements
	small bugs fixed
	Readme.txt updated

25 Feb 2005 - Alpha 1 - initial release
	
	

6. Notes
~~~~~~~~~

This is not a Winamp plugin, but works with it.

Thanks far lock for your feedback!

Thanks Brainbug for your permission to use your great CD Jewel Case.

Thanks MaresWEB for the search cover engine.

Thanks Marvilla for the globe image. Link: http://www.marvilla.us/



7. Feedback
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

support@closetosoftware.com