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Introduction to the Showbook Software
and the
Denver and Rio Grande Multimedia Adventure Kit
(DRG MAK)
Welcome to Showbook multimedia software where you can read Text, look at picture
Images, hear Sounds, and watch Movie Videos
on your computer. Showbook is a software interface that is similar to reading a
book or using an Internet Browser. However, Showbook has many additional features
like Slide Shows Walkthrus,
Search and the ability to view and print CAD Drawings.
In this Introduction you will go on a brief tour of basic program operation and
organization. You may be familiar with how the Windows operating system works already. If you need more information
about using the Windows operating system you should view the Windows documentation
(click Help on the Start Button). This documentation assumes you know how to use
your computer and Windows and does not explain this information.
Showbook presents information in the main Reader window (the window that
opens when you start the Showbook application) using the Microsoft Internet
Explorer (IE browser) that comes with the Windows operating system. You should
start your IE browser (using the Windows Start button) and view the
documentation (Click the Help button on the IE browser) on that software for
information on those features.
Sample Showbook Reader Window
Showbook System Requirements
Showbook Version 4 requires a computer system meeting the following minimum standards:
- Microsoft Windows 98 or higher.
- 150MHz 586 or compatible CPU.
- 8MB of RAM (32MB recommended)
- Video monitor capable of displaying 64,000 colors running in 1078 x 724
minimum resolution.
- DVD drive.
- 16-bit sound card (to hear sound).
- Hard Disk Drive.
- Two button Mouse.
- To smoothly play the Videos in Showbook you may need a computer with more
power than the minimum listed.
Organization
The Main Tool Bar
At the top of the Showbook Application Window are a series of menus and
buttons that allow you to navigate and activate additional features. See Main
Tool Bar for more information.
Town Index
You can get information on individual Towns on the railroad by going to the
Town Index page. On the Town Index page you can
use the area location map to click on the of the town. When using the location
map, you first click the region shown by the red outlines, then you will see
the detailed region map showing individual town names along the rail
line. Town names show in color and underlined may be clicked to see that town.
You can also use the alphabetical index of towns to select the town you
want.
Town Page
Typical Town Page
Each town page has:
- Navigation bars on the left of the page that allow you to go to
additional towns on the route or additional topics about the town.
- Text body with the towns description, history, railroad and building
information.
- A town location map in the upper right. Click this map to see the region
map of the rail line.
- Tourist Guide Book description. This book was given to the railroad
passenger.
- US Geological Survey Description. A detailed description of the land
made by Geologists.
- Images of the Town and/or main street.
- Additional Images related to the town.
- Maps, Profiles and additional information.
Subject Navigation bars
Each page in Showbook has navigation bars at the left which allow you to
click links and go to other subjects. The Navigation structure is shown
completely in the Contents (see below). Showbook is organized by major topics
such as Structures, the Library, History etc. As you click on each topic you
will see additional menus or lists of subjects.
Contents
The Contents page is a list of all topics in
the database. The list is presented in order of occurrance on the navigation
bars. For example, first all the town descriptions pages are listed, then
structures, rolling stock, etc..
Library
The Library has a variety of
information about the railroad. These include complete re-publications of
books relating to the railroad such as guide books and employee hand books.
There are also various index pages on features such as Clip art, Slide Shows,
Videos, etc..
Slide Shows
Images on the DVD are presented in a subject Slide
Show where you can see related images one by one.
Walkthru
You can step along the railroad tracks one mile at a time, turn left,
right, go backwards in this fun presentation we call the Walkthru.
Search
The Search Window allows you
to enter key words to find information on a specific subject.
Basic Features
Text
In the Showbook Reader you will see Text on the screen for each Subject article. This Text contains colored
Hyperlinks (or Hot Spots) that will activate other program features or change to other Subjects when you Click on them.
You can adjust the size of the Text window by adjusting the border size of the
Showbook application Window. See your Windows documentation if you have questions.
You can scroll the Text window using the scroll bar on the right side of the window.
To choose the Subject Text articles to be shown in the Text window and search
for information, you can select from different subjects using several different Showbook
features.
In the Text window, you can view articles about the selected Subject. Each article has a dual character. On one hand articles are a source of information you can read. On the other hand, an article is a tool that leads you to other articles, Images, Drawings, Sounds, and Movies using hypertext links. You move freely through the linked information by clicking on Hot Spots wherever they appear. This may sound complicated, however, if you are already familiar with the Windows Help system
and your Internet browser you are already knowledgeable with hypertext.
You can click on the links shown by coloring and underlining the text to move to
that subject. Click the BACK or FORWARD buttons on the Main Tool
Bar to return to the last subject you viewed. Click the HOME button to
access the home navigation page.
Images
In Showbook, a photographic or cartoon picture is defined as an Image. This is done to distinguish it from a
Showbook CAD Drawing. Both Images and Drawings are termed pictures in the Windows operating system. However, a
CAD Drawing is a vector picture and an Image is a bitmap picture. This subtle difference comes to play as the picture is resized on the screen.
CAD Drawings have no loss of detail when resized or printed while Images loose quality when resized from the actual size of the bitmap.
Sounds
You can hear the Multimedia Sounds included with Showbook if your system has a sound card installed.
The ability to play Sounds is part of the Windows operating system. If you are having problems with Sound on your system it is a problem with the Sound Card or its Drivers. You should see the documentation or contact the Vendor of your Sound Card for Help.
Sounds in the Videos supplied with Showbook are 16 bit, 44MHz, stereo.
You may have a Sound control panel that was included with your Sound card software that allows you to adjust the volume and other features of your Sound system. See your Sound Card documentation for instructions.
Movie Videos
One of Showbook's Multimedia features is the ability to play Movie Videos (we use the term Movies in this Help file to avoid confusion with the Computer Video Monitor).
Movies are shown on in the Windows Media Player that is separate from the Showbook application.
Windows Media Player comes with the Windows operating system. See the Media Player documentation if you need Help.
Movie Quality
The appearance of the Movies is heavily dependant on the speed of your computer, the current screen resolution of your monitor, and the current number of colors displayed by your monitor. We recommend
you set your computer monitor to show millions of colors at a minimum
resolution of 1078 x 724 (see Windows Control Panel - Display - Settings). If Movies are choppy, or the Sound is bad, you may not be meeting all of the minimum system
requirements for the speed of the computer.
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