MutliMedia Platypus

Multimedia Platypus is an engine to help you easily create multimedia publications. It is very easy to use and understand. The CD comes with a huge tutorial section that will clear up any questions you might have. The opening screen allows you to set up your "preferences" with the options button. Here you will set up your default image editor. The default editor is Windows Paint. The tools button opens a screen capture tool. The AVI button opens the Platypus Animator which is included on the demo CD. The sound button opens a sound editor.

When you click the new button you will see the screen below which gives you several choices for setup wizards for the type of publication you would like to create.

After making a choice on the above screen you will see the screen below where you set up a name for your project, where you want it stored, your name, any comments you would like to include and where you want the application to open on the end users screen.

Clicking the finish button will give you the screen below where you can now create your project. Don't let the scripting below scare you. The language is similar to html and is not an overly large scripting language. The help file details the language and trust me, it's not difficult to learn. I've seen some that are a night mare. The Platypus scripting language is small and easy. The does not indicate that it is not powerful however. Platypus applications are very powerful quick running applications. The complete list of elements include:

• ANIM
• BROWSER
• BUTTON
• IMAGE
• PAGE
• PROGRAM
• SOUND
• TEXTBOX

You can read the full manual on the Platypus site before you download the demo to see just what these elements will do.

The menus below will show you some of the things included in Platypus.

The help file is terrific. It's clear and concise and answered all the questions I could come up with.

The Platypus Animator is included on the demo CD.

Some of the Platypus Animator menus are below.

Supported File Formats for Platypus

• Images - bmp, jpg, pcx, tif, tga, gif, dib, rle

• Animation - avi, mpg, mov

• Sound - wav, midi, rmi

Platypus comes fully functional with the exception of the size of applications you can complete. The demo is limited to six objects. Since I am using the demo I was not able to test it's functionality as far as large applications go. Platypus does say that it is able to create large publications.

Some of the business applications Platypus has been used for include:

Interactive and non-interactive ("rolling") presentations
Electronic press-releases

• Auto-running demos