Online Technical Support
Page last updated: 12/19/00
- How do I install SuperShapes and the Demo Effects onto my local hard drive?
- How does the Demo differ from the purchased software?
- I bought the Full set of effects. How do I install them?
- How do I uninstall SuperShapes from my computer?
- How do I download SuperShapes?
- What do I do with the demo effects once I purchase the full version of SuperShapes?
- Will SuperShapes work with PowerPlugs: Transitions and PhotoActive FX?
- Do I need any special hardware to use SuperShapes?
- Is there an international language version of SuperShapes?
- How much additional hard drive space do I need to install Volume II ?
- Is the word "SuperShapes" branded into every effect in the full version?
- Why does the animation sometimes play on the slide after the one it is supposed to?
- An error message appears when I try to use the animated effects in SuperShapes I demo software. What do I do?
- What should I do when
I receive an error message trying to download the paid version of PowerPlugs:
SuperShapes?
Additional Support
- How do I install SuperShapes and the
Demo Effects onto my local hard drive?
Follow these simple steps.
- Download the FREE Trial software (Click here): (The Demo Effects are included with the software.)
- Choose a volume
of effects from the home page to try.
- ssh1demo.exe [6.4 MB file]
- ssh2demo.exe [6.2 MB file]
- Make sure NO OTHER applications are running at the time of installation.
- Double click
on the file called sshdemo.exe. (This will automatically begin the
Installation Wizard.)
- Follow the installation Wizard instructions until complete.
- *Note: It is recommended that you allow the application to install itself to the default folder: C:\Program Files\PowerPlugs\SuperShapes.
- Wait for the
"Setup is complete" message box to appear.
- * Note: Please be patient while the software interface is added to PowerPoint. You may experience a short delay during this last phase of the installation process, especially if you are using a slow processor.
- Take the time to register your software to finish the installation.
- You have finished
the installation. Start using PowerPoint!
- How does the
Demo differ from the purchased software?
From a software perspective, there is no difference between the Demo and Purchased "Full Version". Both applications are fully functional and FREE. What you are buying is the complete, totally useable volume of effects. The Demo only contains a handful of sample effects to experiment with, but they will be displayed with a watermark when placed onto a PowerPoint slide. When you purchase the full set of effects there will be no such markings.
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We recommend that you keep the software installed on your computer if you intend to buy the full set of effects and discard the demo set of effects.
-
I bought the Full set of effects. How do I install them?
Follow these simple steps.
The CD ROM version of the software is a snap to install.
- Insert the CD into your computer.
- When the AutoRun interface appears, click on the 'Install Software' button.
- Follow the installation Wizard instructions until finished.
If you purchased the Download ONLY versions...
NOTE: You MUST have your own modem connection to be able to successfully download the secured [non-demo] FTP software. You will NOT be able to properly download this software if you are connected to the Internet via a network [for example: T1, firewalls, proxy servers etc.]. You MUST order the CD ROM version of the software. Contact our Sales Department.- Download the software installer [ssh1reg.exe, ssh2reg.exe or ssh12reg.exe] from the secured purchase page.The link would have been sent to you via email.
- Make sure no other application is running on your computer when you start the installation.
- Double-click on the appropriate installer file [ssh1reg.exe, ssh2reg.exe or ssh12reg.exe ].
- Follow the
installation Wizard instructions until complete.
- *Note: It is recommended that you allow the application to install itself to the default folder: C:\Program Files\PowerPlugs\SuperShapes.
- Wait for
the "Setup is complete" message box to appear.
- * Note: Please be patient while the software interface is added to PowerPoint. You may experience a short delay during this last phase of the installation process, especially if you are using a slow processor.
- Take the time to register your software to finish the installation.
You have finished the installation. Start using PowerPoint!
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- How do I UNINSTALL SuperShapes from my computer?
Follow these simple steps.
- Exit PowerPoint.
- Click on the Windows Start menu and go to the Programs submenu and select the PowerPlugs/SuperShapes folder.
- Click on the "Uninstall" shortcut. This will remove the application from your computer.
- Using the Windows Explorer, manually delete
the SuperShapes directory folder and library files from the "Program
Files" directory.
- How do I download SuperShapes and
the Demo effects?
Click here to choose a volume of effects from the SuperShapes home page to try.
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- What do I do with the demo effects once I purchase the full version(s) of SuperShapes?
There is no need to keep the Demo Library of effects once you buy the full version of the SuperShapes software, however it will not harm anything if you do not delete them as long as you do not combine them with the purchased effects.
- Locate the SuperShapes folder in the "Program Files/PowerPlugs/" directory.
- Open the SuperShapes folder and locate the Still FX Library and the Animation FX Library folders.
- Open each of the Library files, locate the folder called "Volume 1 Demo" or "Volume 2 Demo".
- Highlight the Demo folder(s) and delete
them.
- Will PowerPlugs: SuperShapes
works with PowerPlugs: Transitions and PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX?
Yes, PowerPlugs: SuperShapes, PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX and PowerPlugs: Transitions can all be used within the same presentation without conflict.
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- Do I need
any special hardware to use SuperShapes?
No, extra hardware is not required. If PowerPoint 97 or PowerPoint 2000 is currently running on your machine, so will PowerPlugs: SuperShapes. No graphic acceleration hardware is necessary. You should be fine as long as your computer meets the minimum system requirements described on the product description page.
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MINIMUM - Pentium 166 - 120 MB available disk space - 32 MB RAM
As a general rule of thumb, however, graphic and animation software can be resource intensive. There are noticeable performance improvements when fast processors and large amounts of RAM are available.
- Is there an
International language version of SuperShapes?
No. At this time SuperShapes is only available in an English translation.
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The current version will still function properly within non-English PowerPoint 97 and 2000 software, however. If you experience any difficulties please notify us immediately so that we can resolve the issue.
We do anticipate developing Internationalized versions of the software in the future.
- How much additional hard
drive space do I need to install Volume II?
The Volume II effect libraries require an additional 30 MB of available hard drive storage space. Be sure to give yourself plenty of available usage space, however.
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- Is the word "SuperShapes"
branded into every effect in the full version?
The "SuperShapes branding text" is what is referred to as a 'Watermark'. It is used to prevent unauthorized commercial usage of our Trial/Demo software effects.
The demo is intended to allow prospective users the ability to "test-drive" the PhotoActive software and see some sample effect output quality. The demo set of effects was never intended to serve for any individual presentation productivity.
Alternative:
We have a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee on all the CD-ROM products purchased directly from our company (Download software excluded).
Contact our Sales Department at: 1-800-394-0700 or email them at: cgisales@crystalgraphics.com
- Why does the animation sometimes
play on the slide after the one it is supposed to?
This is actually a PowerPoint Animation control settings issue, not PowerPlugs software problem.
Try the following to resolve the confusion:
1) Select the animation on your slide.
2) Right mouse-click and select the 'Custom Animation' option.
3) From the 'Multimedia Setting' tab choose "Pause Slide Show", "After current slide" and then check-off "Hide while not playing".
4) Go to the 'Order & Timing' tab
5) Select either 'Start animation' "On mouse click" or "Automatically".
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- An
error message appears when I try to use the animated effects in SuperShapes
I demo software. What do I do?
Due to an oversite on our part, the Volume I SuperShapes trial set of effects was released with a malfunctioning Animated SuperShapes effect.
- The defective Demo software was available for downloading from our site from the approximate dates of 11/23/99 until mid-day 12/13/99.
- A fixed SuperShapes Volume I Demo file is available for downloading as of late afternoon 12/13/99.
- This bug will not cause any damage to your computer; but it will cause the Animated SuperShapes features to malfunction by displaying the following error message: "SUPERSHAPEDLG: Operation can not be completed because of low memory. Please close other applications."
- Volume I Still Shape effects and the complete set of Volume II trial set of effects are unaffected.
- The good news is that this problem is easy to fix!
- Close PowerPoint
- Find the bad
animation effect using the Windows Explorer:
C:\Program Files\PowerPlugs\SuperShapes\Animation Shape Library\Volume 1 Demo\Arrows\Arrows Angled\t42.pal - Select the
offending t42.pal file.
- The Modified date will read "11/2/99 1:29PM"
- Delete the t42.pal 11/2/99 1:29PM file.
- Restart PowerPoint.
- Animated SuperShapes should work fine now.
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-
What should I do when I receive an error message trying to download the paid version of PowerPlugs: SuperShapes?
If you are trying to download through a company network's Internet connection, you may receive errors or have problems downloading. Please be aware that many company network connections are protected by firewalls and proxy servers, and these firewalls and proxy servers can cause downloading problems. We recommend that you try downloading through a regular modem connection that does not go through a company network. If you are unable to download please try the troubleshooting tips below or contact our sales department to have them ship you the CD ROM version instead.
Please try this if you are behind a firewall:- Close all browser windows
- Go to Start menu, Settings, Control Panel
- Click on Internet Options
- Select the Advanced Tab
- Check one or all of the following:
a) Use Web Based FTP
b) Use passive FTP for compatibility with some firewalls and DSL modems
c) Enable folder view for FTP sites (in this case you would uncheck this option)
- Click Apply
If you are able to view the file but prompted to enter a password after clicking on it:
a) Right-click on the files(s) and select Save Target As, Save Link As, or Copy To Folder depending on which browser you are using.
b) Type in the user name and password where "X" is your user name and "Y" is your password. ftp://XXXXXXXXXX:YYYYYYYYYY@www.crystalgraphics.com:2122/
c) Try using a different web browser to download the files.
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Additional Support
1. How do I contact Technical Support?
PowerPlugs: SuperShapes users have unlimited access to Online Technical Support which lists the typical technical support problems that users encounter, along with our best information regarding their solutions. This service is available free of charge.
If you should need additional technical support service, CrystalGraphics provides three technical support purchase options:
- Option #1: You can buy technical support on a per incident basis. With the per incident option, you buy telephone-based technical support in 15 minute increments or per individual problem or incident when communicating electronically (i.e. fax and/or e-mail support) .
- Option #2: You can buy a block of technical support time (or number of incidences). The minimum block of time you can purchase is two hours (or the equivalent of 8 incidences if communicating via electronic mechanisms, i.e. fax or e-mail). Technical support purchased in time blocks costs less than technical support purchased on a per incident basis. However, the block of time purchased must be used within a 12 month period.
- Option #3: You can buy a 12-month technical support contract. The technical support contract provides you with unlimited telephone-based technical support or electronic incidences, and free software updates if any updates ship while your contract is active.
If you have read through the above questions and answers your issue was not addressed, and you have bought PowerPlugs: Transitions, you can contact technical support.