VIDEO: Step by Step How to Publish a Book
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Table of Contents
THiNC PRINTING PRESS V.2.5 INSTRUCTIONS
UPDATE: New SL Update Fixed Bug that Broke all Printing Presses
YouTube Instructional Video link (Will not work with SL Browser)
MAKING A PUBLICATION
Please note: A THiNC Book is required to make a publication. If you have not purchased one you can do so at THiNC.
Seting up your THiNC Book 2.0 to Publish: (Only compatible with version 2.0) - Have your THiNC Book setup the way you exactly want, this includes all the pages setup, name and description on the book. For more information please check the THiNC Book instructions.
1. If you would like to include a internet URL address for the publication Edit the original THiNC Book and select the object tab. In the description box insert the address there. The address must start with http:// or it will not work.
- NOTE: This internet address with show up only on the final publication that comes out of the Printing Press. The original THiNC Book will transfer but not display the address at this time.
2. Edit your THiNC Book and open the the _SIZE&ORIENTATION notecard and type “YES” to place book in publication mode.
3. Close all windows and after THiNC Book's startup click it to start sending you the publication data.
4. The THiNC Book will send you a bunch of encrypted data (unreadable to you) to you but not the regular chat channel for other people to hear.
5. After the THiNC Book is finished. Click the History button to bring up chat history.
6. Scroll up until you see the line that starts with ####: START COPY HERE
7. Select the entire line in step 5 and highlight all text below ending by selecting the entire line that starts with ####: STOP COPY HERE
8. Copy the entire highlighted text by holding down Ctrl + c. (This puts the encrypted data into your computer's memory temporarily. If your computer uses the copy function again or it's restarted or turned off the data is lost.)
Using the THiNC Printing Press to Publish a Book:
1. Edit your THiNC Printing Press and select the content folder.
2. If you would like to add up to one of each a notecard and/or a landmark drag from your inventory to the content folder of the Printing Press before you edit the PUBLICATION_DATA notecard. Note only one of each can be added otherwise an error will occur.
3. Open the PUBLICATION_DATA notecard. It should be blank.
4. Paste the previously copied highlighted text to the notecard by holding down Ctrl + v.
5. Scroll through the notecard line by line removing entire lines of any Second Life conversations and notifications not sent by book.
6. After review click save and close all windows.
7. THiNC Printing Press will check the notecard line by line for basic format and proper data.
8. If all tests pass the THiNC Press will ask you if you would like to publish the book giving you the basic information of the book.
- Note: An error will be received if there are no pages in the THiNC Book being published, there must be at least one to publish the book.
9. The THiNC Press will then ask if you will like to receive a backup notecard. Answer YES or NO. A backup notecard can be use at a later time reproduce the same book, just copy the data inside the notecard and start again at step 1 at this later time.
10. THiNC Printing Press will then rez a THiNC Publication book that will replicated the book you copied.
11. Watch the THiNC Printing Press will show an updated status via text display of the status of your publication.
12. When completed the publication is ready for use, sell or distribute.
13. For sizing the book please read FAQ, question number #4.
For Instructions to Operate the THiNC Publication go here.
Things You Want to Know:
1. Each publication produced has COPY & TRANSFER permissions. This can be changed by editing the publication and removing the check marks of each permission.
2. SAVE ALL YOUR TEXTURES OR SNAPSHOTS that you used to make the THiNC Book in your inventory DO NOT DELETE THEM. If deleted your publication will probably work for awhile but most likely will have problems down the road.
3. Recently within the last few updates (1.13.5 currently) the Printing Press will hangup after pasting the notecard information then waiting for confirmation from user. This has been seen only in sims with high amount a lag normally with more than 3000 active scripts. This can be seen by using statistic bar. When sims have a lot of script lag, scripts seem not to perform reliably any longer.
- This can be fixed by republishing the book again but in a different sim with lower lag.
4. Due to the high load on Second Life's inventory asset database there have been a few failures reading THiNC publications or even rezzing the publication itself. Error messages related are that it cannot set a texture or textures not changing are common during these times.
- Going to another sim with few scripts can help and improve your connection to the SL inventory asset database. Unfortunately anything inventory related is currently going through the sim you are currently in. It is possible that if a sim has lag that it could cause problems.
- Waiting until Second Life is not as busy. Due to this high load on Second Life, all inventory and scripts can behave incorrectly. Linden Labs is working making this more robust so the number of logged in users can be higher without failure, I just hope the fix is soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I rename my book instead of having the same name THiNC Book 2.0?
2. How do you get text on the book?
- The THiNC Printing Press & Book only uses textures / snapshots to display pages. By using your favorite paint program you can put text into a picture format supported by Second Life to upload. Currently I find the easiest way to incorporate text & pictures is using Microsoft Publisher and save it as a jpeg. There is a free publishing program which I haven't used alot but it can export to jpeg, Scribus, it is available in all flavors. (Mac, Windows, & Linux)
3. What is this ID# and what can I do with it?
- The ID# is a unique identification number for each book published.
- Currently there is nothing that can be done with it at the moment. There will be plans in the future for library / database of all books in SL.
4. Why doesn't the Printing Press recognize the size of the book, it keeps producing small books?
- The Printing Press no longer relays the size to the publication created because the size function is set on the publication itself by the owner. The owner can now change the size via menu on the publication (new feature, located in the lower left hand corner when it's opened.). If this is set before it is transfer to next owner it will retain its settings. Find more information about publication menu here.
5. The Printing Press has quite a number of prims (20 prims) is there a lower prim version?
- Yes, contact Toneless Tomba for an exchange for a lower prim version (8 prims).
6. What size texture should I use to make the pages?
- Smaller textures are better because they do load quicker but it depends on how detailed your pages are. If you want a lot of detail you might try the highest resolution but you will most likely need to experiment to see what looks best. Here is a table that will help layout your pages.
| Low | Medium | High | Highest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait (3×4) | 288×384 | 384×512 | 576×768 | 768×1024 |
| Standard (1×1) | 384×384 | 512×512 | 768×768 | 1024×1024 |
| Landscape (4×3) | 384×288 | 512×384 | 768×576 | 1024×768 |
Version History
1.0 – Original Version
1.1 – Fixed HUD Issues with THINC Publications. Also can handle time stamps in IMs. Provided an Upgrade button to check for latest release. Publications no longer shows Toneless Tomba as creator but an ALT (THiNCBook Projects). If the alt was messaged an auto message explain to either contact Toneless Tomba or the author for questions.
1.2 – Fixed unannounced SL changes how note card inventory is handled and behavior of scripts that use them.
1.3 – Limited release, more of a beta test but had the ability to have a internet URL address.
2.0 – Major Revision Upgrade
- Menu Options (On the Publication) – Page Advance, Book Info, Hide in HUD mode, Book Preferences for user such as: Full Bright Pages, Sound off, and Size
- Ability to add one of each: A landmark, a note card and a internet URL address (Access via menu for user)
- Backup option now sends items in a folder with the name of the book.
- Bug Fixes
2.1 - Bug Fix
- 1.18 Second Life update broke all Printing Presses. (A change in how llOwnerSay() is displayed in the client.)
- Improvements in the upgrade system in place. Should now have quicker response for upgrades.
2.1a - Minor Fix (llOwnerSay reverted back to old formating, changed error messages.)
2.1b - Bug Fix
- SL Bug caused resizing problems. A solution was found to call a different scripting command to resize.
- Bug found with page advance in menu feature. If someone used page advance, selected ignore and closed the book. The next user other than that person will get a message “THiNC Publication Menu, is currently in use. Please wait.” when nobody is using it.
2.1c - Bug Fix
- Fixed the ability to give out landmark & notecard.
2.2 - 2.4 - Versions skipped due to incorrect version numbering
- The version for the Printing Press and the THiNC Publication it produces will now have the same number.
2.5 - Feature Addition
- Resize the THiNC Publication when in HUD mode.
- Reset the user settings to default values on the THiNC Publication.
2.5a - Bug Fix
- Only the owner can now resize the book
Discussion
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