Drop down menus size

studioLord wrote on 5/6/2006, 2:33 PM

I have VMS + DVD Platinum. I am having a problem with the size of the menus on my screen. For instance, when I want to put a video fx on the asset, I drag the effect up to the track and a menu comes on the screen for me to adjust the effect. The menu is huge and I can't get to the bottom of it even for using the slider at the bottom even when I expand it from the edge with my cursor. I'm not able to get to the "Key Frames" at the bottom of the menu in "Light Rays" effect. As I expand the middle becomes longer, but the bottom doesn't come into sight by dragging the cursor down. I went into the control panel and resized from 800X 600 to a smaller screen size, but that only made the screen longer and out of shape with no help to get to the bottom of the menu. What 's the fix on this one Guys?

Comments

wwaag wrote on 5/6/2006, 4:14 PM

Don't know the answer, but I had the same problem with the main "file" menu. Huge. The problem just disappeared after a few days so I don't have a clue. Hope someone can answer this one.

wwaag

soaringrocks wrote on 5/6/2006, 6:55 PM

I had this happen with a different application and when I updated the video driver the problem went away. Just a wild guess.

Chienworks wrote on 5/6/2006, 8:29 PM

Did you try setting your screen to 1024x768? SONY Claims they make their software function under 800x600, but it's nearly impossible to get to everything at that resolution. I consider 1024x768 too small and wouldn't run Vegas at anything less than 1280x1024.

DrLumen wrote on 5/7/2006, 12:36 AM

Something to try....

Hold down the ALT key and then tap the space bar. You should get the drop down at the top left and then tap S (for size). You can then use the arrow keys. Tap the down arrow to select the bottom edge and then tap the up arrow repeatedly to move the bottom edge up. Press enter to get out of the sizing mode.

Hope this helps.

studioLord wrote on 5/8/2006, 10:46 AM

I set my computer to 1280 X 1024 and everything is "tiny".... How am I supposed to see anything at this size?
Also the tutorial says I can use "Shift B" to do a type of render that speeds up the playback to a normal frame rate, but when I hit "Shift and B", it does n't speed up very much.... I anm running a 900 Mhz with 1024 Ram... Is that the problem and what is the best recommendation for CPU and Ram?
Thanks
John

studioLord wrote on 5/8/2006, 10:56 AM

I tried your methoid, but the middle keeps getting bigger (between the color correction area and the bottom of the menu where I need to getr to the "key frames" area. When I pull down on the bottom edge the middle just gets larger instead of reaching the bottom of the menu window....
When I look atthe tutorial, everything is regular size... why is mine so small? (Figures on the screen)

studioLord wrote on 5/8/2006, 3:59 PM

Hey "Rocks" ... You rock !!!... I updated the video driver in the device manager and when I rebooted, it turned everything into twice the size that it was.... how "Kewl"... Thank you... I'm about to check out the menu problem I was having....
John

studioLord wrote on 5/8/2006, 4:08 PM

Well... all that did was resize everything back to 800 X 600.... and I still can't get to the bottom of the menu to the 'key frames' area like I need to...
Any other ideas? It has to be a setting... doesn't it?
Thanks
John

ForumAdmin wrote on 5/8/2006, 9:49 PM

Try setting your display to 1280 x 1024. Then set your fonts to a larger size in Control Panel -> Display -> Appearance Tab.

Alternatively, some video drivers support selecting a larger DPI value to compensate for a higher screen resolution which makes everything look too small. Click the Advanced button in Control Panel -> Display -> Settings tab to see if your video driver supports this, if changing the font size as above doesn't seem sufficient.

Chienworks wrote on 5/9/2006, 5:23 AM

If 1280x1024 is too small for you then you might want to consider a larger monitor. I can run this resolution on a 15" CRT and it works ok for me even when sitting back a few feet. I constantly get comments from people walking by that they can't see what's on my screen. Sometimes i'll respond that i'm working on top-secret documents and they're not supposed to be able to see it. ;)

A lot of the users i service need at least a 17" monitor for 1024x768 and at least a 19" for 1280x1024. I've got one user who wouldn't leave 640x480 until we got her a 19", and now she'll at least use 800x600. She still complains that she can't see the whole menu across the screen and that she can't fit more than a couple lines of text in the word processor window. I set her screen to higher resolution to fix those problems, but then she claimed she couldn't read anything. Hmmmm. Maybe she needs to visit the optometrist and get new glasses.

Anyway, the point i'm making is that most software these days really works better at higher resolution settings and you should make whatever adjustments necessary in order to be able to use them. Your workflow will ulimately benefit greatly by having more screen real estate available. Larger fonts, changing the DPI, and a bigger monitor are all helpful in getting there.

JeffD wrote on 5/9/2006, 12:25 PM

> If 1280x1024 is too small for you
> then you might want to consider
> a larger monitor. I can run this
> resolution on a 15" CRT and it
> works ok for me even when sitting
> back a few feet. I constantly get
> comments from people walking by
> that they can't see what's on my screen.

BOY, I wish I had your eyes!

1024 x 768 is almost too small for me on 19" CRT.

I've been using DUAL MONITORS (both 19" ViewSonic CRTs) for a couple of years, and I could NEVER go back. Wouldn't know what to do with all those panels (VMS, Illustrator, Fireworks, DreamWeaver).

JeffD

Chienworks wrote on 5/9/2006, 4:44 PM

Apparently i have exceptionally good close vision. Take my glasses off and i can't even recognize my own wife from more than a couple metres away though.

studioLord wrote on 5/10/2006, 9:17 AM

I'm getting a handle on the problem after learning more about "screen size"... However, it still hasn't solved the original problem of not being able to get to the bottom of menus to get to the "key frames area" to make changes I need to make.
Does anyone out there understand the original question? I guess I got off on the screen sizing thing and left the first question still on the table. Thanks again.
John

studioLord wrote on 5/10/2006, 9:31 AM

How do I go to a dual monitor set up?

IanG wrote on 5/10/2006, 10:42 AM

You need to install a graphics card with dual monitor support and then just add a second monitor. You may need to go into Control Panel to configure it.

Ian G.

studioLord wrote on 5/11/2006, 12:59 PM

Again, I want tothank everyone for your help on the drop down menu issue. I re-installed VMS again and the problem went away. I have never had to re-install a program more than once to fix "bugs" before, but I thought... "If it worked on the other problem... why not give it a shot on this one..." Sure enough, it solved the problem.
I am enjoying the two programs, although I now know that my 900 Mhz system will not do. Everything works in super slow motion...
I have a chance to get a 2.4 machine from a friend...(512 RAM).
If I put my Invidia GeForce FX 5700LE video card in it and install my hard drives (It already has an 80 G for Win XP-OS)...
That should be a 'decent system' to begin with... wouldn't you say?
I still haven't gotten an answer from anyone as to what the speed/ RAM/ Video card... etc for a 'good' system would be.
Any suggestions or comments? What are some of you running and why?
Thanks
John

Chienworks wrote on 5/11/2006, 7:59 PM

Anything above 2GHz should be ok. Up until recently i was running the full version of Vegas on an 866MHz P3 with no trouble at all, other than it being a bit slow. 256MB is sufficient, but 1GB will let things run a bit smoother. For video editing, the video card itself makes almost no difference. It's nice to have a dual-head video card, but other than that the specs don't really matter much. Right now i'm using an ATI 7200SE dual head card i found on ebay for $11 or so. I can run two monitors at 1600x1200 (if my monitors supported that). Spending $300 on a video card won't make video editing any better.

studioLord wrote on 5/14/2006, 6:30 PM

Thank you. I have been very impressed with the level of expertise and 'matter of fact' working knowledge I have recieved from this forum. I was about to spend money that could be better used in another department until i got your answer.... and I don't have "extra" money right now.
I believe the 2.4 G will work well for me at this point. I expect to upgrade as the work increases... which is as it should be.
Now, if I can figure out this Plextor video capture unit (PX-M402U), I will just about ready to tackle the work I have lined up.
Anyone know much about This particular Plextor?
I downloaded 'okay' from a cam, but it doesn't want to cooperate with a VHS/ DVD player/ recorder for some reason.
John