Starting the Application

The simple way to start the WaveThunder is by doubleclick the executable file. The started application is empty and no project is open.
Use can also use arguments, for example running command F:\WaveThunder\ontwikkeling\waveth92.exe F:\GELUIDEN\TEST\welwel.wav (on my computer) When the application is started, "welwel.wav" is opened.

You can choose between five kinds of files:

  1. .wav = wave files
  2. .wtm = WaveThunder Music files
  3. .wty = WaveThunder Player files
  4. .wtf = WaveThunder Factory files
  5. .wtp = WaveThunder Project files

After starting up, the correspondenting files will be opened, if the file does not exists in the part, the application is started up empty with no error.
In Windows you can assign the WaveThunder to these types of files. When you double click one of these files (or use the popup menu), the WaveThunder is started containing the content of the doubleclicked file. This is very recommended for WaveThunder Project files (.wtp), that is the easiest way to startup a WaveThunder Project.

Files

.wav

The WaveThunder can read wave files (.wav) with all sample frequencies, and both mono and stereo. It can read 8 or 16 bit sample per channel. There exists wave files with (for example) 4 bits per sample, these files can not be read by this version of the WaveThunder. Wave files can contain extra tags, the application does not read these tags, and when the application save a wave file, these tags are overwritten by the "simple" wave file.

.mid

The WaveThunder can write but not read midi files (.mid). You can write midi files out of the combination of Music Windows and Player Windows.

.wtw

When saving a wave file, it also saves a shadow file in the same directory of the saved wave file. The extension is "wtw" and the content is in XML format. The XML Definition is in unitwave_v8_0.dtd. This file contain information about all view properties of the Wave Window containing the wave file. When the Wave Window is in Draw mode, it containes also coordinates the drawing points.

.wtm

All music and all its properties of a Music Window (except the players itself) are saved in a .wtm file. The content is in XML format. The XML Definition is in unitmuz_v9_1.dtd, for Music files saved by WaveThunder 9.1. Music files saved by WaveThunder 9.0 or earlier has another format and definitions.

.wty

The Players Window are saved in a .wty file. The content is in XML format. The XML Definition is in unitplay_v9_1.dtd, for Music files saved by WaveThunder 9.1.

.wtf

All information about the Factory Window are saved in a .wtf file. The content is in XML format. The XML Definition is in unitfact_v9_1.dtd, for Music files saved by WaveThunder 9.1. Music files saved by WaveThunder 9.0 or earlier has another format and definitions.

.wtp

All project information are saved in a .wtp file. The content is in XML format. The XML Definition is in project_v9_1.dtd, for Music files saved by WaveThunder 9.1. Project files saved by WaveThunder 9.0 or earlier has another format and definition.

In the same directory of the Project file is also a directory named (Projectnaam)TempSaveFiles For example a directory has a Project file radioplay.wtp and Project directory radioplayTempSaveFiles. The project File and Project directory belongs to each other. Uncorrectly altering one of these can possibly cause errors and data loss (in the project) when the WaveThunder tries to open the Project file.

.wtc

All options are saved in a .wtc file. The content is in XML format. The XML Definition is in preferences_v9_2.dtd.

compatibility of files

All files are backward compatible, that means that files save by a certain version of the WaveThunder can be read by the same or latter version of the WaveThunder. Sometimes files saved by a WaveThunder can be read by some previous version(s) of the WaveThunder.


Note (for example) that version 8.0 and 9.0 of wtm file does not exists, that means that WaveThunder version 8.0 save Music files with version 7.1, that means that Wavethunder 7.1 can read music files save by WaveThunder 8.0. WaveThunder 7.0 cannot read these files.
Music files saved by WaveThunder 7.0 can read by WaveThunder 7.0 and higher, because of backward compatibility.

All Project functions in short

What is a Project?

A Project is like a desktop. When you are busy with many windows, containing different view, it is not pleasant to build all this up again next time. When you are working in a project, all these setting are stored in a project file, as soon as you close the project. At most one Project can be open at a time. When you close the application, an open project will close. When you close a window, you need to decide to save unsaved changes or not, because the wave or music will be no part of the project anymore and its unsaved data is not stored in the project anymore.

Create a Project

You can always create a project. If there is already an open Project, it will be closed first before another Project is opened.
When creating a Project, you had to give the name and location for the new Project file.

Open a Project

You can always open a project. If there is already an open Project, it will be closed first before another Project is opened. When opening a Project failed, no Windows are left open, to avoid further damage.

Close a Project

An open Project can be closed at each moment. When you close the application, an open project is closed automatically.

Save a Project

An open project can be saved at each moment. The reason for this function is saving unsaved changes, before any possible crash of the application or computer. Normally an open project is saved when the application is closed correctly, but it does not if the application is stopped by another way.

Export a Project

When you are busy in a project and you need to continue on another computer, it is very useful to export the project. Normally only unsaved data is stored into the project, but when "normal" files goes out of reach, it is necessary to save these data too. This is done by this function. When exporting a project, you had to give the name and location for the new Project file. After this, you only need to copy the Project file and the correspondenting Project directory.

Using no Project

When using no Projects, you are editting waves and music at its own. For each window you close, you had to decide to save unsaved changed or not. When you exit the application, open or create a project, all windows will close and data need (or not) to be saved. Note that for each wave window, the corresponding shadow file with view properties are still used, so view properties of every window are still saved.