VIDEOGEN - Installation and Usage Notes

Installation and Usage of the ALTINEX VideoGen Test Pattern Generator software

VideoGen is a Windows® compatible program that allows you to create your own video test patterns using a Macro-type language, and easily set up a sequence of your own, or included ready-to-go test patterns. Since these patterns are vector-based, they can be independent of your computer’s resolution.

VideoGen is supplied in ZIP file format. Upon "unzipping" it (using any PKZIP®-compatible software), you should have the VideoGen.exe file in your destination directory, and also a "scripts" subdirectory, which contains a dozen ready-made test pattern macro files, or "*.tis" files.

To use VideoGen to run a series of test patterns, you must pick the test patterns you wish to use, and then define the length of time for each one to be shown. Start by running the VideoGen program (by double-clicking it’s icon). The program opens up in "Script Editor" mode; at this point, you must choose a sequence of patterns (macros) to display. Twelve macros come with VideoGen, and are listed in the lower-left-hand corner of the program; click once on a macro to select it, then click the "Add" button on the bottom of the program window to add that macro to your script. You can add any number of macros to the script, add the same one repeatedly, and re-arrange the macros in the script using the "Up," "Down," and "Remove" buttons at the bottom of the screen.

To display the patterns, click the "Run Script" button; better yet, click the small "down-arrow" on the right-hand-side of the "Run Script" button, and choose "Display each Macro for..." in order to set a display time for each macro. And that’s it! You’re generating test patterns!

You can create your own test patterns using the VideoGen Macro Language. With commands to define color, text, various geometric shapes and even timing, the possibilities are nearly endless. Click on the "Help" button for a summary of the VideoGen macro language syntax structure, and look at the included samples for ideas on how to create your own test pattern.