Windows tips and tricks

Organize once and make every new project easier.

A predictable folder structure helps SlideShow Bob turn large image and audio collections into useful libraries and image sets.

Organize image folders by collection and category

Choose a root folder for a collection, then place useful category folders below it. SlideShow Bob works from the first subfolder it finds and the folders beneath that level.

For example, a project could use C:\SomeEvent\Images as the collection level, with Cats, People, and Places beneath it. Selecting Images includes the complete set; selecting Cats limits the image set to that category.

  • Use short, descriptive folder names
  • Keep each project's categories beneath one collection folder
  • Select a parent folder for a broad image set
  • Select a child folder for a narrower image set

Keep audio folders equally predictable

A useful audio structure is root folder, artist, album, then song files. If an album spans multiple discs, each disc can have its own folder beneath the album.

SlideShow Bob supports MP3, WAV, and FLAC files. Playback quality is determined by the source and encoding—not by the filename format alone—so use files that sound right and work reliably in your editing workflow.

Choose how the duration is determined

A timeline can be based on the selected audio duration, a chosen image count, or a duration you enter manually. Decide which constraint matters most before generating the slideshow.

Four generation workflows

Match the workflow to the amount of control you want.

Button labels can vary slightly by application version, but these four patterns describe the intended workflow.

Manual generation

Select the audio and image sets yourself, create the slideshow, move media to the export folder, then generate XML or EDL.

  • Most direct control
  • Separate preparation and export steps
  • Useful for carefully planned projects

Semi-random slideshow

Choose the audio genre, image set, duration, and timeline name, then let SlideShow Bob complete the generation steps.

  • Random selection stays inside your choices
  • One-step generation after setup
  • Useful for quickly creating multiple timelines

Random single song

Choose a genre and image set, then let SlideShow Bob select one audio item and build a slideshow for that song.

  • One song per result
  • Genre-guided audio choice
  • Fast way to explore new combinations

Selected-audio batch

Build a selected-audio list and generate a separate timeline for each song, choosing whether to keep or change the image set as the batch continues.

  • Separate timeline for each song
  • Reuse one image set or choose new sets
  • Combine rendered timelines later when desired

Keep the detailed instructions nearby.

The setup guide and PDF manual provide application-specific details when you are ready to build a library or timeline.