New in Version 1.6 This version adds two new features since the 1.5 version:
You can now specify a particular YXY settings file to use, either by opening it with the
File menu, or by specifying it on the command line
Additional code to disable new versions of the "PCFriendly" virus software
Jim Ferguson, a fellow enthusiast, developed this
simple but supercool little VB app to provide aspect ratio control for a software DVD
player, such as WinDVD. If you have an HTPC, this is a MUST-HAVE.
Best of all it's FREE!
YXY article at
Stereophile Guide to
Home Theater
Pat Megenity reviews the YXY aspect ratio controller.
"YXY is a free aspect ratio controller program that I use with Intervideo's WinDVD
DVD Player. With YXY you can position the WinDVD window to precise locations on the
screen, and save those locations for future use. The program should work with other
software DVD players as well, or other applications such as software TV players. My
primary testing has been done with WinDVD however.
The main benefit of this tool is if you have a front projection system, you can leave
your projector memory set up for anamorphic sources (i.e. vertically squeezed.) When
playing non-anamorphic DVD's you can simply size the window of the DVD player 33% taller
than normal. It will then look like an anamorphic DVD to your projector. Similarly you can
shrink a 4:3 shaped movie to take up the center portion of the 16:9 screen shape.
In addition the program can be used to save a variety of custom settings. The settings
that I use handle:
1.66:1 movies that take the full height of the screen, but have small bars on the sides
1.37:1 full-screen material positioned to the left or to the right within the 16:9
anamorphic window, to avoid burning in the image
2.35:1 movies positioned at the top or bottom of the screen, to avoid burning in the
image
Slightly expand the window of some underscanned movies
Reposition the window of some non-anamorphic letterboxed movies which have their
subtitles beneath the image
Crop full-frame unmatted movies back to their correct aspect ratio. Instead of just
taking a "slice out of the middle" I can take the top portion of the image for
those movies that are shot with the common-top-line method, where most of the unmatting is
done at the bottom.
Main YXY Window
(Click to enlarge)
Other program features include:
Resize the application window larger than the actual screen without requiring a virtual
window program such as WinSpace.
Automatic blanking calculation (to hide the DVD player caption and borders) with custom
overrides
Orbiting (move the window around on the screen in small increments to avoid screen
burn-in)
Button repeat function for easy interactive screen positioning. Just hold the Moving and
Sizing buttons down, and after a short delay, the action will repeat until the button is
released.
Proportionally move the window up, down, left, and right; proportionally shrink or
expand the window height and width, separately, or together
Command line startup options to select a particular setting
Global hotkey support for selecting settings. Works even when the YXY window is hidden
or in the background.
Playlist feature lets you associate particular DVD's or other titles with a specific
setting
When a DVD is inserted that is on the PlayList, automatically switch to the correct
aspect ratio
When an unknown DVD is inserted, automatically add it to the PlayList using default
settings
Ability to disable the PC Friendly DVD-ROM program from launching when loading a DVD.
New in Version 1.5
This update includes a variety of enhancements and bug fixes that have been reported
since the last version in February, 2000. Highlights include:
Taskbar icon menu to select settings and YXY visibility
Startup mode option for "Normal", "Minimized" or "Hidden"
"Lock Position" option to keep your DVD player in one spot. This fixes a
problem in the previous version where the application would resize itself when selecting a
chapter or when changing from anamorphic to non-anamorphic mode.
Blanking is cleared if the player shuts down (only available when "Lock
Position" is selected)
New hotkey for "reapply current setting"
More reliably respond to "select YXY" and "select application"
hotkey
Direct editing of window position parameters
Setting list is sorted
Setting name is displayed in caption
The ability to auto-launch an application when a DVD is inserted, or on startup if a DVD
is in the drive
Mouse cursor indicates when the mouse is over the YXY-blanked area, making it easy to
select context items
Requirements
In order to work, this program requires the VB6 runtime files. You may already have the
required support files on your system. Search your \windows\system directory for the file
MSVBVM60.DLL. If you have it, the program should run and you only need to download the
very smalled ZIP'ed executable and its supporting DLL. If you do not have these files you
can run the larger setup program that installs the program as well as the required support
files.
The program itself does not create any registry entries, nor register any components.
It saves all its settings in a two small data files and a settings file created in the
same directory as the program.
About YXY
This program is free for any non-commercial use.
YXY is a hobby that got out of hand. I wrote a quick hack version so that I could view
non-anamorphic DVD's on my front projection system by stretching the DVD player window
taller than the screen. Based on feedback from the folks on the AVS Forum, the program
"just grew" with many new and useful features. Several key technical
breakthroughs were only possible with the excellent technical assistance of AVS Forum
member Andrew Chilvers, who provided code to handle window sizing and global hotkey
support. Any typos, bugs, or other problems with YXY itself, are my fault. I'd love to
hear from you of any problems you have so that I can correct them. As always suggestions
are welcome as well.
