Using the OVERLAY EDITOR
This editor is simple and only requires a few hints so you can get started. To access the editor you must be in WEBCAM 7 and your SOURCE should be displayed on the MONITOR SCREEN.
Click on the CAMERA ICON located in the UPPER RIGHT HAND corner. There should be two icons there, the CAMERA is the SOURCE OVERLAY EDITOR. When activated, the screen shows a STATIC image of your last CAMERA FRAME. Here is where you edit, create and save your creations to an XML file (more later).
The OVERLAY SCREEN has a "BLANK" Browser Bar in the upper LH corner. You may select any of the overlay screens you have created and saved by clicking on the "BLUE DOWN ARROW" button and selecting your "saved" creation. If you have never saved an overlay file, there will be no entry here.
We will explain the save a little later.
To place your call sign on the OVERLAY, you simply click on the [A] box button down in the lower LEFT HAND CORNER, below your static screen image. After you click ONE TIME, move your mouse to the STATIC SCREEN and click again...a small text box will appear there [Text Overlay] as shown in these brackets. Now "double click" on that "Text Overlay" and a TEXT EDITOR pops-up above the static image. This is where you EDIT the TEXT, CHANGE the COLOR, CHANGE the FONT and SET the TYPE-SIZE. ANy FONT that is on your computer can be used in the overlay. Large ones are certainly more easy to read and don't forget the rules regarding color and contrast. Now, using the mouse, highlight the text in the TEXT EDITOR and enter your CALL SIGN. Click OK, and on the STATIC IMAGE, move your CALL SIGN to a location on the screen that looks good to you. You can experiment with this a little later, but now I want you to add an image.
To place an image on your OVERLAY, you must click on the [Local Image] box button just right of the [A] box button. If you leave your mouse on the button, it will pop up the tool tip for you to read. Now "click" on the button and move your mouse to the STATIC IMAGE and click again...the FILE BROWSER will appear and you can select an image to display on top of your stream. Remember that you are streaming at 800 by 600 maximum, so do not place a 1024 by 768 image on your OVERLAY, it will not display properly. Choose an image 800 by 600 or less in size. This image may be .JPG, .PNG or .GIF. Animated GIF files can be displayed, and you can adjust effects, including TRANSPARENCY by simply clicking on the image and adjusting the settings in the dialog box that appears there.
Other BOX BUTTONS and what they are for, these are the [Network Image] and [Video Source]
(TBC)
Saving your creations...is easy, as soon as you like what you have created, you can save it to an XML file that can be retieved later for use again and again. To save you navigate to the OVERLAY EDITOR and that BROWSER BOX on the top of the screen left hand side, now CLICK on the SAVE AS button and give the overlay a name. Now click SAVE and it is done. You have created the .XML file for your creation. This file can be edited manually in any text editor.

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The XML file: What is XML and how do I edit it ???
First of all, you will need a way to edit these .XML files outside of the WebcamXP program. I recommend NotePad Plus ( http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/download.php ) because it is a GNU Public License text editor that can edit XML, PHP, HTML, ASP, JAVASCRIPT and just about all known languages presently used on-line and in program source code. The program is free of charge and is well maintained by the designer.
The XML file is nothing more than a text file that links to the WebcamXP software. When you use the "overlay editor" in WebcamXP you are creating an XML file. If you add your CALL SIGN and the DATE STAMP to a windoew, you can save it using the very simple SAVE AS function in the program. You can call up these XML files at a later date and use them as GENLOCK overlays on your Web Cam presentation.
If you understand the BASIC functions of the "OE", you realize that it is very simple and has little power beyond adding text to the screen image. However if you look at the .XML files that are located in "\program files\webcamXP\overlays" you will see that they are actually very useful.
EXAMPLE: simple date time.xml
<webcamXP.Overlay>
<Text X="1" Y="6">{\a2}{\BORD2\SHAD0\4c&amp;H00C08000&amp;\fsp0}{\fnVerdana\fs9\fe0\c&amp;HFFFFFF&amp;\b1}$date / $time</Text>
</webcamXP.Overlay>
As you can see the basic requirement is in the LEADING and TRAILING "< >" brackets. The "/" is the switch that turns off the XML. What lays in between is the data (in ASCII format) that WebcamXP uses to create the overlay. Here is a simple call sign using Verdana 24 point font in RED with a SHADOW.
EXAMPLE: basicK3HKR.xml
<webcamXP.Overlay>
<Text X="95" Y="104" Alpha="0">{\a2}{\BORD0\SHAD1\4c&amp;H00000000&amp;\fsp0}{\fs24\c&amp;HFF&amp;}K3HKR</Text>
</webcamXP.Overlay>
If we take time to brake down the file we see that <Text x="nn" Y="nn" Alpha="0"> sets the position and the alpha (density) level of the TEXT. Following that we have BORDER and SHADOW levels along with an identifier, followed by "\fsp0" designator. Note that each file has it's own identity and WebcamXP uses that ID to display the file properly.
What we can do is experiment with these files to place graphics and even allow the .XML file to interface with outside programs like Ham Radio Deluxe.
You can first try playing with these files using the NotepadPlus editor in .XML language mode. Remember that XML is very powerful and is used by programs like Macromedia Flash and can be found in some ASP applications to pass data from local workstations to Internet servers using encrypted security. Without knowing what WebcamXP is doing with these XML files, we can only find out by experimentation. And I add that it certainly won't hurt you to try. You might actually learn something.
I am going to attempt to interface this XML file with HRD or some other application that can pass data to an XML file that the software can use. Considering that WebcamXP can change the OVERLAY SCREEN automatically, this should allow us to change an imprint on the screen by interface control. The simple application of "on air" - "off air" would be the first attempt to interface to the screen. If I can create a way to do this, we can detect "double" transmissions live. There are many other uses, including passing digital mode output directly to the presentation screen.
So join in with us trying to decipher the XML file editor in WebcamXP. Download Notepad++ and try editing an "overlay" file for use on your Web Cam presentation. Let me know what happens and what you have found.