The latest version has introduced a new problem for me.
My HTPC has a carefully interlocked set of applications (TV, Zoom, JRMC, etc) all controlled via Girder and NetRemote. When one app starts, all the others close or minimize. See http://brianavid.com for a (slightly out-of-date) description.
When I select to watch TV, and consequently automatically stop and minimize JRMC (with GF), unfortunately something (and it must be GF 3.5) holds on to the overlay. This stops my TV app from displaying anything.
Could this analysis be right? My plan for now is to revert to 3.13, though I haven't tried that yet. Can anything be done in the future to yield the overlay when not on the screen?
Thanks
Brian
Back to 3.13 for me :-(
Moderators: BTT, andy55, b.dwall, juxtiphi
I discovered the hard way that the 3.5 version listed for OS X 10.4 was non functional on a 10.4.6 system (G3). It appears to be running without any output to the screen. The 3.5 infoed as Universal by the way. The 3.1.3 installer then refused to install, "nothing to install", even after manually removing the visible traces of all G-Force components. I had do a manual install to get back to 3.1.3.
Yeah, that "nothing to install" is mac os trying to be smart (and failing). If you trash /Library/Receipts/G-Force.pkg that message will go away.aks wrote:I discovered the hard way that the 3.5 version listed for OS X 10.4 was non functional on a 10.4.6 system (G3). It appears to be running without any output to the screen. The 3.5 infoed as Universal by the way. The 3.1.3 installer then refused to install, "nothing to install", even after manually removing the visible traces of all G-Force components. I had do a manual install to get back to 3.1.3.
Thanks for being understanding and maintaining a positive attitude. It defintely sucks that we can't support older hardware now that we're using OpenGL, but there's some huge benefits of the jump to OpenGL. For starters, the frame rates for most recent machines are quite impressive and incredible to watch. Then you have the semi-transparent overlays for stuff like track info overlays. More importantly, we have some cool software in the works that leverage all our hard work in SoundSpectrum OpenGL architecture. We can't wait to release them!avid wrote:That is definitely the issue. I regressed to 3.13 and all is fine now with other video-aware applications. I hope that the 3.5.1 will make GF "play nice" with the other children!
However, I am happy to accept that teething troubles are bound to happen with such a major step forward.
Brian
Andy
Now I *am* confused. This is not on older hardware. I am using a newish 6600 GT card, which I would expect is well above the minimum spec for OpenGL. My understanding of the problem is that GF was claiming exclusive access to some video resource, and holding on to it when minimized, this depriving other applications like my TV. Is this not the case??andy55 wrote: Thanks for being understanding and maintaining a positive attitude. It defintely sucks that we can't support older hardware now that we're using OpenGL, but there's some huge benefits of the jump to OpenGL. For starters, the frame rates for most recent machines are quite impressive and incredible to watch. Then you have the semi-transparent overlays for stuff like track info overlays. More importantly, we have some cool software in the works that leverage all our hard work in SoundSpectrum OpenGL architecture. We can't wait to release them!
Brian
No, you're right... I was totally thinking something else when I was replying (I was fielding a bunch of forum responses and I guess I just started seeing things).avid wrote:Now I *am* confused. This is not on older hardware. I am using a newish 6600 GT card, which I would expect is well above the minimum spec for OpenGL. My understanding of the problem is that GF was claiming exclusive access to some video resource, and holding on to it when minimized, this depriving other applications like my TV. Is this not the case??andy55 wrote: Thanks for being understanding and maintaining a positive attitude. It defintely sucks that we can't support older hardware now that we're using OpenGL, but there's some huge benefits of the jump to OpenGL. For starters, the frame rates for most recent machines are quite impressive and incredible to watch. Then you have the semi-transparent overlays for stuff like track info overlays. More importantly, we have some cool software in the works that leverage all our hard work in SoundSpectrum OpenGL architecture. We can't wait to release them!
Brian
Anyway, as for your problem, I am puzzled too. Does the standalone work normally? If so, then your TV app or G-Force is doing something wrong with OpenGL. I'm not sure what the next step is since I don't have any of your hardware.
Also, when you say something "holds onto the overlay", please describe what you mean in detail.
andy
Thanks Andy.
I can reproduce this with GF stand-alone. And I do not think that you would need any of my hardware to reproduce it yourself. The TV software I use also runs as a totally self-contained MPG player. I have put a copy of the EXE (which is all you need) in DigiTV.zip in http://brianavid.com/xfer.
If you run this, it will allow you to open an MPG file and play it. But if GF is running (stand-alone or in a player, and even if minimized) nothing will be displayed. Exit GF and all will be well again?
My understanding (which is somewhat vague) is that Overlay output to the screen is restricted to one application at a time. What appears to be happening is that GF reserves this Overlay to itself and does not relinquish it until the application exits. But in my use of JRMC it is difficult to force it to exit. JRMC is long-lived and minimized when not in use.
Is this clearer? And can you see the problem?
Brian
I can reproduce this with GF stand-alone. And I do not think that you would need any of my hardware to reproduce it yourself. The TV software I use also runs as a totally self-contained MPG player. I have put a copy of the EXE (which is all you need) in DigiTV.zip in http://brianavid.com/xfer.
If you run this, it will allow you to open an MPG file and play it. But if GF is running (stand-alone or in a player, and even if minimized) nothing will be displayed. Exit GF and all will be well again?
My understanding (which is somewhat vague) is that Overlay output to the screen is restricted to one application at a time. What appears to be happening is that GF reserves this Overlay to itself and does not relinquish it until the application exits. But in my use of JRMC it is difficult to force it to exit. JRMC is long-lived and minimized when not in use.
Is this clearer? And can you see the problem?
Brian
Ok, so it looks like all our problems are solved if when GF in minimized, i release my use of the video resources. I'll have to write Matt Ashland at J River to ask about the best way to know when its getting minimized.avid wrote:Thanks Andy.
I can reproduce this with GF stand-alone. And I do not think that you would need any of my hardware to reproduce it yourself. The TV software I use also runs as a totally self-contained MPG player. I have put a copy of the EXE (which is all you need) in DigiTV.zip in http://brianavid.com/xfer.
If you run this, it will allow you to open an MPG file and play it. But if GF is running (stand-alone or in a player, and even if minimized) nothing will be displayed. Exit GF and all will be well again?
My understanding (which is somewhat vague) is that Overlay output to the screen is restricted to one application at a time. What appears to be happening is that GF reserves this Overlay to itself and does not relinquish it until the application exits. But in my use of JRMC it is difficult to force it to exit. JRMC is long-lived and minimized when not in use.
Is this clearer? And can you see the problem?
Brian
I'll keep this thread up to date with my progress.
Andy
Thank you. I am sure that is what is needed.andy55 wrote:Ok, so it looks like all our problems are solved if when GF in minimized, i release my use of the video resources. I'll have to write Matt Ashland at J River to ask about the best way to know when its getting minimized.
I'll keep this thread up to date with my progress.
Brian
I have unfortunately been horribly swamped so I wasn't able to address this in G-Force 3.5.2.avid wrote:Thank you. I am sure that is what is needed.andy55 wrote:Ok, so it looks like all our problems are solved if when GF in minimized, i release my use of the video resources. I'll have to write Matt Ashland at J River to ask about the best way to know when its getting minimized.
I'll keep this thread up to date with my progress.
Brian
However, I've added it to our bugzilla database for a future release.
thanks,
andy
