#PAR.EXE comments
17 messages in this thread
Hello Brick!
Been using the PAR a lot lately (1.30b) and have a few small comments.
1) Not a big problem, but one for the Could-Be-Tweaked list.
When restarting the PAR.EXE, the directory name at the top of the
file box is not correct in the following example:
(My PAR directory is D:\UTILS\DPS_PAR)
-Start PAR.EXE
-Access files on C:\JKJ\WORK\TRANS
-Exit PAR
-Restart PAR.EXE
-The directory in the file box header is
C:\JKJ\WORK\TRANS
The files within the box, however, are those of
D:\UTILS\DPS_PAR
-Switching to any other DIR fixes the header
2) A suggestion for an enhancement.
Efficiency of use would be much improved with a small change: When
deleting an animation, place the highlight on the file following the
one just deleted, rather than move the highlight to the top of the
file list. This would save a bunch of rescrolling down a long file
list when working within a project.
3) Wishlist item.
Although I appreciate the non-destructive JOIN, my personal wishlist
includes a destructive join option, perhaps implemented by way of a
check-box in the join dialog. I usually work by creating a bunch of
small sequences (often single frames), JOIN them in a sequence, then
delete all the components. A destructive JOIN would save a bunch of
renaming/deletion.
JKJ
PS: Great gizmo! The PAR has greatly improved the way I can work.
>> Although I appreciate the non-destructive JOIN, my personal
wishlist includes a destructive join option <<
I ditto that.
James Franssen
Imagination Station
JKJ:
/__________From your message___________\\
2) A suggestion for an enhancement.
Efficiency of use would be much improved with a small change: When
deleting an animation, place the highlight on the file following
the one just deleted, rather than move the highlight to the top of
the file list. This would save a bunch of rescrolling down a long
file list when working within a project.
__________________________________________
I mistakenly blew away a whole animation by mindlessly clicking the DELETE
button and the subsequent OK's as I thought I would be automatically placed at
the file *AFTER* the first one I deleted. So, you have a vocal second vote to
support your idea.
I like all of your suggestions.
Bob
>>…I like all of your suggestions.
>>
>>Bob
Wow! In that case, I suggest you pack up all your computer equipment and ship
it to me. I'll pay the shipping. <g>
JKJ
PMJI- I have created a still image of the color bars which I stick in the front
of the directory by naming it 1111.stl and it stays at the top of the list just
in case of problems like you have described. This little trick has saved my A$$
a few times. I keep the TARGA file in my 3DS map directory and bring it in
every time I create a new Project Directory!
Good Luck
Mike Morgan, CAD Forms Inc.
RE: 1) Not a big problem, but one for the Could-Be-Tweaked list. (directory
list out of sync)
Noted, we will look into this.
RE: 2) A suggestion for an enhancement. (placement of highlighting)
This has always been a pet peeve of mine, but never quite rated the 'gotta do
now' list. I will look at this again.
RE:3) Wishlist item. (destructive join)
Actually this is in the current version you have. You have to set a special
flag that will allow it to join_contiguous files on the disk. Only contiguous
files can be joined destructively. A destructive join of non contiguous files
can actually take longer than a non destructive one, the only thing it is
saving you is the effort of deleting the original files. There would still
have to be an optimize, and in fact, it can fragment your disk more than a non
destructive join.
Come to think of it, there are quite a number of new features that are not
outlined in the readme docs of the beta software..<g> maybe its time to set
them free.<G>
Brick
Mr BE,
Thank you for your response! As a software developer myself, I'm especially
focused on things that could be changed, sometimes easily, that improve
productivity. Thanks for listening. (Try sending ideas to Microsoft and see
where they go. <g>)
>>destructive join, already there…
I've seen that in the PCREADME.TXT, but it said only to use it when the disk is
full and requred modifying the PAR.INI file. Even if the disk-full requirement
isn't the case, that wouldn't streamline operation except in rare cases.
Besides, there doen't seem to be any way to know if two files are contiguous.
Whether the destructive join of non-continuous files will take longer or
fragment the disk more is not an issue here.
Consider this: if I am arranging a series of segments into a single animation,
I have to manually and repeatedly Join, Delete, then Rename the TMP file. I
will process segments in an arbitrary order, taking a given length of time, and
leaving the disk in a given state of fragmentation when it is all done. I
don't really care what state the disk is left in, because my task is to create
a specific video presentation regardless of what goes on in the hardware and
software.
Think of what I'm suggesting from Mr User's viewpoint rather than from the
disk's viewpoint. The whole process would be streamlined if he could…
-Select the starting ANI
-Click the Join button
-Select all segments to be joined
-Specify in the dialog if this is to be a destructive join
-Click OK to perform the Join
For a destructive join
Ask for a file name, defaulting to the initial ANI
Join all segments, displaying progress
Delete all component segments
For a non-destructive join
Ask for a file name, presenting TMP as a default
(to get fancy here, present TMP01 if TMP is in use, etc.)
Join all segments, displaying progress
-Leave the highlight on the new file
Note that if the ANI file listbox had an option to redisplay the file list and
indicate which files are contiguous and capable of a non-fragmenting
destructive join, then I could perhaps use this informatino first to try to
plan and optimize my editing. However, the bottom line is I'm going to join
what needs to be joined, whether contigous or not. Operation somewhat like
that outlined above would simply let the computer do automatically what I now
have to do manually.
BTW, an extension of any ANI file listbox redisplay would be to allow a sorted
display by name, size, date, or unsorted (showing which are contiguous, perhaps
by separating non-contiguous files with something like "———-" in the
filename field)
>>there are quite a number of new features not outlined…
Great things to know. Let them out of their cages!
Is one of these features a stack of joins, or has that always been there? When
I click on Join again while the Join list box is already active, I seem to get
a stack of Join boxes, as evidenced by their unlayering as I click Cancel. (I
have not actually tried clicking OK on one of these stacks) If you do allow a
stack of joins, does it result in a single TMP file? Some layers can have a
single file name – what are they joined to? If this stack is a feature, it
would certainly seem to complicate the any potential destructive join
operation. Personally, I see limited use for such a feature, as it 1) can be
accidentally activated without any indication on the screen, and 2) hides a
pending operation from review. Again, I've been too chicken to try this, since
I have some things I on the drive that aren't backed up, so I may be way off
base here.
Thanks again for your attention!
JKJ
JKJ:
Good ideas! Since some of the "batch joins" could take a while, perhaps even
add an "optimize after join" button, so that you could start the process and go
away, knowing that it would not only have everything done when you got back,
but have the disk ready to go again, also!
Greg Pyros
And I want it to call my pager when done with a really long join.
Did you get to see the eagle at Biebl's?
JKJ
JKJ:
>> Did you get to see the eagles at Biebl's?
Was that supposed to rhyme? No, didn't make it over to his place this trip, we
made him drive over to us! But he told us about an eagle fight that morning
over a fish, sounded great!
Happy Holidays!
Greg Pyros
I like your suggestion. While I prefer the non-destructive join it would be
nice to work in your option scenario.
Good suggestion.
I guess much depends on the way of working and the desired end result. I too,
like the non-destructive join – it has saved me a lot of Duplicate juggling in
some cases. That's why I'd like to see the option to do either.
BTW, I ordered Razor Pro today. I promise that you'll be the first person go
get my humble impressions!
On another subject, do you have any recommendations for a Hi-8 camcorder?
Although not as my first priority, I would like to be able modify my existing
UW housing (8" tube) or build a new one. Primarily for above water video. I
bought Sony's little Hi-8 deck and am impressed with the video quality. It's
small enough that I carry it around and connect to a monitor to show
animations.
JKJ
Good luck on the Razor Pro. I'm looking forward to getting on with it too but
I just had to buy two more betacam decks ($ouch$) for a big project that I'm
starting on next week. After the $ are returned from this project, the Razor
will be next.
I needed a new Hi8 for UW work last summer and bought the TR700. I really like
it. Has RCTC and will work like a mini TV studio. I can control it as a
feeder deck frame accurate with the Video Machine. Has a remote control and an
interface that makes it work like a home VCR. The whole family loved it on our
recent trip to Disney. It also has the first auto focus that works and the
first steady shot that I like. I'm very happy with it. Didn't require too
much mod. on my housing either.
Thanks for the Hi8 help. Your recommendation is good enough for me – I have
one comming tomorrow. I'm headed to S.Utah in a week or so and need to bring
back some footage (inch-age?) for a Dept of Trans project. I'm going to try
some PAR rotoscoping into 3DS. (And I may show up on your doorstep someday
asking for a look at your UW housing if I get to that point. For now, I think
I'll dedicate my 8mm Canon to the existing housing)
Hey, I just used the freeware blob modeler to make a cave system and swam thru
part of it with a spotlight! It worked pretty well, but needs a lot of tuning.
I may dig out my map of Little River or Devil's Eye. Now just combine it with
some VR software…
JKJ
>>I may dig out my map of Little River or Devil's Eye.
I didn't know you had those. Did you know that they were both edited
with a consumer VHS deck and a consumer beta deck? Devils eye did use
a borrowed switcher and TBC though. And, the graphics was done with
GRASP and the "Video Charlie" This was an EGA genlock card. They
were shot with my old VHS camcorder. I'm soon to complete a new
version of Little River to replace the one you have. The beta master
is shot.
My TR-700 housing is actually a rework of my V99 housing. The V99 died!
>>Little River…
Oh no, I meant PAPER maps. I think I've seen parts of the Little River tape at
the dive shop though. (and remember, you sent me a copy of Madison Blue) I
have a pile of paper maps around here somewhere.
BTW, the TR700 came today and it's great. Excellent video quality and I was
surprised by the quality of the built-in stereo mike. As an added bonus it
accepts std 52mm filters. This will be a good toy.
Are you familiar with the Control-L format? I bought a Sony editor a few years
ago with Control-L for use with my 8-mm deck, and it has some kind of mini DIN
connector. The TR700 and the new Hi8 deck I just got have what looks close to
a std miniture jack. Do you know if the old and new Control-L formats are the
same and if I can use the editor with an adaptor or something?
JKJ
RE: Stacking Join requestors.
Wow, long message. The response is somewhat longer than even my long replies
usually are so I will answer by mail rather than take up bandwith here.