Utility: ShowAnalyzer Beta

[UniKyrn]

I've just started experimenting with DirMon and ShowAnalyzer, and I've run into a bit of a snag. DirMon correctly locates the files that need to be processed, and it kicks off the first task, but when it completes, DirMon never notices it. It just hangs there with "Waiting for processor to finish" in the status window.

This is on a Win2K Pro system with the latest service packs.

It's acting like it's not noticing the thread terminate, or something like that. Any suggestions as to things to try or logs to check?

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by UniKyrn

I've just started experimenting with DirMon and ShowAnalyzer, and I've run into a bit of a snag. DirMon correctly locates the files that need to be processed, and it kicks off the first task, but when it completes, DirMon never notices it. It just hangs there with "Waiting for processor to finish" in the status window.

This is on a Win2K Pro system with the latest service packs.

It's acting like it's not noticing the thread terminate, or something like that. Any suggestions as to things to try or logs to check?

As discussed in the DirMon thread on the last page, version 0.2.5 has issues with Windows 2000. Using version 0.2.3 will resolve your issue.

Jere

[UniKyrn]

Thank you, I'd skimmed the forum before downloading the software, but had missed that thread.

[UniKyrn]

One problem down, now for the next one.

I've got a recording that causes the latest SA(free) to crash. Is there a recommended logging level that gives you the detail you would need to try and track down the problem?

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by UniKyrn

One problem down, now for the next one.

I've got a recording that causes the latest SA(free) to crash. Is there a recommended logging level that gives you the detail you would need to try and track down the problem?

Not really. Errors, per se, should always be logged. Check SA's installation directory for any useful logs.

Jere

[UniKyrn]

Ok, I found a log file from SADLL with the following: (Log Level 2)

09:35:25(1) Show Information
Name: Inside the Actors Studio
Episode: Jennifer Connelly
Channel Name: BRAVOP
Channel Number: 65
Categories: Interview
09:35:25(0) Entering getsize.
09:35:25(0) File size: 1.88GB
09:35:25(0) Leaving getsize.

[AWS]

I just bought and installed ShowAnalyzer. Geesh, right out of the box the program works great with my setup - I'm using it via the ComSkip proxy. Just a basic install with all defaults has been much more accurate than all the previous ComSkip apps I've used. Thanks! WELL WORTH THE $10!~

[JonTom]

Well colour me impressed. Zero experience with ComSkip/SA, but I was well aware of the "Awesome Responsibility"tm of being ready to skip commercials manually, and stop, frame-perfect, after the break... Decided to try SA when I got tired of hearing/shouting "Awesome Responsibilty"tm at every commercial break.

After the 2 week trial, I went back to buy SA (after all it worked soo much better than I expected!) and found it was only $10. THANK YOU!! SA works near-perfectly (except on reruns of CSI: Miami on Showcase??).

One suggestion: when I registered with my new key, it wouldn't take. SA kept thinking it wasn't registered. I searched the threads and found out about deleting the registry key (from memory, don't quote me: HKLM/SOFTWARE/DRAGONGLOBAL/SHOWANALYZER/KEY?) which worked. This info should be more readily available. Granted, it wasn't too hard to find, but either the program should register properly or this step should be part of the "New To" sticky, and at the top of this thread...

Thanks again for a great product; now off to try the schoolhouse and get Showcase to work....

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by UniKyrn

Ok, I found a log file from SADLL with the following: (Log Level 2)

09:35:25(1) Show Information
Name: Inside the Actors Studio
Episode: Jennifer Connelly
Channel Name: BRAVOP
Channel Number: 65
Categories: Interview
09:35:25(0) Entering getsize.
09:35:25(0) File size: 1.88GB
09:35:25(0) Leaving getsize.

That generally means there was an access error. Are you accessing a file that is being recorded across a network? Some setups won't allow it. Some will.

It that is not the case, try an uninstall/reinstall/reregister.

Jere

[UniKyrn]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

That generally means there was an access error. Are you accessing a file that is being recorded across a network? Some setups won't allow it. Some will.

It that is not the case, try an uninstall/reinstall/reregister.

Jere

No, that's an old file from a few months ago and nothing was touching it except SA. It's only that file that causes the problem, SA appears to handle every other file I've tried it on without a hitch.

[jbanera]

I've been using DirMon and ShowAnalyzer for a couple of months now and they work great together... perfect commercial skipping just about everytime! Thanks Jere!

The only problem I have seen is my taskbar fills up with ShowAnalyzer processes (see attached jpg) until I run my mouse over one of them, then they all disappear. Has anyone seen this behaviour? Is it a setting that I have wrong?

[geogecko]

These are my settings. You probably don't even want the system tray icons, do you?

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by jbanera

The only problem I have seen is my taskbar fills up with ShowAnalyzer processes (see attached jpg) until I run my mouse over one of them, then they all disappear. Has anyone seen this behaviour? Is it a setting that I have wrong?

While I, personally, can not reproduce this, it does seem to be common. I suspect it is the result of the order in which objects are getting destroyed in a multithreading environment. SA is undergoing a major rewrite right now and one of the main goals of that to ensure the proper order of destruction and that should prevent these "stray" icons.

On a side note, thank you to everyone for the kind words. It is suprising how much those words make continuing work on SA so much easier, enjoyable and satifying. Thank you.

Jere

[geogecko]

No, please, let us thank you. This was one of the main reasons I decided to even build an HTPC...just getting tired of wasting my life with commercials, it's bad enough that I sit in front of the TV so long sometimes, but at least I'm getting to watch something I like.

Again, if it hasn't been said enough, thank you for working on this.

[ajuhawk]

I too find the whole commercial skipping concept invaluable! The fact that SA works so well and reliably is just icing on the cake. I greatly appreciate the hours that I've been able to "save" by not having to watch worthless commercials but still be able to enjoy the shows I do want to watch. So a great thanks!

[UniKyrn]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

On a side note, thank you to everyone for the kind words. It is suprising how much those words make continuing work on SA so much easier, enjoyable and satifying. Thank you.

Jere

Lest the only thing I post in this thread be problems, I'll chime in with a big Thank You as well. I've only been experimenting with it a couple of days, but I'm already certain this is one of the best add-on's for Sage I've come across.

[Jere_Jones]

UniKyrn, did you see the PM that I sent you?

Jere

[UniKyrn]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

UniKyrn, did you see the PM that I sent you?

I have now. I'm not in the habit of looking up there in the corner of the page to see if I have any messages waiting.

[RedCoat999]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

The most useful logs regarding errors will be in the directory that SA is installed.

Jere

The logs there appear to be the same, so when the program crashes, i check the log files and they follow the same format: Entering getsize. File size: x.xxGB, Leaving getsize

Nothing else

[heffe2001]

Since I started recording HD material via firewire, SA tends to get stuck quite often on the HD material that is recorded. I've added those channels to the do not process list, but it seems like SA is trying to open the mpeg before it checks the rules, and immediately bombs out. This gets DM stuck in a loop, using 100% CPU about every 5 to 10 seconds. These files are TS files, which I understand that SA cannot currently process, but is there a way to get DM to abort trying to run SA on a file if it gets x amount of consecutive attempts? If I could get it to abort checking a particular file after say, 10 attempts, it would keep my system happily running SA, and bypassing the HD files after a short period of time.