Comskip Monitor: Announcement

[tmiranda]

Gabriel,

It is failing trying to "getFiles". Without seeing the code there is no way to tell what files CSM is trying to get. Did you have to reinstall Windows to recover from your disk crash? If so are there permission issues preventing CSM from accessing files? Is the reinstall corrupt? If you did not do a reinstall and tried to recover manually maybe something is messed up in Windows?

I did a quick Google on "windows error 1067" and there are a lot of references.

[ThePaladinTech]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

By the way, how do I get comskip icons to show up on the Web Server?

It's in detailed setup ... under customize? way towards the bottom - comskip settings.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Gabriel,

It is failing trying to "getFiles". Without seeing the code there is no way to tell what files CSM is trying to get. Did you have to reinstall Windows to recover from your disk crash? If so are there permission issues preventing CSM from accessing files? Is the reinstall corrupt? If you did not do a reinstall and tried to recover manually maybe something is messed up in Windows?

I did a quick Google on "windows error 1067" and there are a lot of references.

Thank you for your help, tmiranda. I was all the time focusing on the C: drive, which has Windows and all my programs and was the one that crashed. I also had a problem with SageTV that I did not know if it was related, and support also mentioned there might be a permissions issue accessing files.
With this in mind, I finally found out that the problem was that my data drive (a new separate drive I never doubted) had a few corrupted .log and .edl files. As soon as I ran chkdsk and fixed them, CSM started fine. (My problem with SageTV was also solved, so it was related).
This is embarrassing, because I spent so long looking into the java install, registry, windows, permissions, each time increasing the complexity, and it ended up being this...
Once more, thank you.

[sungod]

Originally Posted by natrlhy

I've been getting a lot of comskip.exe crashes lately so I went to update Comskip and Comskip Monitor. When I run through the setup.bat web based setup, when I try to point it to my comskip.exe file I see this:

Comskip Monitor Configuration
Invalid Comskip File

There is no way around it and I'm pointing it to the correct location.

Running SageTV 6.6.2

I'm also getting this:

A directory specified in csm.properties "file.directories" attribute is invalid.
Please update csm.properties with valid video file directories, and then uninstall and reinstall ComskipMonitor.

I thought I would add this since I had a similar problem and it ended up not being java (well, I don't think it was).

Anyhow, my default browser was Firefox. Whenever I got to the "choose compskip location" it kept saying "Invalid comskip file". So I changed to internet explorer as my default browser and I had to enable "intranet options" at the top--like you do when you allow it to save a file, etc.

After I did that I could set it up with no more problems. If you do this dont forget to change your default browser back and disable intranet web browsing by following this link:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question...7182900AADwda3

[AJ Bertelson]

Does comskip support H264? I can't seem to get it to work on my system if it does.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by AJ Bertelson

Does comskip support H264? I can't seem to get it to work on my system if it does.

Only the donated version.

Gerry

[Electronicbuff]

I was trying to switch over to my Donor version and now Comskip is dead.

I installed my new folder comskip80_042_donators inside my SageTV folder on the C-drive.

1. I used the uninstall file in Comskip Monitor (MS-Dos Batch file)
2. Now I'm trying to direct it to the new folder using the installer (MS-Dos Batch file)

I start out smooth in the IE browser until I get to Set Comskip Location. I get the error "Invalid Comskip File" when I try to direct CM to the new folder.

Part of the problem may be that the program is looking for an .exe file and nothing is listed as such. I do have a few application files but no .exe extensions.

If I skip this part I get another error for the Set Comskip Config Location since now the CM wants an .ini file to use. Once again nothing has this extension.

I even tried to alter the csm.properties to see if this would fix it, no luck:

#csm.properties
#Tue Feb 27 14:48:46 EST 2007
time.between.checks=10
comskip.config=../comskip80_042_donators/comskip.ini
process.file.extensions=.mpg
slow.hours=
execute.during.record=no
related.file.extensions=
comskip.parameters=
exclude.hours=
file.directories=C\:\\temptest
cleanup.file.extensions=.txt,.log,.edl
comskip.location=../comskip80_042_donators/comskip.exe

If anyone knows how to resolve this I would be so ever in your debt.
-electronicbuff-

[gplasky]

Not sure why you uninstalled Comskip Monitor. All you had to do was drop the donater version of comskip.exe in the same folder that you already had defined in the .ini file. Looking at your ini file you're defining directories in 2 different fashions. You have this: comskip.config=../comskip80_042_donators/comskip.ini
But then you also have this: file.directories=C\:\\temptest
It's been a while since I used Comskip Monitor but I'm pretty sure both formats are not correct.

Gerry

[Electronicbuff]

Sorry, I'm a simpleton, not very good at programing, more of a hardware person. I'll need to be pulled through this operation.

Opening the comskip80_042_donators folder shows the following files:

coccodec.dll..............2108 KB Application Extension
comskip....................712 KB Application
comskip.......................6 KB Configuration Settings
comskip......................23 KB Text Document
comskip.dictionary...........2 KB DICTIONARY File
comskipGUI................712 KB Application
debugwindow................27 KB HTML Document
HideRun......................16 KB Application
manual.......................55 KB HTML Document
PostProcessing...............3 KB MS-DOS Batch File
readme......................49 KB Text Document
tuning......................155 KB HTML Document


When I open the ComskipMonitor folder I have the following files:

comskip79_76.......................File Folder
data...................................File Folder
csm.properties...............1 KB PROPERTIES File
README-v2.7................4 KB Text Document
setup.........................2 KB MS-DOS Batch File
uninstall......................2 KB MS-DOS Batch File

At first I copied all of the new Comskip files into the old Comskip folder. This did not allow Comskip to work anymore. (I was originally hoping for the donor version of Comskip to be a simple file replacement with improvements that would allow commercial deletion as the program was recording. I haven't been able to even get Comskip to re-start.)

I ran the uninstall (MS-Dos Batch file) in the folder ComskipMonitor. Then I placed the unzipped folder of Comskip80_042_donators inside the SageTV folder (so I could direct ComskipMonitor to look at only the new folder).

Then, I ran the setup (MS-Dos Batch file) in ComskipMonitor.

The location of the new comskip folder is:
C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\comskip80_042_donators

In the setup (which uses Internet Explorer) I can't get past the page where it asks for the Comskip Location. Since I don't wish to use the old version I clicked on browse for file and eventually tried clicking on every file name in Comskip80_042_donators folder to try to satisfy ComskipMonitor. Every file name in Comskip80_042_donators folder gives me the error "Invalid Comskip File." If I skip the error any try to trudge forward I get another error from the Set Comskip Config Location since now the CM wants an .ini file to use. I didn't see any file with the extension .ini so I clicked on each file in comskip80_042_donators trying to find one that worked, no luck.

I altered the csm.properties (in ComskipMonitor)to see if this would fix it. No go. Below is the info inside the csm.properties file:

#csm.properties
#Tue Feb 27 14:48:46 EST 2007
time.between.checks=10
comskip.config=../comskip80_042_donators/comskip.ini
process.file.extensions=.mpg
slow.hours=
execute.during.record=no
related.file.extensions=
comskip.parameters=
exclude.hours=
file.directories=C\:\\comskip80_042_donators
cleanup.file.extensions=.txt,.log,.edl
comskip.location=../comskip80_042_donators/comskip.exe

Do you have any step-by-step instructions that will get me out of this ditch?

electronicbuff

[gplasky]

You're not showing the file extension in the Windows Explorer. You need to go to Folder Options and uncheck the hide known file extensions. I would think your locations need to look like comskip.location=C\:\\comskip80_042_donators\\comskip.exe

But if the location of the new comskip folder is: C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\comskip80_042_donators then the above example I gave you is wrong. And I sort of remember the program having problems with spaces. So you may want to put the donator comskip folder right off of C:
C:\comskip80_042_donators

Everything in the csm.properties file should reflect the same path. Your current one does not.

Gerry

[Electronicbuff]

These changes did not seem to fix anything. "Run Comskip Manually" option shows in the options instead of the typical "Delete Comskip Files" option. Even if I try to run manually nothing happens though. Waiting a day to see if the Comskip Monitor is running shows that apparently it is not either. Surprisingly, I never get an error telling me there is a problem.

I also tried to restore a copy of my previous Comskip & Comskip Monitor folder files but this didn't work either. I'm still running SageTV v6.6.2.218 as I heard many upgraders couldn't get Comskip working on v7.

Do you know of a way to remove Comskip & Comskip Monitor entirely from SageTV so I can re-try from scratch?

Should I upgrade to SageTV 7 after removing Comskip? Do you know if the Comskip problems were ironed out in SageTV 7 by now. I'd hate to lose the Comskip program as we can't tolerate commercials anymore and I just upgraded it to the donor version.

I could do a full restore of my c-drive from a back-up to get back my old settings if I can't get Comskip working any another way. I'd like to reserve this as a last resort though.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by Electronicbuff

These changes did not seem to fix anything. "Run Comskip Manually" option shows in the options instead of the typical "Delete Comskip Files" option. Even if I try to run manually nothing happens though. Waiting a day to see if the Comskip Monitor is running shows that apparently it is not either. Surprisingly, I never get an error telling me there is a problem.

I also tried to restore a copy of my previous Comskip & Comskip Monitor folder files but this didn't work either. I'm still running SageTV v6.6.2.218 as I heard many upgraders couldn't get Comskip working on v7.

Do you know of a way to remove Comskip & Comskip Monitor entirely from SageTV so I can re-try from scratch?

Should I upgrade to SageTV 7 after removing Comskip? Do you know if the Comskip problems were ironed out in SageTV 7 by now. I'd hate to lose the Comskip program as we can't tolerate commercials anymore and I just upgraded it to the donor version.

I could do a full restore of my c-drive from a back-up to get back my old settings if I can't get Comskip working any another way. I'd like to reserve this as a last resort though.

Are you using ComskipMonitor or CommercialDetector? They are two different animals and I think you're confusing them.

[Electronicbuff]

ComskipMonitor with the Comskip program.

[pvr599]

Quick question.

When I used comskip and showanalyzer, I was able to not have compskip look for commercials for the last few minutes of a show. Is there anyway with donators version of comskip to do this?

I'm always having to go back a few minutes to catch the end and the previews for the next week.

Thanks!!!
Dana

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by pvr599

Quick question.

When I used comskip and showanalyzer, I was able to not have compskip look for commercials for the last few minutes of a show. Is there anyway with donators version of comskip to do this?

I'm always having to go back a few minutes to catch the end and the previews for the next week.

Thanks!!!
Dana

Use the following in the comskip.ini to do what you want:

always_keep_first_seconds=nn
always_keep_last_seconds=nn

[pvr599]

That's perfect. THANKS!

EDIT: this might be a dumb question, but do I edit the comskip.ini in the SageTV\comskip or the donator\comskip

EDIT2: I actually cannot find those lines in either comskip.ini file. Maybe you're meaning for me to add them?

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by pvr599

That's perfect. THANKS!

EDIT: this might be a dumb question, but do I edit the comskip.ini in the SageTV\comskip or the donator\comskip

EDIT2: I actually cannot find those lines in either comskip.ini file. Maybe you're meaning for me to add them?

The .ini that gets used depends on what you are using to launch comskip. If you are really using COmskipMonitor (and not CommercialDetector) then edit the .ini that is in the same directory as the comskip.exe you are actually using. (Probably the donator's version.)

If you are using CommercialDetector edit the .ini that you have CommercialDetector configured to use. Take a look at the settings and you'll see you can specify what comskip.ini to use.

If the lines are not in the .ini file, just add them.

[jimcgreen]

I have Sagetv version 9.2.1.826 with Comskip selected as a plugin but it never runs. If I try to start it in Services it gives me an error 1067 "The process terminated unexpectedly". None of my recorded shows have commercial skips.
If I select "Run Comskip" on a recording nothing happens.

[CollinR]

Wow dude this is a seriously old thread to resurrect. I dunno how many are still running Sage.

[jt4242]

Originally Posted by CollinR

Wow dude this is a seriously old thread to resurrect. I dunno how many are still running Sage.

Well I, for one, am most certainly still running Sage and will continue to do so just as long as I can.