SAVE project function

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:25 pm

Just to keep you people in the loop:

The programmer has started his attempt to implement a save function into FFC. The initial results were positive and give hope for this to be possible. But it will take some more time before we can know if it will be good enough. There are errors popping up, and some of the errors are quite tricky to resolve, while other issues are still without a solution. He will continue working on this until there is a satisfactory solution.

Hopefully you all take that as a positive news, and arm yourselves with patience.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:56 pm

Looking good at this point in time.

Now it is possible to save everything from:

Hotspots
Hotspots2
Filters
Filters 2
Functions

What is missing (more work for my programmer) is the ability to save everything from:

Visuals
Controller
Plugins

But it looks as if it's only a question of hard work in order to get the whole thing finished properly. There is a lot of rewriting of the code, changing classes, making new classes etc, but it's going to be worth it in the end.

When this is ready and working, a file with the project name will be saved with a .ffc extension (myProject.ffc), it can be opened with Flashificator, or double clicked and it would open automatically in Flashificator. Graphics, mp3's and videos can be edited or removed to fit a new client, while everything else would be there. So if a tour of 50 panos is made, it would be ready for the next client that might have only 20 panos in the tour, and it would be a simple thing to remove the additional 30 panos from the saved project, finish the new one and save a new project file.

My programmer will make a few templates that will have different layouts, easy to be used. One will only need to provide the cube faces and other graphics. You the users can also provide templates for distribution if you'd want to, and therefore increase the possibilities for other users.

This will make a HUGE difference to the workflow, and I can't wait for a working copy for trying it out.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:24 pm

The programmer is still working on the save function, and it looks as if he may be having it ready in one week along with some other fixes.

by **mhobbi01** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:38 pm

Trusti... This is EXCELLENT NEWS... I had put the program aside until this function would become available! I am glad it has finally come to the top of your programmer's list of changes.... Can't wait to see the new version with this function!

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:36 pm

mhobbi01 wrote::D Trusti... This is EXCELLENT NEWS... I had put the program aside until this function would become available! I am glad it has finally come to the top of your programmer's list of changes.... Can't wait to see the new version with this function!

Sorry to hear you had put it aside, but I fully agree with you that this is something one can hardly wait for. My fingers itch when I am looking over the programmer's shoulder, seeing how he can call up projects with more and more settings. It will revolutionize the whole project. No doubt at all.

Everything except the majority of the plugins section is ready now, and after the plugins have been upgraded for the save process, the only thing left for him, will be data serializing all folders, plugins and other files in the project, into one file (.ffc), converted into bytes, and not visible/accessible files and folders, and after that it will be released.

Such a .ffc file as a template could contain 1x1 pixel cube faces, 1x1 pixel graphics, 1kb video and mp3 files, in order to keep the template at a minimum size, and one would only have to replace the appropriate files with one's project files to make things work properly. That will of course be done in FFC when the project file/template has been opened. The only files that MAY have to be replaced manually, are the visual files (the pano images).... but I would think that the programmer will make some changes that will make that possible from within the interface later on.

by **terrycm** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:21 pm

I for one can handle manual file replacement, it beats starting a project over.... I am REALLY looking forward to this feature.

by **terrycm** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:13 pm

How are things coming with the Save function?

Thanks,
Terry

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:47 am

I'm back at my post after a long weekend away, the programmer has been sick since last thursday night, but should be on his feet shortly, so no progress has been on his front since last thursday

What he told me about the save function, is that all problems and "situations" he has encountered are fixable in theory, and it only takes time to get things put together. Something "technical" about the program reading bytes from the .ffc file.... having to be able to understand what bytes represent a folder, and which bytes represent the contents of the folder... something along those lines. Forgetting the technical mumbo jumbo, the good news is that this is all possible.

If he is well enough to be back to work today, he should be able to finish this during the weekend.... and I need it just as much as anyone else.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:50 am

Save file project is back on track, and everything is getting ready for release of it. Only thing left is to add everything under the Plugins tab to be saved. That is the exact same thing that has been done to all the other things in the program, so there is nothing technical stopping this now.

Almost 2 in the night right now, and the programmer is working full speed in order to catch up with lost time.

by **terrycm** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:33 am

Buy that man a Red Bull and give him a pat on the back from me.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:54 pm

Of further interest is this:

The save file will be "YourProjectName.ffc". A single file containing everything the project contains, with all settings saved. If the project contains 100 panos of 4 MB each, plus 10 videos of 5 MB each, 50 mp3's of 3 MB each and 100 photos of 500 kb each, the .ffc file would be around 650 MB in size... but there is some compression taking place there, depending on the file types saved, it should be able to reduce the size of the file somewhat.

Last night he made a test with a pano containing a video, total size 11 MB, and it took around 2 seconds for the program to open it up (has to be converted from bytes to files in the process). How it will behave with bigger projects, is still not known, but we will all get there soon.

In theory, the .ffc file COULD be used as a project file and uploaded to one's domain, where pano.swf could draw everything from it for displaying it online. For that to happen, Denis would have to add the needed code to pano.swf to make it work (my programmer has the needed code). That would indeed be a great addition if possible. Once the save function is ready and working, I will contact Denis in order to have a look at that possibility.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:19 pm

More time is needed. Some of the plugins in Plugins section are supposedly a bit tricky to set up for the saving function, but it is only a question of time until it is done. The programmer also said that when he finishes, there might be bugs... but I count on everyone to send in bug reports if crap happens.

by **kerman** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:33 am

Hi.

Mi first post here!

Save function will be the definitive thing! I need it so much who else not

How the people works big tour without it? I'm new here and have son tours to do, and when i decide to purchase flashificator don't realize that it does not have save function!

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:33 am

We all need it, and working without it can be (is) nerve wrecking. This has been the most important issue right from the first release, but because of the way the program was written the programmer thought that introducing a save function would be a complete mess for the whole structure of the code, but fortunately he thought of another method, and it works.

As of right now, the only things left to set up for the save function are the following parts of the "Plugins" section:

Borders (easy)
Context menu (complicated - about to finish)
Dashboard (complicated)
Tourificator (complicated)
MP3 Music Player (not complicated, but needs many changes)
Preview (easy)
Loadmeters (not difficult)

"Complicated" = a day or two for the programmer.
"Not complicated, but needs many changes" = a day or so
"Not difficult" = less than a day
"Easy" = a couple of hours

That's an estimation... anything can move in both positive and negative direction... but let's hope it will be on the positive side.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:29 pm

Dashboard (complicated)
Tourificator (complicated)
MP3 Music Player (not complicated, but needs many changes) In progress
Preview (easy)
Loadmeters (not difficult)

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:18 pm

Dashboard (complicated)
Tourificator (complicated)
Preview (easy) In progress
Loadmeters (not difficult)

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:08 am

Dashboard (complicated)
Tourificator (complicated)
Loadmeters (not difficult)

by **kerman** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:03 am

Thanks for keeping us in the loop

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:17 am

I'm just as excited as anyone else... a feeling that is further fueled by occasional glimpses over my programmer's shoulder, witnessing how things are working out well.

Consider the above as the main count down. When the final 3 will finsh ( Dashboard, Tourificator, Loadmeters ) there will still be a few tweaks and twists to do, for example making sure that paths will be working on both PC's and Mac's, something in the file structure, some other things as well, but that's all minor issues (as I understand). So the count down is very real.

by **kerman** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:23 am

So i guess that maybe we can see a new update in about 10 days?, after some beta testing... If you need betatesters, can count with me!

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:50 am

10 days?

naaahhh...

I'm actually hoping for a much earlier release... maybe even before next Monday... if all works out fast and well. After that you WILL be a beta-tester... since there will probably be bugs and errors to report... but that is only expected and understandable.

by **kerman** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:09 pm

Great news then!!

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:14 pm

Yes, sounds great... maybe more than anything it reflects my wish... combined with me doing NO coding/programming at all, it may be more than a little inaccurate. So don't get your hopes up too high.... it's enough if I make a fool out of myself (once again-again-again).

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:00 pm

Dashboard (complicated) In progress
Tourificator (complicated)

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:54 pm

Dashboard (complicated) 99.5% finished

The one thing that doesn't allow itself to work, is the placement of the dashboard buttons in the monitor (the component with the three default positions of left down side, center down and right down side ... the component is the one placed above "New buttons" button in Dashboard.

He will try to remake the component, and hopes it will solve the whole thing.

After that he needs to make sure the paths will be working for both PC's and Mac's, and also put the "Open" (project) button in toolbox, so when FFC is started, you can start a new project, or open an old one. And equally a "Save" (project) button will have to be added next to the "Flashificate" button (in the gap to the left of it).

After that, it will be released and hopefully make everyone happy.

by **kerman** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:00 am

Hey and what about tourificator? I see that it's not started isn't it?
It's an important piece to have done for saving, hope it don't delay release so much...

Great job!

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:12 am

Tourificator .... you want it also to be saveable?

He moved away from the dashboard after being unable to get the alignment component to fit in, and finished the Tourificator in lightning speed.

So the only thing left, is to rebuild the component in Dashboard, and make sure things will be ok this time around for saving.

So my hopeful prediction of things finally gettig together this weekend... seems to be holding true.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:02 pm

That is the general idea behind it (in my view). I asked the programmer about this exact same thing a while back, and this will be doable... I don't care if he has to sell his soul to achieve it... that's just a MUST.

He is not here right now, but I will ask him at first chance and get a detailed CONFIRMATION of how it will be achieved.

As things are now, every pano in a multi-node tour can be replaced without any problem, but it's the initial pano that is the "problem" in the current structure. I am sure it will be easily fixed, and I think that's the impression he gave me back then.

by **kerman** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:13 pm

Trausti Hraunfjord wrote:Tourificator .... you want it also to be saveable?

He moved away from the dashboard after being unable to get the alignment component to fit in, and finished the Tourificator in lightning speed.

So the only thing left, is to rebuild the component in Dashboard, and make sure things will be ok this time around for saving.

So my hopeful prediction of things finally gettig together this weekend... seems to be holding true.

Sorry if I don't understad, you mean that saving tourificator is done? It was not complicated then?

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:18 pm

Yes, it is done. Fortunately it turned out to be a lot easier than the programmer had initially evaluated it to be. After he had spent around 30 minutes drawing and writing down what he had to do, it only took him around 40 minutes to implement the actual changes.

Good things can also happen from time to time.

by **kerman** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:33 pm

You are the man!! (and your coder too)

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:01 pm

All the gratitude shall go to the programmer... he must know that his work is appreciated, so that he will continue to put his best efforts into the work, and not lose interest.

He remade and replaced the faulty alignment component in the Dashboard, so now the dashboard is included in the saving function. Preloader needs to be prepared for the save function (forgot to mention that... but it should be simple and quick). Small tweaks and twists, and version 2.044 will be released... finally.

Version 2.045 will include the possibility to use projects as templates for future projects. If it can be done today, then he will do it today... but I'm not counting on it. SO maybe in a couple of days or so.

By all means: If you encounter some errors and bugs with the upcoming version, do PLEASE report back with as good a description of what you were doing, when it failed working properly.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:05 pm

Set-back... he is up over his head again... after discovering that he forgot to update a part of all the sliders:

: SliderComponent.jpg (10.08 KiB) Viewed 5221 times

The green part is prepared for saving, but the blue part is not. These are 2 different components... so now he is working his butt of in order to get it fixed.

I want a copy to play around with... but have to wait just like everyone else.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:25 pm

Crap. Not finished today. But tomorrow it should be ready.

Only things left are to set the relative paths for PC's and Mac's and make the Open project and Save To buttons.

Everything else is done.

by **kerman** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:35 pm

Don't worry, you both for sure are doing and excellent work, thanks for keeping us updated so much, very appreciated

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:50 pm

kerman wrote:Don't worry, you both for sure are doing and excellent work, thanks for keeping us updated so much, very appreciated

Easy for you to say.... sporting that handsome signature

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:56 pm

2 hours more .... if it is to reach my prediction of publication today. The programmer is still battling with code... ... and my fingers are still itching for a test drive of the save function.

by **kerman** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:07 pm

Save function it's about to see the light!!! after lot of time as I see around the forum, you'll get it! Congrats!

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:52 pm

Last night the save function was the main theme of my dreams... of course not logical in any way... saving real life (dream life) events before I could release it... ... only goes to show how important the save function is viewed by my sub conscious mind.

The programmer is still working... 10 minutes left for my deadline... not going to happen from the looks of it, but he will finish it before stopping, and I will have it uploaded to the update section.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:06 am

"Save function is finished".... the programmer announced...

Now he's doing some testing...

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:07 am

I am still waiting... he is still working... there are some bugs being eliminated, still some errors popping up... when the current problem(s) are eliminated, I can get a copy for my PC, and if it works on it, I can upload it to the update section.... and I will do so without any further testing... simply trusting that everything is as it should be.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:30 am

Almost ready.

There is a single error that's not fixed (appears on my PC, not on his MAC), but I will upload it as it is now, and he will fix the rest tomorrow (later today).

The error causes the following to happen in the xml file:

<parameters>
panoName = files/visualFiles/nature
panoType = cube
segments = 20
loaderTextColor = 0
loaderBackColor = 0ayer_1 = hotspots.swf

Something to do with the load meter ... this can be manually fixed in the xml file, by correcting it in the following manner:

<parameters>
panoName = files/visualFiles/nature
panoType = cube
segments = 20
loaderTextColor = 0
loaderBackColor = 0
layer_1 = hotspots.swf

There doesn't seem to be anything else wrong... but if you encounter something, please report back.

As said above, this error will be corrected within the next 21 hours.... consider this to be an absolute beta version.

Will upload it to the update section now.

by **Trausti Hraunfjord** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:33 am

Thank you Eric.

As I am testing it now, it is causing other errors as well... so more needs to be done before it comes out of the "BETA" status. Of course it will be dealt with as soon as possible.

by **kerman** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:29 am

WOW testing now!

This is a small step..a BIG step for the programmer and a HUGE step for the humankind!! hehehe

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