Release notes DVStreamerPRO Release 2.3.2 29 January 2005 ============================= This maintenance release fixes : - a resize problem in the main window that prevented the directories to be viewed properly - incorrect display of the clear button at the top right hand corner of the main form - "insufficient resouces" message preventing the application from running in some cases Release 2.3.0 8 November 2004 ============================= Fixed : bug in tape spanning which prevented proper saving and recovery of multitape backups. To use tape spanning, enable tape spanning in the more options by ticking the "Allow tape spanning" box. When needed, click on "Hold". Wait until the DV stops. Open the DV (don't switch it off), and place a new tape. Close the DV, and click on "Resume". In Restore mode, the DV will stop automatically at then end of the tape. Replace the tape by the next one, and click on "Resume". Corrected : wrong mode display (was always showing "Restore from DV" after switchover). Release 2.2.1 17 June 2004 ============================= New features Incremental backup You must be in "Save to DV mode". Select an already written session (saved with 2.2.1 or above). Right Click. You get a new window with the session content. Select "Incremental", and press on the "Load as list of files for saving". Close this widow. Only changed files will actually be copied in the list of files for a new session. Corrected file size limit bug in evaluation version (limit is now 8MB). Known problems : - View session content (select the session in the tape content, and right click) does not work for first session on tape. - Button in Session content form label. Release 2.2 21 May 2004 ============================= Installation (upgrade for registered users) Copy the two files dvstreamerpro2.exe and dvspro2_Gen.ax to the DVStreamerPRO install directory, replacing the previous 2.0 or 2.1 files with the same name. Thit's all. New features - Capabilty to change the background image associated with the header, data and trailer sections of the session. The default behaviour is similar to 2.1 (same background image). DVStreamer will load images (dv frames) named "header.dv", "data.dv" and "trailer.dv" if they exist in the DVStreamerPRO install directory. A few colored frames are provided as samples. If you want a black background for all sections, make 3 ciopes of the "black.dv" frame named "header.dv", "data.dv" and "trailer.dv". You can also extact frames from any video in the dv format (AVI). Tip : to view the effect without going through actual recording on your DV, - prepare for normal save session (connect the DV in VCR mode, launch DVStreamer, select a file to save). - in the More options, deselect "auto vcr control". Disable "autoposition". - launch the save : the video is generated, and visible on the control screen, but not actually recorded. - The session content is captured at the end of the session, in a file named .dvs e.g. Tape1_00_48_58_20.dvs. To view session content, select the session in the tape content, and right click. The session content can be automatically transfered to the "files to save" list. If you select the "incremental" checkbox, then only files with a more recent date are transfered. - It is possible to capture the session content for previous sessions recorded when this feature was not available. Do a "Restore", or "Header" for this session. When complete, click on "View Session content". On the session content form, click on "Save as". This will automatically record the session content. Release 2.1.1 27 April 2004 ============================= IMPORTANT This "Known problem" is not corrected : file size limit for evaluation version is actually 4MB instead of 8MB as stated. Trying to save larger files will result in inproper restore. Corrects the following problems : - "Apply" button not visible. "More Options" window is now resizable. - File list columns headings in Save mode not visible on some displays. Release 2.1 22 February 2004 ============================== This version is entirely similar to the 2.0 except for the following changes : Installation This version will install on Windows 2003 Server New Functions - max number of files is now 20,000 (registered version) - "Font" menu item for selection of global fonts applied throughout the application - simple "Wizard" for basic tasks Bug correction - corrected bitmap resizing problem on some OS (W2000) Minor cosmetic enhancements - counters in green for better visibility This release is "internationalization ready", and will be the basis for localized versions. Release 2.0 27 October 2003 ============================= CHANGES FROM DVStreamerPRO RELEASE 1.1.2 FUNCTION Automatic reconnect : it is no longer necessary to re-start DVStreamer in case of lost connection to the DV, when in iddle mode (if disconnect happens during an operation, the operation fails, and can cause re-launch of DVStreamer). Save function Batch mode : in this mode, the selected files are recorded one after the other in individual sessions separated by a trailer and header. They can therefore be restored one by one. Restore functions Byte Compare : there is a "byte compare" option allowing to compare the saved files with the original. Small buffered files : the saved buffer is compared with the restored buffer. If the saved buffer has been erased, then the compare is not done. Header : in all restore operations, the session header with the list of saved files is read from tape. It can be specifically recovered by the following operation. Read_header : this allows to just read the session header with the list of saved files, and stop. In batch mode, the list can be recovered from any of the individual file header (this function will be used in a later release to restore only selected files). Tunable error correction : there is a choice of both redundancy (12.5%, 25% and 50%), and protection span (number of consecutive errored frames that can be corrected, ranging from 2 to 16). Previous release was equivalent to redundancy=12.5% and consecutive span=2. Tape spanning : in order to save files (or sets of files) bigger than 9GB. In save mode, at the end of the tape, DVStreamer goes in a "Hold" mode, enabling to change the tape. Afterwards, the session can be "Resumed' by pressing the appropriate button. In Restore mode, the end of recording is automatically detected, and the user is prompted to change the tape. The AutospanningControl option enables DVStreamer to stop the tape automatically if the tape counter reaches the preset tape length. In all cases, the DV must remain powered-on and connected to the PC during the tape change. The length of the new tape may be entered if different from the default defined in the options. Message log : showing the status of the current operation. Check the checkbox above to have a more detailed report. Buffering : small files (below 1MB) are now buffered to disk before the save session starts. This avoids the need to tune buffering parameters. The temp directory must be specified in the options panel. The restore also dumps a buffer file and then writes the individual files. Be careful : DVStreamer does not check the available space on the temp disk drive -the reason is that because some file names are re-used, available space for use may be larger than real free space. Also DVStreamer does not erase the file buffers, as they may be used for the byte compare operation. USABILITY The screens have been reorganized and simplified. Options may be modified until the Save or Restore button is pressed. All options are now on a single options panel. In save mode, loading of complex nested directories is much, much, faster (a 1000+ files directory loads in seconds). Video displays header and trailer countdown as well as progress bar and session parameters. RELIABILITY Except for low level libraries, most of the product has been rewritten in order to increase its reliability : no more crashes during save and restore operations. LIST OF NEW OPTIONS VCR Control and Search Mode Repeat commands : in the selected mode, DV commands such as Play, Record etc.. are repeated until the DV signals a change of state. In the unselected mode, the commands are issued only once. The unselected mode might work better with some DV (JVC?). Tape selector Tape Length ; the usual tape length used (in minutes). Be carefull : this is the real duration of the tape. So a 60 minutes tape in LP mode should be registered as 90 minutes. Allow Tape Spanning : enables DVStreamer to display an "End of tape" message. Prerequisite for the next option. Auto Spanning Control : enables DVStreamer to stop automatically the DV (recording or playing) at the end of the tape. File Save Mode Batch mode : describe above. Protection/Redundancy Redundancy : amount of data which is redundant for error correction. Consecutive errors : error recovery capability (consecutive frames which can be lost or errored). Temp directory : used for buffering. NEW CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS (main window) Tape spanning Hold : If AutoSpanningControl is enabled, you don't need to use this button. Use it only to manually trigger a tape change (only in Save mode :) ). Resume : After changing the tape, use this button both in Save or Restore mode to continue saving or restoring. Tape Length : this allows to specify the length of the "next tape" inserted in the DV, if it is different from the standard one defined in the options. This may be used to "force" an automatic tape change for testing purposes. Be careful to define the new tape length properly before pressing the Resume button. File save mode This panel displays : Files, Size, Buffered files, Buffer size. File restore mode Header abstract : gives information on the number of files, save parameters. View Session Content : list of files (same as in Save mode). Release 1.1.2 - 1 August 2003 - corrected bug that prevented correct saving of multiple files Limitations and deficiencies : - will crash occasionally at the end of restore. However files are restored OK. Release 1.1.1 - 8 July 2003 - corrected bug causing tape counter display to hang or application to crash - minor changes in main window look & feel - introduced additional "no display" option that may help in some difficult cases Release 1.1.0 - 23 June 2003 - improved stability - increased buffer size for restore - display of buffer used during restore Release 1.0.2 - 18 June 2003 - correct inproper filter registration that could cause conflicts with other video software - new base class corrects minor memory leak - camcorder commands repeated until acknowledged by camcorder state change Release 1.0.1 - 28 May 2003 - correct bug on "Restore flat" (re-enable default directory selection) DVStreamerPRO Initial Release 1.0 26 May 2003 If you get a "Trial Expired" message, contact support@dvstreamer.com with the serial number shown on the window.