Problem with video capture in SolidWorks Rx

[PDMAdmin]

I am attempting to do a video capture in SolidWorks Rx for a crashing problem I am having. However, when I play back the WMV file that is generated, the screen is completely black, so the video file is useless. In the SolidWorks session, my viewport color was white. Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen?

 

[SBaugh]

The only thing that I was able to determine is that I didn't have the actualy Winzip application and let XP zip up the file for me. I know this doesn't sound right, but it was the only difference that I could find. If you let XP do you Zipping for you, try downloading the actually App and see if the problem is in the way the file is zipped up.

I have the same problem, but never install the winzip app to test it out. I have talked to SW and of course it isn't repeastable, but I used a FileMon app to track what RX was doing. It just capture screen shots, then compiles them into an AVI file. Mine was reading correctly, but wasn't compling the screen shots at all. THat's where we found that the WInzip was the only difference betwen my machine and SW Tech support machine. Other then that, I have never pursued it nopr figured it out. I doesn't happen often, because you are only the 3rd person besides myself to see this issue.

The one thing about yours that is different then mine, I don't get one at all, even though it catures the screen shots. Call your VAR and see if they will call SW and ask them if anything else has been done about it.

Regards,

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Regg]

Scott,

We have Winzip installed on our machines but some still do not produce a video file. Some will produce a video one day and not another. Our VAR is baffled and SolidWorks had no answers either.

Regards,

Regg

 

[PDMAdmin]

Regg,

I may have an answer for your video file writing issue. I have found that if I give SolidWorks Rx about five minutes to write out the video file before I exit out of the program, it's always there. However, if I exit out immediately and the (would-be) video file is quite large, it's not there.


Scott,

Your idea to try WinZip is a good one; I hadn't even thought about that. I have to check with our IT department first, though. WinZip isn't on their "approved" list. Ugh...

Thanks!

 

[Regg]

PDMAdmin,

I will try your suggestion when I get to work tomorrow.

Regg

 

[EEnd]

I do not think that WinZIP or even Window’s built in Zip is converting the screenshots into an AVI. In my experience, AVIs are created with what are called codecs. There has been quite a bit of variety in the codecs that Microsoft has supplied with the different versions of Windows, even within XP. I would not be surprised if this is the issue here.

To see what codecs are installed on a Window XP computer, go to the Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices. Then click on the Hardware, select Video Codecs, hit the Properties button, and then select the Properties tab.

Maybe by comparing the codecs on a computer that works to one that does not, you can track the problem down. Unfortunately I do not know where to get a codec if you are missing one.

I hope this helps.

Eric

 

[SBaugh]

At the end of an RX you tell the RX to package the files. It packages it with a zip utility. in the process of zipping it all up the screen shots are not being translated into a workable AVI file... question is why? i don't think it's a codec issue, but rather an RX issue. However it would have to be realted to something you don't have on your system

Codecs are used to play the format and compress it when you make an AVI file. However the RX is what takes the screen shots and turns it into an AVI file. What is used inside the RX, is not known to us, however I'm sure it's something inside of windows.

Something I just thought of... make sure you have the latest Windows Media Player! If the RX is using a Windows progrma, I think that would be the application WIndows media encoder. I use that on my machine now to record AVI files for customers. Make sure you have the latest player which I think is 10.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[PDMAdmin]

Scott,

I checked my Windows Media Player version, and it is 10.0. Still working on getting permission for WinZip...

If the problem is indeed with SolidWorks Rx, wouldn't that be ironic? A bug-reporting utility that itself has bugs...

 

[SBaugh]

I don't think it's the RX, I think the problem is that the RX is requesting something that isn't on some machines or in windows and it can't produce the AVI file.

Applicatons can call on other applicatons to do certian functions, but if that app is not there, then it skips the process as programed into code and finishes the process.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376