[v6 General Discussion] Where will the media (images,videos,etc) be stored?
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There is difference between a shortcut and a file in the resource folder. The shortcut may be in resources but EW and Windows refer to actual location, i.e. D:\MyEWMedia\Videos\Abstract\StageLightsColorChangeScrollingHD.mp4. Whereas actual file would be C:\Users\Public\Documents\Softouch\EasyWorship\Default\Resources\Videos\Abstract\StageLightsColorChangeScrollingHD.mp4.
As you can see they are two totally different paths.
As you can see they are two totally different paths.
To resolve the issue? I basically removed all media and themes from the database. I then put back them again, and recreated the themes. In doing this I had to go into each and every slide to reset the theme, and for some, to set the background as it was lost when I removed all the media. Once I did this, it works fine for the other PC with no issues.
So I guess it has something to do with how the conversion was done, and that those images in the old EW2009 resource\images folder were shortcuts while we are using the actual files in the Ew6 in resource\images folder. It should not matter as long as the file names are the same, but it did.
At least I do not have to recreate the entire database again.
But I was still facing resources issues, where I get access violation or at times just some ding sound and nothing works till i restart the application (closing both the application and helper process).
So I guess it has something to do with how the conversion was done, and that those images in the old EW2009 resource\images folder were shortcuts while we are using the actual files in the Ew6 in resource\images folder. It should not matter as long as the file names are the same, but it did.
At least I do not have to recreate the entire database again.
But I was still facing resources issues, where I get access violation or at times just some ding sound and nothing works till i restart the application (closing both the application and helper process).
Ok, it has something to do with the converted database (using 6.1.6 if I recall correctly).
I did a totally new database and added the themes, and tested it out on the other PC and had no issues with the themes - all created themes were displayed correctly.
Now that I uninstalled my EW2009, I can't exactly do anything but to redo everything in EW6 manually in order not to have this issue; as to re-license EW2009, I have to call them and I am not in the same time zone nor continent.
I did a totally new database and added the themes, and tested it out on the other PC and had no issues with the themes - all created themes were displayed correctly.
Now that I uninstalled my EW2009, I can't exactly do anything but to redo everything in EW6 manually in order not to have this issue; as to re-license EW2009, I have to call them and I am not in the same time zone nor continent.
I found Themes created on a computer are stored in DatabasesDataThemes.db file and not as separate files in ResourcesThemes folder. Looking in database itself I see all Themes listed even though I deleted all but four of the conversion created themes (these are only ones visible in EW6 Themes tab.) If you export a theme you'll see it as a file.
i think it's not the media and videos that is the issue. With new database - no images, no videos, no themes; I added in the images in the C:\Users\Public\Documents\Softouch\EasyWorship\Default\Resources folder. I created new themes, 22 of them, and it looks fine in EW6, created 1 or 2 song slides, and then close the application as well as exit from the process that was running in the background (EW helper or something). Could not find where the themes are saved, and they are definitely not found in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Softouch\EasyWorship\Default\Resources\Themes folder.
Got to transfer this new database to the laptop to check to see if the themes are still available.
Got to transfer this new database to the laptop to check to see if the themes are still available.
In preparation for going live at church I cleaned up my local EW2009 Songs database by making sure all referenced backgrounds had correct path (in my case M:DropboxGRBC Files...), changed titles for EW6 collection use and all were using our standard font. It's not something the inexperienced should try; I used a program WinSQL Lite (http://web.synametrics.com/Products.htm) which allows me to run SQL queries against Paradox databases.
I then converted the EW2009 databases using EW6.1.8 and created my Collections for songs and media, themes, etc. Ran my script on main computer and satellite computer. When I load EW6 on satellite computer it looks just like main.
Note: Script has been temporarily modified to handle church computer as main EW2009 and home computer as main EW6. It copies all folders except Datacache since it seems to be local use only.Once comfortable with transition the church computer will be main for both versions.
I then converted the EW2009 databases using EW6.1.8 and created my Collections for songs and media, themes, etc. Ran my script on main computer and satellite computer. When I load EW6 on satellite computer it looks just like main.
Note: Script has been temporarily modified to handle church computer as main EW2009 and home computer as main EW6. It copies all folders except Datacache since it seems to be local use only.Once comfortable with transition the church computer will be main for both versions.
Whatever hopes i have of this did not work. Even after reinstalling of EW6 and taking the database from the other pc database and did the modification of the themes, before copying it back to the other pc, the themes were not recreated properly on the other pc.
Somehow, somewhere there is a mismatch and i noticed that in the other pc, when i edit the song, i see text area for scripture and if i tried to change the theme, i get access violation. I have to edit the song, save it, goes back to edit it before the scripture textbox disappear and i have no issues in changing themes.
I am begining to suspect it is due to the upgrade db that is causing such issue - somehow it does not like to play nice. I wonder if i should use the last version to convert the database again. But since i also uninstall ew2009, not sure to go about it.
I might just decide to recreate everything again. Might save me more headache later. Who knows.
Somehow, somewhere there is a mismatch and i noticed that in the other pc, when i edit the song, i see text area for scripture and if i tried to change the theme, i get access violation. I have to edit the song, save it, goes back to edit it before the scripture textbox disappear and i have no issues in changing themes.
I am begining to suspect it is due to the upgrade db that is causing such issue - somehow it does not like to play nice. I wonder if i should use the last version to convert the database again. But since i also uninstall ew2009, not sure to go about it.
I might just decide to recreate everything again. Might save me more headache later. Who knows.
I use the store media directly in Resources folders (C:\Users\Public\Documents\Softouch\EasyWorship\Default\Resources) method, and still lose the themes configuration. Going to clear my EW6 and then transfer again to see if I get the issue and if so, clear it, and then see if that helps with the other PC.
Since EW6 embeds media the schedule it should look same everywhere; though this version may be more aware of screen resolution and aspect ratio. As for media files location there are two choices:
[list:228199si]1. Store media directly in Resources folders (C:\Users\Public\Documents\Softouch\EasyWorship\Default\Resources)
2. Use same path on all computers (D:\Media)[/list:u:228199si]
First one assumes default profile location and C: drive has available space. The second assumes all computers have a D: drive.
That's why I decided to take advantage of Windows and EW to programmatically add shortcuts to media using a common location (M:\Dropbox\GRBC Files). I did early in our EW2009 implementation since church PCs only had C: drive and at home I had C: and D: with limited space on C:. So I mapped M: (for media) using SUBST command. This scheme has worked perfectly in EW6 with 98% success; the few that lost media didn't use M: as path.
[list:228199si]1. Store media directly in Resources folders (C:\Users\Public\Documents\Softouch\EasyWorship\Default\Resources)
2. Use same path on all computers (D:\Media)[/list:u:228199si]
First one assumes default profile location and C: drive has available space. The second assumes all computers have a D: drive.
That's why I decided to take advantage of Windows and EW to programmatically add shortcuts to media using a common location (M:\Dropbox\GRBC Files). I did early in our EW2009 implementation since church PCs only had C: drive and at home I had C: and D: with limited space on C:. So I mapped M: (for media) using SUBST command. This scheme has worked perfectly in EW6 with 98% success; the few that lost media didn't use M: as path.
When will the importing from schedules be available? It looks like that is the only way to settle this issue I am having.
The one that looks ok on the other PC, had the same issue on my PC. The one looks ok on my PC, have issue the other PC. Trying to resolve this, but it's is really draining on the brain...
The one that looks ok on the other PC, had the same issue on my PC. The one looks ok on my PC, have issue the other PC. Trying to resolve this, but it's is really draining on the brain...
Well, I am still facing issues with the transfer. Most of themes with name are transferred, but it's all with black backgrounds, and if I right click to edit it, it's like creating a new theme totally - Name of theme went missing, only black background and the text area was back to the default. Kind of weird to me... Sigh, I am still having a hard time synchronising and making sure it works on all systems.
I tested copying the folders from one computer to another via Dropbox and it successfully brought over the collections I defined. I purposely didn't use My Collections since it sounds local to user and computer thus not stored in Public folders.
All images/videos are in the resources folder, and the entire v6.1 folder was copied including the subfolders, so v6.1\databases, v6.1\Datacache, etc. are all copied to the thumbdrive.
But I noticed that since my thumbdrive is FAT32 format, and the PC is NTFS, I guess there could be some lost of properties!?!?
still testing this out.
But I noticed that since my thumbdrive is FAT32 format, and the PC is NTFS, I guess there could be some lost of properties!?!?
still testing this out.
The Resources folders can contain actual media files or shortcuts to media files; so copying them alone without copying the files referenced by the shortcuts will make the shortcuts invalid. The main PC at church only has a 120 GB SSD as C: drive so storing the 50 GB of media (and growing) isn't an option.
Collection definitions are stored in a database; so v6.1Databases folder must be copied also.
Collection definitions are stored in a database; so v6.1Databases folder must be copied also.
Not too sure about but it seems that it is not saving to the location as required - or it save the actual path in the database as well. I tried to copy out the resources and v6.1 folder to PC with new EW6 installation and open the database found that some of the background images seems to be lost, so was the backgrounds in some of the themes. I think I need to clean up to point all images and videos to the resource folder locally and then copy that to the other PC (instead of using the dropbox one).
Not only that, my collections went missing in the PC with new EW6 installation.
Need to play around with the system more to ensure it's working as it should be...
Not only that, my collections went missing in the PC with new EW6 installation.
Need to play around with the system more to ensure it's working as it should be...
Forums Migration
So what happens in EW6?
1) When we import via the '+' sign or right click -> import new file, will EW6 copy the actual image to the resource folder or will it just add a shortcut to the resource folder? This will impact on the sharing of data.
2) When EW6 convert EW2009 database, will it still follows the EW2009 old format of storing shortcut in the resource folder?