Make Your Own CavernCam!

dadguy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:21 pm

I must be misunderstanding something. I click on either of Robert's or Donahoo's CAM links and get a static picture (Robert in his Avvie Customization and Donahoo in her Relto hut). The picture doesn't seem to update at all.

I thought this would refresh every X seconds?

Am I missing something?

Dadguy

Herohtar · **Joined:** Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:45 pm **Posts:** 2553

It only updates when they're online. Otherwise, it just shows the last picture.

goofy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:00 pm

robert: well unfortunately I did get it working, but for some reason after awhile things get preaty slow. I can't leave it running for long.

Sad thing is I believe explore.exe is being overloaded and causing my computer to freeze. I think it has to do with FTP being offloaded to windows explore. Which preaty much runs everything I have loaded. Plus having java.exe running adds to the load.

I checked taskmanager and my pagefile in use was 8gigs and it was only using 1gig of system ram. Plus I was at 100% cpu

Which is kinda sad, because I have a 2ghz cpu with 2 gigs of ram. no reason to use so much pagefile when I have 2gigs of ram, but thats windows for you.

Not sure what everyone else is running, but for me this kills my system. this might be the reason not very many updates to cavern cam.

Donahoo · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:31 pm

Herohtar wrote:

It only updates when they're online. Otherwise, it just shows the last picture.

Right; I haven't turned it on since I set it up. Check in Friday night about 8PM Eastern to watch the dancers.

Robert The Rebuilder · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:19 am

Goofy:

Wow - that's a ton of virtual memory being used! Which screen capture utility are you using? The uploader (14 MB RAM and 24 MB VM) and the applet don't take up much resources. I'm using FRAPS at a rate of 1 capture every 4 seconds, and I didn't go beyond 1.18 GB total.

goofy · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:36 am

fraps full version. I have mine set at every 15 seconds and the website is set to refresh at same.

I'm not sure whats going on, but everytime I try to use it fraps or some other program freezes after awhile and I have to restart my computer.

It seems that all the programs I have in the taskbar are scrambling for resources. when I shut one down another grabs whats being released. Its just the things I have in the taskbar(ie running programs.)

Its rather strange. I guess my caverncam will be offline till I figure out whats going on. Thing is I can run fraps all day long and record movies and take screenshots all day long, but when I try using both the uploader and fraps it kills my system.

Herohtar · **Joined:** Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:45 pm **Posts:** 2553

RTR, I've found a way to capture JPG images from Uru in Java, without using an external program. I will see if I can write up a simple class and maybe you can work it into your program if you want.

Edit: I sent you a PM with a working example.

Robert The Rebuilder · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:35 pm

Wonderful, Herohtar! I'll see if I can incorporate it into my next version. I'll provide a way for people to select which method they want to use: fullscreen (using your code) or windowed (using 3rd party app).

EDIT: BTW - I also received permission to use the CavernCam from Cyan legal. So we're cleared! I modified the copyright notice on the bottom of the page accordingly; if you've set up one yourself, please put the same notice on the bottom of your page.

Robert The Rebuilder · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:40 am

Announcing Version 2.0 of the CavernCamUploader. It has the following features:

A built-in screen capture utility written by Herohtar
An improved applet written by me
No third party software needed!
Runs on Windows and Macs (theoretically - since it is all java based)
Includes a web site creation utility that generates and uploads your web cam HTML file
Easier to use instructions
An FTP log feature that prints out what is going on behind the scenes for debugging

For details, visit my CavernCam site

I'm in cavern now if you want to see a live demonstration.

Thanks again to Herohtar for making this totally free, cross platform and more accessible to everyone.

Donahoo · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:44 am

My CavernCam is pointed at the link-in spot in Kirel for the next 15 mintues.

http://mysthillarium.com/CavernCam

Donahoo · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:44 pm

Not a complaint, just a comment.

I installed the new version of the CavernCam uploader on a second computer to test it, and used the built in screenshot maker. Does it just take a screenshot of an 800 X 600 area of the desktop where you tell it the window is? Because I had an image with a dialog box stuck on it for a while, and couldn't get rid of it because I kept getting screenshots of the wrong stuff. Unless it can be configured to just take screenshots from the UruLive window, it won't work if you keep toggling out of Uru to do other things - like play music and stuff :roll:

. I also had a picture of the CavernCam uploader on the web site because I couldn't shut it off fast enough.

The first version is working great for me, I think I'll keep it.

Robert The Rebuilder · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:52 pm

You are right - using the built-in screenshot capability in Windowed mode will look at a specified 800x600 section of the desktop. So, if you are toggling between windows, it will take a picture of whatever is on top.

But, you can disable the built-in screenshot capability and use an external utility.

Donahoo · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:05 pm

I tried that but I had an error in the external program in the folder where the files were kept, and it wasn't taking any pics. :oops:

I had to go to my other computer, log in with my other avatar and get a good screenshot to go up. I thought it would just reload the one image that was already in the folder, but it didn't. I had to take another one to get it uploaded. It's been a learning experience, though, don't know why there are not more Cavern Cams out there.

Herohtar · **Joined:** Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:45 pm **Posts:** 2553

A feature that might be useful... what if you could select a specific "offline" image, so when you click "Stop" it copies over that image? It would be a good way to inform people that your camera is off, plus it would keep you from having an image of your desktop stuck up there if you're using the built-in capture.

Donahoo · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:19 am

I hope nobody saw my CavernUploader dialog box with my web site url and password plainly visible. I couldn't get it down fast enough. :roll:

Make Your Own CavernCam!

Who is online