droodled

Thanks terrypin, For what I wanted to so with it, I've in the mean time found a program called AutoCopy which will do the trick to copy content to HD automatically. I was looking for this because I wanted to copy, and recode some of the 600+ VCD's/SVCD's I made in the past, for use with a mediaplayer on my network. For the sake of wanting to know, I've been looking more deeply in the problem too, and I think it has something to do with the type of DVD there's in my computer, a DVD-RAM. It opens an empty window, even when there's no CD/DVD in it. Your tip though might just work, and I going to have a look into it anyway. Just for the sake of curiousity. Thanks again.

I'm just a stubbern xp user that just moved there from 2000 for practical reasons. -Isn't that a simple setting called "Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt key". At least it is in 2000 and xp!!

Dear All, I searched te forums, but do not seem to be able to find anything on this matter. I want to recognise if a DVD/CD is inserted in an optical drive, and depending perform certain actions. I thought to do this by checking if a drive/folder/file exists on the supposed inserted DVD/CD. In case there's no optical disc inserted though an exception error c0000013 occurs which can't be handled using the catch error method. -How do you people deal with checking if a DVD/CD is inserted in the optical drive, or at least recognise if so? Thanks for any hints and tips provided. Best regards,

@Samrae, Thanks for your reply, and I understand your point. I could use the same arguments though for the manner in which I wanted to use it. Additionally, you have the clear variable command to clear a variable, even only part of it, thus why would you clear with the split command. There's probably merits for both explanations. The above macro code is only a sample of the processing part for lines read from a subtitle file to be analysed. After processing the actual information is indeed stored in named variables. Due to this problem though, I needed to create additional variables to be used temporarely. Thus making things more complicated, and probably slower. Anyhow, I got around it, but my initial idea would've made things MUCH simpler, and needed less variables. Best regards,

Dear All, I can't find anything in the help files, or on the forum regarding this, could someone maybe comment. Am I doing something wrong, or is this a bug/feature of the program. I'm using the T array to temporarily store items from time codes in a subtitle file to be analysed. With e.g string containing ":" to split upon, and containing 3 parts after splitting. When I start to add that information in position 1 of the T array, it should occupy 1 to 3 in the T array. -Nothing more, right!!?? In case the array contains other values in 4 and onwards, I found that those will be erased? See also below sample code. <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="Variable holding CRLF"/> <VARIABLE SET TO ASCII CHAR Value="13" Destination="%CRLF%"/> <VARIABLE SET TO ASCII CHAR Value="10" Destination="%T[1]%"/> <VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x07" Destination="%CRLF%" Variable="%T[1]%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%SRTLine%" Value="00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,000 X1:63 X2:223 Y1:43 Y2:58" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x09" Destination="%T[99]%" Variable="%SRTLine%" Start="1" Count="29" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <SPLIT STRING Source="%T[99]%" SplitChar=" --> " Dest="%T%" Index="1"/> <SPLIT STRING Source="%T[1]%" SplitChar=":" Dest="%T%" Index="2"/> <SPLIT STRING Source="%T[4]%" SplitChar="," Dest="%T%" Index="4"/> <SPLIT STRING Source="%T[99]%" SplitChar=" --> " Dest="%T%" Index="6"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%T[6]%" Value="%T[7]%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <SPLIT STRING Source="%T[6]%" SplitChar=":" Dest="%T%" Index="7"/> <SPLIT STRING Source="%T[9]%" SplitChar="," Dest="%T%" Index="9"/> <MESSAGEBOX Caption="Variable T99 was erased during Splt String command!!!???" Message="%T[1]%%CRLF%%T[2]%%CRLF%%T[3]%%CRLF%%T[4]%%CRLF%%T[5]%%CRLF%%T[6]%%CRLF%%T[7]%%CRLF%%T[8]%%CRLF%%T[9]%%CRLF%%T[10]%%CRLF%%T[11]%%CRLF%%T[12]%" Icon="4"/> T99 was erased, causing the 2nd part of the macro code to not work. -Is this normal behavior (feature), or a problem (bug)? I've changed my macro code to circumvent this, but it makes it all more complex, and thus needs more variables. Thanks for any hints/tips Best regards,

Solved it by creating and executing a batch file in the "On error/Catch error" part when creating/deleting/renaming/copying/moving files and folders with cases where the % character is causing problems. Thanks for the idea Cory. Best regards,

Thanks Cory, I was afraid of this already, and am now looking into creating a DOS batch file to rename/restore folder/file names again. I hadn't given it a serious go, because from the several thousands of folders/files, it's only about 319 that need this treatment. To much to do it manually though. It's a good idea though to use that in the catch error part, thanks for that. I hadn't thought about that to be honest, as I try in general to be ahead of problems, not to react to them. It often makes things overly complicated for me, but I learn from that. I'll give that a go as well. As you wrote though, not to process embedded variables if they don't exist, would in my opinion be the 1 that would solve most of the problems experienced, if not all. It shouldn't be too difficult to implement as well. Best regards,

Dear All, Percent characters are used as variable identifiers within macro express. I'm experiencing problems in creating/deleting/renaming/copying/moving files and folders containing multiple % characters somewhere in their path/name. I've found 2 relevant threads, but the techniques used in there don't work when creating/deleting/renaming/copying/moving files and folders, because variables are evaluated in these commands. Therefore if I come across a path, a path with a filename, or a filename, containing more ten 1 % character, a "Variable Not Set or Incorrect Variable Type" error occurs. Example of such path with filename: d:\801% SampleDVD\SubFolder1\SubFolder2\80% SampleDVD%.mp4 I've tried using the split command to assure only 1 % character, but as soon as I compile the complete path again, and start doing whats needed with the file or folder, the error's back. I've tried doubling the percent character, so %%, instead of %. I can't find it anymore, but I remember reading somewhere that the % characters will then be interpreted as character, not variable. Unfortunately also no go. I've also tried renaming files and folders, by replacing the % character with something else. In itself that works, but going back again later to the original name will again cause errors. Apart from that, I couldn't find a way around the possibility of 2 % characters in a filename or foldername, e.g. "80% SampleDVD%.mp4". -How do you people deal with this, might you have some ideas? Thanks and best regards,

Just in case anyone runs into similar issues in future. This thing has been bugging me for some time now, returning depending upon what I wanted, but never solved completely. There was no way I could find to solve it using MEP itself, thus I've resorted to what is so far a full proof solution. It needs an external tool though unfortunately. The only time I see this is when using the Repeat with Folder Folders Only command, to date I've not had similar problems using Repeat with Folder Files Only. It's definetely MEP causing the problems, see screenshot taken "MEP_RepeatFolderHoggingFolders.JPG". (Sorry, don't know how to insert the image) Anyhow, fortunately the tool I made the screenshot of is a free tool, with command line options. Once installed its program folder can be simply copied from PC to PC, and it will work properly. Thus portable. The only disadvange is that the right click menu "Unlocker" option doesn't show, but for the moment I don't care. Using it just before I move the folder unlocks the by MEP hogged folder and moves it as I want. The tool itself is called "Unlocker 1.9.2", and freely downloadable from the internet. I've checked for ill side effects, and unwanted problems using MEP further after using unlocker, but to date none were experienced. Hope it's usefull for someone else. Best regards,

I've been trying different things to sort out the problem I'm having, and it seems that repeat folder is indeed hogging the folder to be moved. -I'm just wondering, when others try this on their computer, will they see the same problem, or is it just my hardware/software combination causing this? -Just as information, my MEP version is 4.6.0.1. This macro code works: <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="d:\temp\copy of temp4\folder\anotherfolder\video_ts"/> <COMMENT Value="THIS WORKS"/> <COMMENT Value="Prompt for folder containing subfolders to sort out"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%FolderRoot%" Value="d:\\temp\\Copy of Temp4" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="Run through the subfolders in the provided root folder"/> <REPEAT WITH FOLDER Path="%FolderRoot%" OnlyFiles="FALSE" Destination="%FolderSub%" FullPath="TRUE" ProcSubfolders="TRUE"/> <COMMENT Value="Check if current folder is a DVD VIDEO_TS folder"/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%FolderSub%" Condition="\x06" Value="\\anotherfolder" IgnoreCase="TRUE"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%FolderSub%" Value="d:\\temp\\copy of temp4\\folder\\anotherfolder\\VIDEO_TS" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <MOVE FILE/FILES Source="%FolderSub%\\" Dest="%FolderRoot%\\VIDEO_TS" Progress="FALSE" Recurse="TRUE"/> <REPEAT EXIT/> <END IF/> <END REPEAT/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> And this macro code doesn't: <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="d:\temp\copy of temp4\folder\anotherfolder\video_ts"/> <COMMENT Value="THIS DOESN'T WORK"/> <COMMENT Value="Prompt for folder containing subfolders to sort out"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%FolderRoot%" Value="d:\\temp\\Copy of Temp4" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="Run through the subfolders in the provided root folder"/> <REPEAT WITH FOLDER Path="%FolderRoot%" OnlyFiles="FALSE" Destination="%FolderSub%" FullPath="TRUE" ProcSubfolders="TRUE"/> <COMMENT Value="Check if current folder is a DVD VIDEO_TS folder"/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%FolderSub%" Condition="\x06" Value="\\video_ts" IgnoreCase="TRUE"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%FolderSub%" Value="d:\\temp\\copy of temp4\\folder\\anotherfolder\\VIDEO_TS" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <MOVE FILE/FILES Source="%FolderSub%\\" Dest="%FolderRoot%\\VIDEO_TS" Progress="FALSE" Recurse="TRUE"/> <REPEAT EXIT/> <END IF/> <END REPEAT/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> The only difference is the current folder in the repeat folder cycle. From it I think I can clearly conclude that repeat folder is the culprit. I've now changed my code to check if the VIDEO_TS folder exists in current repeat folder cycle, and that solved my problem. Just as simple, just a different approach. -However, I'm just wondering if others would have the same problem if they tried above code? Best regards,

@rberq That might work, I've done similar with renaming large numbers of files because MEP was so slow with that. Thanks for the idea, I'll have a good look at that. @Cory I know MEP is locking the folder because only after exiting (Terminating Macro Express Editor & Player) MEP will I have full control over it again. I disabled the check for the 3 file types to try see if those commands were locking the folder, which they didn't. The only other think left was the repeat with folder command. And since using hard paths would not be a problem, see 1st 2 code lines, my conclusion was for the repeat folder to be the cause. For the same reason putting the folder/file structure in a string would not work I think, because once the 1st loop has looked through the folder/file structure, the folder will be hogged by MEP. I'm gonna have a look at it anyway though, just in case. However, I'm very much baffled by it, because the only thing done there is looking into folders, nothing else. Virus scanner can't be it because that machine is off the network and has no virus scanner. It was slowing down the DVD authoring/recoding process way to much.

Dear All, I'm searching for some help on moving folders. I'm re-organising the DVD's/Authored Projects on my server, and need to move their VIDEO_TS folders, and project files to another folder structure. The problem is for me to have a few thousand folders with project files and authored DVD's in them. If I do it manually, I'd be left with rsi and a lot of time wasted. Using MEP I thought it to be pretty easy, and also found a good thread on moving folders. http://pgmacros.invisionzone.com/topic/3655-move-files-folder/?hl=%2Bmove+%2Bfolder I'm running into problems though trying the 1st part of moving a VIDEO_TS folder, I'm getting errors that the folder to be moved is used by another program, and as such can't be deleted from its original location. Thus an empty folder is left in the original location. Digging deeper I found that it's MEP itself which is hogging the folder to be deleted from its original location, which probably explains the problem I'm having right away. I'm using repeat folder to search through the project folder and it's subfolders to find the VIDEO_TS folder. Then a check is done for 3 files essential to a DVD structure, which if there will then move that specific folder to a different location. See example code I use developing the macro. I think the repeat folder command is the one causing the original folder to be hogged by MEP. If the folder is hogged by MEP, I can't even manually delete the original folder, even if the macro was stopped/ended. In such case I must exit MEP before I get control back over the original folder. Don't mind the folder names, as that's just a test setup as I of course do not want to use the macro on the original files and structure before knowing it to work properly. Added note, if I create code to directly move the folder, meaning hard paths, all works properly. See the 1st 2 lines of code in the example code below. <COMMENT/> <MOVE FILE/FILES Source="d:\\temp\\copy of temp4\\folder\\anotherfolder\\video_ts\\" Dest="d:\\temp\\copy of temp4\\VIDEO_TS" Progress="FALSE" Recurse="TRUE" _ENABLED="FALSE"/> <MACRO STOP _ENABLED="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="Check subfolders in root folder for files and DVD structure, move all to root accordingly"/> <COMMENT Value="In case of DVD structure, move VIDEO_TS folder to root"/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT/> <COMMENT Value="Set default variables"/> <COMMENT Value="============================================="/> <COMMENT Value="Variable holding CRLF"/> <VARIABLE SET TO ASCII CHAR Value="13" Destination="%CRLF%"/> <VARIABLE SET TO ASCII CHAR Value="10" Destination="%T[1]%"/> <VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x07" Destination="%CRLF%" Variable="%T[1]%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="Prompt for folder containing subfolders to sort out"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x09" Destination="%FolderRoot%" Value="Select folder containing the subfolders to be sorted" _ENABLED="FALSE"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%FolderRoot%" Value="d:\\temp\\Copy of Temp4" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="Run through the subfolders in the provided root folder"/> <REPEAT WITH FOLDER Path="%FolderRoot%" OnlyFiles="FALSE" Destination="%FolderSub%" FullPath="TRUE" ProcSubfolders="TRUE"/> <COMMENT Value="Check if current folder is a DVD VIDEO_TS folder"/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%FolderSub%" Condition="\x06" Value="\\VIDEO_TS" IgnoreCase="TRUE"/> <COMMENT Value="Check if this VIDEO_TS folder contains files related to a DVD structure"/> <COMMENT Value="Check 3 files which should be there, VIDEO_TS.IFO, VIDEO_TS.VOB, and VTS_01_0.VOB"/> <IF FILE EXISTS File="%FolderSub%\\VIDEO_TS.IFO" Search_Path="FALSE"/> <AND/> <IF FILE EXISTS File="%FolderSub%\\VIDEO_TS.VOB" Search_Path="FALSE"/> <AND/> <IF FILE EXISTS File="%FolderSub%\\VTS_01_0.VOB" Search_Path="FALSE"/> <COMMENT Value="Move the VIDEO_TS folder to the root folder"/> <COMMENT Value="Source: http://pgmacros.invisionzone.com/topic/3655-move-files-folder/?hl=%2Bmove+%2Bfolder"/> <COMMENT Value="MoreSpecific: http://pgmacros.invisionzone.com/topic/3655-move-files-folder/#entry14086"/> <COMMENT Value="MoreSpecific: http://pgmacros.invisionzone.com/topic/3655-move-files-folder/#entry14099"/> <REPEAT EXIT _ENABLED="FALSE"/> <MOVE FILE/FILES Source="%FolderSub%\\" Dest="%FolderRoot%\\VIDEO_TS" Progress="FALSE" Recurse="TRUE"/> <MESSAGEBOX Caption="lkhhj" Message="%FolderRoot%%CRLF%%FolderSub%" Icon="0" _ENABLED="FALSE"/> <END IF/> <END IF/> <END REPEAT/> The question then: -Do any of you have any tips on releasing the folder from being hogged by MEP, such that it can be removed from its original location? Thanks for any hints ant tips into finding a solution for this. Best regards,

Well, you gave me an idea with this one. If it's true, for MEProx64.exe to only be a 64bit proxy, it would have no influence on the functionality of the program. At least in my simple logic. I removed the version for 4.6.0.1, and replaced it with the same from 4.4.1.1, and hey presto, all seems hunkydory again. Checked some of the functionality, and the new preset option for folder prompting, and it seems to work. Lets see how far this goes. I've also reported it to ISS, but on their bug report form they already state they'll never reply back unless they need something, so that's not very encouriging for me. Best regards,

Thanks both Joe and Cory for your replies. I know I'm longwinded as in general I try to provide as much information as is possible, but I thought that above quote was clear enough with regard to the problem itself? This error shows itself everytime I start Macro Express Pro, at least when having 4.5.0.1/4.6.0.1 installed. Hope that you, or someone else, has some idea/clue where this is coming from. -Might it be the 64 bit version of XP not being compatible with the 64bit code of Macro Express Pro? -Might it be that Macro Express Pro is not recognised as 64bit application by 64bit XP, as it's installed in the x86 Program Folder? -And if so, what can be done about it? (Please don't state a downgrade to windows vista/7/8 ;-)) Thanks for any hint/tips/input. Best regards,

It's been a long time since posting here, as for most problems I've encountered in the past years I was able to find the solution or workaround myself. Although I must admit that the information contained in this forum has been a treasure trove. At the moment though I've got another one which has to do with the application itself I think. I tried searching the forum, and internet, but can't find any clues which lead to a solution. The onyl thing I found was something completely different regarding the slow down bug possibly related to "MEProx64.exe". At current my OS is XP64bit, and have been using it very happily since about 3 years now. I was also using Macro Express Pro 4.3.0.1 for a long time already, as it did the job for me so I didn't see a reason to change. Couple of weeks ago I thought, oh well, lets just try it and install 4.6.0.1. So I installed the new version over the old 4.3.0.1. I shouldn't have because I got a big fat error message when trying to start the installed, but after clicking it away strangely enough it does work properly. The error message I get is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Macro Express Pro\MEProx64.exe is not a valid Win32 application". I reinstalled 4.3.0.1 again over the newer version, and everything was all hunkydory, no problems. Just to be sure, again installing 4.6.0.1 over 4.3.0.1, and the problem was back. As added note, doing the exact same on XP32bit does NOT show these problems. That though is most likely because "MEProx64.exe" is not used there. Frustrated because of it, I used a clean XP64bit VMware installation to investigate, with following results. -Installing 4.3.0.1, everythings fine. -Installing 4.6.0.1, error occurs. -Re-installing 4.3.0.1 over 4.6.0.1, everythings fine again. Reinitialized VMware to again have a clean XP64 installation. -Installing 4.6.0.1, error occurs. (Problem as such is not installing over an existing version) -Installing 4.3.0.1, everythings fine. (Problem as such is definitely the application) Reinitialized VMware again to have a clean XP64 installation and thought, let's see where this started. -Installing 4.3.0.1, everythings fine. -Installing 4.4.0.1, everythings fine. -Installing 4.4.1.1, everythings fine. -Installing 4.5.0.1, error occurs. -Installing 4.4.1.1, everythings fine again. So the problem was introduced at 4.5.0.1 -Has anyone seen this previous, and knows the solution for it, or has a possible clue to the solution? Thanks and best regards,