Discussion Groups

Miguel,

Please file a trouble ticket under Service and Support:  http://community.psionteklogix.com/support/

Miguel,

Keep in mind, CameraCtrlPtx is also marked as DEMO/Sample code.  Does the customer use it unmodified, or did they make modifications to the code? 

When filing the ticket, it would be helpful if you provided specific errors from the demo.  This would probably require them to put in some extra debug statements in certain places.

Steven,

Ticket was filed a while back, is there any progress made that you are aware of?

Miguel,

Once you file a ticket against an issue, please go through help desk directly to get updates.  They'll have more up to date and accurate information for you (especially if the ticket owner is not myself).

Miguel,

Did you ever receive a satisfactory solution to this problem? I realize your post is 18 months old, but I've been working on finding a reliable way to invoke the camera myself for about 6 months now and I keep having similar issues to your original post "Ikôn: Camera breaks down after about 150 pictures and needs reboot" and still haven't been able to overcome them.

Any feedback you can provide is GREATLY appreciated!

Kind regards,

Sashu (bbending)

I'm using CameraCtrlPtx(3) on a very recent build of iKon (2011 release), and rigged CppTest to run constantly:

WM_TIMER message setup to preview for 3 seconds, take a still picture, wait a second, and then repeat....

The test has been running for 322 iterations with no data aborts or failures that i can see.... I'll keep it running for a while....

Are you using the .NET interface, or the C++ one?

Hey Steven,

.NET... unfortunately not very proficient in C++ as of today...

Leaving the office, will be back tomorrow.

Thanks so much for looking into this and also replying!

Sashu,

As I believe you are a C# / .NET developer, can you please give the attached VS2008 / CF 3.5 solution a try and let me know how it goes from your end?

 MDSDK v5.4 - VS2008 CSharp CameraCtrlPtx [DEMO] Solution (compressed)

--

As you open the CameraCtrlPtx solution, please

» rebuild the CSharp Test project. You shall see:

1>------ Rebuild All started: Project: CameraCtrlPtx, Configuration: Release Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I) ------

1>Deleting intermediate and output files for project 'CameraCtrlPtx', configuration 'Release|Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I)'

1>Compiling...

1>CameraCtrlPtx.cpp

1>PsionTeklogixDSA.cpp

1>_CE_ACTIVEX was not defined because this Windows CE SDK does not have DCOM.

1> _CE_ACTIVEX could be caused to be defined by defining _CE_ALLOW_SINGLE_THREADED_OBJECTS_IN_MTA, but it is recommended that this be done only for single-threaded apps.

1>_ATL_NO_HOSTING was defined because _CE_ACTIVEX was not defined.

1>DllMain.cpp

1>CPropertyBag.cpp

1>CameraTrigger.cpp

1>Generating Code...

1>Compiling resources...

1>Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Resource Compiler Version 6.1.6723.1

1>Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

1>Linking...

1> Creating library Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I)\Release/CameraCtrlPtx.lib and object Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I)\Release/CameraCtrlPtx.exp

1>Build log was saved at "file://e:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CameraCtrlPtx\Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I)\Release\BuildLog.htm"

1>CameraCtrlPtx - 0 error(s), 0 warning(s)

2>------ Rebuild All started: Project: CameraCtrlPtxNet, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------

2>C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Csc.exe /noconfig /nowarn:1701,1702 /nostdlib+ /errorreport:prompt /warn:4 /define:TRACE;WindowsCE /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\Microsoft.WindowsCE.Forms.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\mscorlib.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Data.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Drawing.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Windows.Forms.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Xml.dll" /debug:pdbonly /filealign:512 /optimize+ /out:obj\Release\CameraCtrlPtxNet.dll /target:library UserControl1.cs UserControl1.Designer.cs Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs

Compile complete -- 0 errors, 0 warnings

2>CameraCtrlPtxNet -> E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CameraCtrlPtxNet\bin\Release\CameraCtrlPtxNet.dll

3>------ Rebuild All started: Project: CSharp Test, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------

3>C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Csc.exe /noconfig /nowarn:1701,1702 /nostdlib+ /errorreport:prompt /warn:4 /define:TRACE;PocketPC /win32res:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\SDK\v3.5\Bin\HiDPI.res" /reference:..\CameraCtrlPtxNet\bin\Release\CameraCtrlPtxNet.dll /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\mscorlib.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Core.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Data.DataSetExtensions.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Data.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Drawing.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Windows.Forms.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Xml.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Xml.Linq.dll" /debug:pdbonly /filealign:512 /optimize+ /out:"obj\Release\CSharp Test.exe" /resource:obj\Release\CSharpTest.Form1.resources /resource:obj\Release\CSharpTest.Properties.Resources.resources /target:winexe Form1.cs Form1.Designer.cs Program.cs Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs Properties\Resources.Designer.cs

Compile complete -- 0 errors, 0 warnings

3>CSharp Test -> E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CSharp Test\bin\Release\CSharp Test.exe

========== Rebuild All: 3 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 skipped ==========

» Now if you deploy the CSharp Test project to your WIndows Mobile 6.x device, you sahll see:

1>------ Build started: Project: CameraCtrlPtxNet, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------

1>CameraCtrlPtxNet -> E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CameraCtrlPtxNet\bin\Release\CameraCtrlPtxNet.dll

2>------ Build started: Project: CSharp Test, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------

2>C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Csc.exe /noconfig /nowarn:1701,1702 /nostdlib+ /errorreport:prompt /warn:4 /define:TRACE;PocketPC /win32res:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\SDK\v3.5\Bin\HiDPI.res" /reference:..\CameraCtrlPtxNet\bin\Release\CameraCtrlPtxNet.dll /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\mscorlib.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Core.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Data.DataSetExtensions.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Data.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Drawing.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Windows.Forms.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Xml.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\WindowsCE\System.Xml.Linq.dll" /debug:pdbonly /filealign:512 /optimize+ /out:"obj\Release\CSharp Test.exe" /resource:obj\Release\CSharpTest.Form1.resources /resource:obj\Release\CSharpTest.Properties.Resources.resources /target:winexe Form1.cs Form1.Designer.cs Program.cs Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs Properties\Resources.Designer.cs

Compile complete -- 0 errors, 0 warnings

2>CSharp Test -> E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CSharp Test\bin\Release\CSharp Test.exe

3>------ Skipped Deploy: Project: CameraCtrlPtx, Configuration: Release Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I) ------

3>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration

4>------ Skipped Deploy: Project: CameraCtrlPtxNet, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------

4>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration

5>------ Deploy started: Project: CSharp Test, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------

5>Deploying 'E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CameraCtrlPtxNet\bin\Release\CameraCtrlPtxNet.dll'

5>Deploying 'E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CSharp Test\bin\Release\PtxSdkCpp2008.dll'

5>Deploying 'E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CSharp Test\bin\Release\CameraCtrlPtx.dll'

5>Deploying 'E:\Support\Kelley & Ryan Associates\CameraCtrlPtx\CSharp Test\bin\Release\CSharp Test.exe'

========== Build: 2 succeeded, 0 failed, 1 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

========== Deploy: 1 succeeded, 0 failed, 2 skipped ==========

Finally, please let us know how the application (*) runs against your Ikôn unit.

Kind regards,
Jacques

--

(*) I.e. \Program Files\CSharp Test\CSharp Test.exe

Jacques,

Works like a charm on my device! I'm going to try and suss using this control in my own app, hopefully without having to pester anyone any further...

...but, I was hoping you could point me in the right direction with regard to (hopefully!) accessing a lower resolution than the current default. My application is for real-time parking enforcement and these pictures are synchronized to our server over a cellular network. The current pictures I'm taking average 60K +- 10K, anything much over that will chew up battery and take far too long to synchronize.

I hate to ask for more since you've done so much to help so far. If you know of any other discussions out there on this topic, perhaps you could just point me to them and I'll try to figure it out from there. Either way, thanks so much for helping me get to this point!

Regards,

Sashu

p.s.

BTW, I haven't actually stress-tested the control, which I'm getting set up to do right now, but I wanted you to know that I was able to deploy and run the CSharp Test.exe to my iKon which was the primary hurdle I originally asked for help with. I'll post my final results from the test sometime soon.

Status update:

To start, please disregard my request for a lower resolution with the camera. I didn't realize the extent to which .jpg compressed .bmp and now that I'm doing the conversion I'm seeing very reasonable file sizes for my images.

I've been making tweaks to your solution so that I can run automated testing with my app's specific req's and so far it's been looking really promising. I think I've made all the necessary adjustments and it's running right now with 50 pictures taken so far, no apparent degradation in time or functionality to report!!!

I'll run it overnight tonight and report back one more time tomorrow with the results.

Update:

8056 pictures in a row and counting.

Thanks Jacques!

This is good news

Let's keep rolling

Hope I'm not being nit-picky with this. I'm having a hard time releasing the CameraCtrlPtx object if my app dies ungracefully. At least that's what I think the problem is!

I've been able to create my own device application and port the appropriate Camera Control libraries over to it. I can start it up, use the CameraCtrlPtx object all day long. If my Form.MinimizeBox == false and I click the 'OK' button in the form everything works great the next time I start up the app.

However, if I've deployed the solution via VS for debugging and I click the 'STOP' button on VS, the next time I try to run the app I can't get the control to StartPreview(). I have the same issue if I've gone in and killed the process through task manager (using Soti PocketController). Here's my code:

using System;

using System.Linq;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.ComponentModel;

using System.Data;

using System.Drawing;

using System.Text;

using System.Windows.Forms;

using Microsoft.WindowsMobile;

using Microsoft.WindowsMobile.Forms;

using System.Diagnostics;

using CameraCtrlPtxNet;

namespace CameraCaptureDialog

{

    public partial class Form1 : Form

    {

        int count = 0;

        public Form1() 

        { 

            InitializeComponent(); 

        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) 

        { 

            cameraCtrlPtx1.SetFastCapture(true); 

            cameraCtrlPtx1.SetTriggers(0); 

            cameraCtrlPtx1.StartPreview(); 

        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) 

        { 

            string filename = @"\Program Files\CameraCaptureDialog\Img" + count.ToString() + ".bmp"; 

            cameraCtrlPtx1.TakePicture(filename); 

            count++; 

        } 

    }

}

Screenshot when working:

That good looking dude in the picture is me! 

So, I click on 'Stop' within VS2008, then redeploy and start the project up again by clicking 'Play' and it gets to this point and sticks:

Of course, I'm not expecting to shut down the app like this very much, but every once in a while the need arises. I can force a reboot in this case if need be, but it's not very graceful so I'm hoping there's a quick and easy solution that will prevent the need.

Thanks again,

Sashu