Video Capture Log (VV3/VV4 beta)

Frenchy wrote on 1/24/2003, 3:36 PM
Has anyone discovered if the log file (<name>.sfvidcap) created with the "Advanced Capture" tab in the Video Capture 4 beta has an export/print/save as function?

Maybe a more appropriate question is, "How many (any?) have been utilizing the logging function in Video Capture?"

I've been logging my D8 tapes using Advanced Capture in Vidcap 3. With it, one can name tapes, clips, give them a rating, insert extensive comments on each clip, as well as record timecode in/out, and clip length. One can then sort by any of these fields to find particular clips - It's been a great function for me. It appears to be some sort of rudimentary (in the sense of being relatively simple) database. The only problem (albeit a minor one) is that it is only available *within* Video Capture. It'd be great to be able to either print this file, or better yet, export it as a spreadsheet or even as an ascii text file. This function is not available in vidcap3, and it doesn't appear to be available in the V4 beta - hence posting the question here, in case I've overlooked something obvious.

I've emailed SF support, and requested it as a feature as well, but wanted to throw it out here for general discussion/comments. The logging function has been very useful for me. It *seems* like this would be performing a simple file conversion, but I'm just a civil engineer and the last time I wrote any code was in Fortran, about twenty years ago...

cheers

frenchy

Comments

Frenchy wrote on 1/28/2003, 3:00 PM
Well, Brian from SF technical support answered my email question - If anyone is interested. (Thanks, Brian)

And the answer is ... No - "... there will be no way to export the .sfvidcap log to
anything outside of the Video Capture application. I have forwarded your
comments onto the development team for future consideration." Here's to hoping...

But, back to the rephrased second question, out of curiosity, does anyone else utilize the logging function available in VidCap? I've read earlier posts of how folks keep track of what is on multitudes of tapes, and I find it hard to believe that everyone utilizes either pencil and paper or an outside spreadsheet/dbase prog to keep it all straight.

Other than that, V4 beta seems undeniably stable and relatively bug free, so my editing has continued to be a pleasing experience (continuing from VV3 and VF2, that is - we don't talk about the dark side experiences...). I'm having occasional event FX keyframe heartburn, but have seen other recent posts on the topic, and searching earlier posts, as well.

frenchy
Jay_Mitchell wrote on 2/7/2003, 8:44 PM
Frenchy,

I am very interested in the clip logging process of VV4. I am quite familiar with other third party video logging database applications that run from $300 to $600 each. I would like to talk with you about you findings and experience with the VV4's abilities. It sounds like we both have similar clip logging needs.

I haven't found a way on this forum to send a private message. If you know of the way, please let me know or I will post my email address.

Newsshooter
deef wrote on 2/7/2003, 10:11 PM
It's possible that this shows up in a future release, as we've had several requests for such functionality; can't promise as to when tho'

For the time being, what I do is tear off the Clip Explorer window (in case you didn't know you could) and expand this window to show as many fields as you can
and then Alt+PrtSc to copy that window to the clip board and then past this into an app. like Paint or Word. And then repeat as many times as necessary to get all your clips in view.

Thanks!
-Dee
Grazie wrote on 2/8/2003, 2:28 AM
Hmmm.... Does anybody remember the MS-DOS XTREE and XTREEPro? One could print off files and folder information, no problem. When I eventually upgraded to Windows 3, I soon realised that this type "primary" functionality was missing. Basic stuff really. - Print Screen, yes that is the way I've been doing this needed function. Sometimes I think WinGates loose the plot - IMHO!

Yours - quizzickly . . .

Grazie
Jay_Mitchell wrote on 2/10/2003, 3:52 AM
What exactly does tearing off the Clip Explorer Window mean? Could you explain this to a novice like me!

Thanks!
Frenchy wrote on 2/11/2003, 10:21 AM
Newsshooter - This is probably as good a place to discuss the subject as any - there were a couple of earlier threads on the subject that helped me a lot and go me thinking of media management and sorting, etc. Also, by "tearing off the Clip Explorer window", deef is referring to undocking the window by left clicking your mouse and holding the skinny vertical line on the left side of the window, like in the main Vegas App. Search the online help for "window docking" Here's an earlier thread which helped me:

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=4&MessageID=104702


deef - thanks for the info and future consideration - you're right - I hadn't realized the Clip Explorer window was (un)dockable - this will help in the short term, at least for printing

Thanks

Frenchy