Download VidCapTimer v0.2 BETA 2006-04-23 - 837KB
Unzip the file into a separate folder. Run vidcaptimer.exe to use the software.
This program runs with SONY's VidCap.exe Video Capture program and provides
programmed recording functionality, much as you would use the timer mode of a
VCR to start and stop recording at specific times. Start and end times may be
entered including the date. Typical entries may follow these forms:
Apr 22, 2006 10:00 - (10 A.M.)
Apr 22, 2006 10:00pm - (10 P.M.)
Apr 22, 2006 22:00 - (also 10 P.M.)
2:30p - (2:30 P.M. today)
19:00 - (7:00 P.M. today)
When you have entered acceptable start and end times the Replace and Insert
buttons will become active. If you enter an invalid date/time the buttons will
not be active and your entry will be erased.
Enter a name for the captured file in the Name field. When capturing is
finished your file will be renamed with this name.
Select an existing entry to edit it. The start & end times and file name will
be copied to the fields at the bottom of the screen to allow you to change
them. Clicking Replace will save the new event in place of the current one.
Clicking Insert will save the event as a new entry. Delete will remove the
selected entry from the event list.
This program requires that VidCap already be running on your computer for it
to function properly! It is suggested that VidCap be set to not
enable DV Device control. The "Display post-capture dialog after capturing
video" option must also be selected. The desired capture directory must already
be created and selected under Disk Management.
2006-04-23 - additions to version 0.2
- Some tiny miscellaneous timing bugs fixed
- Settings panel where you may change control strings and colors
The settings panel is particularly useful for different languages. If you are
not using a US English installation of VidCap then the title bar may be worded
differently and some of the menus may have different names. You can alter
VidCap Timer to correctly control your installation.
What this program does not do:
- It will not launch VidCap for you.
- It will not change channels on your cable box.
- It will not change capture directories.
- It will not set any capture parameters.
- It will not select input devices.
All it will do is start and stop the capture process at the specified times and
rename the captured files.
Limitations of current version:
- There is no way to save and reload the event list
- There is no way to temporarily disable it other than exiting
- If VidCap is not running it may produce unexpected and chaotic results
- It cannot detect if something has interfered with it's operation
- Start and End operations can be delayed several seconds from the stated time
Known bugs:
- File names cannot contain special characters such as " + ~ ^ { } ( )
- Overlapping events are not handled gracefully. The current event will complete before the next event starts. There will be a gap in the captured material at this point.
- The display does not always update properly, especially the large "current event" number in the lower left corner.
- Editing or inserting new events while a capture is in progress can cause the end of the current event to be ignored or the next event to be skipped.
This is a beta release of this software. It has not been tested extensively.
Heck, it hasn't even been tested on any computer other than my own. I don't
know how well it will work on any other system. However, as long as you have
VidCap already running it should not cause any problems.
Please report any problems to chien@chienworks.com
Thank you.
