| |
|
|
| |
January 21, 1997 These Release Notes include important information about your new video hardware, software (Software Essentials and Video Development Environment), and documentation from Parallax Graphics. This information supercedes the README file on your tape. The Release Notes include:
NOTE: If you have previously installed any version of Parallax software on your system, you must use the eisa_config utility to disengage the Parallax card before upgrading. See Bug/Anomaly #1. NOTE: If you wish to use audio with Parallax Graphics video, you need to install a pair of HP patches. See Bug/Anomaly #2. NOTE: A triangle symbol precedes bugs that may cause serious problems. If you have any questions, please contact Parallax Graphics technical support.Return to Top Bugs, Anomalies or Restrictions We have identified the following bugs, anomalies or restrictions: Pre-Installation 1. Upgrading, De-Installing, or Changing Video Cards: Use eisa_config Pre-Installation: If you have previously installed any Parallax software on your system, you must use the eisa_config utility to disengage the Parallax card before upgrading to a different software version. You must also use eisa_config if you are de-installing the Parallax software or switching Parallax cards. To do this, exit the server, run "/etc/eisa_config" to determine the slot number of the Parallax card, type "remove
" and type "save" to save the configuration (Software Installation Guide, page 5, step 3). Then proceed as instructed (step 4). Note: this procedure is needed for 10.x upgrades as well as 9.x upgrades. 2. Audio: HP Patches Required for HP-UX 9.x If you wish to use audio with Parallax Graphics video on HP-UX 9.x, you need to install a pair of HP patches: two for HP MPower users, two for non-MPower users. These patches are available from HP, at the world wide web site, http://us.external.hp.com:80/. Select "Browse Patches," select "Retrieve a Specific Patch," then enter the patch number such as "PHKL_9149." Note that HP updates patches frequently; if you ask for a patch that has been replaced, the system will tell you the new patch number. HP MPower users need: PHKL_9149 (s700 9.0[357] SCSI, NFS, DUX, VM, graphics, HIL megapatch) PHSS_8643 (s700_800 9.X MPower 2.02 November '96 periodic patch) Non-MPower users need: PHKL_9149 (s700 9.0[357] SCSI, NFS, DUX, VM, graphics, HIL megapatch) PHSS_4341 (s700 9.X corrections for base system ('non-MPowered') Audio) Return to Top Installation 3. Calibrate: Default Menu Installation: If the model number of your workstation does not appear in the Default_Settings menu in Calibrate, please look on our anonymous ftp site (parallax.com) for a configuration file for your system under "tech_support/hpcalibrate." We will place newly added configuration files here. Copy your configuration file to "/opt/parallax/etc/calibrate" on your workstation. If your system is not listed there, contact technical support. 4. Re-Installation: Re-Calibrate Installation: The values stored by the Calibrate program are used to adjust the video display. These values are now stored on your system disk and not in Parallax NVRAM (NVRAM is not supported in all Parallax cards). The result is that any time you move a Parallax video card to a new system, you need to re-run the Calibrate program.
Return to Top General 5. Shared Memory General: Shared memory extensions are not enabled in this version 9.2 server. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 6. Using with HP VideoLive General: The server shipped in this release is not 100% compatible with the VideoLive application included in Hewlett-Packard MPower. 7. Video Zoom Reset General: If you use Zoom_2X while in Calibrate, VideoTool, or MovieTool, and then Exit, the zoom factor that you chose will remain in effect until you reset it. To return to standard resolution, you must reset the resolution by reopening one of these applications and resetting the resolution to Zoom_1X. 8. Multiple Video Cards in One Workstation General: Multiple video cards in one workstation will display live video, but many of the other features (such as hardware compression) do not work. for full support of multiple video cards, use Parallax version 9.3 or 10.10. 9. Video Flashing When Video Window Moved General: While you are moving a video window, the video may temporarily freeze ("flash") for just a moment, then return to normal.
Return to Top MovieTool 10. Audio: Not Working MovieTool: If audio does not work, login as root and type, "chmod 666 /dev/audio." Also check to see if you need the HP audio fixes described in bug #2. 11. Audio: Out of Synchronization MovieTool: Audio sometimes gets out of synchronization with the video during playback. This happens to movies captured on HP and on Sun workstations. To avoid this problem, during playback make sure all non-essential processes are closed (audio relies on the system processor). for best results, use the HP Audio Device for audio (default) and avoid moving windows while recording or playing movies. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 12. Audio: HP Audio Server, MovieTool Freeze MovieTool: If you select the HP Audio Server for the audio device and the server is not running, MovieTool will freeze for 10-15 seconds. 13. Audio: Setting Display Environment Variable MovieTool: To use HP Audio Server for the audio device, you must have your DISPLAY environment variable set as "
:0" instead of ":0." 14. Audio: Monitor Button Turns On MovieTool: Sometimes when you turn the Audio Monitor button Off, it turns back on again. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 15. Missing Frames in MovieTool Movies MovieTool: Under some circumstances, MovieTool will not perform as quickly as it should (for example, it might record at 10 fps instead of 30 fps). Restart the server and MovieTool application to correct the problem. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 16. MovieTool Title Bar MovieTool: The MovieTool title bar should indicate the video source, but does not. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 17. Video Flashes When Changed to Default Color Settings MovieTool: When you change the color settings (hue, contrast, etc.) to the Default values, video will flash (freeze for a moment) four times (once for each color setting), then video will return to normal. Return to Top MovieTool and VideoTool 18. VideoTool and MovieTool: Output Stays On XVideo700 users-MovieTool and VideoTool: Once you start video Output, it remains on unless you specifically turn it off with the Output_Off button in the application control panel (or capture still or motion video, see bug #19 below). Output remains on even when you quit the application. And when you restart VideoTool or MovieTool, Output is still on, even though the interface indicates that it is off. To turn off video Output, select the Output_ On/Off button twice. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 19. VideoTool and MovieTool: Output and Video Capture XVideo700 users-MovieTool and VideoTool: If video Output is turned on and you use VideoTool to capture a still video image or MovieTool to capture motion video, then video Output automatically turns off. Even though Output is off, the application interface still indicates that it is on. To turn video Output on again, select the Output On/Off button twice. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 20. VideoTool and MovieTool: Output and Zoom_2X XVideo700 users-MovieTool and VideoTool: Video output behavior is unpredictable while the hardware is in Zoom_2X mode. Avoid using video output and Zoom_2X at the same time. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 21. Extra Line at Bottom of Squeezed Video Window MovieTool and VideoTool: If you squeeze a live video window, an extra line appears at the base of the video window. This extra line will either appear black or will show previously displayed video, which may be less noticeable. To show previously displayed video, move the video window so that the extra line is over an area that previously had live video in it. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 22. Zoom_2X: Confusion between Composite and S-VHS MovieTool and VideoTool: If you are in Zoom_2X mode, the software interface may wrongly identify a video source as S-VHS when it is really Composite. Also, if S-VHS video sources are not available and Composite sources are available, and you are in Zoom_2X mode, then if you select an S-VHS video input source, the software will display a Composite source instead. 23. Displaying Compressed Still Images: Off Top/Left Edge of Display MovieTool and VideoTool: If you are displaying a JFIF or JPEG still image and you move the still image so that part of it runs off the top and/or left edge of the display (x and/or y coordinates are negative), the still image won't display correctly. It will appear to show parts of different images. To fix the problem, move the window so that all of it appears on the display. 24. "Torn" Images: Lack of Frame Integrity in Compressed Frames MovieTool and VideoTool: Some compressed images captured from live video (still images captured by MovieTool or VideoTool, or frames in a MovieTool movie) appear "torn," showing portions of more than one frame. Tearing happens occasionally, depending on when the live video frame comes in versus when the frame is compressed. Tearing is more noticeable with lots of change from frame-to-frame. Tearing may be noticeable while looking at a single frame or stepping through a movie frame-by-frame, but usually is not noticeable while playing a movie at full speed. For VideoTool, freeze video first before capturing and compressing a frame to prevent this problem.
Return to Top VideoTool 25. Default Video Format is NTSC VideoTool: VideoTool always defaults to NTSC standard, even if you have connected PAL and/or SECAM standard video inputs. To use PAL or SECAM signal standards, you must manually select the standard with each use. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 26. Multi-Card: Video Windows Freeze VideoTool: With multiple video cards in one system, VideoTool gets confused and some video windows freeze. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 27. Saving Input Settings VideoTool: The Save_As command in the VideoTool Input Settings menu is not supported. You cannot save custom settings. The factory settings are 128. To restore default settings, Quit and restart VideoTool. 28. Saving a JFIF Image File VideoTool: Before you save a JFIF file that you plan to display with the ImageMagick "display" program (in "/opt/parallax/bin"), you must make sure the width of the video window in pixels is divisible by 16 (such as 640x480 pixels). This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10 (in those releases, if the image size is not divisible by 16, the software reduces the images size until it is divisible by 16). 29. Custom Cropping VideoTool: The Crop command crops to the upper-left corner of the image. Custom cropping can be developed using the Video Development Environment. 30. Video Output Color Error XVideo700 users-VideoTool: If video output to VCR etc. does not appear in the correct colors, the server did not correctly initialize the output device. Restart the Parallax server software to correct the problem. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 31. Video Output Dot Error XVideo700 users-VideoTool: When you use video output, sometimes a line of dots may appear on your computer monitor. To remove the dots, move the output rectangle vertically. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 32. Video Output with Simultaneous Input Only from Composite Input_1 XVideo700 users-VideoTool: While you are using video output, you can display one live video window only from Composite Input_1. The S-VHS (Y/C) and Composite inputs from Input_2 are not available when you are using output.
Return to Top UNIX Utility Programs 33. tcomp Not Working between Sun and HP tcomp: In version 9.2, tcomp does not work between Sun and HP workstations. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10.
Return to Top Video Development Environment 34. Must Have Unique Window IDs Video Development Environment: Using the same xid for live video and decompressed video windows will cause serious problems such as one of the windows will essentially stop working (stop digitizing, stop decompressing). To prevent this problem, use a different xid for each video operation. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10. 35. XPlxSignalQuery: NTSC Reported as 60 Non-Interlaced Frames Video Development Environment: XPlxSignalQuery incorrectly reports that NTSC standard video is displayed at "60 non-interlaced frames." Actually NTSC video is displayed at 60 interlaced frames. This bug has been fixed in versions 9.3 and 10.10.
Return to Top Tested Hardware This hardware and software has been tested on the following systems from the HP 9000 Series 700 line of workstations: * HP 9000 Model 755/99 * HP 9000 Model 745i/50 * HP 9000 Model 735/125 * HP 9000 Model 725/50, 725/100 * HP 9000 Model 715/33, 715/50, 715/100 Note: The systems above have been tested with high resolution monitors only. If you have questions about using your Parallax Graphics video card with another kind of HP 9000 Series 700 workstation, please contact our technical support engineers.
Return to Top Fixes or Enhancements We have incorporated the following improvements over the 9.1 release. This 9.2 release does not contain new functionality, but includes important fixes: 1. Software: Calibrate HP 9000 Model 7xx/100 users: In the 9.1 release Calibrate program, choosing File Save caused Model 7xx/100 workstations to freeze. This problem has been fixed. 2. Software: Driver Dual Slot users: On workstations with multiple EISA slots, the driver in our 9.1 release overwrote other drivers. This problem has been fixed. 3. Software: Driver HP 9000 Model 7xx/100 users: In the 9.1 release, compression sometimes triggered vinactive errors on HP 9000 Model 7xx/100 workstations, causing performance to degrade rapidly. This problem has been fixed.
[ Send Questions or Comments to Technical Support ]
[ Contact Technical Support (Phone, Fax, etc.) ]
[ Home ] [ New! ] [ Products ] [ Solutions ] [ Support ] [ Company ] [ Contacts ]
Copyright 1998 Parallax Graphics, Inc. All rights reserved.