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Main => Templates, Layouts and Sounds => Topic started by: Chowda on March 29, 2013, 12:53:58 AM

Title: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Chowda on March 29, 2013, 12:53:58 AM
My background imagine blinks or flickers, the only way to stop it is to edit clock properties; like changing the font to bold and then it stops. Any idea why the image would flicker to begin with?
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on March 29, 2013, 07:28:26 AM
What version of the software are you using?
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Chowda on March 29, 2013, 08:48:40 AM
2.5.14
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on March 29, 2013, 09:00:39 AM
It's a bug in Internet Explorer introduced in IE9.  The TD worked around it in version 2.5.12, so I'm not sure why you're seeing it with version 2.5.14.  What version of IE are you using?
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Chowda on March 29, 2013, 09:08:59 AM
IE9
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on March 29, 2013, 04:04:56 PM
That's interesting.  I can't make this happen.  If I remove the fix, then I can easily see the flicker.  But without modification, version 2.5.14 doesn't flicker for me.

I had a bunch of reports of this issue right after IE9 was released.  After I released the fix, I haven't heard anything more.  Can you post your SystemInfo so I can take a closer look?  Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V from anywhere in the TD application to open the System Info dialog.  Then press the Copy to Clipboard button, and paste it into a reply post.
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Chowda on March 29, 2013, 04:26:23 PM
Corey... on one computer I had version 2.5.14 and on the computer I use for the tournaments I had version 2.5.11 and just changed it to 2.5.14 and presto! The bug is fixed... you're the man!!! Thanks!!!
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Chowda on March 29, 2013, 04:33:36 PM
On a different subject, my sound for the 1st blind change always seems to be behind by 10 seconds. Have you ever heard of that problem?
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on March 30, 2013, 12:18:43 PM
Never heard of a delay like that.  10 seconds is a long time.  What happens when you simply play the corresponding sound on the Events tab?  (Right-click and sound and select "Play sound".)
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: dullgeek on April 02, 2013, 10:12:18 PM
Ok, I have 2.5.14 and this problem still happens for me. It was so irritating that I just can't use background images. Even though I'd like to. There seems to be some magic key sequence (that I haven't quite figured out) that will get it to stop blinking. But then as soon as I do something it comes back. It seems to blink in synchronization with the clock ticking each second.

I should also mention, that this happens when I've got two external monitors connected to my laptop. I can't seem to make it happen when I'm using the builtin screen on my laptop.

Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer
Browser Client Info Version: 7.0
Browser Code Name: Mozilla
Browser Decided Version: 8.0
Browser Detected Version: 8.0
Browser Language: en-US
Browser Minor Version: 0
Browser Version: 4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.1; Trident/6.0; SLCC2; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET CLR 3.0.30729; Media Center PC 6.0; InfoPath.3; .NET4.0C; Zune 4.7; .NET4.0E)
Cookies Enabled: true
CPU Class: x86
Data Folder: C:\Users\Mark\Documents\The Tournament Director 2
Date: 11:10:15 pm 4/2/2013
DB File: C:\Users\Mark\Dropbox\Poker (1)\db\td.db
DB Folder: C:\Users\Mark\Dropbox\Poker (1)\db
Install Folder: C:\Program Files\The Tournament Director 2
JScript Build: 16521
JScript Version: 5.8
Media Player Version: 12.0.7601.17514
Online: true
Platform: Win32
Repo Folder: C:\Users\Mark\Dropbox\Poker (1)
System Language: en-US
TD Version: 2.5.14
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.1; Trident/6.0; SLCC2; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET CLR 3.0.30729; Media Center PC 6.0; InfoPath.3; .NET4.0C; Zune 4.7; .NET4.0E)
User Language: en-US
Virtual Store Folder: C:\Users\Mark\AppData\Roaming\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\The Tournament Director 2
 
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Seitz333 on April 03, 2013, 12:55:01 AM
Hey Corey, not sure if you wanted this posted here or in the Beta forum but tonight I noticed my background would blink/fade when changing from breaks to the next level. I'm using 3.2b4

Chuck
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on April 04, 2013, 10:15:23 AM
Ok, I have 2.5.14 and this problem still happens for me. It was so irritating that I just can't use background images. Even though I'd like to. There seems to be some magic key sequence (that I haven't quite figured out) that will get it to stop blinking. But then as soon as I do something it comes back. It seems to blink in synchronization with the clock ticking each second.

The blinking occurs when the TD sets the background image, which previously it did every update to the screen, which occurred on average once per second.  By setting the background, it is simply telling Internet Explorer "this is the background image".  IE, and most browsers, are smart enough to notice when you set a field to the same value it currently holds, and won't take any action when you do (such as re-render the screen).  This worked great for years.  Then, with IE 9, this changed ... at least with respect to the background image.  When it is set, IE always re-renders it, even if the value is unchanged.  Not only does it re-render, but it re-renders first with no background, then it re-renders with the background.  Thus the "blink".  This is an IE bug.  TD's workaround is to simply be smart about setting the value.  If it hasn't changed, don't set it.

Having said that, and having not heard a word on this issue since the release of 2.5.12 (other than the report that started this thread, which turned out to not be an issue) which was nearly 2 years ago.

I should also mention, that this happens when I've got two external monitors connected to my laptop. I can't seem to make it happen when I'm using the builtin screen on my laptop.

Thanks for the info, although I cannot imagine why this would make any difference.  So, has this happened as long as you've had IE9?  Does it blink with all/any background, or just a specific one?  Can you send me your exported layout so I can try it?   Or better yet take a backup, on the Database tab, and send me the backup file?
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on April 04, 2013, 10:18:06 AM
Hey Corey, not sure if you wanted this posted here or in the Beta forum but tonight I noticed my background would blink/fade when changing from breaks to the next level. I'm using 3.2b4

Only from a break to a non-break level?  Blink sounds like an issue.  Fade sounds like a transition.  Two new transitions were added in 3.2.b4: Fade to black and fade to white.  See if it's an issue with one of those.  Go to the Preferences tab, select the Screen Transitions section, then turn off (uncheck) all transitions except for one of the Fade to ... transitions.  Then see what happens when the screen changes.
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Seitz333 on April 06, 2013, 10:31:32 AM
Hey Corey, Im heading out of town tomorrow for a week to play in the WSOP circuit in Cherokee, NC. I'll do some testing when i get back.

Chuck
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: dullgeek on April 07, 2013, 11:26:12 AM
So, has this happened as long as you've had IE9?  Does it blink with all/any background, or just a specific one?  Can you send me your exported layout so I can try it?   Or better yet take a backup, on the Database tab, and send me the backup file?

First, IE reports itself as IE10.

Second, I will be happy to send you the backup. I just can't seem to reproduce this problem w/out access to the dual screen setup that I mentioned above. When I can get that dual screen setup back again, I'll try to reproduce the issue and then send you the backup. Our club has a tournament this week, so I should be able to recreate it before the end of the week.  

Finally, when you say backup, I assume you only need only the templates folder. I'd prefer not to share our saved tournaments and database.
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on April 08, 2013, 02:45:40 PM
Quote
Finally, when you say backup, I assume you only need only the templates folder. I'd prefer not to share our saved tournaments and database.

Understood and no problem.  I usually request a backup because it's the easiest way to reproduce someone's "environment".  Having your specific environment greatly increases the chance that I'll be able to reproduce the issue.  But privacy is important to me, too, so no worries if you'd rather not send that data.  Just send the layout and any associated image files (so you should probably use the layout's Export feature, as it will package it all up in a ZIP file for you).
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: dullgeek on April 08, 2013, 07:07:26 PM
Understood and no problem.  I usually request a backup because it's the easiest way to reproduce someone's "environment".  Having your specific environment greatly increases the chance that I'll be able to reproduce the issue.  But privacy is important to me, too, so no worries if you'd rather not send that data.  Just send the layout and any associated image files (so you should probably use the layout's Export feature, as it will package it all up in a ZIP file for you).

Well, the good news is that I can't recreate the problem. I swear it was happening and I haven't upgraded since it happened. But I can't recreate it. And I've tried every thing I did before. But the error steadfastly refuses to show itself.

Which is, of course, actually good news.
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on April 09, 2013, 10:41:35 AM
Yay.  :)
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Seitz333 on April 19, 2013, 08:58:33 PM
Only from a break to a non-break level?  Blink sounds like an issue.  Fade sounds like a transition.  Two new transitions were added in 3.2.b4: Fade to black and fade to white.  See if it's an issue with one of those.  Go to the Preferences tab, select the Screen Transitions section, then turn off (uncheck) all transitions except for one of the Fade to ... transitions.  Then see what happens when the screen changes.

Hey Corey I finally had sometime to play with this, it seems it was only doing it when going from a Round to a Break and I checked the Transitions setting and the two new transiions were checked by default. Once I uncheck the new transitions (Fade To Black & Fade To White) the problem went away.

I have a chariety tourney tomorrow so I will let you know if any problems come up.

Thanks,

Chuck
Title: Re: Background Image Blinks
Post by: Corey Cooper on April 20, 2013, 11:09:50 AM
OK, that's good to know.  Thanks for updating the thread.  Unfortunately IE is (obviously) not very consistent with the transition animation.  I'm glad I made it optional.  :)