Developpement version page

 Events

Publication of a new devel version to fix 5 bugs ( 3 critical):
  • Fix video profil error when render usign x264 codec with ffmpeg 2.0 [Bug poupouneroot]
    • Critical
    • This bug made illegible videos produced for smartphones and portable types IPod
    • This bug affected all Windows and Linux distributions that ship ffmpeg 2.0
 
  • Fix path error for thumbnail in saved .ffd file for Windows [Bug vasipo+Philippe21]
    • Critical
    • This bug affected only Windows users
    • This bug was related to backup files, so opening files produced with previous devel version will cause the display of an error message: select another thumbnail and save the project again
 
  • Fix a compilation error on openSUSE: ffmpeg lib have moved to another folder [Bug William]
    • Critical
    • This bug generated problems playing sound and music
 
  • Fix error of duplicate projects in recent project list on Windows
    • Not critical
 
  • Fix error of not using arrow keys in timeline for moving from slide to slide + add use of arrow keys in timeline even if the focus is under preview window [Bug JoergBe]
    • Not critical
This new "devel" version included:
  • The end of the integration of ffmpeg 2.0
    • This new ffmpeg version is now included in the packages for Windows and many Linux distributions (openSUSE, Gentoo, Arch Linux, etc …)
  • Correct sound problems
    • Fixed problems synchronizing the sound with video
    • Fixed encoding problems with ffmpeg 2.0 (hashed sound and type change for aac)
  • Further work on models thumbnail
    • Fixed several buggs
    • Possibility custom thumbnail for the project (without necessarily creating a new model)
    • Inclusion of many new thumbnail models
  • Further work on title models as
    • Fixed several buggs
    • Improvement of some variables
    • Inclusion of new models
  • Generation of .nfo file for XBMC (very useful for those who use XBMC because it allows the videos to have a poster and a sheet into XBMC)
 
On technical developments approached for this release:
  • What's done:
    • Edit project files to support either QT 4.8 and QT 5
    • Make the source code compatible with MSVC (C98 instead of C99)
    • Include into ffDiaporama source code both QT 4 libraries (fmt_filters and qimageblitz), making them compatible with QT 5 and simplifying: Remove everything that is not ARGB32
    • Compile Exiv2 library on Windows with MSVC with compatibility mode to QT 5 (in 32 and 64 bits)
    • Benefit of 64-bit Windows to support more memory
    • Identify new dependencies to rebuild Windows and Linux installation packages
    • Make the code compatible with ARM processors (deleting all references to SSE2, SSE3, etc …)
    • Support ffmpeg 2.0
    • Rebuild the starter for Windows (ffDiaporama-start): devel 20130807
  • What's to be done:
    • Postponed to next version: Replace the use of SDL with its equivalent provided by the new features included in QT 5
    • Support libav 9.7
    • Transfer WIKI On-Line in the source code and include it in ffDiaporama .ts files
 
I'm always waiting from you to help me create a solid database of models of title and thumbnail.
So above all, do not hesitate to send me your custom templates (they are stored in your personal folder:  ~/.ffDiaporama on Linux and C:\Document and settings\[user] on Windows)
 
Note:
I had planned to publish a version 1.6.1 including support for ffmpeg 2.0
Regarding the number of changes involved, I abandoned this idea and prefer to quick the publication of version 1.7
Consequently, the beta cycle should start soon with the hope to publish this new version, in a stable state, before the end of the month.
I recommend to users of Linux distributions affected by the updates of ffmpeg now to use the devel versions ffDiaporama 1.7.
For this new "devel", there are many changes.
 
First on operating systems:
  • Windows 8
    • I could make some quick tests with Windows 8 and it seems that everything works correctly.
    • Feel free to leave me posts on the forum if you discover any problems with this system
  • Gentoo/openSUSE and Linux who switched to ffmpeg 2.0
    • Ffmpeg support 2.0 is now included.
    • Thank you to Olivier Laurantin for his patch wgo helped me
  • Fedora 19
    • After extensive research, I had to bring myself to stay under QT 4 for Fedora 19.
    • The installation packages should be available online soon
 
On technical developments approached for this release:
  • What's done:
    • Edit project files to support either QT 4.8 and QT 5
    • Make the source code compatible with MSVC (C98 instead of C99)
    • Include into ffDiaporama source code both QT 4 libraries (fmt_filters and qimageblitz), making them compatible with QT 5 and simplifying: Remove everything that is not ARGB32
    • Compile Exiv2 library on Windows with MSVC with compatibility mode to QT 5 (in 32 and 64 bits)
    • Benefit of 64-bit Windows to support more memory
    • Identify new dependencies to rebuild Windows and Linux installation packages
    • Make the code compatible with ARM processors (deleting all references to SSE2, SSE3, etc …)
    • Support ffmpeg 2.0
  • What's to be done:
    • Replace the use of SDL with its equivalent provided by the new features included in QT 5
    • Support libav 9.7
    • Transfer WIKI On-Line in the source code and include it in ffDiaporama .ts files
    • Rebuild the starter for Windows (ffDiaporama-start)
 
On functional changes:
  • Variables
    • The implementation of variables is now complete.
    • New variables have been added and support of special characters is now functional.
    • To expand the capacity of variables, the chaptering system was revised: a new dialog and many new options are now available to describe the chapters.
  • Thumbnails
    • Default Thumbnails were redone for this new version in order to homogenize the template system.
      • Those who have tested the previous "devel" version may encounter difficulties. In this case, go to the box option to select again a default thumbnail.
    • It is now possible to customize the thumbnail of a project without necessarily having to create a new model.
    • For now, 2 thumbnail templates are integrated into ffDiaporama. I count on you to help me create a solid thumbnail database. So above all, do not hesitate to send me your custom templates (they are stored in your personal folder:  ~/.ffDiaporama on Linux and C:\Document and settings\[user] on Windows)
  • Templates
    • The templates system is now in place.
    • A new type of slide "automatic slide" was created and a new dialog box to edit this new type of slide.
    • For now, 19 title slide templates are integrated into ffDiaporama. I count on you to help me create a solid thumbnail database. So above all, do not hesitate to send me your custom templates (they are stored in your personal folder:  ~/.ffDiaporama on Linux and C:\Document and settings\[user] on Windows)
 
Finally, I am pleased to announce the birth of a new ffDiaporama extension: openclipart.
This extension is available from this new page: Extensions for ffDiaporama
Regarding targets previously announced, here is a progress of technical improvements:
  • What's done:
    • Edit project files to support either QT 4.8 and QT 5
    • Make the source code compatible with MSVC (C98 instead of C99)
    • Include into ffDiaporama source code both QT 4 libraries (fmt_filters and qimageblitz), making them compatible with QT 5 and simplifying: Remove everything that is not ARGB32
    • Compile Exiv2 library on Windows with MSVC with compatibility mode to QT 5 (in 32 and 64 bits)
    • Benefit of 64-bit Windows to support more memory
    • Identify new dependencies to rebuild Windows and Linux installation packages
    • Make the code compatible with ARM processors (deleting all references to SSE2, SSE3, etc …)
  • What's to be done:
    • Replace the use of SDL with its equivalent provided by the new features included in QT 5
    • Support libav 9.7 and ffmpeg 2.0
    • Transfer WIKI On-Line in the source code and include it in ffDiaporama .ts files
    • Rebuild the starter for Windows (ffDiaporama-start)
 
These technical improvements allow to propose a Windows 64-bit version (that many users have been waiting for).
Note that this version is probably compatible with Windows 8. (Not being equipped with machine running Windows 8, I have not have been able to test it. If you try, thank you for making me a return on the forum.)
Also note that Windows devel packages proposed on the devel download page does not yet contain "starter". Double click on a .ffd file in the file explorer will not function.
 
In addition to these technical improvements, I have not have been able to resist the urge to add functional enhancements focus on implementing dynamic variables to be able to manage models.
For more information on these functional enhancements, see changelog
 
Finally, to end this post: a good news. A new contributor came to resume translations into Russian. A fully translated version 1.6 will soon be online and version 1.7 should be fully translated into Russian.
Because the objectives for this new version is essentially technical, this new development cycle should normally be fairly short: Publication of the stable release in late summer (late August or early September).
 
The main objectives are
  • In anticipation of new versions of Linux distributions expected this fall (Ubuntu 13.10, Linux Mint 16, Fedora 19, openSUSE 13.1, etc…)
    • Transition to QT version 5 (the current version 4.8 will still be supported for compatibility with current releases of distributions, including Ubuntu 12.04)
    • Support libav 9.7
  • In anticipation of the new version 8.1 of Windows expected this summer
    • Transition to QT version 5 (support of Windows/XP will be discontinued)
    • Use of MSVC (Microsoft compiler and Microsoft library .Net) to replace MINGW
    • Remove of the SDL library
    • Supports 64-bit (support 32-bit continuous)
  • End of the transfer of the ffDiaporama documentation from the on-line mode (posted) to off-Line mode (included in the application)
 
These changes involve a number of work to be done:
  • What is already done:
    • Edit project files to support either QT 4.8 and QT 5
    • Make the source code compatible with MSVC (C98 instead of C99)
    • Include into ffDiaporama source code both QT 4 libraries (fmt_filters and qimageblitz), making them compatible with QT 5 and simplifying: Remove everything that is not ARGB32
  • What remains to be done:
    • Compile Exiv2 library on Windows with MSVC with compatibility mode to QT 5 (in 32 and 64 bits)
    • Replace the use of SDL with its equivalent provided by the new features included in QT 5
    • Benefit of 64-bit Windows to support more memory
    • Make the code compatible with ARM processors
    • Support libav 9.7
    • Transfer WIKI On-Line in the source code and include it in ffDiaporama .ts files
    • Rebuild the starter for Windows (ffDiaporama-start) to abort modes processors
    • Identify new dependencies to rebuild Windows and Linux installation packages
Currently because no installation package is already developed, only the modified source code is published.
 
The brave who want to test this new version can do this by taking care of the platforms involved, moving to QT 5 (eg replace the qmake-qt4 command with on Ubuntu 13.04)
This new beta version fixes the bug that some met with the Multimedia Browser (Well, i hope)
Let me know, on the forum, if you experience problems again