live stack lost folder

[carlomuccini]

Hello
I use the LIVE STACK function a lot but I have a big problem with the folder to save the .fit files

SharpCap Pro 3.2.6298.0 18/04/2020

I open SharpCap and set the folder and the object name
I point the object and I make a series of shots and every xx 5 minutes I automatically save the .fit file, and I start again.
So far, so good

I stop & close the live stacks, point a new object, write the name of the object (eg NGC 1234) and start a new live stacking
It happens that the .fit file does not save it in the NGC1234 folder but in the previously used folder; and the .fit files name have the
same name as before, not the one just set


This creates two big problems for me
The first is obviously the confusion of objects, because they all have the same name, the second much more unpleasant, it overwrites the .png file in the "processed" folder; A pity, because it is very useful

I attach the file saving settings screen

Carlo

[admin]

Hi,

Thanks for the report – I will try to see if I can make this problem happen and work out what is going on.

Cheers, Robin

[admin]

Hi,

I can see that at least part of the problem is that your filename templates for the live stack saved files do not contain any components for the date or time. You should definitely include both as otherwise it's entirely possible for files to be overwritten by another run of live stacking on the same target.

For instance my templates are similar to

{Date:S}\{TargetName}\{Time}\{AutoSave}\Stack_{BitDepth}bits_{StackedFrames}frames_{TotalExposure}

I've just run a test with templates that contain the date of time and I can't see any problems. My procedure is as follows.

* Setup live stacking to auto reset every minute (to keep the test nice and short)
* Open test camera one to show the default view of the Orion nebula with one second exposures
* Set the target name box to something like 't1'
* Start live stacking, allow to stack for at least 60 frames so that the stack gets auto saved and reset
* close live stacking
* change the target name to something different - 't2'
* reopen live stacking – note that it reopens in the paused state
* click the clear button to reset the stack
* allowed to stack for at least 60 frames so that another saving reset happens

After this I have two separate folders with two separate sets of output files in the targets t1 and t2. If you can still find a problem after adding the date/time to your filename templates then let me know how your sequence of steps differs from mine and may be we can home in on exactly what is causing it.

Cheers, Robin

[carlomuccini]

I do exactly that too
I do live stacking with a name like e.g. M44

and the file created is: Stack_32bits_18frames_180s23_58_29.fits and so on saved in folder e.g. \M44
and this is not a file name problem

Then I perform a GOTO and a new stacks of different objects; and this is where it doesn't work well for me
the second stack does not read the new name (e.g. M13) but uses the name for the folder of the previous object (e.g. M44)
and it doesn't even create the new folder (M13) but uses the old one (M44).
As a result, the fit file are mixed (with different name, but mixed in one folder).

The only way to survivefor me is to close SharpCap and reopen SharpCap, and all work fine

thank you

Carlo

[admin]

Hi Carlo,

I think the key is the exact set of steps you are using to try to create the second stack – what buttons you press and in what order and when type the changed name into the target names box. I can believe there may be a problem here is the code is quite complicated, but until I know the exact set of steps to make it happen, I can't really fix it.


Cheers, Robin

[carlomuccini]

I start by creating a folder where all the work will be saved
for example. C:\Astroimages \ 2020 \ 0430_TEC140 (2020 April 30, telescope name)

GOTO to an object e.g. M31

I open SharpCap
Cameras menu / ASI178

File menu / SharpCap Setting / Filename / SaveTo ...C:\...\ 0430_TEC140


Set Exposure / Gain test, all ok, start session

Capture Menu / Capture Dark
Saved in 0430_TEC140 \ M31 \ Darks (all ok)


Tools / Live Stack menu
Edit the Target Name: M31

Live stack: click on Pause / Clear / Resume
check the Save and Reset every 3 minutes or 5 minutes
Live stack start
Every 3 or 5 minutes save the FIT16 and FT32

after 4 or 5 saved images I finish the job in this way

 Pause Live stack
 click on X and Live Stack closes
 
 GOTO to another object, e.g. M27

Tools / Live Stack menu
Edit the Target Name: M27

and do exactly the same thing as before
the live stack DOES NOT CREATE THE M27 FOLDER
and save the files in the M31 folder

Note that the general save folder appears at the top of the title bar
for example. C: \ Astroimages \ 2020 \ 0430_TEC140
and in fact the files are saved well but in the wrong subfolder

Now I know and always check after the second Livestack-GOTO
and check if SharpCape created the folder or not
Normally it did not create it because it is saving in the previous folder
Then I create the new folder by hand, e.g. M27 and then from that moment
all new files are saved correctly in the newly created folder

I hope I was clear

Thanks for everything

Carlo

[admin]

Hi,

thanks for the further details - I still can't make this happen even when following your instructions. I am going to ask you to create a log file which will help me track exactly what is going on, but please don't try yet - I will put some extra logging into the next version so that the relevant actions are all recorded in the log file.

thanks, Robin

[carlomuccini]

Ok I wait

[Menno555]

I had the same here with the 3.3.6309.0 version but then with normal capture: clicked the Start Capture Button, in there I gave it the Target Name Moon_Barlow and started saving. No problem, the map Moon_Barlow was created. Then after a while it was without Barlow but with IR, so in the same way I saved it but then with Target Name Moon_IR. It would not save there, it kept on saving in Moon_Barlow. No matter what I tried. With previous version there was no problem.
Only after a restart of SharpCap, it accepted the new name Moon_IR.

But did just see the May 1st version, will see if it still happens.

[admin]

Hi,

I can see a bug where if you type in the box and then start recording with the quick capture button, what you typed in the box seems to be used for the first recording but then the box goes back to the previous text. I wonder if this is part of the problem.

Cheers, Robin