Sound Packager Update

Thursday, October 4, 2007 by Philly0381 | Discussion: OS Customization

Just started to use this program, I have downloaded what's in the library. Yesterdays update seems to have deleted Basketball and Football, is that correct?

Can the sounds under Sound Schemes be used or do they need to be converted or changed to work?  

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ZubaZ
Reply #1 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:26 AM
Wow!  Impressive list of additions, changes and fixes!

SoundPackager 0.95 beta
---------------------------------
Sound Packages default to installation to the AllUsers\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager directory. They are copied from there to the local user documents directory when SoundPackager is run. That way, if different users on the PC modify an existing package, they are modifying their local copy vs the master downloaded one.

ADD: Packages can now be removed with option to remove them from the list (into a 'Removed' directory) or delete them outright.
ADD: Currently applied package now displayed on the Welcome page.
ADD: Packages are now automatically backed up.
ADD: Packages can be restored from backups if you've made changes..
ADD: Packages directory can be chosen by the user.
ADD: Added Advanced tab and page.

MOD: Updated dialog text throughout.
MOD: 'Disable All Sounds' and 'Restore Windows Default Sounds' buttons moved to Advanced page.
MOD: Removed 'Company' from package spec.
MOD: 'Import Sounds' and 'Set All to Default' buttons are now hidden on Package Details tab.
MOD: SoundPackage will only default to the Welcome page on first run. Subsequent runs will default to the Packages page.
MOD: Replaced 'Loding Packages..' animation with actual display progress bar.

FIX: 'Restore Windows Default Sounds' on Vista now functional.
FIX: Non-PCM WAV files will not play, and will not crash the application.
FIX: Fixed alignment of version string in the Packages list.
FIX: If no version string has been set in the package, the version does not display.
FIX: Package load time improved.
FIX: XP defaults to Tahoma font, Vista defaults to Segeo UI.

It is so very cool how SD listens to their users!

To philly's point, I also lost those two schemes.  A update process bug?  I kept all teh other thems I'd downloaded or created.

You can use all the sounds in the default sound scheme but they need to be imported.  You can grab them from C:\Windows\Media on Vista and XP.
Philly0381
Reply #2 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:40 AM
Just to be clear on what I need to do, I download the sounds from the library under sound schemes, find them under C:\Windows\Media then import them into the sound packager program, right?   
ZubaZ
Reply #3 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:43 AM
It may be a silly request, but Just like WB allows us to choose Windows Classic and Windows Aero (or Luna) from the list of skins, can the options on the advanced page migrate to the "Pick a Package" page?

I like the addition of the password protection option!  How does the "Allow users to copy this Package work"?  What happens if it's unchecked?

Out of curiosity, does the backup restore process use the Keepsafe framework?

Last thing (at the moment), on the left pane, the icon next to Welcome seems like a better fit for Packages.  No?

Otherwise . . it's working well and my only complait is that so many actions on my PC complete before the sounds are done playing.  DOH!! 
ZubaZ
Reply #4 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:49 AM
Just to be clear on what I need to do, I download the sounds from the library under sound schemes, find them under C:\Windows\Media then import them into the sound packager program, right?


Sound schemes are the MS Windows product.  You can get Sound Packager themes in th Sound Packager gallery.

Download and they should be associated to Sound Packager and you don't have to do anything.

I misunderstood what you wanted to do.  I thought you wanted to make a theme that used the MS Sound Scheme sounds.  My mistake, sorry.
Philly0381
Reply #5 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:55 AM
That's okay Zubaz. When you look in the Gallery there is a Library called Sound Schemes. I was wondering on how to get them into the sound packager. Voices versus just sounds.   
ZubaZ
Reply #6 Thursday, October 4, 2007 12:10 PM
I had forgotten about that gallery.  HAH!

OK, extract them any place you want.  Use Soundpackager to create a new package, import those sounds, and then assign to a specific event.  Save and you are done.

That's what I would do.

Otherwise, you can save the folder anywhere and use the MS sound thing in control panel to assign each sound.

Using SP make everything more portable.
Philly0381
Reply #7 Thursday, October 4, 2007 12:15 PM
Thanks Zubaz, I'll give it a try.  
andrew_
Reply #8 Thursday, October 4, 2007 12:49 PM

It may be a silly request, but Just like WB allows us to choose Windows Classic and Windows Aero (or Luna) from the list of skins, can the options on the advanced page migrate to the "Pick a Package" page?


Interesting suggestion. It's currently our contention that the 'Windows Default' and 'None' settings for Sound Schemes are in fact, system default settings, and don't fall under the guise of 'Sound Packages'. Which is why we created the buttons to revert back to those system defaults. The functionality is there, its compact and easy to use and get to. Simply click on the Advanced tab and youre in business.


I like the addition of the password protection option! How does the "Allow users to copy this Package work"? What happens if it's unchecked?


The copy package prevention was a feature that was requested in order to keep people from making copies from within the UI of the application. The default is unchecked (freely allowing people to make as many copies of a package as they like). It will probably be used more frequently in conjuction with the Password protection.


Out of curiosity, does the backup restore process use the Keepsafe framework?


No, it doesnt. The backup process is very very custom. There's a lot going on behind the scenes to ensure proper backups and restores. 


Last thing (at the moment), on the left pane, the icon next to Welcome seems like a better fit for Packages. No?

I would disagree

Nakor
Reply #9 Thursday, October 4, 2007 1:20 PM
If you lost the sound packages on update, please send \program files\stardock\sdcentral\installed\snd.log to [email protected]. I've upgraded them here successfully, not clear what went wrong (though they did move directories from where they were in the previous install).

Does uninstalling SoundPackager and reinstalling it get them back?
Philly0381
Reply #10 Thursday, October 4, 2007 1:23 PM
I haven't tried uninstalling and reinstalling. I'll do that and post back.   
Philly0381
Reply #11 Thursday, October 4, 2007 2:01 PM
Just did the uninstall, reboot and reinstall. Downloaded using SDC and I could see that the program was loading the Football and Basketball files. Open up the SoundPackager program and they are not there. All the other sound packages that I download are. Could they have moved the Football and Basketball files to a different place? In the meantime I'll be looking for the log.   
Philly0381
Reply #12 Thursday, October 4, 2007 2:30 PM
Nakor, I just sent you the log in a email. Hope it helps and thanks for responding.   
ZubaZ
Reply #13 Thursday, October 4, 2007 2:40 PM
From the log:

-- [Application] ----------------------------------------------------
Name: Stardock Central
Path: C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral
Version: 2.48.485, build: 160

-- [System Information] ---------------------------------------------
Platform: Microsoft Windows Windows NT4, 6.0.6000
Display: Radeon X1650 Series
Driver Version: 8.380.0.0
System Dir: C:\Windows\system32
Time / Date: 06:34:33 -- Thursday, October 04, 2007

-- [Installing] -----------------------------------------------------
Server: http://sdc2.stardock.com
Server Dir: public
Network Id: odnt
Name: SoundPackager [Beta]
App Id: snd
Installed: True
Version: 0.95[b].014
Type: beta
Reg Key: SoundPackager
Install Dir: C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\SoundPackager
Exe: SoundPackager.exe
Last Updated: 10/03/2007

-- [Account] --------------------------------------------------------
. . .

-- [Installation] ---------------------------------------------------
. . .
Extract: C:\Users\ZubaZ\AppData\Local\Temp\sdcentral\PublicDocuments\Stardock\SoundPackager\Basketball.soundpack_ 1 | 10/03/2007 08:04
Extract: C:\Users\ZubaZ\AppData\Local\Temp\sdcentral\PublicDocuments\Stardock\SoundPackager\Football.soundpack_ 1 | 10/03/2007 08:04ments and Settings\Aaron\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager\Football.soundpack 1 | 09/11/2007 15:13
. . .
Move: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager\Basketball.soundpack 1 | 10/03/2007 13:04
Move: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager\Football.soundpack 1 | 10/03/2007 13:04
Delete: D:\Documents and Settings\Aaron\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager\Basketball.soundpack 1
Delete: D:\Documents and Settings\Aaron\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager\Football.soundpack 1
. . .


But no football pack there. I did find it here though: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager
All my other packages (self-made and downloaded) are located here: D:\Documents and Settings\Aaron\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager
Philly0381
Reply #14 Thursday, October 4, 2007 2:47 PM
Zubaz, from what I heard from Stardock I'm missing a couple of lines in the log. Let you know what or how the fix is. The two sound packages were supposed to be there.   
eieio
Reply #15 Thursday, October 4, 2007 10:43 PM
Sound Packages default to installation to the AllUsers\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager directory.


  
Nakor
Reply #16 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:28 PM

OK, we understand the code path that resulted in this from the update. SoundPackager has been setup to copy the packages from the master all users directory to allow other users on the system the option of editing the packages under their user accounts and not impacting other users on the machine.

However, in this build, that was triggered to only be on new installs rather than updates. So when the directories for the sound packs switched to the new location with the beta, the target local user dir already existed and it didn't recopy the updated "master" set of packages.

We'll adjust the build next week to account for updating those "master" set of included packages under various local users if they are updated. Until then, if you updated from the previous beta, you'll need to copy them to your user's Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager dir from the AllUsers\Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager location.

Technically, the beta is working as designed. We need to tweak the design. ty for the log, Philly0381.

Kris

ZubaZ
Reply #17 Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:33 PM
Good news.
Thanks for the update Kris
Philly0381
Reply #18 Friday, October 5, 2007 12:01 AM
Thanks alot Kris, glad I was able to help.   
mcgilles
Reply #19 Sunday, October 7, 2007 8:09 PM
I know its still a beta, but when I click on a soundpackager file and load it in sound packager, it is deleted off my disk! how can I make this not happen?
ZubaZ
Reply #20 Sunday, October 7, 2007 8:52 PM
Is it deleted or moved to the "proper" spot? C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\My Documents\Stardock\SoundPackager
On install it should be moved.

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