CarpeScreen  v.1.0   (beta 2)
This is a simple Java program that takes snapshots of your screen. It can be used to capture the sequence of slides showed during a presentation.

This can be useful when other mechanisms do not work for you for capturing the slide images and the timing. Look also at CarpePpt.

Moreover it can be a simple backup solution (just in case ;-).

This version is not yet compliant to the Lecture Object Architecture. Take it as a Java exercise, a more robust solution should be used in production.

Thanks for the good ideas provided by Dr.Chuck and Jeremy Herr.
 

 

Disclaimer
This software is free. The source code is provided. You can use this software on "as-is" basis at your own risk, without warranty of any kind.

There is no warranty for any kind of support.  But if you have questions or need help, you can try to contact me via e-mail.

GV

 

1 - Download CarpeScreen here: carpescreen10b2.zip (22 kB)

2 - Unzip the file wherever you prefer on your computer

3 - You can run the following .bat files:

What is CarpeScreen useful for ?
It can be used to automatically take snapshots of your computer screen when something changes on it.

How does it work ?
CarpeScreen periodically checks several points on the screen. When the color of at least one of this points changes, CarpeScreen takes a snapshot of the screen and produces a file into the directory 'shots'.

Ah, ah! Really? Is it so much useful? ;-)
Ok...Ok... Someone can find it useful and use it as it is. But since the source code is provided, it can be quite useful so that you can modify it to create your own Java program that solves your specific problem withouth spending much time in looking for Java documentation and code snippets (like I did this week-end).

What CarpeScreen ins/outs are ?
CarpeScreen reads a configuration file (CarpeScreenConfig.txt), and the file CarpeScreenPoints.txt that contains a list of points that CarpeScreen checks. CarpeScreen produces a set of snapshots files.
Look at this picture:

Please give me some info about how to run CarpeScreen.
Be ready to go, then run "CarpeScreen.bat". From now on, a set of files will be created into the directory "shots". The name of the files tells you about the timing (in milliseconds) when that snapshot has been created. Anytime you want to end, just close the CarpeScreen window, or push Control-Break key.

Which parameters can I configure ?
The configuration file is self-explaining enough. Just try to play with it.

Can I see some examples of CarpeScreen snapshots on this Web site?
No. Download CarpeScreen and try it yourself. ;-)
There are no big special effects, nor nice user interface.
So expect CarpeScreen just produces a set of .gif .jpg or .png files. (see also the configuration file).


Hey, there is also the program "CarpeScreenLearn", what is it for ?
It has been written to study about which screen points change most during a slide presentation. Yes, looks like just a waste of time like studying the trajectory of chickens in the yard.
Anyway, I enjoyed writing it.
BTW, it produces CarpeScreenPoints.txt files that CarpeScreen can read.

How do I use CarpeScreenLearn and CarpeScreen together ?
First run CarpeScreenLearn, change the name of the produced file (take away that big number), then use it with CarpeScreen.

Please give me some more info about how to run CarpeScreenLearn.
- Be ready to go (e.g.open your presentation) and launch CarpeScreenLearn.bat.
- Select "auto" mode, this will check for screen changes periodically.
- Browse the slides of your presentation (hold 2-3 seconds on each slide).
- When you are done, show CarpeScreenLearn window (alt+Tab can help), and click the 'End' button.
- A file called like: CarpeScreenPoints-1047226797596.txt file will be created. If you want to use it with CarpeScreen, rename it to: 'CarpeScreenPoints.txt'. This files contains the points that changed at least three times, ordered by the number of times they changes (e.g. v=7 means it changed 7 times). You can make the file smaller just keeping the 20-40 top points, this is very useful when running CarpeScreen opn slow machines.

What are the other buttons for?
The button "Snap!" take immedietely a snapshots and check if points changed.
The button "delayes 5s" takes a snap after 5 seconds.

I cannot find the snapshot files, where are them?
CarpeScreenLearn does not write on files the snapshots. They just sit for a while in memory.
If you want them on file, use CarpeScreen.

Hey man, I'm bored and not that much impressed.
I am not going to try this myself. Please show me directly some output examples.
Ok, ok. I understand, you're lazy...
Here you are:


1-if-CarpeScreenPoints.txt
2-ag-CarpeScreenPoints.txt


3-fc-CarpeScreenPoints.txt
4-mc-CarpeScreenPoints.txt


5-if-CarpeScreenPoints.txt

Ok. I'm interested in using your code. Can I use it?
Yes.

Ehm... I want to take your code, modify it, taking it into my program and getting money and glory for it. Will you complain?
No.

Eeehmmmm... Do I have to say that I copied from your code?
That's not mandatory. You can just say you found around some tips as well as you can cite the url of this Web page.
Anyway, I'd appreciate an e-mail if you have tried to use/modify my code, etc..etc... I'll not ask for money....
It's just to see how useless this stuff is... :-)

I have read all this page. Have I won a special prize?
No, sorry, there isn't a prize yet.
I should provide something like that, you really deserve it...
Please accept my congratulation for your patience.

 

Last Update by GV on 1/1/1970