Conversion fails - grateful for help

[AnnHackett]

Hi I'd be very grateful for your help. I have absolutely no experience of using software without user interface, but have followed your detailed instructions very carefully. I got to the point where the conversion started, but then it failed and I just don't know what to do next. screenshot error.docx There is no log file in the folder for me to attache but I've attached a screenshot. I have a lot of photobooks and am desperate to back these up as pdfs. Many thanks in advance and I'm sorry if this is not the sort of thing I should be putting on this forum.

[stfnk]

Hi there, thanks for the report! You certainly did everything right running the program. Cewe2pdf just can't find the pictures from your photobook. The cewe software stores them in a folder right next to the projectfile, named 'projectname_mcf-Dateien'. So in your case Cewe2pdf looks for a folder named Iceland 2013 - Copy_mcf-Dateien containing all the images. Does this folder exist? If so, does it contain the .JPG from the error?

If you copied the .mcf file (just guessing from the name) you also need to copy the corresponding folder and make sure it's named like written above

Hope this helps, let me know if it didn't 😃

In any case i need to improve error messages and make the program not crash if image loading fails... also the logfile is never created when the program crashes, which is... kind of useless :D

[AnnHackett]

Thanks Stefan

So yes, that folder exists and it does contain the jpg from the error message.

It is not ‘right next to’ the mcf file, but it is in the same folder with a lot of other mcf files and their corresponding Dateien folders. That is, I’ve saved all my Cewe books in one folder.

What I realise is that is the cover photo of the book if that makes any difference.

But it still crashes and error message is identical to previous screenshot…

Anything more I can try?

Thanks

Ann

From: Stefan notifications@github.com Sent: 12 January 2021 18:26 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com Cc: AnnHackett annhackett123@btinternet.com; Author author@noreply.github.com Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Hi there, thanks for the report! You certainly did everything right running the program. Cewe2pdf just can't find the pictures from your photobook. The cewe software stores them in a folder right next to the projectfile, named 'projectname_mcf-Dateien'. So in your case Cewe2pdf looks for a folder named Iceland 2013 - Copy_mcf-Dateien containing all the images. Does this folder exist? If so, does it contain the .JPG from the error?

If you copied the .mcf file (just guessing from the name) you also need to copy the corresponding folder and make sure it's named like written above

Hope this helps, let me know if it didn't 😃

In any case i need to improve error messages and make the program not crash if image loading fails... also the logfile is never created when the program crashes, which is... kind of useless :D

— You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4#issuecomment-758849739 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFUHGW7YHPLROL4MGSLSZSHZ7ANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ . https://github.com/notifications/beacon/ASOFAFUBKXHMYHGU2ZUM4OTSZSHZ7A5CNFSM4V7SDAO2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOFU5SBSY.gif

[AnnHackett]

Wait!

I just put the mcf and Dateien in a folder of their own, side by side and it seems to be processing…

I’ll let you know…

Ann

From: annhackett123@btinternet.com annhackett123@btinternet.com Sent: 12 January 2021 19:31 To: 'stfnk/Cewe2pdf' reply@reply.github.com Subject: RE: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Thanks Stefan

So yes, that folder exists and it does contain the jpg from the error message.

It is not ‘right next to’ the mcf file, but it is in the same folder with a lot of other mcf files and their corresponding Dateien folders. That is, I’ve saved all my Cewe books in one folder.

What I realise is that is the cover photo of the book if that makes any difference.

But it still crashes and error message is identical to previous screenshot…

Anything more I can try?

Thanks

Ann

From: Stefan <notifications@github.com mailto:notifications@github.com > Sent: 12 January 2021 18:26 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf <Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com mailto:Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com > Cc: AnnHackett <annhackett123@btinternet.com mailto:annhackett123@btinternet.com >; Author <author@noreply.github.com mailto:author@noreply.github.com > Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Hi there, thanks for the report! You certainly did everything right running the program. Cewe2pdf just can't find the pictures from your photobook. The cewe software stores them in a folder right next to the projectfile, named 'projectname_mcf-Dateien'. So in your case Cewe2pdf looks for a folder named Iceland 2013 - Copy_mcf-Dateien containing all the images. Does this folder exist? If so, does it contain the .JPG from the error?

If you copied the .mcf file (just guessing from the name) you also need to copy the corresponding folder and make sure it's named like written above

Hope this helps, let me know if it didn't 😃

In any case i need to improve error messages and make the program not crash if image loading fails... also the logfile is never created when the program crashes, which is... kind of useless :D

— You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4#issuecomment-758849739 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFUHGW7YHPLROL4MGSLSZSHZ7ANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ . https://github.com/notifications/beacon/ASOFAFUBKXHMYHGU2ZUM4OTSZSHZ7A5CNFSM4V7SDAO2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOFU5SBSY.gif

[AnnHackett]

It created a pdf but only has background colour, no photos. My book is full page photos on each page, so I have no background colours by design.

I have one piece of text on the spine and that appears on the first page of the pdf.

Ann

From: annhackett123@btinternet.com annhackett123@btinternet.com Sent: 12 January 2021 19:40 To: 'stfnk/Cewe2pdf' reply@reply.github.com Subject: RE: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Wait!

I just put the mcf and Dateien in a folder of their own, side by side and it seems to be processing…

I’ll let you know…

Ann

From: annhackett123@btinternet.com mailto:annhackett123@btinternet.com <annhackett123@btinternet.com mailto:annhackett123@btinternet.com > Sent: 12 January 2021 19:31 To: 'stfnk/Cewe2pdf' <reply@reply.github.com mailto:reply@reply.github.com > Subject: RE: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Thanks Stefan

So yes, that folder exists and it does contain the jpg from the error message.

It is not ‘right next to’ the mcf file, but it is in the same folder with a lot of other mcf files and their corresponding Dateien folders. That is, I’ve saved all my Cewe books in one folder.

What I realise is that is the cover photo of the book if that makes any difference.

But it still crashes and error message is identical to previous screenshot…

Anything more I can try?

Thanks

Ann

From: Stefan <notifications@github.com mailto:notifications@github.com > Sent: 12 January 2021 18:26 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf <Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com mailto:Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com > Cc: AnnHackett <annhackett123@btinternet.com mailto:annhackett123@btinternet.com >; Author <author@noreply.github.com mailto:author@noreply.github.com > Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Hi there, thanks for the report! You certainly did everything right running the program. Cewe2pdf just can't find the pictures from your photobook. The cewe software stores them in a folder right next to the projectfile, named 'projectname_mcf-Dateien'. So in your case Cewe2pdf looks for a folder named Iceland 2013 - Copy_mcf-Dateien containing all the images. Does this folder exist? If so, does it contain the .JPG from the error?

If you copied the .mcf file (just guessing from the name) you also need to copy the corresponding folder and make sure it's named like written above

Hope this helps, let me know if it didn't 😃

In any case i need to improve error messages and make the program not crash if image loading fails... also the logfile is never created when the program crashes, which is... kind of useless :D

— You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4#issuecomment-758849739 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFUHGW7YHPLROL4MGSLSZSHZ7ANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ . https://github.com/notifications/beacon/ASOFAFUBKXHMYHGU2ZUM4OTSZSHZ7A5CNFSM4V7SDAO2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOFU5SBSY.gif

[stfnk]

Hey, good to hear, at least it ran... that's one step further :D

Ok, i guess i know the problem. The current version of cewe2pdf does not support background images, just normal images... the cewe software stores them in two different ways. I am currently rewriting cewe2pdf to support everything, but it's still somewhat experimental. You could try this build instead: https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/releases/download/v0.3.0-alpha/Cewe2pdf_v0.3.0-alpha1.zip

This might work good enough... if not it should at least produce a logfile containing all information i need to fix everything.

It would be great if you could run this version and send me the log. I'll try my best to fix all issues.

[AnnHackett]

Hi

I removed the older version of extracted files from the desktop, which I hope was right.

I may have made an error – losing concentration, but I will try again tomorrow.

Meantime attached log file that it generated.

Thanks

Ann

From: Stefan notifications@github.com Sent: 12 January 2021 20:25 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com Cc: AnnHackett annhackett123@btinternet.com; Author author@noreply.github.com Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Hey, good to hear, at least it ran... that's one step further :D

Ok, i guess i know the problem. The current version of cewe2pdf does not support background images, just normal images... the cewe software stores them in two different ways. I am currently rewriting cewe2pdf to support everything, but it's still somewhat experimental. You could try this build instead: https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/releases/download/v0.3.0-alpha/Cewe2pdf_v0.3.0-alpha1.zip

This might work good enough... if not it should at least produce a logfile containing all information i need to fix everything.

It would be great if you could run this version and send me the log. I'll try my best to fix all issues.

— You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4#issuecomment-758922209 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFSHVJJ4XZ2FIHB6RE3SZSVZ7ANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ . https://github.com/notifications/beacon/ASOFAFSPT33K55VASLNI6ETSZSVZ7A5CNFSM4V7SDAO2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOFU6DXYI.gif

[stfnk]

Thanks for trying again! Removing the old files was correct. No worries, the alpha version still has quite a few issues... Unfortunatly the logfile did not come through on github, could you upload it directly in the Issue (https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4)? Thanks in advance! Stefan

[AnnHackett]

cewe2pdf.log

[AnnHackett]

Sorry, closed by mistake, logfile attached as requested.

[AnnHackett]

Hi I tried again today following all steps very carefully, but same outcome as per log file attached yesterday. Grateful as and when you may be able to advise any further. I'm very happy to keep trying! Thanks.

[stfnk]

Hi thanks for trying again! I just uploaded a new build here: https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/releases/download/v0.3.0-alpha2/Cewe2pdf_v0.3.0-alpha2.zip Remaining issues with background images are now fixed.

The new version needs access to the cewe installation. It tries to find it automatically, but that might not always work. If you still get the error from above, please open the config.txt file from the same folder the Cewe2pdf.exe is in. In the second line change the path after the = to where the cewe software is installed on your computer (the folder containing the CEWE FOTOWELT.exe. Save the file and run Cewe2pdf again.

I still have to write proper instructions for the new version, hope this works for you.

[AnnHackett]

Hi Stefan

I have Cewe Photoworld.exe not ‘fotowelt’. So should I change the text file in 2 places as below? Sorry I know nothing about software code, so I’m guessing here!

path to the folder the cewe software is installed in (where the 'CEWE PHOTOWORLD.exe' is)

program_path= C:\Program Files\CEWE Photoworld\CEWE Photoworld\CEWE Photoworld.exe

Thanks Ann

From: Stefan notifications@github.com Sent: 14 January 2021 14:36 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com Cc: AnnHackett annhackett123@btinternet.com; State change state_change@noreply.github.com Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Hi thanks for trying again! I just uploaded a new build here: https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/releases/download/v0.3.0-alpha2/Cewe2pdf_v0.3.0-alpha2.zip Remaining issues with background images are now fixed. The new version needs access to the cewe installation. It tries to find it automatically, but that might not always work. If you still get the error from above, please open the config.txt file from the same folder the Cewe2pdf.exe is in. In the second line change the path after the = to where the cewe software is installed on your computer (the folder containing the CEWE FOTOWELT.exe. Save the file and run Cewe2pdf again. I still have to write proper instructions for the new version, hope this works for you. — You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFTHHR7UERK457FIPULSZ36M7ANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ .

[stfnk]

this should work for you: program_path=C:\Program Files\CEWE Photoworld\CEWE Photoworld

(just the folder, not the .exe itself.)

Good to know that names are different for non-german versions. Will update the code for that as well.

[AnnHackett]

Hi So a pdf was created, but as before, it is just coloured pages, no photos. I've attached the log file. I can't attach the pdf to show you - it's nearly 500MB! cewe2pdf.log

[stfnk]

Reading the log it looks like everything worked - and if the pdf is 500mb it probably also contains images. I guess it's just your viewer that can't handle a pdf file that large - i had that problem before.

Open the config.txt again and on a new line add: img_scale=4

If you now re-run Cewe2pdf, it will reduce the resolution of the images (by a factor of 4) in the generated pdf, resulting in a much smaller file which hopefully works better.

[AnnHackett]

Oh dear… same thing happens.

I tried increasing the number above 4 (thinking that would reduce the resoulution even more); I tried 20, then 200!

In all three runs the pdf created but still just colours and each time was the same size – just under 500MB.

:0

From: Stefan notifications@github.com Sent: 14 January 2021 20:08 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com Cc: AnnHackett annhackett123@btinternet.com; State change state_change@noreply.github.com Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Reading the log it looks like everything worked - and if the pdf is 500mb it probably also contains images. I guess it's just your viewer that can't handle a pdf file that large - i had that problem before.

Open the config.txt again and on a new line add: img_scale=4

If you now re-run Cewe2pdf, it will reduce the resolution of the images (by a factor of 4) in the generated pdf, resulting in a much smaller file which hopefully works better.

— You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4#issuecomment-760446523 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFQCR2WXE6X55YAI2X3SZ5FJZANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ . https://github.com/notifications/beacon/ASOFAFXPEEUYS6EZVTFGSSDSZ5FJZA5CNFSM4V7SDAO2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOFVJX4OY.gif

[stfnk]

Hmm, ok it did not resize the images then. I'll take a closer look at the code for that again.

If your still up to trying, i will improve the log messages and get back to you with a new build in a day or two. Need to think about this a bit more.

Sorry for the back and forth, really hope to get this working soon.

[AnnHackett]

Hi

I would really like to keep trying, if it’s not a nuisance to you. More than happy to wait.

I appreciate your time and effort – thank you.

From: Stefan notifications@github.com Sent: 14 January 2021 21:17 To: stfnk/Cewe2pdf Cewe2pdf@noreply.github.com Cc: AnnHackett annhackett123@btinternet.com; State change state_change@noreply.github.com Subject: Re: [stfnk/Cewe2pdf] Conversion fails - grateful for help (#4)

Hmm, ok it did not resize the images then. I'll take a closer look at the code for that again.

If your still up to trying, i will improve the log messages and get back to you with a new build in a day or two. Need to think about this a bit more.

Sorry for the back and forth, really hope to get this working soon.

— You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/stfnk/Cewe2pdf/issues/4#issuecomment-760481242 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASOFAFRENRJDU5YPKSDYHPTSZ5NLHANCNFSM4V7SDAOQ . https://github.com/notifications/beacon/ASOFAFUYWFPGGHAJYI44TATSZ5NLHA5CNFSM4V7SDAO2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOFVKALWQ.gif