Follow-up on Auto-Capture thread begun by someone else

[nkormanik]

Suppose I'd like five automatic screen snaps per weekday, on a separate computer off to the side.

Say: 8am, 10am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm

Would Screenshot Captor be the best tool for that?

If so, how would that be setup?

If not, would you please suggest the more appropriate application?  (perhaps using Windows Scheduled Tasks, for example?)

Thanks much,
Nicholas

[mouser]

Hi Nicholas,

You could use Screenshot Captor for this..
On the Pre-Capture options tab you would set the Auto Capture timer rate to: 7200, and the Stop After to 0 (i think! to make it go forever).

And then make sure you have SC configured to stay minimized after capture (Interface Options 1 tab).

[nkormanik]

An important competitive advantage Screenshot Captor has over other such programs is the extensive file-naming control.  I wouldn't want to give that up.

Thanks much!

[mouser]

You could also use any other scheduling tool in conjunction with Screenshot Captor's little brother, the commandline MiniCap tool.

[nkormanik]

I think MiniCap + Windows Scheduled Tasks would in fact be better, as all I want to capture are those particular times, and only on weekdays.

So, used in command-line set-up.  I believe all the file-naming possibility remains the same?  MiniCap hasn't been updated for some time.

[nkormanik]

Would it be worth the effort for you to allow for user-selected wav file option when capture takes place?

I prefer a really clear distinct and LOUD camera CLICK so that I'm certain that a snap has actually taken place.

[mouser]

I believe all the file-naming possibility remains the same? MiniCap hasn't been updated for some time.

Yep, the filenaming capabilities are the same.  Let me see if i can't do a quick update to MiniCap right now, just so the new failure-to-save error reporting is in place.

Would it be worth the effort for you to allow for user-selected wav file option when capture takes place?

That's a good idea, i will add it.

[nkormanik]

Fantastic.

[mouser]

MiniCap update has been posted.

[nkormanik]

I'm struggling with the MiniCap command-line code to get the following result:

C:\Screen Captures\2011-08-29 18_31_16.png
.
.
.
etc.

Below is the code that seemed most plausible.  But something is definitely wrong.  Please suggest the proper formulation.  If you don't mind, please try it out first to make sure it really in fact works:

"C:\Program Files\MiniCap\MiniCap.exe" -capturescreeen -save "C:\Screen Captures\$dt:%Y-%m-%d %H_%M_%S$.png"

Thanks very much.
Nicholas

[mouser]

It's either the use of -capturescreeen instead of -capturescreen or a bug with the $dt.
I'm away from my pc at the moment so hard for me to test.

[nkormanik]

Good grief.  An extra e.  My bad.

Still a problem, though:

C:\Downloads>"C:\Program Files\MiniCap\MiniCap.exe" -capturescreen -save "C:\Screen Captures\$dt:%Y-%m-%d %H_%M_%S$.png" -exit

Problem with the %Y part.

Resulting file name is:  %Y-08-30 15_46_42.png

And not:  2011-08-30 15_46_42.png

What do I have wrong?

Thanks!

[Ath]

Good grief.  An extra e.  My bad.

-nkormanik (August 30, 2011, 04:51 PM)

Looking at the MiniCap page, I also see the triple e version of -capturescreeen

[nkormanik]

Made another mistake above.  Command line should have been:

"C:\Program Files\MiniCap\MiniCap.exe" -capturescreen -save "C:\Screen Captures\$dt:%Y-%m-%d %H_%M_%S$.png" -exit

[Ath]

Problem with the %Y part.

Resulting file name is:  %Y-08-30 15_46_42.png

-nkormanik (August 30, 2011, 04:51 PM)

Just tried that, and can confirm it. But leaving out (only) the % before the Y (...$dt:Y-%m...) gives the current year in 4 digits. It's probably a parsing or parser-state error

[nkormanik]

BINGO!  Sure enough, that works, though.

Thanks..., until Mouser fixes that parser thing you refer to.

Mouser, you should probably also include an example of using $dt: in the included documentation, along with the other examples already provided.

[mouser]

Thanks for the discovery.  fixing the % bug now too.

[nkormanik]

What a pro!

Your effort is greatly appreciated, Mouser....