Intel Mac freeze

We developed a program in AW7 that runs on both Windows and
MAC (running from a local EXE). It was working fine until the
release of the new Intel MAC. Now it just freezes at random
locations w/in the program on an Intel MAC. Doesn't seem to be
anything with the way it was coded or the interaction. Can't
replicate any specific freezing issue, it's completely random.



There's actually a number of issues that we've come across w/
the Intel MAC, mpg video won't play (see other posting), sound
doesn't play on some machines, sound only works sometimes on some
machines, etc. We've tried repackaging the files on an Intel MAC
(no good), repacked them on an OS9 machine (fixed other issues in
the past, this time no good). I've heard about Rosetta but I can't
find a way to enable it for our program so I'm assuming that it
just runs automatically. If I'm wrong please clue me in.



With issues running AW7 on OS9 our customers are limited to
running our latest version on OSX as long as it doesn't have an
Intel chip. So, it's almost worthless to develop for the MAC.



We're about out of ideas so, if anyone has one, we could use
the help.



By the way, does anyone actually develop for the MAC w/
Authorware anymore? :)



ThanksIntel Mac freeze
Aaron,



Does your application contain any third-party Xtras? Is it
using any XCMDs?



- Steve Gannon

GanTek Multimedia

Intel Mac freeze
No XCMDs, just the basic Xtras like BudAPI. Here's a list of
the Xtras we use.



A3Snd Reader

Animated GIF Asset

BMP Import Export

Buddy API OSX Xtra

DirTrans

GIF Import

JPEG Import

Mix Services

Mix Sound

Mix Viewer

MOA Files

MP3 Import Export

PrintOMatic MX

QuickTime Asset

SWA Decompression

SWA Import Export

V12-DBE for Authorware

Viewer Services


Although it would be a laborious process, if you were to
start removing pieces of code requiring a particular Xtra,
repackaged and tested on the Intel Mac, you may be able to isolate
the problem.



For example, the inclusion of the A3Snd Reader Xtra suggests
your program has been upgraded over the years. You could try
exporting all of the audio files requiring that Xtra and
reimporting them in AW 7 on the PC so you could eliminate that
Xtra.



Sorry I can't offer a more specific solution. I have deployed
a reasonably simple application on the Intel Mac without reports of
problems. It included PrintOMatic but not Quicktime, animated GIFs,
or AW3 audio.



- Steve Gannon

GanTek Multimedia


You're right that would be 'a laborious process' but, you
might have an idea. I'll look into it. My doubts are that if this
was the issue you'd be able to duplicate the error in the same
location everytime. Where what I've seen is that you can run the
same section of code, the exact same way, 5 times in a row and then
on the 6th it freezes.



I'll look into it but, I'm still looking for ideas.



Thanks,
Well that didn't seem to work. I stripped it down to just the
basic Xtras and it still froze. I guess it's back to the drawing
board. Maybe I'll have to give Adobe a call.



Still open to suggestions if anyone has any.
This is completely random? There is nothing specific that
seems to cause

the lockup? A movie playing? An animated GIF? A database
call? A ReadURL

function? Anti-aliased text?

Would it be worth cutting out a portion of your CBT as a
separate file,

package, and test? Try to narrow down where and why it's
happening?

Any other applications open on the Mac when this happens?

Erik



ahess24 wrote:

%26gt; Well that didn't seem to work. I stripped it down to
just the basic Xtras and

%26gt; it still froze. I guess it's back to the drawing board.
Maybe I'll have to

%26gt; give Adobe a call.

%26gt;

%26gt; Still open to suggestions if anyone has any.

%26gt;



--

Erik Lord


http://www.capemedia.net

Adobe Community Expert - Authorware


http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/

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*Search the A'ware newsgroup archives*


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Yes, it is completely random. I can run the same lesson over
and over again with no problems then BAM problem. Then run it again
and no problem. This is why it's a pain to test. I can't just test
one part of the program I just have to keep running different
lessons until it happens.



I can do a reboot start the program off first thing and run
it for a while and BAM again freeze.



The program is broken out into a launch, lesson manager,
lessons, and an admin system. These are all separate files (each
lesson is an individual file). I've seen it freeze in just about
every file (haven't tested each lesson file individually). Every
time it freezes I check that section of code and there's usually
nothing extraordinary about it. A lot of times its just playing
audio and stops mid play.



I guess it could be an audio issue. We had to convert all our
audio to SWA because of issues with MP3 on the MAC before
(suggested by the Authorware Development Team). But still, why does
it play fine 5 times and then blow up the 6th and then its fine
again the 7th?
Audio may be a good thing to focus on, barring any other
insights.

Perhaps publish a version with all audio removed. If it
doesn't freeze

again...

Could be a particular SWA setting? Just stick with .wav?

Erik



ahess24 wrote:

...

%26gt;

%26gt; I guess it could be an audio issue. We had to convert
all our audio to SWA

%26gt; because of issues with MP3 on the MAC before (suggested
by the Authorware

%26gt; Development Team). But still, why does it play fine 5
times and then blow up

%26gt; the 6th and then its fine again the 7th?

%26gt;



--

Erik Lord


http://www.capemedia.net

Adobe Community Expert - Authorware


http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/

------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.awaretips.net -
samples, tips, products, faqs, and links!

*Search the A'ware newsgroup archives*


http://groups.google.com/group/macromedia.authorware


.wav files might be an option if there weren't half a million
sound icons (or more) in the program. We barely fit it on one CD as
is. Wavs would make it go on 5 CD's.:) Thanks for the help though.



I'll keep looking. Still open to any suggestions.



Thanks guys.
We are getting freezes as well, only while an audio file is
playing. Most of the audio is .swa. I tried changing them to .mp3s
(just renaming them) and we are still getting a freeze on Intel
Macs.



I wonder if going to .wavs would help. Or maybe .aif? We have
thoundands of sound files, however. They are all external and I
have one variable for the extension, so from the Authorware piece,
it would be easy to use a different format.



Unfortunately Intel Mac deployment is critical for us, and we
have a large number of programs that are in Authorware. I wish
Adobe had come out with a Universal Binary player for 7 before they
discontinued Authorware all together.



Any chance they would open source the player?
The few Mac-version pieces I've done recently that have to
run on Intel

Macs have all been CD based, so I'm not too concerned about
audio

sizes...so I just leave them as .wav - and I've not
experienced any freezes.

So it seems like that would be worth a try, especially if you
can batch

convert all the audio and change the extension on one line of
code.

Erik



peterevensen wrote:

%26gt; We are getting freezes as well, only while an audio file
is playing. Most of

%26gt; the audio is .swa. I tried changing them to .mp3s (just
renaming them) and we

%26gt; are still getting a freeze on Intel Macs.

%26gt;

%26gt; I wonder if going to .wavs would help. Or maybe .aif? We
have thoundands of

%26gt; sound files, however. They are all external and I have
one variable for the

%26gt; extension, so from the Authorware piece, it would be
easy to use a different

%26gt; format.

%26gt;



--

Erik Lord


http://www.capemedia.net

Adobe Community Expert - Authorware


http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/

------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.awaretips.net -
samples, tips, products, faqs, and links!

*Search the A'ware newsgroup archives*


http://groups.google.com/group/macromedia.authorware


Thanks for the info. QA is testing .aif's right now (since I
had them lying around already). If we still have problems, I'll
convert them to .wavs and see if that works any better.