New Chat Room Software

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:58 pm

Hi Chuck,

charlese wrote:For me the session was a Blast! Really! Like a Bomb! Got on at 7:22 in time to read that Drew was stuffing the guts back into a computer, with a smile on his face rather than a frown...

Previous to the smile was knashing of teeth and wringing of hands, not to mention running of the mouth (plenty of curse words, according to Nick:) )

charlese wrote:...Had a black screen - could read chats from others, but could not figure out how to say anything myself - Maybe that was a good thing. Ed in tampa acknowledged my presence in the chat room, but I could not answer...

At the very bottom of the chat room is a lonely line that does knot say "Here I am, write your message here!" which is too bad, because I think that if you could read the chat, you could also write it too.

charlese wrote:...Although, there was no sound from the session itself there was an irregular chime somewhat like a door chime. Seems it happened every time someone entered or left the chat room... There was a lot of that!

I watched and listened very carefully and came to the conclusion that the chime sounded only when a particpant "left the building" so to speak. If you want to disable the audio portion of the chat (you still hear the audio portion of the video), right click anywhere ON THE CHAT ROOM, and uncheck the audio.

charlese wrote:...Saw that Tim was there - most likely the gutterman, from his sense of humor. ...

I confess]...Wow - finally got a picture and and audio!! Nick actually moved - for about 20 seconds, then froze, but the sound would continue for a while longer then turn off --then go back on. The funny thing here was that often times when the sound would go off for a while - when it would come back on maybe 20 seconds later - it would continue with the same word and syllable as when it cut off.

Chimes continued and continued. The video progressed from headstock to wood drying - to making boards from firewood. Even got to see most of Drew's drawer interlude while eating breakfast. Watching and listening the best I could - Then Mama got out of bed and I could turn the sound up higher.

Drew's trick of right clicking the video - turning off - then on, seemed to help - making it possible to watch more of the video (from snippet to snippet) while the audio was more or less continuous.

Still couldn't chat with anyone! That's why the long post here:p

The Session lasted a long time. About 2 hours by my computer, before I must have clicked the wrong button and got bumped!

EDIT A post script: Forgot to say the method I used to enter the Session. Maybe that was the cause of my problem of not being able to chat.

I entered through the classroom door, where I found a sign-in area in the bottom right of the screen. Used 'AutoFill' to enter first and last name and e-mail address. Clicking on the enter button took me directly to the Session. There was no sign-in box available, but a "sweet" female voice announce through audio. "WELCOME!"

If there is another way to enter the Sawdust sessions, PLEASE ADVISE![/quote]I think that you entered in a fine way, and that you were actually ABLE to chat, but didkn't know exactly where to type in your message. I will try to post a picture for you.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:04 pm

Hi charlese, here is a picture (I think). I typed you a message at the right location. [ATTACH]1887[/ATTACH]

edit: after you click on the link, you will have to scroll up to see the picture.

paul heller · Post by **paul heller** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:22 pm

Well, I thought the whole thing was a bust. The new chat software would not work with my windows computer. And I've given up trying to make it work with my apple computer.

Overall, a disappointing start to the day for me.

Paul

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:27 pm

Yes it was a very rough morning for all. I'm sure Nick and Drew are more than a little disappointed, I know I was. Let us just hope better times are coming and whatever the problem this morning it will be fixed. Again did anyone notice anything that might offer a clue to what was going on?

Ed

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:48 pm

Tim posted a link in post #80 to this thread. It shows the chat lobby.

Can anyone who was able to get into the chat lobby tell me if my image in post #65 of this thread is anywhere near anything that you saw on the way into the chat room. This image is as far as I ever got.

When I attempted to login, which I did many times, the same message was repeated. I was able to change my username for anonimity but that was all.

It bears enough resemblence that I am led to believe I am awfully close but can't get through that door into the classroom.

The error message further leads me to believe the problem is not one I can resolve.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:08 pm

Dusty
I can't say I had your problem but I think your right, it is not something you are going to be able to resolve on your own. I suspect you have a switch setting somewhere that causes this conflict but finding it without some expert direction is going to be impossible.

I worked for 30 years as a hardware/software trouble shooter and without knowing what conditions the programmer used to turn on this message finding the cause will be like shooting wildly in the air hoping to hit something.

Your only hope is for one of us to have the same problem. Hopefully it will occur right after we change something and we will be able to trace our tracks back to the problem.
Ed

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:34 pm

As you logged in, Ed or anyone else who got in, did you see a window that looks anything like the image I posted in #65.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:34 pm

Just some info from my end. hope it helps.

The chat worked very good. Never a problem with it. It did lack a message that said "type message here". Some may have felt lost but I was familiar using other chat programs so I was able to figure it out.
The video/ audio problems were like others had. I use Firefox and it worked just fine on the test page. But could not see any video or sound in the class room. I opened Internet Explore and got the video and sound to work but just for a short time. About 20sec then had to refresh. I messed with adjustments on my computer but nothing helped.

Nick and Drew, I know you must be frustrated but know I do appreciate the effort you guys put into this. I enjoy the sawdust videos very much.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:35 pm

a1gutterman wrote:Hi charlese, here is a picture (I think). I typed you a message at the right location. [ATTACH]1887[/ATTACH]

edit: after you click on the link, you will have to scroll up to see the picture.

Thanks! I viewed your attachment picture just fine! Your picture is the very same screen that I saw during the session. Just prior to that loading, there was a lquick flash of a Java icon symbol then a oading period highlighted by a moving toungue. Then, that screen appeared and the smooth talking female voice said, "welcome!".

Dusty - Your picture on your previous post was what I saw when using the Test Page. (except I didn't have the red colored try again message)

Tim - I really don't know why I was unable to chat. BELIEVE ME!--- I clicked, double clicked, right clicked on every part of the chat room page - even the small icons at the bottom of the screen. Couldn't get a curser. Even tried typing at the bottom of the chat room screen without a curser.Nothing worked for me.

Guess I'll go back to "Control Panel" - Java icon - and check all of the settings I had. Maybe something I did previously in there (to make it work at all) set me up for this type of failure.

As I had committed to try to make this thing work - (a reversal of my normal priorities) - and spent hours yesterday, to finally get in to the chat room, I'm stubborn enough to not let it drop now! But still refuse to let monkeying with the computer replace woodworking and other more important things. But I am committed to posting everything I find out about the new chat room and today's session in hopes it will help someone. I'll stay committed as long as The Acacemy Stays committed.

Didn't get to here a lot of what Nick said about treatment and selection of wood, but will when archived. DARN!:(

SELECTION, AND TREATMENT KNOWLEDGE OF WOOD IS TO ME, THE MOST OVERLOOKED AND MISUNDERSTOOD PART OF WOODWORKING, AND NEEDS MORE ATTENTION FROM ALL. It is really, way more important than the accuracy of machining! The woodworker should always be aware of what is likely (or possible) to happen to that accurately milled wood part after it is put into a project. - - Very happy to have this portion in the archives! Thanks Nick!!:) Sorry it didn't come through very well today!

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:09 pm

dusty wrote:Tim posted a link in post #80 to this thread. It shows the chat lobby.

Can anyone who was able to get into the chat lobby tell me if my image in post #65 of this thread is anywhere near anything that you saw on the way into the chat room. This image is as far as I ever got....

Hi Dusty,
As I recall, your post #65 picture is exactly what I saw as I was registering on to the test page (except for the error message). I registered on to the test page on Aug 5. Today, the chat room loaded right up without me doing anything extra. All I did was register to see the Sawdust Session like I always have.

Chuck,

I am sorry that my post did not help you. I am at a loss for explaining your situation. It is definitely strange that you got into the chat room, but could not post to it. Like you said, the problem seems to be that you could not get a curser to work on the page. Hopefully someone will know what to do.