General bug

Hi !
I have a big problem (that unfortunately the 3.3.0 version hasn’t solved). This problem is very strange and prevents the use of the software. The problem appeared since the use of the 3.2.0 version and becomes worse with time. For the moment the problem appears on Textgrids created with previous versions (3.1.0).
The bug is the following : when we create a new annotation, no problem : the boundaries are ok. But I we want to select it, to add text ot it, etc, the bug arrives. The red vertical line (and then the screen) moves away, always at the same time code (near 43’50’’). You click (you lose the location where you want to work) and the cursor always moves to the same point. You can’t do anything. For the moment I cannot use my datas.
Do you know this problem ? Do you think that the problem comes from the 3.3. and 3.2. with their new preference files? Could you imagine a solution, a manipulation ?
Thank you very much !
JJ

It is unlikely that this has anything to do with changes in the preferences mechanism. And in the last 2 updates there haven’t been any changes in the media handling or in the way annotations are edited, as far as I know.
What kind of media file(s) do you use? Have there been new codecs installed, recently?
I suppose the problem has to do with the media handling. To check this you can try the following:

  • open the file in ELAN
  • do a “Save As…”, choose any name
  • choose Edit -> Linked Files and remove all the linked media files, click Apply
  • then try to edit the annotation and/or click at random positions in the timeline
  • check if the same jumps occur

If not, the problem is most likely in the media file/media framework.
You could check the log file (

Han

Thank you for your answer.
I use .mov files. I checked without the codecs but that didn’t work.
I tried other eaf files from other datas and it works (then it’s not a QT problem)
Then it seems to be specific to a eaf’s set (video + sound). I tried without the media files (as you said) and it works.
Then it’s a specific problem of the media files (or the synchronisation ?) engaged. I tried to re-encode the movie with QT, but no way, the problem is still there. I don’t understand what could happen and from where did the problem come. Elan can annote well ( to fix the boundaries) but after it’s impossible to work in the annotation…

Ok. What about the log file? If you start ELAN, open the particular problem file, make it “jump” and then quit ELAN, there might be a clue in the log file?
H.

Oh yes, I forgot.
The problem is that I don’t have a log file where you told me. I choosed to install Elan in the application’s folder (I work on a mac) and there’s no .elan_data folder in my home_user folder. I tried to seek it, but I haven’t found it. Do you know where could be this log file ? Or is it created when there is a problem and in my case the software think there isn’t ?

Oh yes, on the Mac. To access the log file open a Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal) window and do:

cd .elan_data
ls -al

locate the most recent elan.log (elan0.log or elan1.log) and then:

cat elan(x).log

Look for error messages at the end of the output, or just copy the output and mail it to me.

Thank you very much.
I didn’t find your e-mail adress on the website. Do you think I can put the report here ? There are maybe confidential informations, I don’t know.

There’s no confidential information in the log file (unless you consider filepaths confidential). You can send it to me: Han.Sloetjes(at)mpi.nl.
(Sorry for the delay).