Slow Photos

[Duane Pederson]

Morning

(Using build 1269, Win XP Pro, good computer)

I see that using regular text data type db's, V8 is quicker than earlier versions

But, (always a but!) I have 4 V6 apps that have 150 - 300 records, each record containing some text data and up to 18 jpg fields (not img ref field).

The jpg's are 280x350 pixel, 24 bit color depth (287Kb in bmp file format, ~100Kb in jpg format). These photos are displayed in a tabbed object, with 18 sheets, 1 photo per sheet. On each sheet there is a conditional object to show a horizontal or vertical photo, depending on some code that determins H or V from the photo itself. I had to use this method, as the best fit photo option usually had a poor display in V6.

All db files are on a 1 Gig network server.

On changing records in the V6 app, it takes less than 1 second for the new photos to display.
In V8 it takes around 4-5 seconds for each record's photos to display.

Changing tabs to show different photos of the same record is pretty well instantaneous in each version.
So far, it just seems to be the loading of each record's photos takes so much longer.

Any ideas on what is taking so long in V8?

Thanks for thinkin'
Duane

[Duane Pederson]

Re: Slow Photos

Well I took out the V / H code and removed the conditional objects, leaving the photos displayed in best-fit.

No change in the speed of displaying the records, still 3 -4 times the time taken by V6 or V7 to load the same record photos. So it wasn't the code or conditional objects.

I tried other unrelated databases we have with photos, and I find the same issue - V8 is slower than previous versions to display photos. These db's are using img ref fields, not jpg fields.

Anyone else using a lot of photos in records that have seen this?

Thanks
Duane

[Selwyn Rabins]

Re: Slow Photos

Well I took out the V / H code and removed the conditional objects, leaving the photos displayed in best-fit.

No change in the speed of displaying the records, still 3 -4 times the time taken by V6 or V7 to load the same record photos. So it wasn't the code or conditional objects.

I tried other unrelated databases we have with photos, and I find the same issue - V8 is slower than previous versions to display photos. These db's are using img ref fields, not jpg fields.

Anyone else using a lot of photos in records that have seen this?

Thanks
Duane

Can you please send us your database so that we can see the issue for ourselves.

V8 is faster that previous versions, and it also paints forms MUCH more smoothly than previous versions. The smoother painting is achieved by using a technique that involves first painting the screen to an invisible location in memory, and then, when all painting is done, then showing this location.

It is possible that this 'double buffering' is slowing down forms with lots of images.

Try going to the interactive window and typing this to turn off double buffering. Does that change anything?

a5.System_Mode_Set("form_double_buffer","false")

[jkletrovets]

Re: Slow Photos

Duane

I do something similar. The photos in my app are in a child table as a one to many in a set. Thumbnails are displayed in an embedded browse(thumbnail files sizes are about 15k) - user can then click on on thumbnails to see full size photos which are about 90K. I have not noticed any slow down from version 7 to version 8. In fact, there is no delay at all in bringing up the images.

The tabbed object might be causing the issue. I believe with the tabbed object it is possible that all the photos are having to "load" whether or not the conditional object chooses to show them. But, with your network it seems that would be very fast.

Not sure I helped any - just thought I would tell you my experience.

Regards,

Jeff

[Duane Pederson]

Re: Slow Photos

Jeff

Thanks for your input
This seems to be an issue when there are a few photos being displayed. ie: the tabbed object accessing up to 18 different photos, other forms in other applications showing 3 photos per record.

I'll try Selwyn's suggestion

Thanks again
Duane

[Duane Pederson]

Re: Slow Photos

Selwyn

That worked just fine

Running that code you provided to turn off the double buffering smartened the photo displaying time right up

The photos load much quicker with that. Might even be faster than older versions. I'll have to get a stopwatch, or program something to show time elapsed.

Please let me know if this will be fixed. I need to send out 2 more of these high school yearbook photo choosing apps before month end.

Thanks
Duane

[Selwyn Rabins]

Re: Slow Photos

Selwyn

That worked just fine

Running that code you provided to turn off the double buffering smartened the photo displaying time right up

The photos load much quicker with that. Might even be faster than older versions. I'll have to get a stopwatch, or program something to show time elapsed.

Please let me know if this will be fixed. I need to send out 2 more of these high school yearbook photo choosing apps before month end.

Thanks
Duane

Thanks.


We need to get a copy of your app because we can fix anything.

Please send us a copy of the app.

[martinwcole]

Re: Slow Photos

here is some code I have added to a button - wonder if there is any reason not to use it - seems to work okay. It definitely speeds up images displays. I am using image reference files.

t=table.get("mfieldreports")
if t.is_record_locked()
 msgbox("Sorry","This record is currently in use.",48)
 end 
end if 
rnum=t.recno()
var->meetingid=meetingid1.value
a5.System_Mode_Set("form_double_buffer","false")
parentform.disable()
f=form.view("frimagesdialog","dialog")
f.close()
a5.System_Mode_Set("form_double_buffer","true")
parentform.enable()
picscount.refresh()

[Duane Pederson]

Re: Slow Photos

Heck of an idea Martin

I sent off a sample db to Selwyn this AM for checking this out

I ran with the "a5.System_Mode_Set("form_double_buffer","false")" in the form's OnInit event and it worked just fine for photo display

I like the way you are toggling this back and forth though, kind of gives you the best of both worlds

Thanks
Duane