Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-06 Thread mike donnelly
Also, to test for memory leaks, i'd do a test where you automate the
intro/playing/end loop of your game, ie. Stick a bit of code in that
finishes the game after a second of playing, and just keep going
round:intro,playing,end. If it still crashes, you'll know it's
probably the creation/destruction that's buggy, and not the main game
code itself.

On 9/6/09, mike donnelly  wrote:
> God what a nightmare! If your client's machine reliably crashes
> quickly, testing on that is *definitely* the way to go.
>
> Your bug seems so random, it could be anything. I had something
> similar once with a font which would randomly bork the flashplayer. It
> may well be that flash just hates your enormous movieclip, even if
> it's just a dotted line. My first test would be to remove entirely any
> huge clips like that.
> Like i say, don't be meek: rip out half of your game for each test, so
> you can drill down quick as poss.
>
> Sorry i don't have an answer other than plain common sense. Maybe
> someone out there knows a more technological method?
>
> On 9/6/09, Paul Steven  wrote:
>> Thanks Mike
>>
>> I am able to replicate it on my PC - well it has happened a few times. I
>> tested for over 2 hours solid last night with no crash and thought it was
>> fixed. But this morning after only about 10 seconds of play it crashed.
>> This
>> is the new version with the large image separated into 4 separate jpgs.
>>
>> Only other large item is a movie clip that is a dotted line that is the
>> same
>> size as the large image - this is a draw object (think this is the right
>> term - basially the built in dotted line)
>>
>> I am trying the fdb command line thingy but of course it won't crash now.
>> Pff!!!
>>
>> Next step is to try taking out bit by bit - so time consuming as a crash
>> can
>> take ages to occur.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> -Original Message-----
>> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
>> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of mike
>> donnelly
>> Sent: 06 September 2009 11:17
>> To: Flash Coders List
>> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause
>> of
>> a crash
>>
>> I would go and get your client's machine. 40 minutes is way too long
>> to test changes!  If you can't do that, i would use a remote desktop
>> app. http://www.uvnc.com is a good one as far as i remember, and it's
>> free.
>>
>> Also, replace the huge picture with a little one, and get rid of the
>> video. Basically, for each test you do, remove half of your game till
>> it stops crashing.
>>
>> Good luck, i know the feelin!
>>
>> On 9/4/09, Paul Steven  wrote:
>>> I have created a game in Flash CS3 which is being published for Flash 8
>> AS2.
>>> My client is reporting it crashing periodically on his XP PC. I have
>>> also
>>> managed replicate this on my Vista Ultimate PC with the following error:
>>>
>>> "A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will
>> close
>>> the program and notify you if a solution is available"
>>>
>>> It took me over 40 minutes of continuous play to get the crash.
>>>
>>> This game is for an exhibition on Monday so I need to sort this pretty
>>> quickly.
>>>
>>> Can anyone suggest any ways to try and pinpoint the problem? The game is
>>> being run as a projector packaged with MDM Zinc. My first thoughts were
>> that
>>> it was due to Zinc being pants but the same problem occurs with just a
>> plain
>>> old Flash projector.
>>>
>>> The problem also happens in the Flash IDE, and similarly it just crashes
>>> Flash completely - there is no message saying a script is causing the
>> movie
>>> problems. I am struggling to work out how to find the cause of the
>>> problem
>>> especially as it can happen pretty much immediately according to the
>> client
>>> or after a long period of play.
>>>
>>> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
>>> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS.
>>> It
>>> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
>>> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions what code issues could be causing this or does it sound
>> like
>>> something else causing the crash. Are there any

Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-06 Thread Paul Andrews

Paul Steven wrote:

Thanks Paul

The clients PC is a brand new one with 4gb RAM and I imagine tons of space.

Not sure what a stack dump looks like but the client did send this info on
the error:

Event Type: Error
Event Source:   Application Error
Event Category: None
Event ID:   1000
Date:   04/09/2009
Time:   16:42:47
User:   N/A
Computer:   ACER-A881FB79D8
Description:
Faulting application blazepointplanegame.exe, version 3.0.0.0, faulting
module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x0194c07e.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74   Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c   ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 62 6c 61   ure  bla
0018: 7a 65 70 6f 69 6e 74 70   zepointp
0020: 6c 61 6e 65 67 61 6d 65   lanegame
0028: 2e 65 78 65 20 33 2e 30   .exe 3.0
0030: 2e 30 2e 30 20 69 6e 20   .0.0 in 
0038: 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20   unknown 
0040: 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 20   0.0.0.0 
0048: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65   at offse

0050: 74 20 30 31 39 34 63 30   t 0194c0
0058: 37 65 0d 0a   7e..


Not sure if this gives any clues or not?
  
I was hoping it would reveal some routine name and possibly a list of 
nested routine calls to give a clue, but no.

Thanks

Paul

  


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Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-06 Thread mike donnelly
God what a nightmare! If your client's machine reliably crashes
quickly, testing on that is *definitely* the way to go.

Your bug seems so random, it could be anything. I had something
similar once with a font which would randomly bork the flashplayer. It
may well be that flash just hates your enormous movieclip, even if
it's just a dotted line. My first test would be to remove entirely any
huge clips like that.
Like i say, don't be meek: rip out half of your game for each test, so
you can drill down quick as poss.

Sorry i don't have an answer other than plain common sense. Maybe
someone out there knows a more technological method?

On 9/6/09, Paul Steven  wrote:
> Thanks Mike
>
> I am able to replicate it on my PC - well it has happened a few times. I
> tested for over 2 hours solid last night with no crash and thought it was
> fixed. But this morning after only about 10 seconds of play it crashed. This
> is the new version with the large image separated into 4 separate jpgs.
>
> Only other large item is a movie clip that is a dotted line that is the same
> size as the large image - this is a draw object (think this is the right
> term - basially the built in dotted line)
>
> I am trying the fdb command line thingy but of course it won't crash now.
> Pff!!!
>
> Next step is to try taking out bit by bit - so time consuming as a crash can
> take ages to occur.
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
> -Original Message-
> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of mike
> donnelly
> Sent: 06 September 2009 11:17
> To: Flash Coders List
> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
> a crash
>
> I would go and get your client's machine. 40 minutes is way too long
> to test changes!  If you can't do that, i would use a remote desktop
> app. http://www.uvnc.com is a good one as far as i remember, and it's
> free.
>
> Also, replace the huge picture with a little one, and get rid of the
> video. Basically, for each test you do, remove half of your game till
> it stops crashing.
>
> Good luck, i know the feelin!
>
> On 9/4/09, Paul Steven  wrote:
>> I have created a game in Flash CS3 which is being published for Flash 8
> AS2.
>> My client is reporting it crashing periodically on his XP PC. I have also
>> managed replicate this on my Vista Ultimate PC with the following error:
>>
>> "A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will
> close
>> the program and notify you if a solution is available"
>>
>> It took me over 40 minutes of continuous play to get the crash.
>>
>> This game is for an exhibition on Monday so I need to sort this pretty
>> quickly.
>>
>> Can anyone suggest any ways to try and pinpoint the problem? The game is
>> being run as a projector packaged with MDM Zinc. My first thoughts were
> that
>> it was due to Zinc being pants but the same problem occurs with just a
> plain
>> old Flash projector.
>>
>> The problem also happens in the Flash IDE, and similarly it just crashes
>> Flash completely - there is no message saying a script is causing the
> movie
>> problems. I am struggling to work out how to find the cause of the problem
>> especially as it can happen pretty much immediately according to the
> client
>> or after a long period of play.
>>
>> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
>> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
>> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
>> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>>
>> Any suggestions what code issues could be causing this or does it sound
> like
>> something else causing the crash. Are there any tools that can help me
> track
>> down the problem?
>>
>> Hoping someone can save the day!
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> ___
>> Flashcoders mailing list
>> Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
>>
>
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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-06 Thread Paul Steven
Thanks Mike

I am able to replicate it on my PC - well it has happened a few times. I
tested for over 2 hours solid last night with no crash and thought it was
fixed. But this morning after only about 10 seconds of play it crashed. This
is the new version with the large image separated into 4 separate jpgs.

Only other large item is a movie clip that is a dotted line that is the same
size as the large image - this is a draw object (think this is the right
term - basially the built in dotted line)

I am trying the fdb command line thingy but of course it won't crash now.
Pff!!!

Next step is to try taking out bit by bit - so time consuming as a crash can
take ages to occur.

Cheers

Paul

-Original Message-
From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
[mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of mike
donnelly
Sent: 06 September 2009 11:17
To: Flash Coders List
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
a crash

I would go and get your client's machine. 40 minutes is way too long
to test changes!  If you can't do that, i would use a remote desktop
app. http://www.uvnc.com is a good one as far as i remember, and it's
free.

Also, replace the huge picture with a little one, and get rid of the
video. Basically, for each test you do, remove half of your game till
it stops crashing.

Good luck, i know the feelin!

On 9/4/09, Paul Steven  wrote:
> I have created a game in Flash CS3 which is being published for Flash 8
AS2.
> My client is reporting it crashing periodically on his XP PC. I have also
> managed replicate this on my Vista Ultimate PC with the following error:
>
> "A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will
close
> the program and notify you if a solution is available"
>
> It took me over 40 minutes of continuous play to get the crash.
>
> This game is for an exhibition on Monday so I need to sort this pretty
> quickly.
>
> Can anyone suggest any ways to try and pinpoint the problem? The game is
> being run as a projector packaged with MDM Zinc. My first thoughts were
that
> it was due to Zinc being pants but the same problem occurs with just a
plain
> old Flash projector.
>
> The problem also happens in the Flash IDE, and similarly it just crashes
> Flash completely - there is no message saying a script is causing the
movie
> problems. I am struggling to work out how to find the cause of the problem
> especially as it can happen pretty much immediately according to the
client
> or after a long period of play.
>
> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>
> Any suggestions what code issues could be causing this or does it sound
like
> something else causing the crash. Are there any tools that can help me
track
> down the problem?
>
> Hoping someone can save the day!
>
> Thanks
>
> Paul
>
> ___
> Flashcoders mailing list
> Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
>

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Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-06 Thread mike donnelly
I would go and get your client's machine. 40 minutes is way too long
to test changes!  If you can't do that, i would use a remote desktop
app. http://www.uvnc.com is a good one as far as i remember, and it's
free.

Also, replace the huge picture with a little one, and get rid of the
video. Basically, for each test you do, remove half of your game till
it stops crashing.

Good luck, i know the feelin!

On 9/4/09, Paul Steven  wrote:
> I have created a game in Flash CS3 which is being published for Flash 8 AS2.
> My client is reporting it crashing periodically on his XP PC. I have also
> managed replicate this on my Vista Ultimate PC with the following error:
>
> "A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close
> the program and notify you if a solution is available"
>
> It took me over 40 minutes of continuous play to get the crash.
>
> This game is for an exhibition on Monday so I need to sort this pretty
> quickly.
>
> Can anyone suggest any ways to try and pinpoint the problem? The game is
> being run as a projector packaged with MDM Zinc. My first thoughts were that
> it was due to Zinc being pants but the same problem occurs with just a plain
> old Flash projector.
>
> The problem also happens in the Flash IDE, and similarly it just crashes
> Flash completely - there is no message saying a script is causing the movie
> problems. I am struggling to work out how to find the cause of the problem
> especially as it can happen pretty much immediately according to the client
> or after a long period of play.
>
> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>
> Any suggestions what code issues could be causing this or does it sound like
> something else causing the crash. Are there any tools that can help me track
> down the problem?
>
> Hoping someone can save the day!
>
> Thanks
>
> Paul
>
> ___
> Flashcoders mailing list
> Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
>

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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Paul Steven
Thanks Paul

The clients PC is a brand new one with 4gb RAM and I imagine tons of space.

Not sure what a stack dump looks like but the client did send this info on
the error:

Event Type: Error
Event Source:   Application Error
Event Category: None
Event ID:   1000
Date:   04/09/2009
Time:   16:42:47
User:   N/A
Computer:   ACER-A881FB79D8
Description:
Faulting application blazepointplanegame.exe, version 3.0.0.0, faulting
module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x0194c07e.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74   Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c   ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 62 6c 61   ure  bla
0018: 7a 65 70 6f 69 6e 74 70   zepointp
0020: 6c 61 6e 65 67 61 6d 65   lanegame
0028: 2e 65 78 65 20 33 2e 30   .exe 3.0
0030: 2e 30 2e 30 20 69 6e 20   .0.0 in 
0038: 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20   unknown 
0040: 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 20   0.0.0.0 
0048: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65   at offse
0050: 74 20 30 31 39 34 63 30   t 0194c0
0058: 37 65 0d 0a   7e..

Not sure if this gives any clues or not?

Thanks

Paul


-Original Message-
From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
[mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Paul Andrews
Sent: 05 September 2009 19:04
To: Flash Coders List
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
a crash

Paul Steven wrote:
> Thanks Jason
>
> The weird thing is the client has reported the problem occurring (ie it
> crashing) within a few seconds of the game starting. It seems to be
totally
> random which is why I wasn't sure if a memory leak could be the cause.
>   
You need to know the spec of that machine and if possible borrow it or 
duplicate the environment. If nothing else, that would at least shorten 
your modify/test/debug cycle considerably. You may even discover that 
it's running windows XP with 128MB of ram and no spare disc space..  ;-)

When windows encounters a problem, don't you get a chance to see a stack 
dump too?

If the client is crashing within seconds and you do not, then the 
environment is clearly having a big difference. It may be something like 
a video driver or just about anything.
Good luck with it - it's a bit of a nightmare scenario.

Paul
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Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Paul Andrews

Paul Steven wrote:

Thanks Jason

The weird thing is the client has reported the problem occurring (ie it
crashing) within a few seconds of the game starting. It seems to be totally
random which is why I wasn't sure if a memory leak could be the cause.
  
You need to know the spec of that machine and if possible borrow it or 
duplicate the environment. If nothing else, that would at least shorten 
your modify/test/debug cycle considerably. You may even discover that 
it's running windows XP with 128MB of ram and no spare disc space..  ;-)


When windows encounters a problem, don't you get a chance to see a stack 
dump too?


If the client is crashing within seconds and you do not, then the 
environment is clearly having a big difference. It may be something like 
a video driver or just about anything.

Good luck with it - it's a bit of a nightmare scenario.

Paul
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Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Ian Thomas
Don't see why not, as long as you don't have any effects or
cacheAsBitmap being applied to the entire MovieClip.

Re your mouse show/hide thing - don't think it should cause a problem,
but if it _does_: you are calling mouse show() or hide() every frame,
but you could simply set a flag - is the mouse already invisible? If
so, don't call Mouse.hide() again... is the mouse already visible? If
so, don't call Mouse.show() again.

(typed quickly on way out of house so may not make sense!)

Hope you get somewhere with it.

Cheers,
   Ian

On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 5:25 PM, Paul Steven wrote:
> Quick question.
>
> Can I simply break up the jpb into 4 chunks and position them inside one
> movie clip rather than have to move 4 separate movie clips? If this is the
> case then it is a really simple fix.
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
> -Original Message-
> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
> Sent: 05 September 2009 16:49
> To: Flash Coders List
> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
> a crash
>
> You may not be using Bitmap functions - but any filters etc. will use
> them under-the-hood, and will have the 2880x2880 limits.
>
> I'd be tempted to suggest that you break up your large background JPG
> into four chunks; see if that clears the crash.
>
> HTH,
>   Ian
>
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM, Paul Steven
> wrote:
>> Thanks Ian
>>
>> I am not using any bitmap functions. I literally just have the jpg inside
> a
>> movie clip and move it based on the mouse position in relation to the
> plane
>> (the plane is centred on the screen). The only other game element really
> is
>> 20 clouds that randomly move across the screen.
>>
>> I am doing as you suggest and commenting out each potential game element
> and
>> trying to isolate the problem.
>>
>> I was hoping there was some way of using a debugger version of the flash
>> player to get more information on the problem but this does not seem to be
>> possible.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> -Original Message-----
>> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
>> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
>> Sent: 04 September 2009 19:22
>> To: Flash Coders List
>> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause
> of
>> a crash
>>
>> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Paul Steven
>> wrote:
>>
>>> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
>>> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
>>> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
>>> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>>
>> Only immediate thing in that is that bitmaps in Flash Player 8 and 9
>> need to be less than 2880 x 2880 pixels or bitmap functions will
>> simply fail. (Doesn't apply to Flash 8/9 content being run in Flash
>> Player 10, afaik).
>>
>> Other than that - my normal approach to such things is to find a way
>> to replicate the error if possible, comment out potentially offending
>> code in large chunks until the crashing stops, uncomment code
>> gradually until it starts crashing again. Judiciously combined with
>> trace statements which show you how far along execution has got. That
>> should narrow down the routines causing the problem. Can't think of
>> any immediate solutions other than that, sorry!
>>
>> HTH,
>>   Ian
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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Paul Steven
Quick question.

Can I simply break up the jpb into 4 chunks and position them inside one
movie clip rather than have to move 4 separate movie clips? If this is the
case then it is a really simple fix.

Cheers

Paul

-Original Message-
From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
[mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
Sent: 05 September 2009 16:49
To: Flash Coders List
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
a crash

You may not be using Bitmap functions - but any filters etc. will use
them under-the-hood, and will have the 2880x2880 limits.

I'd be tempted to suggest that you break up your large background JPG
into four chunks; see if that clears the crash.

HTH,
   Ian

On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM, Paul Steven
wrote:
> Thanks Ian
>
> I am not using any bitmap functions. I literally just have the jpg inside
a
> movie clip and move it based on the mouse position in relation to the
plane
> (the plane is centred on the screen). The only other game element really
is
> 20 clouds that randomly move across the screen.
>
> I am doing as you suggest and commenting out each potential game element
and
> trying to isolate the problem.
>
> I was hoping there was some way of using a debugger version of the flash
> player to get more information on the problem but this does not seem to be
> possible.
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
> -Original Message-
> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
> Sent: 04 September 2009 19:22
> To: Flash Coders List
> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause
of
> a crash
>
> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Paul Steven
> wrote:
>
>> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
>> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
>> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
>> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>
> Only immediate thing in that is that bitmaps in Flash Player 8 and 9
> need to be less than 2880 x 2880 pixels or bitmap functions will
> simply fail. (Doesn't apply to Flash 8/9 content being run in Flash
> Player 10, afaik).
>
> Other than that - my normal approach to such things is to find a way
> to replicate the error if possible, comment out potentially offending
> code in large chunks until the crashing stops, uncomment code
> gradually until it starts crashing again. Judiciously combined with
> trace statements which show you how far along execution has got. That
> should narrow down the routines causing the problem. Can't think of
> any immediate solutions other than that, sorry!
>
> HTH,
>   Ian
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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Paul Steven
Hi Ian

Ah I didn't realise that.

I did originally plan to break up the image thinking it would not perform
very well with such a large image but when I tested it, it ran fine. It is
just strange how the game will work for at least 40 minutes (the game only
lasts 2 minutes so I am referring to playing it multiple times).

It is a really annoying bug to isolate as it can take so long to crash.

I just commented out the following updateMouseVisibility() call and have
been playing for about 30 minutes with no crash but I wouldn't have thought
this would cause any crash?


this.onEnterFrame = function() {

// updateMouseVisibility();

... other function calls..

}

function updateMouseVisibility():Void {

if (_ymouse < 240) {

Mouse.show();

} else {

Mouse.hide();
}   
}

I will keep testing for another hour and if it crashes I will go for the 4
segment option.

Thanks again for your help - feel really up against the clock with this as
the exhibition is on Monday.

Cheers

Paul

-Original Message-
From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
[mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
Sent: 05 September 2009 16:49
To: Flash Coders List
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
a crash

You may not be using Bitmap functions - but any filters etc. will use
them under-the-hood, and will have the 2880x2880 limits.

I'd be tempted to suggest that you break up your large background JPG
into four chunks; see if that clears the crash.

HTH,
   Ian

On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM, Paul Steven
wrote:
> Thanks Ian
>
> I am not using any bitmap functions. I literally just have the jpg inside
a
> movie clip and move it based on the mouse position in relation to the
plane
> (the plane is centred on the screen). The only other game element really
is
> 20 clouds that randomly move across the screen.
>
> I am doing as you suggest and commenting out each potential game element
and
> trying to isolate the problem.
>
> I was hoping there was some way of using a debugger version of the flash
> player to get more information on the problem but this does not seem to be
> possible.
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
> -Original Message-
> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
> Sent: 04 September 2009 19:22
> To: Flash Coders List
> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause
of
> a crash
>
> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Paul Steven
> wrote:
>
>> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
>> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
>> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
>> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>
> Only immediate thing in that is that bitmaps in Flash Player 8 and 9
> need to be less than 2880 x 2880 pixels or bitmap functions will
> simply fail. (Doesn't apply to Flash 8/9 content being run in Flash
> Player 10, afaik).
>
> Other than that - my normal approach to such things is to find a way
> to replicate the error if possible, comment out potentially offending
> code in large chunks until the crashing stops, uncomment code
> gradually until it starts crashing again. Judiciously combined with
> trace statements which show you how far along execution has got. That
> should narrow down the routines causing the problem. Can't think of
> any immediate solutions other than that, sorry!
>
> HTH,
>   Ian
> ___
> Flashcoders mailing list
> Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
>
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Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Ian Thomas
You may not be using Bitmap functions - but any filters etc. will use
them under-the-hood, and will have the 2880x2880 limits.

I'd be tempted to suggest that you break up your large background JPG
into four chunks; see if that clears the crash.

HTH,
   Ian

On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM, Paul Steven wrote:
> Thanks Ian
>
> I am not using any bitmap functions. I literally just have the jpg inside a
> movie clip and move it based on the mouse position in relation to the plane
> (the plane is centred on the screen). The only other game element really is
> 20 clouds that randomly move across the screen.
>
> I am doing as you suggest and commenting out each potential game element and
> trying to isolate the problem.
>
> I was hoping there was some way of using a debugger version of the flash
> player to get more information on the problem but this does not seem to be
> possible.
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
> -Original Message-
> From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> [mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
> Sent: 04 September 2009 19:22
> To: Flash Coders List
> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
> a crash
>
> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Paul Steven
> wrote:
>
>> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
>> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
>> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
>> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.
>
> Only immediate thing in that is that bitmaps in Flash Player 8 and 9
> need to be less than 2880 x 2880 pixels or bitmap functions will
> simply fail. (Doesn't apply to Flash 8/9 content being run in Flash
> Player 10, afaik).
>
> Other than that - my normal approach to such things is to find a way
> to replicate the error if possible, comment out potentially offending
> code in large chunks until the crashing stops, uncomment code
> gradually until it starts crashing again. Judiciously combined with
> trace statements which show you how far along execution has got. That
> should narrow down the routines causing the problem. Can't think of
> any immediate solutions other than that, sorry!
>
> HTH,
>   Ian
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> Flashcoders mailing list
> Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
>
> ___
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> Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Paul Steven
Thanks Ian

I am not using any bitmap functions. I literally just have the jpg inside a
movie clip and move it based on the mouse position in relation to the plane
(the plane is centred on the screen). The only other game element really is
20 clouds that randomly move across the screen.

I am doing as you suggest and commenting out each potential game element and
trying to isolate the problem.

I was hoping there was some way of using a debugger version of the flash
player to get more information on the problem but this does not seem to be
possible.

Cheers

Paul

-Original Message-
From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
[mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas
Sent: 04 September 2009 19:22
To: Flash Coders List
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
a crash

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Paul Steven
wrote:

> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.

Only immediate thing in that is that bitmaps in Flash Player 8 and 9
need to be less than 2880 x 2880 pixels or bitmap functions will
simply fail. (Doesn't apply to Flash 8/9 content being run in Flash
Player 10, afaik).

Other than that - my normal approach to such things is to find a way
to replicate the error if possible, comment out potentially offending
code in large chunks until the crashing stops, uncomment code
gradually until it starts crashing again. Judiciously combined with
trace statements which show you how far along execution has got. That
should narrow down the routines causing the problem. Can't think of
any immediate solutions other than that, sorry!

HTH,
   Ian
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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-05 Thread Paul Steven
Thanks Jason

The weird thing is the client has reported the problem occurring (ie it
crashing) within a few seconds of the game starting. It seems to be totally
random which is why I wasn't sure if a memory leak could be the cause.

Anyway I am commenting out bit by bit and will see if I can pinpoint the
issue.

Is there a possibility it could be a corrupt graphic or anything unusual
like that?

Paul

-Original Message-
From: flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com
[mailto:flashcoders-boun...@chattyfig.figleaf.com] On Behalf Of Merrill,
Jason
Sent: 04 September 2009 18:25
To: Flash Coders List
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of
a crash

>> It took me over 40 minutes of continuous play to get the crash.

This sounds like a memory leak - memory allocations building up for your
allotment in RAM over time, until it there is no more available slots  -
I would check all the usual things to be sure you are garbage
collecting, removing listeners, objects no longer needed, etc.


Jason Merrill 

Bank of  America   Global Learning 
Learning & Performance Soluions

Monthly meetings on making the most of the Adobe Flash Platform -
presented by bank associates, Adobe engineers, and outside experts in
the borader multimedia community - join the Bank of America Flash
Platform Community  (note: this is for Bank of America employees only)


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Re: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-04 Thread Ian Thomas
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Paul Steven wrote:

> The game is basically a top down flying game with a scrolling background
> (JPG 5120 X 4320). The flash movie is published at 1600 x 1200 30 FPS. It
> includes an embedded FLV video on the Splash screen which is apparently
> 639kb of video data. There are no audio files in the game.

Only immediate thing in that is that bitmaps in Flash Player 8 and 9
need to be less than 2880 x 2880 pixels or bitmap functions will
simply fail. (Doesn't apply to Flash 8/9 content being run in Flash
Player 10, afaik).

Other than that - my normal approach to such things is to find a way
to replicate the error if possible, comment out potentially offending
code in large chunks until the crashing stops, uncomment code
gradually until it starts crashing again. Judiciously combined with
trace statements which show you how far along execution has got. That
should narrow down the routines causing the problem. Can't think of
any immediate solutions other than that, sorry!

HTH,
   Ian
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RE: [Flashcoders] Rather urgent advice on how to track the cause of a crash

2009-09-04 Thread Merrill, Jason
>> It took me over 40 minutes of continuous play to get the crash.

This sounds like a memory leak - memory allocations building up for your
allotment in RAM over time, until it there is no more available slots  -
I would check all the usual things to be sure you are garbage
collecting, removing listeners, objects no longer needed, etc.


Jason Merrill 

Bank of  America   Global Learning 
Learning & Performance Soluions

Monthly meetings on making the most of the Adobe Flash Platform -
presented by bank associates, Adobe engineers, and outside experts in
the borader multimedia community - join the Bank of America Flash
Platform Community  (note: this is for Bank of America employees only)


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