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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 10, 2023 23:09:30 GMT
New version uploaded - v1.64. This is a bug fix version. Back in v1.54, I fixed the order in which single stamps extracted from a multi-stamp image were named, so that they were now numbered from top to bottom, left to right. In doing so, I introduced a bug that was causing the last image to be skipped in certain circumstances, depending in large part on how many stamps were in the last row in the image. This caused a mismatch in the image count, resulting in the error message that says the app was unable to process all the images, and resulting in an inability to complete the extraction process. This release hopefully fixes that bug. Thanks to cjoprey for pointing out the bug.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 19, 2024 21:38:54 GMT
Ladies and Gents, I give you.... PMGS StampFix version 2. First, a little about the "Why?". Since I created PMGS StampFix v1.0 back in 2016, I've changed computers, and I was never able to get my new computer setup properly to work on the app. The versions of all the various software bits-and-pieces that I needed were no longer available for download. This meant that I had to keep an old computer around just for working on the app, and that eventually, to get it working on the new computer, I was going to have to update it the newer versions of Java and the various add-ins, since those were the ones that were now available for download. So, that time has come. I also took this opportunity to re-write about 95% of the code, hopefully making it more efficient, and to add some new features that should help get stamps from scans that were otherwise un-processable. Before we get to what's new, a little about what's changed from v1.64. 1. New OS SupportThere is now a single version for Mac, a single version for Windows, and a version for Ubuntu-based Linux. No more light and full packages, and no more 32-bit Windows support. The files are bigger with the new Java bundled, but that ensures it will work consistently across installations. Also, for any Linux users, other versions might be possible, I just don't have the ability to test them because I only have an Ubuntu machine. If you use a different version of Linux and want to give it a try, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do to build an installation package for your specific OS version. 2. The Appearance.As is always the case when new features are added, some reorganization is required for space reasons. Here's the new StampFix window. All of the old features are still there, just in new places. There used to be separate load buttons for processing a single stamp from a single file, processing multiple stamps from a single file, processing multiple files, and processing folders. There is now 1 load button that handles all files. Folders can't be handled be the file chooser, but those can still be dragged and dropped. The former contents of the sidebars (left sidebar had processing and output settings, right sidebar had settings for extracting multiple stamps from a single image) are now in tabs in the left sidebar. 3. A few Quality-of-Life ImprovementsYou can now double-click in the image window to open the File Chooser. Dragging and dropping a folder will now output with the same folder structure as the input folder. 4. Accuracy ImprovementsThe background color detection is much better, and there's now a toggle that allows you to force a black or white background color. And now the big news - what's new! 1. CroppingIn the past, this image would have been un-processable. Scanning these stamps in the card caused too much clutter in the background, and the app couldn't find the stamps. Now, when you load this image, it still generates an initial error saying that it can't find the stamps, but then you have a couple new options that can get you to where you want to go. The first is the Crop. You can click the crop button and draw a new rectangle that, when you release the mouse button, extracts that portion and re-processes it as if it's a new image. This helps to find those stamps that were otherwise lost in the background clutter. 2. Manually Drawing Bounding BoxesWith the image shown above, you have another option, which is to manually draw a bounding box. Once you finish drawing the new bounding box, the app searches within that box for stamps, and if it finds any, draws a new blue box around them. As with the cropping function, this allows you to find otherwise undetectable stamps by "removing" the background clutter. This function differs from the crop function in that it doesn't dispose of the remainder of the image, so if you need to draw multiple manual bounding boxes you can. 3. Extracting without Rotating/CroppingYou can also use the manually drawn bounding boxes and autodetected bounding boxes to extract stamps or entire regions of the image without processing them at all. No rotation, no cropping, just extraction. 4. Removing bounding boxesFinally, you now have the ability to manually remove bounding boxes as well. My hope will all these changes is that folks who weren't able to have success with the app in the past because of their workflow (scanning stamps in stockbooks, dealer cards, etc.) will now have more success with it. I have no doubt that, because of the volume of the changes and the complexity of the new features, there will be bugs. If you spot any bugs, see any behavior that isn't as you would expect, or just have any questions, please let me know. Additionally, if you have an image you're unable to process, please send it to me. If I can't get you settings to make it work, I can at least use it to guide future fixes and features. Download is here, as are a Youtube video, a written guide, and animated .gif demos.
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Post by clivel on Feb 20, 2024 0:48:03 GMT
1. New OS SupportThere is now a single version for Mac, a single version for Windows, and a version for Ubuntu-based Linux. No more light and full packages, and no more 32-bit Windows support. The files are bigger with the new Java bundled, but that ensures it will work consistently across installations. Also, for any Linux users, other versions might be possible, I just don't have the ability to test them because I only have an Ubuntu machine. If you use a different version of Linux and want to give it a try, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do to build an installation package for your specific OS version.
Excellent news, now that Linux is supported, I will definitely give it a try Clive
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 20, 2024 2:48:24 GMT
clivel, Let me know if you run into any issues. To be honest, I don't really know Linux. I installed it just to build the libraries I needed and to test out the installer to make sure it would load. I didn't take it through the full-ish battery of tests like I did with Mac and Windows.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,355
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Feb 20, 2024 11:27:22 GMT
When I tried to download, the links seem to be circular. I click on download and then go back to the home page. (Windows, Chrome and Firefox). This is the link that seems to not work. If I click Video Demos link down the page, that works,
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 20, 2024 13:08:02 GMT
I guess it would help if I actually made the page visible to non-admins... I think I'm brain-fried at this point. Should work now.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,643
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Feb 20, 2024 17:06:24 GMT
I just downloaded the OSX version and got this. Deleted folder, re-downloaded and installed and same thing. Running OSX 12.7.3
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 20, 2024 17:16:42 GMT
Well, crap. Let me look into it.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 21, 2024 0:41:55 GMT
There was a problem with the installer for the Mac version, so if you previously downloaded it, you'll want to go download the fixed version. Also, I discovered while fixing the installer that the app won't run on MacOS versions 10 and under. So if you're on a really old Mac, time to upgrade your OS! Thanks to stainlessb for the assist.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,355
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Feb 21, 2024 11:21:12 GMT
The download works for me now. Thanks.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 21, 2024 21:16:43 GMT
Anyone using the new version on Windows 10? If so, are you having any issues? I got a report of some odd issues on Windows 10.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,914
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 22, 2024 1:50:28 GMT
Anyone using the new version on Windows 10? If so, are you having any issues? I got a report of some odd issues on Windows 10. Would Microsoft auto update to these (unknown to me) New Windows 10 ? If so I can throw it on my computer (Win 10) and give it a whirl. I only use Version 1.36 of "Stamp Fix" as it is just second nature now I use it about every day Not aware of how many deskews it has carried out, but 40,000 would not be an exaggeration (It is on my Win 7 desktop)
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 22, 2024 2:01:33 GMT
Would Microsoft auto update to these (unknown to me) New Windows 10 ? If so I can throw it on my computer (Win 10) and give it a whirl. I only use Version 1.36 of "Stamp Fix" as it is just second nature now I use it about every day Not aware of how many deskews it has carried out, but 40,000 would not be an exaggeration (It is on my Win 7 desktop) AFAIK, Win 10 will do some automatic security updates, but nothing major like updating to a newer version of Win 10 or to Win 11 without you telling it to. I was able to find a Win 10 laptop in the family, and it seems to be running fine on it, so not sure why one of the users is having an issue.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,914
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 22, 2024 4:45:18 GMT
quote AFAIK, Win 10 will do some automatic security updates, but nothing major like updating to a newer version of Win 10 or to Win 11 without you telling it to.
I was able to find a Win 10 laptop in the family, and it seems to be running fine on it, so not sure why one of the users is having an issue.
First response 101 Turn off computer, wait 5 mins, boot up again Nothing?
Re install software re boot
Depending what the issues are , could be any number, too low dpi for images? lint on scanner platten? etc
I open Stampfix (which is always in a too big screen,) shorten it horiz to half screen, open "rods stamps" folder , snap to half screen select stamp images (up to 60) and drag them across easy peasy
My images are always 600dpi, perhaps he/she is loading *.png or other humungous images?
Black or dark stamps, often fail, I don't worry about it, and deskew manually with Picasa 3, saves altering stampfix settings
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 22, 2024 4:49:42 GMT
Rod,
The report was that none of the buttons across the top are functional. Makes no sense.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,914
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 22, 2024 4:57:24 GMT
Indeed. Can't help there Postmaster I only use "drag and drop" I place stamps on the platten, and scan automatically each of the 60 stamps Then whack 'em through stamp fix Never used pages of stamps, Hagners etc I have a fixed routine, I can almost do blindfolded
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Post by michael on Feb 22, 2024 9:54:32 GMT
I tried it on my old Windows 10 PC and it cropped and saved the files.
However, I was loading the images from the desktop (tried both 'drag and drop' and the open button on the top) and it would only put the processed files on the desktop not the designated output folder.
I changed the defaut output folder to the download directory but still the cropped images were sent to the desktop.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 22, 2024 13:11:26 GMT
I tried it on my old Windows 10 PC and it cropped and saved the files. However, I was loading the images from the desktop (tried both 'drag and drop' and the open button on the top) and it would only put the processed files on the desktop not the designated output folder. I changed the defaut output folder to the download directory but still the cropped images were sent to the desktop. Hate to ask the obvious question, but did you have the box checked to use that output location? If so, let's troubleshoot, because I haven't been able to replicate that issue. 1. Were you loading an image to screen or bypassing and saving it straight to file? 2. If to the screen, was it a single stamp or multiple stamps per image? 3. If multiple, what means did you use to save it – the extract and save to file button on the Multi Detect tab or the Extract button in the "Edit Individually" window?
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Post by michael on Feb 22, 2024 13:36:58 GMT
Woops..the check box.. er no !!! Now OK
Sometimes the obvious answers to a problem are the best.
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Post by iswscwebmaster on Feb 23, 2024 14:11:07 GMT
I am glad to see a Linux version so I will be testing it out shortly.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 25, 2024 20:06:47 GMT
Anyone here on Windows 10 or 11 having any issues with the new version? I just received a second report of the buttons across the top being non-functional, this time from a Windows 11 user.
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Feb 26, 2024 17:32:47 GMT
I'm running Windows 11 - I had an issue the first time I used it where the crop and area select/deselect buttons didn't work. They got highlighted but no rectangles were drawn on the image when click-dragging. But when I tried again after a reboot it all seemed to work. Will keep an eye out in case I see any weirdness again.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Mar 2, 2024 19:11:03 GMT
Anyone here on an ARM-based Mac (M1, M2, or M3 processor) who is willing to test an ARM version for me?
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Post by PostmasterGS on Mar 19, 2024 12:59:15 GMT
WARNING!!!
If you're using StampFix on a Mac with an Apple Silicon-based (ARM) processor – meaning an M1, M2, or M3 processor, not an Intel processor – and MacOS 14 (Sonoma), don't upgrade your OS to 14.4. There are major bugs in 14.4 that are causing USB hubs and devices to no longer be detected, and more importantly for StampFix purposes, breaking all Java applications. Apple is aware and is supposedly working on a fix.
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