Unable to save project settings ...

jimberry

Posts: 560
Registered: 30-Aug-2004

Unable to save project settings
Posted: 9 Jan 20, 12:13

Recently (jAlbum 19.2, Ubuntu 18.04) I have been unable to save my projects in my preferred directory.

My workflow has always been to keep project files, images and finished albums in three separate directories, rather than to follow the default jAlbum settings.

I have always saved my
(a) .jap files with a project specific project-name (mydog.jap) in the top level of a jAlbum_projects directory,
(b) images in a subfolder (jAlbum_images/mydog) of a jAlbum_images directory and
(c) albums in a folder which contains all of my web pages (whether created by jAlbum or other applications), ready for uploading with FileZilla.

Now when I have set up the parameters for a new album, the File options for "Save Project Settings", "Save Project Settings as ..." and "Duplicate Settings" are greyed out.

Is this intentional, or have I missed another setting?

In "Tools>Preferences>Album" I have specified

"Projects directory" (in my workflow, this is really Images directory) as (b),
and "Web directory" (output directory) as (c).

JeffTucker

Posts: 7,955
Registered: 31-Jan-2006

Re: Unable to save project settings
Posted: 9 Jan 20, 15:48

in response to: jimberry

Reply

No big problem with doing that on a Win10 machine. When I add images to a new project and name it mydog, the project lands in My Albums/mydog. I can then save the project settings as Elsewhere/mydog.jap without any difficulty. I can send the output anywhere, like a web directory.

The only glitch occurs if I don't delete the automatically created My Albums/mydog/jalbum-settings.jap - if I don't do that, I get double entries in the recent projects list.

I can't produce a "grayed out options" condition.

Must be an Ubuntu thing.

ETA: The other thing that misbehaves is the deletion of an entire project. That has to be done manually because jAlbum doesn't understand the structure.

jimberry

Posts: 560
Registered: 30-Aug-2004

Re: Unable to save project settings
Posted: 10 Jan 20, 03:40

in response to: JeffTucker

Reply

I don'think it is a Ubuntu thing as I have similar problems in W7 as well. It is more likely a "jimberry" thing

.

The workflow you describe is not the same as mine, I don't normally "add images to a new project and name it something else" - I add (outside of jAlbum) images to a new folder and then (in jAlbum) set the project's image directory to the new image directory. The required images then appear in Explore mode, but the "Save" options are greyed out.

Modifying an existing project doesn't grey out the "Save" options, but the Explore view doesn't show the images in the new image directory

I guess if I insist on having a workflow that differs from the standard jAlbum method, I should expect these problems, but it has worked for me for 15 years so it is a little disappointing to run up against the problems now.

In W7, jAlbum defaults the Output directory to the same as the image directory and then complains but refuses to allow changing it, bringing up the same complaint message ("Using the same directory for the image and output directories is not recommended") when trying to type into the Output directory text box and also when trying to exit the Settings screen to edit Preferences, even when trying to exit jAlbum to start again

I might have to re-install an earlier version of jAlbum and try again.

JeffTucker

Posts: 7,955
Registered: 31-Jan-2006

Re: Unable to save project settings
Posted: 10 Jan 20, 05:22

in response to: jimberry

Reply

Doing it as you describe also works for me. Outside of jAlbum, I create a new My Albums/mydog directory, and add images to it. Then I launch jAlbum, and pull up the settings. I go to General > Image directory click the folder icon, and navigate to My Albums/mydog. The images appear in the Explore view. I can then save the project as Elsewhere/mydog.jap.

I also don't have any problem setting the output directory to any place I choose. It doesn't default to the same location as the image directory. In fact, it defaults to album under the image directory, even though I've set the preferences to point elsewhere - the preference setting seems to be ignored. But I can then change the output directory.

jimberry wrote:
I guess if I insist on having a workflow that differs from the standard jAlbum method, I should expect these problems....

Well, yes, I suppose that's true.

I might have to re-install an earlier version of jAlbum and try again.

I would suggest that that's not the solution. Maybe it's time to stop fighting against the application.

JeffTucker

Posts: 7,955
Registered: 31-Jan-2006

Re: Unable to save project settings
Posted: 10 Jan 20, 06:09

in response to: JeffTucker

Reply

BTW:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4057281/windows-7-support-will-end-on-january-14-2020

jimberry

Posts: 560
Registered: 30-Aug-2004

Re: Unable to save project settings
Posted: 10 Jan 20, 09:45

in response to: JeffTucker

Reply

I don't think I am fighting against the application. For 15 years we have been getting along quite well, and I assume that can again be the situation once this issue is resolved. There were reasons why I chose this workflow and there hasn't been a problem until now (and of course it might turn out that the workflow is not the real problem).
I am aware of the end-of-support for W7 and purchasing W10 is on my to-do list (not a top priority - I just haven't gotten around to it). W7 is not my primary OS, and end-of-support doesn't necessarily mean that it will start failing next Tuesday