FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What computer do I need for Anvil (how fast, how much memory)?
  2. Anvil does not start. What do I do?
  3. What's the Anvil mailing list good for?
  4. What's the maximum length of a video for usage in Anvil?
  5. How do I install Anvil on a Macintosh?
  6. What platforms does Anvil run on?
  7. Which codecs does Anvil support (video file format)?
  8. How do I convert video files (from MPG to AVI, changing the codec etc.) ?
  9. Why does Anvil not work with MPEG1 video files?
  10. What problems with memory can occur?

Last update: 18 Apr 2004


What computer do I need for Anvil (how fast, how much memory)?

If you have a PC, you should have at least 500 MHz and 128 MB RAM (working memory). Of course, the faster the better and more memory is better still. Slow computers will take longer loading Anvil files and the video playback might be less smooth.

I have no estimates for Macintosh or Solaris machines, sorry.


Anvil does not start. What do I do?

Check whether the directory path to your Anvil system has any special symbols like ü, é, ß etc. Rename the directory and try again.

If you get an error message in a black window, copy the text and write me an e-mail with the error message: kipp@dfki.de

If a black window only briefly appears, try the following to get more information (only Windows users):

  1. Open the "START" menu and select "Execute..."; a black window will appear.
  2. Go to the Anvil directory using the "cd" (change directory) command: "cd .." will get you to the upper directory, "cd xx" will get you to directory xx.
  3. Start Anvil by typing "anvil" and pressing enter.
  4. You will get an error message that you can send to me.

What's the Anvil mailing list good for?

When you request the download address for Anvil, you will automatically be put on the Anvil mailing list. This mailing list serves to notify you about new versions/updates of Anvil and, very rarely, to post news and conference announcements in the domain of annotation.

I keep messages over this list to an absolute minimum, so Anvil users are not bothered with too many mails. The list is usually not open to mails from other users. If you want to be removed from the list, please send a short mail to kipp@dfki.de


What's the maximum length of a video for usage in Anvil?

Currently, due to the way graphics in used in Anvil, you can only use video files up to a certain length (about 10 minutes) depending on your computer's working memory (so try bigger files first). This restriction will certainly vanish at some point in the future. In the meantime, researchers can improvise by cutting their files to 10 minute chunks. Note that you can still work quite comfortably with these chunks using Anvil's Project Tool (included in the distribution).

To improve your computer's ability to handle large files see the related question on memory.


How do I install Anvil on a Macintosh?

Anvil should run on any Mac with OS X. For Anvil 4.0 (or higher) you need to make sure that Java 1.4 is running with your Mac. Originally, Mac OS X was shipped with Java 1.3 but Java 1.4 has already been released for the Mac and can be downloaded. Consult Apple's Java pages for this.

One source of problems in the past has been the "AnvilMac.sh" file. Since I am working on a Windows machine, this file may have an illegal linefeed character at the end. So, if your Mac has problems with this file, open it in an editor and delete the linefeed at the end of the file if there is one.

Another "problem" with the Mac is the installation of the Java Media Framework (JMF). To install JMF on your Mac, go to the JMF download page and select "Cross-platform Java". Unpack the downloaded file and move the "jmf.jar" file to your computer's

/Library/Java/Extensions

directory.

(Thanks to Christoph Lauer, DFKI, for this info.)


What platforms does Anvil run on?

Anvil is known to work on the following platforms: Windows 95/98, Windows 2000/NT/XP, Linux, Mac OS X. It should also run on Solaris machines.

Anvil's compatibility with different platforms actually depends on the compatibility of JMF (Java Media Framework). On Sun's JMF Frequently Asked Questions page you can find the following (June 24, 2001):

Q: What platforms does JMF 2.1.1 run on?
JMF 2.1.1 will run on Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/2000, Solaris/SPARC, and any Java CompatibleTM platforms. The pure Java version of JMF 2.1.1 will now run on Apple's MRJ 2.1.4; however there are a/v syncronization problems since Apple added a 6 second audio buffer to that MRJ.


Which codecs does Anvil support (video file format)?

First a word about video file format vs. codec. Video file formats are, for example, Quicktime (extension "mov") and AVI (extension "avi"). A file format like Quicktime supports a number of different codecs (compression decompression). Examples for codecs are: Cinepak, Indeo, Sorensen, MPEG.

To make things a little confusing, MPEG is a codec as well as a file format. Neither is supported by Anvil anyway.

Anvil supports any format/codec supported by JMF 2.1.1 - take a look at the JMF format/codec list provided by Sun. Both Quicktime and AVI formats work (tested)! Note that you must download JMF version 2.1.1 or higher for AVI to work. Note also that your codec must be supported, too. Everywhere where you find a "D" in the list, the codec should work (exception: MPEG does not work - see MPEG question).

Windows users can look at the following list with codecs that Christoph Lauer and I have tested under Windows (MOV = Quicktime):

  • MOV: Cinepak
  • MOV: Component Video
  • MOV: H-261
  • MOV: H-263
  • MOV: Foto JPEG
  • MOV: RAW Without Compressor
  • AVI: Radius Cinepak
  • AVI: Indeo 5.04
  • AVI: Indeo R3.2

How do I convert video files (from MPG to AVI, changing the codec etc.) ?

You need a video software for file conversion. You can either buy a commercial software like Adobe Premiere, or you simply download the excellent free software VirtualDub. These tools are developed for cutting and editing movies, so file format or codec conversion is only a side issue in these tools.


Why does Anvil not work with MPEG1 video files?

Although the Java Media Framework (JMF) supports MPEG1 (video files with extension "mpg"), a vital function is missing from JMF's support: the frame-wise access to the video file. This is essential for frame-by-frame stepping and also needed at some other places in the Anvil code. Therefore, MPEG1 videos are not accepted by Anvil yet but may be in the future, depending on the development of JMF.


What problems with memory can occur?

Up until version 3.5, Anvil get memory problem when: (1) video files have a length of about 5 minutes or more; exact max. length depends on system and specification file. (2) Anvil can also run out of memory when you have opened and closed a number of annotations. It is a bug that I hope to get rid of in the coming version.

To give Anvil more memory, you have to manipulate the "anvil.bat" file in your Anvil directory. Open "anvil.bat" in an editor (WordPad or Editor) and insert the magic word "-mx512m" into the one line that this file consists of. After insertion the line should look like this (dots stand for omitted rest of line):

java -mx512m -classpath ...

The meaning of the number "512" is working memory (in MB). It can even exceed the real working memory of your computer because when in need of more memory your computer will use your harddisk. So when you run into an "out of memory" error just set this figure higher and see what happens... (512 is a good starting point)



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