• Beta

  • Open Beta Version 3.7.0

peter Why would you expect restoring backups to behave different?

If you accidentally restore wrong backup on any device it could erase all your work on all the other devices, having it not be connected to iCloud would save you accidentally loosing precious work unless you always make a full backup of iCloud when you touch iCloud button you could create data loss by using full restore.
I’d rather when I load my full restore have the software shut down on me and turn off iCloud then corrupt my whole iCloud immediately, a warning is not good enough it’s still too late once you hit the wrong choice and it could mean days and days of work gone.
Perhaps I am paranoid but time will tell once people start using it for real.

    I will improve the warning message but I will not prevent a user from restoring a backup. I would not like to have iCloud turned off in the process. When I want to restore a backup I want all devices to be reset to that backup.

    New beta build 8746

    I think I have solved the duplicates problem. This means you no longer need to select an option when enabling iCloud. Just enable it and your database will be merged with the iCloud database. Duplicates will automatically be removed. In case of duplicate playlists, songs of both playlists will be merged (removing duplicate songs).

    What is considered a duplicate?

    • Songs with the same title and artist and (if not a lyrics only song) pointing to the same audio file
    • Playlists with the same name

    Please be aware of these restrictions. Especially the merging of duplicate playlists is extremely complicated and some cases where playlists with the same name contain completely different songs can lead to unexpected results primarily with the order of songs. Meaning song #1 in playlist A will be followed by song #1 in playlist B. But I guess this is an edge case as your devices will most likely contain the same playlists and songs.

    Added

    • Option in settings to delete all iCloud data (only visible when iCloud is not enabled)

    Changes

    • Removed option to upload or download files when enabling iCloud
    • Improved text in some warning dialogs
    • Cloud uploads/downloads are now automatically retried if they get throttled by iCloud

    Fixed

    • Network client ignores autoscroll override setting
    • Numbers in playlists disappear after reordering items

      peter Hello Peter because I am currently using beta as my main player ( I did this in order to test it) all my up to date songs and playlists etc are now stored in beta and iCloud. When live STAGETRAXX is eventually updated to reflect the current beta configuration will it just be a matter of enabling the iCloud sync feature in live and all my current data will be synced with it?

        No, the beta and the regular version are completely seperate. You will need to create a full backup in the beta and restore it in the regular version.

        I also recommend deleting all iCloud data when the beta test ends because the beta version will stop running after 6 weeks.

          peter Option in settings to delete all iCloud data (only visible when iCloud is not enabled)

          Love this addition.

          Hi Peter, I started from scratch again to test iCloud.
          Turned both devices ICloud OFF.
          Loaded both with same full backup 2648 files.
          Easily DELETED the ICLOUD 😃👍 , on one device, and ENABLED ICLOUD on this device.
          It went through its sync process and looked good to go.
          Turned on the ICLOUD on the other device and left it overnight to do its thing.
          Remember both devices were the same regarding content, all it needed was ICloud to step in and say all is good.

          Feedback

          The second device has lots of missing files, I don’t know how many as there’s no indication.
          There appears to be no sync movement happening that I’m aware of as there is no indication.
          I am afraid to press SYNC at this stage on any device as I don’t really know what is going to happen if I do, what does sync do if I press it now?This needs to be more clear to the user, is it SYNC THIS DEVICES DATA TO ICLOUD NOW.
          RESYNC TO ICLOUD NOW.
          as you press this a quick message pops up but nothing seems to happen it’s all unclear to what you have just done.
          There’s no indication of any kind if the device with lots of missing files is doing anything, leaving the user confused , perhaps if I leave the device turned on and ST3 running will it eventually sync my whole 2648 files from the other device , but I already have both devices perfectly synced as I have loaded them both with the same full backup, all iCloud needed to do is load itself from one device and compare itself with another device and realise they are the same and quickly get ready for action to keep them in sync from there on.
          I am just writing this as I am observing the numerous missing files on the second device with total confusion to what is going on.

          I am hoping eventually the second device will fully sync and once it does it will be smooth sailing from there on.
          This hotels internet sucks so perhaps that’s what is causing the slow syncing, I don’t know.
          This feedback is what I am experiencing from a new users perspective.

          I will send you both devices latest logs just in case they might help improve some things I have mentioned.

          I am looking forward seeing all devices acting as one.
          Great work!
          Cheers Damir

          Just checked my second device after a few hours still nothing is happening.

            Here is the timeline I can reconstruct:

            22:59 First start of new version on iPhone with iCloud enabled
            23:01 First start of new version on iPad with iCloud enabled
            23:02 Restart on iPad with iCloud disabled
            23:03 Restart on iPad with iCloud enabled (Sync does not work as connection to iCloud fails due to network problems)
            23:05 Restart on iPhone iCloud is still enabled
            23:07 Restore of full backup on iPad
            23:10 File Upload starts on iPad and 30 seconds later you stop the app in the middle of file upload!
            23:12 Restart of app on iPhone (Again network problems accessing iCloud)
            23:13 Restore fill backup on iPhone (While iCloud sync still not working due to network issues, therefore no sync is started)
            23:20 Restart of app on iPhone (i can't tell if iCloud is off or on)
            23:21 Restart of app on iPhone with iCloud but still no connection to the iCloud servers
            23:23 Restart of app on iPhone with iCloud but still no connection to the iCloud servers. You seem to press the sync button multiple times (iCloud servers not responding)
            23:40 Restart of app on iPad (iCloud not responding)
            23:42 Restart of app on iPad (iCloud not responding)
            23:42 Restart of app on iPad (iCloud not responding)
            23:45 Restart of app on iPad (iCloud not responding)
            23:46 File upload started on iPhone as iCloud is now available again
            23:55 File upload on iPhone stopped as iCloud is down again
            23:56 Restart of app on iPad now iCloud responds. All local files are deleted as the iPhone backup restore initiated these deletes
            23:56 File downloads from the cloud are started on iPad
            23:57 File uploads on iPhone stopped
            00:59 iPad finished downloading what was available in the cloud
            04:22 Restart of app on iPad (iCloud not responding again)

            So, first and foremost I think you have a very unreliable internet connection at your current location. Most of the problems are caused by iCloud not responding.

            Then I don't understand the reasoning of restoring the backup on both devices while connected to iCloud. In that case the last restore will win but a good part of the files will be transfered twice to the cloud (from both devices). If you intended to prevent file transfers you just caused the opposite by doubling file transfers.

            Now in this situation the way to resolve it is to either restart the app while internet is stable or tap on the sync button. What that does is check if there are files in the cloud needing download or local files needing upload.

            What I need to do is display an error message when iCloud is not responding so that you know that the sync will not work.

              Hi Peter the latest beta is installed on all three of my devices. It seems that all sync activity has ceased between devices. It was working faultlessly before. I’m off to a gig now so won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow.

                Please send me the logfiles. And what exactly do you mean with sync has ceased? Was there anything to sync?

                peter So, first and foremost I think you have a very unreliable internet connection at your current location.

                That’s true, we have just shifted to a new appartment for a couple of nights and internet seems really good so I will try again from scratch this time I will only do a full backup on one device and clear all songs on the other and see what happens.

                  peter Then I don't understand the reasoning of restoring the backup on both devices while connected to iCloud. In that case the last restore will win but a good part of the files will be transferred twice to the cloud (from both devices)

                  I assumed I was helping iCloud by not having much difference in both devices it should sync up quickly

                      Damir Your idea and intention was good but remember, that when iCloud sync is turned on, everything you do will be mirrored in the cloud. So if you restore a backup the first thing it does is delete everything (database and audio files) and then it will restore them. Doing this on your iPhone, after the iPad will delete everything on the iPad before it will restore the changes from the iPhone on the iPad.

                      Bottom line: Don't explicitly delete the other device. Just restore the backup on one device and let iCloud take care of the rest.

                        peter Now in this situation the way to resolve it is to either restart the app while internet is stable or tap on the sync button. What that does is check if there are files in the cloud needing download or local files needing upload.

                        Then perhaps labelling the sync to sync to iCloud now , or similar , to clarify what will happen when you hit sync. Cause it could mean sync this device content to iCloud .

                            Damir Not enough space for that on an iPhone. And it means exactly sync this device content to the cloud. What else could it mean.

                                peter Not enough space for that on an iPhone. And it means exactly sync this device content to the cloud. What else could it mean.

                                It could mean, sync iCloud to this device, or, sync this device to iCloud, they do 2 different things but which one is it when you press it.
                                The third is sync both ways keep identical files on both and add different files to both so no files are lost and end up available on both devices.
                                It’s fine if you already know exactly what it is but not fine if you are new to ST3.

                                I have changed to different wifi that appears to be faster and more reliable.
                                I turned off iCloud on iPhone, Deleted the iCloud loaded a full backup 1648 files and left the device to do its thing before bed I checked the device 4am and it seems to be stuck on 1422 with sync greyed out meaning it’s syncing but nothing appears to be happening all my files on device are still present, I don’t know what I should do now, I will try and restart program, then resync st3 folder, then turn off and on iCloud again and see what happens.

                                I have just restarted my ST3 program on iPhone.
                                The sync indicator is now blue and the message is last sync was at 4am approx as I could not see the rest on iPhone in portrait mode.
                                Now I still don’t know if I am fully synced to iCloud as there is no iCloud file count present and iPhone file count to compare the two to confirm my sync situation, I assume because the sync indicator is blue it is not in sync as it’s telling me you can press me now to sync up, if it was grey I would assume all is in sync you don’t need to press me it’s all in sync. This is what’s going through my mind as I am trying to sync to iCloud, I am also wondering is it a good time to start syncing to my iPad now, but I don’t know there is no real confirmation that iCloud is fully synced so perhaps I will leave it till breakfast around 7am and start with iPad sync.

                                As you can see syncing for first time to iCloud with 2648 files is not really you want to do regularly as it’s not a fast process at the moment and there is not enough indication to what is happening, I am sure with much lesser file count it might work much faster but I regard my file count reasonably average , as if I was more a DJ my file count would be much much larger.
                                So my conclusion this morning is, iCloud is not functioning as described at the moment, I have sent email reports and will send another as I finish this message,
                                Good luck with it.
                                Cheers Damir

                                Just as I completed the message went back to settings I see the iCloud has started syncing again from 2648 and counting down the sync button is greyed out , now I see, you are not allowing us to sync once syncing is in progress so you have greyed out this button, but then the button becomes blue once everything is in sync, this makes no sense why allow us to hit sync if we are in sync, the sync button should be blue while syncing so we can trigger a restart the sync, and go grey as iCloud and device is in sync meaning you no longer need to press this button so it’s not needed and it’s grey. And a visual file count of both iCloud folder and st3 folder to confirm this state of sync.
                                Also faster response time of indication is needed so as you do a selection it gives you quicker feedback so you don’t assume things are not happening yet they are but 5 to 10 minutes later , this delay creates great confusion, perhaps an indicator to show things are in progress.

                                This morning 1030 am my iPhone has 2648 active as expected my iCloud it had a message when it synced last which was about 5 am because I couldn’t see the rest of the message i could not read the full time as I was in portrait mode as I was writing this so I had an idea of turning it to landscape so I went back to read the exact time but it was updated to the current time of 1036am but I still don’t know if I am really in sync with iCloud as I don’t have a file count of iCloud compared to ST3 device folder file count to confirm , the sync button is blue which could mean I am out of sync because it is allowing me to hit it , this should be grey now if the iCloud and device are in sync , why would I want to hit it?
                                This is what’s confusing me , I have no idea if the device is in sync , a simple file count of both folders is all I need and I don’t really care when it has occurred as it keeps changing continuously the date even time don’t mean much to me , but seeing a comparison file count means something as it’s confirming the most important thing that devices and icltare in sync , I do not care how many days or minutes ago , when working its continually changing anyway but it’s not telling me am I in sync.

                                My need is

                                iCloud file count 2648
                                Device file count 2648

                                Sync is blue when needing a sync
                                Sync is grey when in sync

                                An indication something is happening even though it might not be obvious at the time.

                                The rest I don’t need at all as it’s continually changing anyway it does nothing for me.

                                I assume my iPhone and iCloud is synced, now I will try to sync to iPad, as I leave to check out this old town in Sicily I will leave my iPad to hopefully do its thing when I come back I expect an identical song count to iPhone,
                                Cheers Damir

                                    Damir It could mean, sync iCloud to this device, or, sync this device to iCloud, they do 2 different things but which one is it when you press it.

                                    Sync is always to and from iCloud. There is no distinction between the directions. Sync means you make both sides equal. If it was only one way it would not be called sync but upload or download.

                                    And this button is blue when you can initiate a new sync. So whenever your device is not currently syncing and you think there is something missing, press that button. If it finishes after a second or two you know that your device is in sync. If not you will see a counter of how many files are transferred.

                                    From your logs:

                                    • 20:58 you deleted the iCloud database on the iPhone
                                    • 20:59 restored a full backup on the iPhone
                                    • 21:08 restarted with iCloud enabled and 2575 files started uploading (you might have 2648 songs but not that many audio files)
                                    • 21:28 sync stops because iCloud returns with the error "Service unavailble"
                                    • 04:27 Sync started, 2171 files need upload

                                    Since then it seems to upload.

                                    From my perspective the sync is working fine. At 21:28 iCloud was no longer available so the upload stopped. This is not the fault of the app. In the next version you will see in the sync status that something failed.

                                    This is bound to happen. iCloud is a network service and there can always be network issues. So if your device is no longer syncing, just tap the Sync button and it will finish what it was doing.

                                      Looking at the code I think that I have an issue with the error handler that fired at 21:28. It just stopped all remaining downloads without resetting the file download counter. So the app looked like it was still uploading but actually it was doing nothing. This is something I need to change.

                                      Hi Peter, all really good with this latest version for me apart from one thing.

                                      I’m really excited to get the midi assignable buttons onto the desktop however, assigning a midi control sequence to the buttons is proving difficult.

                                      All the rest of the assignable actions are inputs to the program and therefore easy to capture, the two menu buttons are send buttons and I cannot get my midi device to send as it only has an input, no MIDI out port. Is there anyway that a text string can be input against these two buttons rather than (or as an alternative to) it learning it?

                                      Best wishes
                                      Brian

                                        Just returned to check iPad iCloud sync it appears to have synced to iCloud as expected apart from the one multitrack song that has track 1 and track 4 missing, that’s the only issue I have found so far, so it seems to be working , but time will tell what little issues will come up.
                                        Well done Peter!
                                        Cheers Damir