Sean Meighan

Software => Xlights Setup => Topic started by: algerdes on April 29, 2018, 05:19:38 PM

Title: Unable to fill screen with layout - Solved
Post by: algerdes on April 29, 2018, 05:19:38 PM
xLights 2018.11.  Computer is an i7 (Dell XPS 15) Laptop.  Only using two external monitors, not the high resolution built into the laptop.

As can be seen in the screen capture, the image is set to 1280 x 720.  The image is of one of the external monitors.  At a resolution of 1280 x 720, the image should be filling at least some of the screen.

I've tried to up the numbers for images size, but it did not change. 

Any and all ideas are welcom.

Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: algerdes on April 29, 2018, 05:23:50 PM
Addendum...
I have changed the resolution (Width and Height) to 3000 x 2000.  The screen finally changed the window size.
How is this possible?  The max width of the monitor is 1920 (not more than 3000).  The max height of the monitor is 1080 (not 2000).

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Al
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: Gilrock on April 30, 2018, 08:37:43 AM
Kinda hard to tell from just a description.  Did you try checking the "Fill" checkbox for the background where you enter the 1280x720?
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: algerdes on April 30, 2018, 12:43:23 PM
I am finding this very interesting.  I have the very same setup on a computer that does NOT have a high resolution screen and it uses almost the whole screen with the width set as 1280 and height at 720 for the layout screen.

When opened on the XPS15, though I am not using the high resolution screen (laptop remains closed), and am only using the two external monitors, it does as the attached photo shows.  Though the monitors it is being shown on are more "traditional" in size (1920 x 1080-each), it seems to use a very small footprint.

As far as the "fill" button, it works on a background image when one is present (I don't have a background for this setup), but not on the props that are placed on the layout screen.  :(

I've tried all zoom functions that I can find.







Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: Gilrock on April 30, 2018, 01:09:54 PM
Well the good news is all these problems will be solved within a few months.  I just got panning and zooming of the layout working yesterday but there is several weeks of work that goes along with it before I'll be able to release it to the users.
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: dkulp on April 30, 2018, 01:31:40 PM

I believe the issue is that wxWidgets currently only has a single setting for the display scaling factor which is applied for all displays.   Thus, if you have any sort of HiDPI screen at all (like the notebook screen), then it will set it to the HiDPI values even if you open xLights on the non-HiDPI screen.   
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: algerdes on April 30, 2018, 08:43:14 PM
Thank you all for this information.  I thought I was going nuts (again).  Only three programs that I use (both Christmas and others) don't find or use the extra settings of sizing around 250% of normal for the screen.  With more and more 4K screens showing up, it seems that there will be quite a few that may run into this now and in the future.

And THANK YOU to all of you developers, support staff, and interested parties.  This is my ninth year doing "blinky", and my 32nd year putting up any kind of display.  It is amazing the amount of brain power that puts this stuff together, and freely donates it to the world.
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: Gilrock on May 01, 2018, 07:49:15 AM
If one of you will send me a 4K monitor I'll get it all sorted out. :)
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: algerdes on May 01, 2018, 10:33:35 AM
Sure thing Gil.  Just as soon as Peg gets her 4K monitors.  ???
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: ozaz on May 01, 2018, 07:15:29 PM
If one of you will send me a 4K monitor I'll get it all sorted out. :)
  lol, I thought you couldn't be bribed Gil
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: algerdes on May 01, 2018, 07:43:22 PM
If one of you will send me a 4K monitor I'll get it all sorted out. :)
  lol, I thought you couldn't be bribed Gil
That isn't a bribe, that's survival!  (Oh wait, you meant Gil... :) )
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: Gilrock on May 01, 2018, 08:01:08 PM
If one of you will send me a 4K monitor I'll get it all sorted out. :)
  lol, I thought you couldn't be bribed Gil

Yeah you never read what I said carefully enough.  I also said that those who really wanted me to do work have figured out a way to incentivize me.  I've had a user give me a TV.  I've had one send me $300.  I think you mentioned something like $30 to the xLights donation pile.  Well I might see $8 out of that.  If you want to target a specific developer to do work then you need to make it an offer he can't refuse. :)
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: jeremy0203 on May 02, 2018, 11:43:40 AM
Same thing on my xps15. I set xlights to disable scaling to fix that
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout
Post by: algerdes on May 02, 2018, 07:59:30 PM
Here is what I have found...

To get xLights to work where you can see all screen items on a high resolution monitor (4K) using Windows 10, you have to set the program call (icon) as such:
1.   Right click on xLights icon.
2.   Click on “Properties”.
3.   Open up the “Compatibility” tab.
4.   In the “Settings” section, set the “Override high DPI scaling behavior."
5.   “Scaling performed by:” should be set to “System”. 
Note that “Application” has caused some really strange behavior.  The simple “System” seems to be the best, at least for our way of viewing.  "System (Enhanced)" has possibilities, but I haven't had time to look at all things that it will and will not do.

At this time I'm working with xLights like on any normal screen, even though I'm on a 4K.  I look forward to the improvements with scaling, zoom, etc. 

At least until it is released, I can once again work!!!

Al



Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout - Solved
Post by: Gilrock on May 03, 2018, 06:37:52 AM
I don't know why anyone my age needs a 4K monitor.  What's the point when you're gonna set everything to scale double to read it....lol.
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout - Solved
Post by: dkulp on May 03, 2018, 06:52:46 AM
I don't know why anyone my age needs a 4K monitor.  What's the point when you're gonna set everything to scale double to read it....lol.

That's exactly the point....   I work all day on a 27" 5K display.  All 3 MacBooks in the house also have HiDPI Retina displays.  HiDPI on the Mac is a bit different, but essentially it defaults to the equivalent of 200% scaling.   Thus, everything is the correct "size", but everything looks very crisp/sharp.

It's extremely noticeable when you then flip to a non-HiDPI display.   When I was on vacation two weeks ago, I had to "fix" my mom's computer as well as setup email and a few things on my niece's computer.   While the fonts and controls and such were all roughly the same size, the text looked horrible compared to what I'm used to.  The pixels are definitely noticeable, the cleartype blending is noticeable, etc...   As a developer that needs to stare at text all day, having the sharpest and clearest text is important to me. 

That said, HiDPI on a Mac is *way* easier than on Windows (or Linux, Linux is even worse).  It's pretty much automatic.   
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout - Solved
Post by: Gilrock on May 03, 2018, 07:36:16 AM
Well you make a good argument.  Maybe next time some donations come my way I'll get one.  The wallet got a lot tighter now that I got a kid starting college in 5 months.
Title: Re: Unable to fill screen with layout - Solved
Post by: algerdes on May 03, 2018, 07:54:32 AM
I don't know why anyone my age needs a 4K monitor.  What's the point when you're gonna set everything to scale double to read it....lol.
True, but the pictures sure are purdy on a 4K.

I have both the Dell with 4K and a Macbook with Retina sitting side by side on my desk.  They both look great.   Far and away better than the "regular" monitors that they are hooked to.  Unfortunately I cannot afford a pair of 27" 4Ks for the externals - yet.