Effects on sequence grid but not displaying

[danj]

On the attached sequence, I have effects set for both megatrees.  I can "see" the effects in the sequencer grid but only the very first effect displays anywhere--including the small screen you can see when in sequencer grid, the large "layout" display, and "in real life"--on lights I am outputting to, to test each of my sequences.   I verified that "part of my display" is checked "on"...   Not sure what to do with this one (?).

[meeks]

I'm not sure if this is the problem but I have to render a lot to get things to work on the display screen or the actual lights  after changing things in the sequencer. I've had this happen many times already.

[beatlerat]

I am having the same issues with one of my sequences.  The effects are in the grid, but no output to the "preview" or output to the lights.  I am unable to render as it hangs and I have to restart the program, losing the effects I just added.  If I save, it hangs up (not responding) and doesn't make it all of the way through the save process, but on restart the effects are there, but not rendered. All of my other sequences work fine.

Thanks.....I am using 4.2.16

[danj]

I am going to try to copy/paste all the NC effects into another file.  I figured it is worth a shot anyways.   Will give it another name so I don't goof up the original file, in case there is a fix for this issue.   It looks like all the AC effects I imported from LOR remained, but all the non-AC effects I developed in XL/NC (since 4/15) are shown in the grid but do not display, in case that helps troubleshooting the file.

[Gilrock]

It looks like you converted this file many moons ago back when we had conversion bugs.  I guess you didn't notice that all your effect icons had a white line running through it because you have for the first effect on every model an "Off" effect that is spanning the entire length of the sequence.  You really need to reimport any v3 sequences if you are still working with files you converted in April during the Alpha phase.  I deleted the first "Off" effect in every model and I'm attaching the file.  I don't have time to fix this for all your stuff.

[danj]

Yes--I converted all my stuff in the spring 2015 timeframe.   I can go back in all these files & re-convert as needed.  This is the only one that did something weird to me, though...  Thanks for the help Gil!!!!

[Gilrock]

So if it has that bug there are two indicators.  The effect icons will have a white line in the middle of the effect icons because of the Off effect going across the whole row over everything.  The other thing you'll notice is you click on for example the Spirals effect and the Effect Settings window will list the effect as Off because it's finding the other effect first.

[danj]

I'll look for those things tonight when I get home.  Thanks so much Gil

[beatlerat]

So here is a question. The further I get in to the sequence I attached earlier, the less it behaves.   I have 138 channels of incans among other stuff, and it seems as though any new effects I add (incans on/off and dimming) are causing problems, mostly not rendering.   I had an issue yesterday where I was clicking on a lighted effect, but the effect wasn't showing up in the model display (incan candy cane).

How can I diagnose the problem and troubleshoot so that I can move forward?   I need to know what I am looking for.  I know its not the computer or the ram, and its not xLights.   There has to be something in the file I am missing.
I did delete a model (New Wholehouse Model) the other day, but there was nothing there but an empty model.  Would upgrading to 4.2.20 help in any way?  This sequence is stuck without the ability to render and/or save.  Just need a little direction.
Thanks   

[Gilrock]

I don't know beatlerat your sequence renders and saves in 6 seconds for me and plays just fine.

[beatlerat]

Gil,
Thanks for taking the time to look.

[danj]

Thanks Gil--that worked.

For Beatlerat & Meeks who seem to be seeing the same thing as me--I also found some "ripple" effects and "singlestrand" effects that blanked out the megatree when they turned on in the sequence.    Something changed in the ripple effect over time I think because I was getting an error message when I clicked on it--I just selected the effect again and laid it over the original ripple effect--and it works correctly now.  The singlestrand was doing some weird things too--when white red & black were selected as colors there was no effect displayed. So I kept just one color and all is now well.

Can't think you enough, Gil.  This is doing what I want it to do now!!

By the way, I did re-import the LOR file.

[beatlerat]

I have found an issue, but don't know how to fix it.   If I reboot the computer, then open and render the file, it will render the file just fine.  Everything will work.  Then when I go to save the file, It hangs up.   If I restart xLights, and reload the sequence and try to render or save, it hangs up.   Only when I reboot the computer and then open the file and render, will it do so.  Really odd.  I have 16 GB of memory and 14 is free, so that isn't the issue....

[Gilrock]

How many cores does your PC have?

[beatlerat]

Gil,
Its an AMD FX-8350.  It has 8 cores and runs at 4 GHz w/ 8 Mb Cache.   Its not the screamer you put together, but I was on a tight budget.   I thought this would be enough to do the trick.  Its almost as if 'm OK the first time I do something, but the second time I am low on memory and it hangs up.  I always get a error when trying to install a new version of xLights....Panda antivirus.  I have to disable it for the install.  I am going to disable it tonight and and see if it improves the save function.  Could be the issue.
It's a pain to render and save, shut down, and reboot every time, but if that's what it takes to get through this....as long as it works in the FPP.