Xlights 38 wont start

[keithsw1111]

I am having the same symptoms. 

Attempts to get it to work include removing xLights from the computer, downloaded a new copy from the site.  Installation appears to work.  Where it would normally start as part of the installation does not work.

Manually starting it does not work either.

It never gets to anywhere I could get logs of any kind.

Perplexed as it (version 38) used to work on this computer.  Now, dead in the water.
I checked Windows 10 update log.  No changes since the last time I worked on xLights.

Post us your rgb_effects file and we will fix it for you.

[algerdes]

Since I was not able to access the program, I was not able to set the show directory.

I did, however, scan the complete drive (the system just has the one) for "rgb_effects" with no resulting entries.

I'm running a second scan using the whole name, "rgb_effects.xml".

[keithsw1111]

It's in your show directory

[algerdes]

I don't have a show directory.  Never got that far.  This is now a clean install.
Where would the show directory be as default?

[Gilrock]

So you've never run another version of xlights on that computer except v38?
Also you got the filename wrong...it's xlights_rgbeffects.xml.

[Gilrock]

Perplexed as it (version 38) used to work on this computer.

I don't have a show directory.  Never got that far.  This is now a clean install.
Where would the show directory be as default?

You're first statement says v38 used to work on that computer...that means you had a show directory.  Uninstalling the program does not delete the show directory nor does it remove the registry entry that tells us where to look for your show directory.  I don't know the exact registry path but its easy to find probably under LocalMachine, Software, xLights, and it will be a variable called "LastDir".

[algerdes]

Just following instructions from post #15.  "rgb_effects.xml"

This computer HAD version .38 on it.  It was working.  When it failed, I removed .38 using control panel.
Downloaded a new copy from the website and installed it.

Rescanning for the full name as I type this.

[algerdes]

To the best of my ability, this one seems to be the latest in a directory.  There are 14 more with the same date and time stamp - all in different "temp" directories.

[Gilrock]

It's the exact same problem.
If you edit that file and search/replace "Back_Gate" with either "Front_Gate", "The_Point", or "Main_Display" it will fix it.

Now can you describe what happened with the "Back_Gate" preview.  Did you delete it?

[algerdes]

Copied the xlights_rgbeffects.xml to a safe place and then removed it from the old show directory.
Started xlights.
The program came up.  No layout (expected) but it did come up.

[algerdes]

I had added it to the list of "previews" but had not added any models to it yet.

[Gilrock]

Ok I did a quick code inspection and I see the problem.  I'm not updating the stored layout group when you delete a preview.  Until you get the next release with a fix you can prevent the problem by making sure to make a preview selection in the combo drop down top middle of the screen because that latches the last selection.  You only end up with this problem if you delete a preview and then save and exit without ever switching to another preview.

[algerdes]

It was late.  I was tired.  And I didn't want to screw anything up.  Go figure.

Thank you very much for tracking that one down. 

[Gilrock]

I had added it to the list of "previews" but had not added any models to it yet.

Hmm so you don't think you deleted it.  I'll have to try to reproduce it then.  Maybe there are 2 ways to get into the situation.

But in any case no reason to blank your show directory out just edit the file like I said.  The "storedLayoutGroup" name needs to match one of the names in the LayoutGroups section.  A LayoutGroup is what I'm calling a preview.

[algerdes]

  There is a real good chance it was the "Back_Gate" that was deleted when I was trying to find out how to "clean up" unneeded previews.  Like I said, tired, grumpy (happens on City Council nights) and...  who knows what else.