How to use 'command line' to automatically turn off WinDV?

[average joe]

There was a post a while ago about how to use the "command line" prompt to automatically start and stop WinDV instead of just coming back to the PC an hour later to manually stop capture, Gadgetguy's reply was this:

<<<<<<<You can kind of accomplish what you want with WinDV by using the command line option. The format for command line capture is “WinDV capture [-exit] [[HH:]MM:]SS[.ss] filename”. The time format allows you to specify the duration that you want to record and -exit causes WinDV to shut down after capturing. The filename can include path information but should not include the .avi extension. WinDV automatically appends the date, time, index, and extension to the filename you specify (per the preset configuration parameters). An example would look like:

WinDV capture –exit 1:02:00 C:\Video\capture

In this case WinDV will start, capture for 1 hour and 2 minutes to a file named capture.04-09-28_19-03.00.avi in the C:\Video\ folder. >>>>>>>>>>


can someone please explain in lower terms how this is done? for example, I use XP, so does that mean start-accessories-command prompt, etc? I get to that point but exactly how is it typed in? It looks easy as ABC above, but it doesn't work as such for me...is it with spaces, no spaces?

how about like this:
1) start-all programs-accessories-command prompt
2) at the end of the prompt type "........" etc.
3) etc.




Thanks

[gadgetguy]

It works exactly as typed in a command line input window, but it assumes that you are already in the folder that WinDV.exe is in. You can also put it into a batch file and execute the batch from Start/Run. Also make sure that the camcorder is connected and powered up and WinDV is NOT running before executing the command.

edit: I don't use XP so I can't walk you through every step, but if you are at a command prompt then change directories until you are in the folder that WinDV.exe is in. Then type the command exactly like it is above and it will save it to the file specified, except the date/time info will be based on how you have the settings in your config.

[junkmalle]

Use Explorer to go to the WinDV folder. Create a text file by right clicking on an empty area within the folder and selecting New -> Text Document. Rename the file to something like RECORD.BAT (the BAT extension is important). Right click on the BAT file and select EDIT. Input a command line like the one you gave above:

WinDV capture –exit 1:02:00 filename

Obviously, change the record time and filename to whatever you want.

Now you can double click on BAT the file to start WinDV, record for the indicated time, and then the program will exit. You can make several BAT files each with different names like RECORD30.BAT, RECORD60.BAT, RECORD90.BAT etc which record for different amounts of time.

Note that you will get a Command Prompt window every time you run the BAT file. It will automatically close when WinDV exits, your can close it manually after WinDV starts, or you can change the bat file to this:

Start WinDV capture –exit 1:02:00 filename

The Command Prompt window will still open but it will close as soon as it starts WinDV.