What Is It? Instructions Possible Errors Future Versions Making Animations

 

Possible Errors (& Solutions): 

 

I can't open the program! I get some error about needing a "newer Java."

 

Quick Fix: Make sure you're connected to the internet. Open the "System Preferences" application (accessible via the Apple menu). Click "Software Update" and then "Update Now." Select all items with "Java" in the title.

It is also possible that you need to upgrade your entire system. Stay calm! If you're running OS X, this should be free.* In order to get the latest Java, you must have OS 10.1.5.
Explanation: Java is not updated automatically with OS X. Although the update is free and online, you have to specifically request it.

*That is, it is free to upgrade from any version of OX 10 to OS 10.1.5, which is what this program requires. Subsequent updates beyond version 10.1.5 are not free.

 

I made a movie with a soundtrack, and the very last frame is gray.


Quick Fix: Extend the movie a few milliseconds or shorten the soundtrack a few milliseconds.
Explanation: The soundtrack is just a fraction of a second longer than the visuals of the movie. Quicktime will continue to play the sound, and when it sees that there are no frames to accompany it anymore, it fills the screen with gray.

 

I try to switch images, and the new image doesn't appear on the screen.


Quick Fix: Make sure the object it selected, and click the rightmost button at the top of the window.
Explanation: None. I don't understand, but the new dialog box somehow forces a redraw that gets the image to load.

 

I can't open a saved file from the Finder unless the Cartoon Editor is already open.


Quick Fix: None. Instead, open the Cartoon Editor and press Command-O (or select "Open File" from the File Menu).
Explanation: Because Java is platform independent, the Mac OS has trouble communicating with it sometimes. The new version of Java supported by Apple 1.4.1 probably addresses the issue, but for the sake of not alienating all my OS 10.1.5 users, I won't upgrade for a while.

 

An imported picture with transparencies doesn't draw correctly.


Quick Fix: Convert the problematic file to a gif file. Then make sure the filename ends with ".gif".
Explanation: Java can correctly read jpg, gif and png images. Whenever a filename indicates that the file is one of those three types, I use Java to load the file. Otherwise, I default to QuickTime. Although Quicktime supports over 50 graphic types, it doesn't correctly render transparencies into Java Images.

 Did you encounter a problem not listed here? Please let me know about it.

Please include a log from the Console application in the "Utilities" folder. This log may contain import Java error output, and will indicate specific lines of code that might have caused errors.