B4A Library Advanced Camera Library V1.00

Omar · Jun 8, 2011

Hello XverhelstX

I think you are right, I tried the code:

Msgbox(Camera1.getSupportedFlashMode,"")

and I received the same error message again: java.lang.NullPointerException

I think this may be a device issue. Thank you for all your help though.

XverhelstX · Jun 8, 2011

Hey Omar,

Could u try out the library included in the attachment?
I changed the API level to 8 (V2.2+), but some features won't work.

Extract the 2 files in your library folder and don't forget to uncheck the AdvancedCamera in your IDE and check the AdvancedCamera8 in libs.

See the list here: Camera.Parameters | Android Developers
Api level:
Android API Levels | Android Developers

and you will see what is supported or not. (Scroll down and at the right side, you will see since what API Level.

EDIT: I also added API 7 (V2.1+). First try the 8 as it has to work on yours.

XverhelstX

Omar · Jun 8, 2011

Hello XverhelstX

Thank you for the update files, I tried both versions. However unfortunately the same error is still occurring with: java.lang.NullPointerException

This occurs immediately on the line where I call the Camera1.FlashOn() or any Camera1 subroutine.

I think this has to be a device related matter but unfortunately I have no other Android device to test on.

XverhelstX · Jun 8, 2011

indeed, that's strange.
Could you post your whole code? or export as zip?
The last possibility is that you did something wrong on the code.

XverhelstX

Omar · Jun 8, 2011

I just made a simple file as follows:

B4X:

'Activity module
Sub Process_Globals
   'These global variables will be declared once when the application starts.
   'These variables can be accessed from all modules.

End Sub

Sub Globals
   'These global variables will be redeclared each time the activity is created.
   'These variables can only be accessed from this module.

   Dim camera1 As AdvancedCamera

End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)

   'Msgbox(Camera1.getSupportedFlashMode,"")
   camera1.FlashOn
   Msgbox("ok","ok")
   camera1.FlashOff()

End Sub

Sub Activity_Resume

End Sub

Sub Activity_Pause (UserClosed As Boolean)

End Sub

I have enabled the AdvancedCamera8 Library in my code and tried separately with the original AdvancedCamera Library along with the AdvancedCamera7 library also. Each time it returns with the error: java.lang.NullPointerException

Thank you for your time to look into this.

XverhelstX · Jun 8, 2011

I see,

it's related to your code., nothing to your device.
You have to follow the normal camera guidelines explained here:
Basic4android - Camera
and here:
http://www.b4x.com/forum/additional-libraries-official-updates/6892-new-camera-library-v1-00-a.html

and you can use just the normal camera library on the first page.

You can use this code below to see the features of the Advanced Camera Library.

B4X:

'Activity module
Sub Process_Globals
   'These global variables will be declared once when the application starts.
   'These variables can be accessed from all modules.
   
End Sub

Sub Globals
   'These global variables will be redeclared each time the activity is created.
   'These variables can only be accessed from this module.
   
   Dim camera1 As AdvancedCamera
   Dim Panel1 As Panel

End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
    
   Activity.LoadLayout("Menu")
   activity.AddMenuItem("Take Picture","mnuTakePicture")
   activity.AddMenuItem("Flash On","mnuFlashOn")
   activity.AddMenuItem("Flash Off","mnuFlashOff")
   activity.AddMenuItem("GetFlashMode","mnuGetFlashMode")

End Sub

Sub Activity_Resume

   camera1.Initialize(panel1, "Camera1")
   
End Sub

Sub Activity_Pause (UserClosed As Boolean)
    
   camera1.StopPreview
   camera1.Release

End Sub


Sub Camera1_Ready (Success As Boolean)

   If success Then
      Camera1.StartPreview
   Else
      ToastMessageShow("Cannot open camera.", True)
   End If
   
End Sub

Sub Camera1_PictureTaken (Data() As Byte)

   Camera1.FlashOff
   camera1.StartPreview
   Dim out As OutputStream
   out = File.OpenOutput(File.DirRootExternal, "Picture.jpg", False)
   out.WriteBytes(data, 0, data.Length)
   out.Close

End Sub
Sub mnuFlashOn_Click

Camera1.FlashOn

End Sub
Sub mnuFlashOff_Click

Camera1.FlashOff
      
End Sub
Sub mnuGetFlashMode_Click

Msgbox(Camera1.getSupportedFlashMode,"")
   
End Sub

Sub mnuTakePicture_Click

camera1.TakePicture

End Sub

First you should go to the designer and add a Panel with a size of ...*...
(I use for example 480*320) and name it Panel1. Save the layout as Menu.
This is what Activity.Loadlayout("Menu.bal") does. It loads your menu created with the designer.

Then you can see the activity.AddMenuItem("Flash On","mnuFlashOn"). this adds a menu field on your phone's screen. You can open this when you press the menu hardware button on your mobile phone (next to your back and 'home button).
As you can see it exists of two parts in strings: ("Flash On","mnuFlashOn")

"Flash on" is the text that will appear on the screen when you press the option hardware button.
"mnuFlashOn" handles in your activity when you pressed it. This is called in a sub with _Click behind it. Just like with buttons.

B4X:

Sub mnuFlashOn_click 
Camera1.FlashOn
'note the _Click behind the sub.
End sub

So when you press on the menu field on the screen, it activates the sub mnuFlashOn_Click and so activates the Camera1.FlashOn.

Note that I just use Activity.AddmenuItem as it is easier for me.
You can cast all features of the Advanced Camera Library on any other thing like buttons, ...

All the rest of the code should be explained here:
http://www.b4x.com/forum/basic4andr...-take-pictures-internal-camera.html#post39830

One thing you shouldn't forget is to go to Projects - orientations supported - Landscape.

Hope I helped you

Sincerely,
XverhelstX

Omar · Jun 8, 2011

Dear XverhelstX

Yes, you have been a great help.

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation again. You have been a great help.

Thank you once again as I would have not figured it out on my own.

XverhelstX · Jun 8, 2011

You're welcome, Although, I really recommend you to read everything as it explains some things that teaches you some of the basic concepts of Basic4Android for the camera including subs and more, including this:
http://www.b4x.com/forum/basic4andr...-take-pictures-internal-camera.html#post39830

If you or anyone else has some questions, feel free to ask here in the forum.

XverhelstX

Edit: does it work now?

Omar · Jun 8, 2011

Thank you XverhelstX.

Yes, it works like a charm.

NeoTechni · Jun 12, 2011

I'm having trouble setting things like coloreffects, antibanding or switching cameras. Are there any requirements? ie: Do I have to stop the preview, then restart it? Cause just setting the value does nothing. And when I use getCurrentColourEffect, it returns "none" and getCurrentAntibanding returns nothing

Also, I like the suggestion of combining the gets and sets into a single function. It's cleaner

XverhelstX · Jun 13, 2011

Hey neotechni,

You can use .getsupportedeffects to see what effects your device can handle.
When using current, it shows what technique the camera is using now. In your case:
None.

You can find an example at the bottom of the first post.
I Will also change the gets and sets as one then later.

XverhelstX

NeoTechni · Jun 13, 2011

XverhelstX said:
You can use .getsupportedeffects to see what effects your device can handle.
When using current, it shows what technique the camera is using now. In your case:
None.

I have been using that, I use that list to populate an inputlist so the user can only pick from what's supported. And none of them change the effect on screen, and all of them return 'none' when I check it.

I will check the example, but I should be able to set them at any time...

XverhelstX · Jun 13, 2011

Ok, make sure it is capitalized, and between quotes when doing this.
It should be working at any time.

Even after the preview.
XverhelstX

NeoTechni · Jun 13, 2011

I tried uppercasing it, no difference.
Do the quotes need to be in the string itself?

What I do is take the getsupported list as a string, cut off the first and last characters ( [ and ] ) split it by ", " into an array, pass that array to inputlist, and use cam.setColourEffect = list(selecteditem).touppercase

XverhelstX · Jun 13, 2011

Output something like:
Msgbox(list(selecteditem),"") and see what it is.
It should be smth like SEPIA,...

Cam.setcoloureffect = "SEPIA"

Should be capitalized and quoted.

NeoTechni · Jun 13, 2011

I am doing that.

The getsupported list? I'm passing it into an inputlist so the user can select from any of the items in the list.

The one they select is capitalized, and sent back to the camera object, and I still get none when I check it.

Its not working.

XverhelstX · Jun 13, 2011

Could you just try:
Cam.setcoloureffect = "SEPIA"
And see if this works.
If not, could you post your code?

Xvx

XverhelstX · Jun 13, 2011

Make sure sepia iq supported by your device

Xvx

NeoTechni · Jun 13, 2011

Setting it to "SEPIA" returns none.

NeoTechni · Jun 13, 2011

screen

B4A Library Advanced Camera Library V1.00

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