B4A Library [Class] CameraEx - Extends the camera library functionality

Example based on B4XPages: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/b4x-b4xpages-barcode-reader.120417/#content

CameraEx class wraps the Camera object and using reflection and other code it extends its functionality.

CameraEx class requires Android 2.3+ and depends on Camera library v2.20+
CameraEx features:

• Easily open the back or front camera
• Preview images and saved images orientation will match the device orientation (all orientations are supported)
• Gives access to Camera.Parameters native class (flashmode, picture size, effects and other settings)
• Includes methods to convert preview images to JPEG and to save the taken pictures.
• It should be simple to add more methods to this class

See this page for the constant values and other possible methods:
https://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.Parameters.html

Note that you should call CommitParameters after changing one or more parameters.

CameraExClass module is included in the attached example.

V1.30 is attached - Includes various new methods.

v1.20 - Includes all the various posts in this thread as well as AutoFocusAndTakePicture method which first calls AutoFocus and then takes a picture (if AutoFocus was successful).

Edit (06/2018): A new version was uploaded with targetSdkVersion set to 26.

 

[Erel]

Check the unfiltered logs. There might include more information.

 

[cooperlegend]

where are these?

 

[cooperlegend]

No more information after unticking the filtered flag....

I have tried every camera setup option i can think off.

It always crashes... YET it does actually take the picture and save it.

might just have to put a catch around this code until the routine is fixed.




LogCat connected to: B4A-Bridge: samsung SM-T710
--------- beginning of main
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = true **
** Activity (main) Resume **
** Service (service1) Create **
** Service (service1) Start **
Connected to B4A-Bridge (Wifi)
Installing file.
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
PackageAdded: package:the59club.sapphire
--------- beginning of system
** Activity (main) Resume **
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
** Service (starter) Create **
** Service (starter) Start **
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = true **
** Activity (main) Resume **
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = true **
** Activity (frmsection) Create, isFirst = true **
(BALayout): Layout not available
ExecuteMemoryTable: SELECT name, id FROM sections WHERE app = 1 ORDER By id
** Activity (frmsection) Resume **
** Activity (frmsection) Pause, UserClosed = true **
** Activity (frmquestion) Create, isFirst = true **
(BALayout): Layout not available
ExecuteMemoryTable: SELECT id, question, help, qorder, multiplechoice, scored, '1' AS addquestion FROM testquestionsadd WHERE (venue_id = 175 OR venue_id = 0) AND section = 6 AND (subsection = 0 OR subsection = 0) ORDER By qorder
ExecuteMemoryTable: SELECT id, question, help, qorder, multiplechoice, scored, '0' AS addquestion FROM testquestions WHERE section = 6 AND (subsection = 0 OR subsection = 0) ORDER By tester_qorder
** Activity (frmquestion) Resume **
** Activity (frmquestion) Pause, UserClosed = true **
** Activity (frmtest) Create, isFirst = true **
(BALayout): Layout not available
(BALayout): Layout not available
** Activity (frmtest) Resume **
90
[Height=1080, IsInitialized=false, Width=1920
]
Error occurred on line: 101 (CameraExClass)
java.lang.RuntimeException: takePicture failed
at android.hardware.Camera.native_takePicture(Native Method)
at android.hardware.Camera.takePicture(Camera.java:1484)
at android.hardware.Camera.takePicture(Camera.java:1429)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.objects.CameraW.TakePicture(CameraW.java:287)
at the59club.sapphire.cameraexclass._takepicture(cameraexclass.java:330)
at the59club.sapphire.frmtest._pnlcamera_touch(frmtest.java:1065)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.runMethod(Shell.java:697)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.raiseEventImpl(Shell.java:336)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.raiseEvent(Shell.java:246)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.ShellBA.raiseEvent2(ShellBA.java:134)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA$1.run(BA.java:293)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:739)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:95)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:145)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6145)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1399)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1194)
Error occurred on line: 101 (CameraExClass)
java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'java.lang.Object java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(java.lang.Object, java.lang.Object[])' on a null object reference
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.runGoodChain(Shell.java:455)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.raiseEventImpl(Shell.java:282)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.raiseEvent(Shell.java:246)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.ShellBA.raiseEvent2(ShellBA.java:134)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA$1.run(BA.java:293)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:739)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:95)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:145)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6145)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1399)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1194)
** Activity (main) Resume **

 

[Erel]

As I previously wrote it fails in the native layer. The only possible way to fix it is to update the device or install a different ROM.

 

[wizard699]

ERROR JAVA line 618 in takePicture.

Hi Erel.
On some smartphone HTC and Samsung, CameraEx show this error immediatly after Picture preview.
I've this picture captured.
How resolve?

 

[Erel]

You need to check the logs and see whether there is more information.

The error message itself means that the camera failed to take a picture. Maybe the settings were misconfigured.

 

[Cableguy]

About the auto focus, the simple retrieving of the focus modes do NOT ensure that all are implemented in the hardware... Proof of that is my device, Lenny2 from wiko.
I have "auto" listed as supported, though I KNOW the device is fixed focus... So I tried to set the auto focus, and in the focus done event, I got an exception!
So be aware, device supported modes may not comply with the hardware!

 

[wizard699]

You need to check the logs and see whether there is more information.

The error message itself means that the camera failed to take a picture. Maybe the settings were misconfigured.

Unfortunately, the error occurs only on a couple of smartphones , compared to 100 installed .
I do not have the ability to do debugging on these phones . Are reports and pictures from the outside joints . The image appears ... but after a while you get the error .

 

[Baris Karadeniz]

"camEx.Release" line written at the Sub Activity_Pause gives an error when the app is closed when the camera is open. How can I solve this? My codes are;

Sub Activity_Pause (UserClosed As Boolean)
    camEx.Release  <------ LINE 451
End Sub

And the error is;

Installing file.
PackageAdded: package:app.taksim.driver
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = true **
** Activity (main) Resume **
90
[Height=720, IsInitialized=false, Width=960
]
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = false **
** Activity (main) Resume **
0
[Height=720, IsInitialized=false, Width=960
]
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = false **
** Activity (main) Resume **
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
Error occurred on line: 451 (Main)
java.lang.RuntimeException: Class instance was not initialized (cameraexclass)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.debug.Debug.shouldDelegate(Debug.java:249)
at app.taksim.driver.cameraexclass._release(cameraexclass.java:72)
at app.taksim.driver.main._activity_pause(main.java:754)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.runMethod(Shell.java:702)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.raiseEventImpl(Shell.java:336)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.shell.Shell.raiseEvent(Shell.java:246)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.ShellBA.raiseEvent2(ShellBA.java:134)
at app.taksim.driver.main.onPause(main.java:262)
at android.app.Activity.performPause(Activity.java:5555)
at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnPause(Instrumentation.java:1239)
at android.app.ActivityThread.performPauseActivity(ActivityThread.java:3364)
at android.app.ActivityThread.performPauseActivity(ActivityThread.java:3333)
at android.app.ActivityThread.handlePauseActivity(ActivityThread.java:3311)
at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1100(ActivityThread.java:175)
at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1319)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:146)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5602)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1283)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1099)
at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

 

[DonManfred]

you forgot to initialize the class on activty_create?

You cant release a instance in acitivity pause if the class is not initialized.

 

[Baris Karadeniz]

I initialized camera in the sub, because camera will not be displayed in the main panel. It will be displayed in another panel called as PanelCamera. What should I do in this case?

Sub BtnCamera_Click
    PanelMain.Visible = False
    PanelCamera.Visible = True
    InitializeCamera
End Sub

 

[DonManfred]

only release if you initialized before. Not if not.

 

[Baris Karadeniz]

I tried to release it in anywhere else seen at the codes below related to the CameraPanel but when I open CameraPanel, camera shows meaningless view. If I release it in pause sub, camera works but it gives error which I gave above when the app is closed if the camera is open. I need to find another solution. May be release it in both 2 places?

Sub BtnCamera_Click
    PanelMain.Visible = False
    PanelCamera.Visible = True
    InitializeCamera
End Sub

Sub BtnCameraBack_Click
    camEx.Release
    PanelCamera.Visible = False
    PanelMain.Visible = True
End Sub

 

[Erel]

camEx.Release" line written at the Sub Activity_Pause gives an error when the app is closed when the camera is open.

You should start a new thread in the questions forum and explain the changes that you made. We cannot guess which changes you made to the original example.

 

[Declan]

I am using the example in the first post.
How can I set the following parameters in code:
Flash Mode
Picture Size.
I would like the picture to always be 320x240
The Flash will always be ON, if available
I will use the "Focus + TP" for the taking of picture instead of the "Take Picture"

 

[Erel]

With:
CamEx.SetFlashMode and CamEx.SetPictureSize.

 

[Declan]

With:
CamEx.SetFlashMode and CamEx.SetPictureSize.

Would this be the correct syntax:

    camEx.SetFlashMode("on")
    camEx.SetPictureSize(320, 240)

Would this code be placed in:
Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)

 

[Declan]

G

Would this be the correct syntax:

    camEx.SetFlashMode("on")
    camEx.SetPictureSize(320, 240)

Would this code be placed in:
Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)

Got it

 

[Erel]

CameraEx v1.30 is now available from the first post.

 

[Declan]

Cool, works great