Question for Mac users
by OM · in ThinkTanks · 12/10/2003 (5:58 pm) · 9 replies
Hello all,
I have a question for any Mac OS X users out there on the TT circuit. My question, and problem, is related to taking screenshots. For some reason, I can't seem to use the standard system level screen shot, like Cmd-Shift-3 for example. Well, rather, I can USE it, but the picture I get has horizontal white lines going all across the image, so it's basically unusable. I ran across this some time again, when i was still using Jaguar, and just dismissed it, as it was unimportant at the time. But I'd like to use it now, as I need to take some screenshots for something I'm working on.
Is there a built-in function (an F key perhaps?) in TT that I don't know about for taking screenshots, that works properly, or do you use a 3rd party app, like Snapz Pro?
Just FYI, I normally play TT in full screen mode. I haven't yet tried to take screengrabs in window mode, but I may attempt that next. Regardless, any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
OM
I have a question for any Mac OS X users out there on the TT circuit. My question, and problem, is related to taking screenshots. For some reason, I can't seem to use the standard system level screen shot, like Cmd-Shift-3 for example. Well, rather, I can USE it, but the picture I get has horizontal white lines going all across the image, so it's basically unusable. I ran across this some time again, when i was still using Jaguar, and just dismissed it, as it was unimportant at the time. But I'd like to use it now, as I need to take some screenshots for something I'm working on.
Is there a built-in function (an F key perhaps?) in TT that I don't know about for taking screenshots, that works properly, or do you use a 3rd party app, like Snapz Pro?
Just FYI, I normally play TT in full screen mode. I haven't yet tried to take screengrabs in window mode, but I may attempt that next. Regardless, any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
OM
#3
On the PC, TT has a built in screen grab function. CTRL-P takes a screen grab and saves it as a PNG in the TT folder. ( Usually C:\Program Files\Bravetree\ThinkTanks\ ) Should be named like so: 'screenshot_00001.png' with numbers getting larger as you go.
The next time you launch TT it will overwrite existing screen grabs, so you have to move them out of the folder if you want to keep them.
It might work for you mac folks too, if you can figure out where it stashes them away... It's really handy since you don't have to interrupt your game to take multiple screen-shots.
-- 56k
12/10/2003 (8:32 pm)
Does Command-P not work for screen grabs on the mac version of TT?On the PC, TT has a built in screen grab function. CTRL-P takes a screen grab and saves it as a PNG in the TT folder. ( Usually C:\Program Files\Bravetree\ThinkTanks\ ) Should be named like so: 'screenshot_00001.png' with numbers getting larger as you go.
The next time you launch TT it will overwrite existing screen grabs, so you have to move them out of the folder if you want to keep them.
It might work for you mac folks too, if you can figure out where it stashes them away... It's really handy since you don't have to interrupt your game to take multiple screen-shots.
-- 56k
#4
12/10/2003 (11:09 pm)
Its COMMAND+P and the pics are saved in the resource folder in the TT app
#5
Hit CTRL-P (i.e. Control-P not Apple-P or Command-P). Depending upon the speed of your Mac, TT may freeze for a second or two and then the screen grab is saved as a PNG file in the Resources folder within the TT Package named 'screenshot_xxxxx.png' (where xxxxx is a number formated like 00001; i.e. screenshot_00002.png, screenshot_00013.png, etc.).
To get a at the screen grab (assuming you installed TT in the Applications folder):
- Click on an empty area of your Desktop
- Go up to the Finder's Go menu and then down to Applications
- Double-click on the ThinkTanks v1.1 folder
- CTRL-click (hold down the control key and click) on the ThinkTanks icon. If you have a two-button mouse, right-click on the icon.
- Select Show Package Contents
- Double-click on the Resources folder
- Drag the file or files named screenshot_xxxxx.png to your Desktop or where ever you like.
Note: Be careful not to move the macCarbThinkTanks.icns file or any of the other files and folders within the Resources folder. I will not be held responsible for your actions.
- Sam (a.k.a. chanman)
12/10/2003 (11:12 pm)
It's the same procedure on a Mac except the saved location is different.Hit CTRL-P (i.e. Control-P not Apple-P or Command-P). Depending upon the speed of your Mac, TT may freeze for a second or two and then the screen grab is saved as a PNG file in the Resources folder within the TT Package named 'screenshot_xxxxx.png' (where xxxxx is a number formated like 00001; i.e. screenshot_00002.png, screenshot_00013.png, etc.).
To get a at the screen grab (assuming you installed TT in the Applications folder):
- Click on an empty area of your Desktop
- Go up to the Finder's Go menu and then down to Applications
- Double-click on the ThinkTanks v1.1 folder
- CTRL-click (hold down the control key and click) on the ThinkTanks icon. If you have a two-button mouse, right-click on the icon.
- Select Show Package Contents
- Double-click on the Resources folder
- Drag the file or files named screenshot_xxxxx.png to your Desktop or where ever you like.
Note: Be careful not to move the macCarbThinkTanks.icns file or any of the other files and folders within the Resources folder. I will not be held responsible for your actions.
- Sam (a.k.a. chanman)
#6
I had a funny feeling there was a built in command for taking a screen grab in ThinkTanks. I'll be testing out Control-P tonight while I'm online. Though there seems to be some dispute as to whether it's Command-P or Control-P. I'll try both.
@lilbucky - I'm curious to know how U managed to get clear shots in full screen mode without lines, but it may be a moot point if the above shortcuts do the trick. I don't think it's a limitation of my Mac. I have a dual 1Ghz G4 w/1.5 GB RAM and a GeForce4 Ti4600 video card. Not exactly a slouch system.
Anyway, thanks for the responses all. I appreciate it.
OM
12/11/2003 (5:38 pm)
Hey, thanks for all the hints guys!I had a funny feeling there was a built in command for taking a screen grab in ThinkTanks. I'll be testing out Control-P tonight while I'm online. Though there seems to be some dispute as to whether it's Command-P or Control-P. I'll try both.
@lilbucky - I'm curious to know how U managed to get clear shots in full screen mode without lines, but it may be a moot point if the above shortcuts do the trick. I don't think it's a limitation of my Mac. I have a dual 1Ghz G4 w/1.5 GB RAM and a GeForce4 Ti4600 video card. Not exactly a slouch system.
Anyway, thanks for the responses all. I appreciate it.
OM
#7
I did NOT relaunch the game after taking the grabs, so I don't believe it could have overwritten them. But they really weren't in the folder. I actually did a Find on the entire ThinkTanks package for anything with the name "screenshot" and it pulled up nada. Well, it pulled up one file, but not what I was looking for.
I'm going to try again when I have a chance, but I'm finding that reall odd...
OM
12/11/2003 (8:12 pm)
OK, so... I'm really not dumb, I swear I'm not. But I tried the Control-P in game, and it definitely appeared to be taking a screenshot. (Mac stalled for a sec or two) I quit out, and went into the Resources folder in the ThinkTanks.app package, and.. there was NO screenshot there. ? Am I doing something wrong?I did NOT relaunch the game after taking the grabs, so I don't believe it could have overwritten them. But they really weren't in the folder. I actually did a Find on the entire ThinkTanks package for anything with the name "screenshot" and it pulled up nada. Well, it pulled up one file, but not what I was looking for.
I'm going to try again when I have a chance, but I'm finding that reall odd...
OM
#8
No offense was taken nor intended. I know you were not making any accusations. You were just trying to make a guess as to what the problem was, and I appreciate that. I was just clarifying what I use as my system, so as to rule out any possibility it was a problem with processing power.
As to why you're able to take shots in full screnn and not get lines... well, consider yourslef lucky or something, because I can't. Below is a scaled down screenshot I took using Command-Shift-3 in full screen mode.
So, you see what I'm talking about. I suspect others would get shots like this too.
@Fleabiscuit. Yes, I was holding down Control and pressed P, and as I said, it definitely appeared something was happening, as my Mac "froze up" for about 1 or 2 seconds before everything resumed.
The update to all this is that I went in again and tried a few more shots, and this time they appeared in my Resources folder. I have NO idea why they didn't the first time around, and honestly, I may never know. Actually I don't care why, as long as it works now.
So, once again, thanks for the replies guys. Looks like everything is working as expected now.
OM
12/12/2003 (5:07 am)
@lilbucky-No offense was taken nor intended. I know you were not making any accusations. You were just trying to make a guess as to what the problem was, and I appreciate that. I was just clarifying what I use as my system, so as to rule out any possibility it was a problem with processing power.
As to why you're able to take shots in full screnn and not get lines... well, consider yourslef lucky or something, because I can't. Below is a scaled down screenshot I took using Command-Shift-3 in full screen mode.
So, you see what I'm talking about. I suspect others would get shots like this too.
@Fleabiscuit. Yes, I was holding down Control and pressed P, and as I said, it definitely appeared something was happening, as my Mac "froze up" for about 1 or 2 seconds before everything resumed.
The update to all this is that I went in again and tried a few more shots, and this time they appeared in my Resources folder. I have NO idea why they didn't the first time around, and honestly, I may never know. Actually I don't care why, as long as it works now.
So, once again, thanks for the replies guys. Looks like everything is working as expected now.
OM
#9
Ahhh...you may have experienced the dreaded Mac OS X not updating the Finder Graphical User Interface (GUI) problem. Been there and many of users at work have the same problem.
Mac OS X as a Unix variant is a true multi-tasking, multi-threading and multi-user operating system. This means that the OS was not originally designed to instanteously update a single user's job as a priority.
Instead it has a "ranking" of priorities and sometimes, the Finder's icon display job is not updated as fast as you like. Other times (few) the file's icon just won't display until you do something to "kick" the Finder GUI updates into a higher priority level. One trick is to use the find file function to find the file you've created then moving the "found" file to another folder.
It's a pain in the rear when it crops up and it drive my users insane.
- Sam (a.k.a. chanman)
12/13/2003 (10:35 am)
@OMAhhh...you may have experienced the dreaded Mac OS X not updating the Finder Graphical User Interface (GUI) problem. Been there and many of users at work have the same problem.
Mac OS X as a Unix variant is a true multi-tasking, multi-threading and multi-user operating system. This means that the OS was not originally designed to instanteously update a single user's job as a priority.
Instead it has a "ranking" of priorities and sometimes, the Finder's icon display job is not updated as fast as you like. Other times (few) the file's icon just won't display until you do something to "kick" the Finder GUI updates into a higher priority level. One trick is to use the find file function to find the file you've created then moving the "found" file to another folder.
It's a pain in the rear when it crops up and it drive my users insane.
- Sam (a.k.a. chanman)
Hugobrain
You can switch from full screen to window mode in-game by pressing command-return.
I use Snapz-Pro and it works finbe in window mode, dunno about the good old cmd-shift-3.
Cheers!
HB