Programming in C++
 Bernd Mohr 

Problems

Most difficulties can be avoided by using the recommended components. Native Windows should be used as the operating system and a current version of the Internet Explorer as the browser. It is also urgently recommended that the current RealPlayer 10.5 should be used since earlier versions are much less stable. Furthermore, playing the presentation on the DVD involves far fewer problems than streaming via the internet.

If the recommended components are not available or if difficulties still occur, the following tips may help you to deal with the problems.

In general, it is often helpful to use the slimmed-down version of the presentation. The restrictions this involves are described here. The following difficulties or errors can be eliminated or reduced by the limited presentation: network time-out, long load times, Linux operating system, older versions of RealPlayer, disappearance of text in the upper part of the title and in the left-hand navigation area.

The recommended Windows operating system should not be started as an emulation but as a native system since emulations generally perform less satisfactorily, especially with graphics, and long loading times are often experienced. Furthermore, in a Windows emulation the RealPlayer needs an internet connection to load the XML-Doctypes when the presentation is played for the first time.
The display is also less smooth when run on Linux. In this case the slimmed-down presentation is urgently recommended.

If a browser other than the Internet Explorer is used then it may be the case that it is not possible to start the presentation directly from the browser. In this case, in the root directory of the DVD, the files index.smi or index_linux.smi as the slimmed-down version should be opened directly with the RealPlayer.
Furthermore, the different caching behaviour of the browsers leads to the RealPlayer not receiving the presentation components or not in good time. In such cases, opening the presentation directly with the RealPlayer may also solve the problem.

The presentation is available on DVD and via the internet. The internet presentation permits direct access independent of time and place. Unfortunately, this type of transmission involves more problems than the DVD variant. Fluctuating network capacity, unstable RealPlayer or possible server overload with this complex presentation may tend to lead to problems not encountered if the DVD is used. In general, it is therefore also recommended for the internet presentation that the slimmed-down version should be used to reduce waiting time and minimize synchronization problems.

The following is a list of other problems and proposed solutions or reasons:

Presentation display unclear:

if, in particular, the slides are affected then the presentation display should, if possible, be set to 100 percent as described here;
if the text is unclear change to the Windows operating system

Not possible to adjust the view of the presentation to 100 percent:

the screen resolution should be at least 1024x768 ;
the Windows taskbar must be disappeared with a resolution of 1024x768

Loading time for the presentation and jump times during the presentation are very long:

use the slimmed-down version;
small main memory (less than 128 MB)

Presentation tends to hang:

use DVD instead of the Internet presentation;
use Windows instead of Linux;
for slow network connection reduce the bandwidth in the RealPlayer under Tools → Preferences → Connection → Bandwidth to a value between 50 and 500 Kbps so that the sound is reproduced without the video

RealPlayer freezes if rapid jumps are made during the presentation:

install the current RealPlayer;
use DVD instead of the internet presentation

RealPlayer cannot find the files for the presentation:

call the presentation again;
use a different browser from which the program can be called;
do not start the presentation by the browser via the link, but rather open it directly via index.smi or index_linux.smi in the root directory of the DVD using the RealPlayer;
in the case of a slow network connection reduce the bandwidth in the RealPlayer under Tools → Preferences → Connection → Bandwidth to a value between 50 and 500 Kbps so that the sound is reproduced without the video

Message indicating network time-out:

update the RealPlayer;
a delay in the error message can be achieved by increasing the two time values of the connection and server in the RealPlayer to 300 under Tools → Preferences → Connection → Time-out

Presentation cannot be played, or only the sound can be heard:

if this error occurs in spite of a fast network connection or if the DVD is being used then the bandwidth must be increased in the RealPlayer under Tools → Preferences → Connection → Bandwidth

Video is jerky:

use the Windows operating system;
use the DVD instead of the internet presentation;
processor speed too low (less than 400 MHz)

Characters disappear in the navigation or title area:

restart the presentation (it is not sufficient to pause, the presentation must be stopped and restarted);
use the slimmed-down version

RealPlayer reports that SMIL 2 format cannot be played:

install the current RealPlayers;
use the Windows operating system

The message "The XML page cannot be displayed" appears in the browser:

install the RealPlayer if you have not already done so;
if the RealPlayer is installed then the end of file in the browser or operating system must be linked to the current RealPlayer, or the files index.smi or index_linux.smi in the root directory of the DVD must be opened directly by the RealPlayer

"Segmentation Fault" when installing the RealPlayers on Linux:

copy the installer into a directory with write permission

If you encounter other problems not dealt with here or if you find an error please contact  Maik Boltes ( m.boltes@fz-juelich.de).