Griaule Biometrics

Dear customer,

Try to download our latest version and install it. Because we didn't receive any report of this issue before.

If the problem persists, don't hesitate to contact us.

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Davi Stuart Zilli

Griaule Support Team

As stated previously. I am running the SDK from 10/5/2010 which I just verified is the current version. I still get the same issue...the library is changing the current folder on me to the BIN subfolder of the SDK.

Dear customer,

Which files are being moved to the bin folder?

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Davi Stuart Zilli

Griaule Support Team

NONE...it is changing the current folder to the BIN subfolder and not putting it back. I have no clue as to what your library is trying to do in the BIN folder.

Dear customer,

Could you send a print screen?

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Davi Stuart Zilli

Griaule Support Team

There is nothing on the screen. An example is...my code runs...you do the fingerprint...then it tries to open a table. It gets an error that the table does not exist (which it does). After looking into this further...I noticed that I was no longer in the folder where I was...that I was now in the BIN subfolder of your SDK.

Dear customer,

Did you try to run any of our samples available at Downloads section: http://www.griaulebiometrics.com/page/en-us/downloads ?
They work correctly?
Besides that, please take a look at your code if you're not changing the directory without notice.

Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

I know that I am not changing the working directory to a BIN folder under your installation folder. There is no reason for me to reference that at all...so I just figured your software is trying to open something up.

Dear customer,

Did you try to run one of our samples? Does it work on your computer?

Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

I have found the exact issue...which of course I cannot do anything about because it is in your routine. I am in the correct folder...then I run CAPINITIALIZE...then I am magically in the BIN subfolder of your SDK.

What is CAPINITIALIZE doing? I can always remember the folder I am in...run CAPINITIALIZE...then reset the folder again...but this would appear to be nothing but covering up the actual issue. Is there an error or anything which CAPINITIALIZE would be changing the folder to BIN? What is the CAPINITIALIZE function doing that it needs to change the folder to begin with?

Dear customer,

Did you run our sample to check if there's some problem? They work correctly?
Could you please send us a screenshot of that error and the bin subfolder? What's the name of that subfolder? Because our code does not generate any subfolder in the bin directory.

Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

I ran the sample program GrFingerXSampleVFP8.prg. It did exactly the same thing and therefore fails. After the capinitialize it all of a sudden is in a folder:

c:\program files (x86)\griaule\fingerprint sdk 2009\bin

the next line where it tries to set procedure to util it fails as the procedure file util cannot be located in the bin folder. So to answer your question...NO...even your test (sample) programs do not run correctly. The CapInitialize routine changes the folder to the BIN subfolder of the SDK as stated previously. As far as what is in this BIN folder:

the answer is a LOT...all of the DLLs, CAT files, etc.

There is SOMETHING in the CAPINITIALIZE that changes the folder. I do not know if it is searching for a missing DLL or what it is...but there is some issue there to be sure.

I have been able to narrow this down a little more. It has something to do with the initialization of GRTOOLS or GRFINGERX.DLL that it is changing the folder to where GRFINGERX.DLL is registered (which is why it is going to the BIN folder). I register GRFINGERX.DLL in a different folder...then it goes there. Hope this helps solve this problem with your library.

If I register GRFINGERX.DLL into a different folder...then it no longer initializes. There is definitely some link to GRFINGERX.DLL registration within windows and what your library is trying to find. This is definitely the key.

Dear customer,

Could you please tell me what fingerprint reader you're using?
Besides that, what's the name of this subdirectory of bin folder you're getting?

Also, would you tell me, when you're getting this error? What are you trying to do? You get this path throgh getting the current directory application?

Thanks,
Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

I am using a Futronic fingerprint reader and I already gave you the "bin" folder path...

c:\program files (x86)\griaule\fingerprint sdk 2009\bin

I am getting an error after I call CapInitialize when trying to access a file which exists in the folder I should be in...but does not exist in the "bin" folder. I am getting the path via both the CD command and SYS(2003) in Visual FoxPro. I even set up debug in Visual FoxPro to watch when SYS(2003) changes. Within 1 second of calling the CapInitialize routine and before any other of my code executes is when it changes (it is a successful initialize also).

Dear customer,

We've made a test to check this directory changing you wrote about.
But it worked correctly here. I'm sending you a printscreen showing this, so you can have an ideia about that.

Hope it helps you.
Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

I am glad that you have it working at your site...but it does not work at mine. Is not what is important in this conversation. It is your library...there is something in your code which is changing the folder (maybe looking for a file or something) and not changing it back. The fact that you can do it is absolutely meaningless. I can run a very similar test here and show you where what you say is not true.

I am sending you two screen shots to show you that YOUR test program does not even work at my site for the very reason that I am saying. Now that we have painted a pretty picture at both locations...can I have a fix to your library please that will address this? I have not been lying and wasting your time these past few days. I really need a resolution for something that I have absolutely no control over...you do.

Had to make it two different posts because of file size.

Here is the after picture....um...I can't send the picture...exceeds size. I have posted it on my site for you:

http://www.pnpcomputer.com/CurtTest/After%203-4-2011%209-11-41%20AM.png

Dear customer,

We've done a quick research on Google and we've find out that some people, after using an ActiveX function on FoxPro, have the directory changed.
A solution for you could be put the Activex in the same folder of your application. Or you can set the directory you want after the ActiveX call.

So the problem is with FoxPro and not with Fingerprint SDK.
Hope it helps you solve your problem.

Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

The activex IS in the current folder. The problem is that it is registered in the BIN subfolder of your library. I have tried registering the copy in the current folder...and then it will no longer initialize...so there is something missing. If I register it again in the BIN subfolder...then it registers again. So the problem IS with your SDK and not with FoxPro.

Dear customer,

You have to put all the dependent dlls on the folder you're going to register.
If you put just the GrFingerX.dll on the folder, it will not register, because the other dlls will be missing.

You have to have all the dependencies satisfacted (the dependency walker can help with that).
Then you'll be able to register in any place you want.

The problem is with FoxPro not our SDK.

Best regards,

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Matheus Smythe Svolenski
Griaule Biometrics Support Team

This is the only ActiveX SDK (of which I use about 25) that has this issue...it is definitely the SDK. This is absolutely ridiculous that you ask your users to find a work around for an non-compliant issue of your SDK.

The bit that you are reading about Foxpro having this issue is dated as this is no longer an issue. If I wrote software with the attitude like you appear to have...I would not be in business very long. I can't believe that nobody can look through your SDK to find out where it is changing the active folder in order to find out why it is not changing it back.

Absolutely ridiculous. I guess at this time it would be better time spent looking for a new library vendor as you don't appear to be able to correct anything at your end. It is always the end-user's problem who has paid you money for a working library.

Dear user,

my name is Tiago Oliveira. I work as software analyst at Griaule Biometrics.

If the problem is with the ActiveX component of our Fingerprint SDK 2009, then you must agree with me that this problem should happen in ANY application that uses this component, right?

Please, download the following very simple application here www.griaulebiometrics.com/public_download/GriauleSDKCurrentDirectoryTest.rar

Run the .exe, and first click the Initialize button, then click the Finalize button.

After this, please, paste here the screen of the application.

Regards,

Tiago Oliveira

Software Analyst

I do agree...and therefore maybe you will agree with me with the attached screenshot that your LIBRARY has an issue. As stated before...rather than trying to blame it on the client...maybe you should at your own code to find out why it is not working!!!!!

Dear user,

I have just tested this application in a clean machine (new windows installation, and only the SDK 2009 installed), and we had no problems with this. I believe that in somehow your windows is messing with the applications directories. If you want, you can send by e-mail the informations for a Team Viewer session, so we can remote access your machine and find the problem.

Note that when you ran the application, and called CapInitialize it worked fine, then you called it again and you had problems.Nothing happens between the end of the CapInitialize method and the beggining of another call to this method.

Thanks

It does work fine...but when the CapInitialize exits it may even be good. But part of the initialization is turns "on" the reader. It is at that point in the routine where you find out that the folder is wrong. This is observed in your own example program. Immediately is fine...wait a second and then check and you will see that it is indeed changed.

I have to work with a client at 1 EST. WHen I am done I can send you the TeamViewer information for you to connect. Have you tried my example on your machine...run it...after the capinitialize wait a few seconds...then click on capinitialize again? What happens?

Dear user,

please, try to delete CapPluginAuthentec.dll from the bin folder. It looks like the dll from Authentec manufacturer has some problems in Windows Vista/7.

If it works, let me know.

Thanks

It worked for your test program...after I get done with my client I will try it in my own system. Thanks a lot. Sorry I got so angry...but I have spent a LOT of time over the course of the last 5 days trying to get through to you that something was wrong with YOUR software not not mine. Any user should not be put through the grinder like tech support at your place has been putting me through.

I have been working on this quite diligently since our last correspondence. I am still having a lot of trouble with your library unloading while my application is running. I can run my program with no problems...as long as I don't try to unload your library. If I attempt to unload your library...8 out of 10 times the application will lock up and no longer respond. It is quite baffling. Is there yet another one of these DLLs which does not like Windows 7 64-bit machines? It has improved...but I still cannot get it to work all the time.

I am using the Futronic FS-80. Which DLLs do I need to know which ones I can delete?

Dear customer,

Delete all CapPlugin*.dll, leave only CapPluginFutronic.dll.

If the problem persists, don't hesitate to contact us.

Davi Stuart Zilli

Griaule Support Tesm

I have only the following files in the bin folder of the SDK:

CapPluginFutronic.dll

GrFinger.dll

GrFingerX.dll

GriauleFingerprintLibrary.dll

pthreadVC2.dll

SFFu03m.dll

GrTools.exe

and it still results in locking up the application upon unloading. As I stated before...if I leave it loaded it does not give me any problems...but obviously this dead weight is not desireable.

Dear customer,

Which driver are you using with Futronic reader? FingerCap or manufacturer driver? Because you have to use the manufacturer's driver.

And you need to have, in you bin folder, ftrScanApi.dll too.

If the problem persists, don't hesitate to contact us.

Davi Stuart Zilli

Griaule Support Team

I put ftrScanApi.dll back into the folder. This made no difference at all.

I am NOT using the FingerCap drivers at all. Like I said...everything appears to work just fine. I can scan the finger, compare, enroll, etc...I can do it all. It just has a problem when being released!!!

What is the routine doing when released?

Dear customer,

We have sent an e-mail to you.

Best regards,

Davi Stuart Zilli

Griaule Support Team