Is an error supposed to leave no output file?

[chrisjj]

I would have though so, but e.g.

Error converting to Windows Media Audio 10, 'xxx.flac' to 'xxx.wma'
md5 did not match decoded data, file is corrupt.

leaves an output file, condition unknown.

[Spoon]

There is no file? if not overwriting then even the corrupt file should be left after conversion.

[chrisjj]

There is no file?
As I said: it "leaves an output file"


if not overwriting then even the corrupt file should be left after conversion.

Are you saying a corrupt OUTPUT file should be left after failed conversion?

[dbfan]

Yes

[chrisjj]

Yes

Thanks. Do you have a workaround? I cannot afford there to be corrupt files.

[Spoon]

See:

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=24130

[chrisjj]

See:

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=24130

Thanks, but no workaround seen there.

Corrupt output files are a nightmare in well-managed projects. They wreck build management systems like MAKE and pollute data sets. Compliant command-line tools e.g. compilers leave either good output files or none.

Please do consider remedying this. I suggest CoreConverter.exe simply ensures that in event of error, no output file is left. Even if there was one present previously. Also, from Microsoft Command Line Standard http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee156811.aspx


Required:

* Error messages (as well as VERBOSE and DEBUG messages) must be written to STDERR.

* Commands must terminate with an exit code indicating success (0) or failure (non-zero).


This would be a big improvement and make the program much more attractive to developers of production-grade integrations.

Thanks.

[chrisjj]

* Error messages (as well as VERBOSE and DEBUG messages) must be written to STDERR.

Please ignore that - I see http://www.dbpoweramp.com/developer-cli-encoder.htm says error messaes already optionally go to STDERR.

[dbfan]

The do, normally nothing would go to stderr

[chrisjj]

The do, normally nothing would go to stderr

Could you clarify that?

[Spoon]

STDERR if supplied is the process of getting error messages out of the converter.

[chrisjj]

STDERR if supplied is the process of getting error messages out of the converter.
What do you mean by "if"? STDERR is always supplied - by the OS, when the process is created.

[Spoon]

It is not always, a calling program can pass NULL handles.

[chrisjj]

It is not always, a calling program can pass NULL handles.
Ah, I see. Thanks.

Please do have the return code indicate error! Until then, there is no way one can properly use the converter ins standard tools like MAKE. Thanks.

[Spoon]

Perhaps for the next version.

[chrisjj]

Perhaps for the next version.

Thanks. I shall keep my fingers crossed for that.