Just a note to say thanks a million to Ambrosia for the Snapz Pro X 2.0.2 update. I'm utterly dependent on Snapz Pro X's screenshot capabilities in my work. I moved into my new MacBookPro (Intel Core Duo w/OS X 10.4.6 - Tiger) in mid-May, and discovered that Snapz Pro X's hotkey functionality was broken. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!! I tried everything I could think of to fix it, but nothing worked. I could get Snapz Pro X to launch, so I dragged it into the dock, but what a huge P.I.T.A. to have to go to the dock everytime I need a screenshot. I came here looking for a solution and...what's this? There's a v2.0.2? Gimmee that thing!!

Downloaded it, ran the installer, and "Viola!" as they say in the string section...hotkey functionality is now restored, as is my faith in Ambrosia's commitment to supporting Snapz Pro X on the MacIntel platform.

Thanks again!

Hello-
Thanks for the kind words!

It's a pleasant change of pace!

David:

Yeah...while reading through some of the threads here in search of a solution to the hotkey problem, I noticed that there's a pretty strong demand for a Snapz Pro X update that restores video functionality to the app for MacIntel machines. I understand such users' frustration. I also understand your position, which seems roughly akin to the proverbial "between a rock and a hard place".

I don't hesitate to point out deficiencies where appropriate, but I figure that should work both ways. It feels better to balance my gripefests with some positive feedback wherever it's deserved. In this case, I thought it might be particularly welcomed.

Hello-
It was welcomed more than you'll ever know!

Thanks again.

I just installed SnapzProX 2.0.2, on my Intel iMac, and I have no hotkeys! Doing as you did in previous versions and using from dock. Any suggestions as to how to get the hotkeys working!?
Thanks
Dcreagh

Question: Did you have a previous version of SnapzProX installed on your Intel iMac before you installed v2.0.2?

No. I had not installed because according to the site, SnapzProX is not Intel compatible. Then I read in this forum how some have had good results even improvements-(hotkeys). So I installed-(for the first time), SnapzPro works, hotkeys do not.

When you start up your computer, are you seeing the SnapzProX splash screen momentarily during the startup sequence?

Yes, the splash screen is present.

OK...that means SnapzProX is installing correctly, and is in your SystemPrefs:Accounts:LoginItems list. So far, so good.

When you first launch SnapzProX, the default hotkey sequence is Command+shift+3 (excluding the "+" signs, of course). Is that the hotkey sequence you're using when you want to invoke SnapzProX? If not, that's the place to start.

Here's the part that torpedoed me until I finally figured it out. (DUH...) When I make a change in my SnapzProX preferences (for example, changing the hotkey sequence), it doesn't take effect until I reboot the machine. I don't mean logout/in—I mean restart the computer. Once I did the clean install (as described below) to eliminate all possibility of interference with previous installations, here's the exact procedure I used:

• Launch SnapzProX for the first time.
• Use the default Command+Shift+3 hotkey sequence to invoke SnapzProX.
• Change the SnapzProX preferences to the settings I want — including taking a screen shot to set the image format I prefer (.png).
• Restart the computer.

In fairness to Ambrosia Support, the inspiration to trash the prefs file (not a necessary part of the procedure above; see below) and reboot the machine came from reading SnapzProX FAQ #47 - Why won't Snapz Pro X 2 invoke; I have it set to command shift 3? . As one of my mentors was fond of saying, "When all else fails, try following the instructions." ('nother DUH...)
_______________________

I had a bigger mess to clean up than you have. I'll describe it here in case it's of some help to other users who are updating to v2.0.2 from earlier versions.

I had a previous version of SnapzProX on my MacBook Pro, and it really created a lot of confusion and unpredictable results. At one point I had three different instances of SnapzProX installed — one in the Applications folder, and two in a subfolder. That was responsible for a lot of the aforementioned mess. I finally figured out that I needed to completely start from scratch before I was able to get SnapzProX v2.0.2 to work consistently, reliably, and predictably, which is exactly what it's doing now.

What I mean is that I had to use the SnapzProX Uninstaller, delete the "com.ambrosiasw.snapz.plist" file in my user Library:Preferences folder, get rid of all previous versions of SnapzProX, run the SnapzProX v2.0.2 installer, and leave the new, clean installation in the Applications folder. I got inconsistent results when I tried to move SnapzProX to a subfolder within the Applications folder. (It works fine in a subfolder on my PowerPC Macs, but apparently it wants to stay in top directory of the Applications folder on the MacIntelBook Pro.)

Anyhow, I basically had to create a condition on my MacBook Pro that was nearly identical to yours—a first-time installation. The only difference is that in my case, my "clean" install of v2.0.2 picked up my registration key (I hadn't trashed the file where the key resides, and the Uninstaller app doesn't touch it).

That's what worked for me. I hope it's of some help.

Unfortunately, this did not work for me. I uninstalled SPX-(deleted the pref file), restarted, and then re-intalled. Tried to call SPX with default hotkeys, no response.

Hi dcreagh:

If you did precisely what you described above—and ONLY what you described above—then I'm not surprised that it didn't work. As you reported it, you left out the very first step:

• Launch SnapzProX for the first time.

The default hotkey sequence only works when the app is running in the background. It doesn't do that until you manually launch the app for the first time. At least, that's what I found. I suppose it might work if you restart after you install, in which case I assume that SnapzProX will then launch as a startup item and be running in the background thereafter. But I'm not certain about that because that's not the procedure I used. In the procedure I used (which I documented and reported precisely as I used it), I manually started SnapzProX after I ran the installer. It worked. I have restarted the computer many times since then, and it continues to work.

If the procedure doesn't work for you, I'm sorry. I understand how exasperating it can be. Perhaps there are some differences between the Intel iMacIntel and the MacBook Pro that might account for the effects you're observing. Unfortunately, I can't diagnose that from here.

The only other thing I can recommend is that you use the same general approach that I use for problem solving: Play with it until the problem tells you enough about its nature to lead you to the solution. Somehow, the attitude of "playing" seems to make a difference...for me, anyway.

Good luck!

Hello-
Are you on an Intel Mac Mini by any chance?

We're looking into similar reports on the new Minis.

Open the Activity Monitor inside your Utilities folder - does it list Snapz Pro X as an active application? If so, select it, and click on the Quit Process button. Then select Force Quit from the dialog that is presented.

Then go into Home/Library/Preferences and trash the com.ambrosiasw.snapz.plist file.

Go into your applications folder and relaunch SP X by double clicking on it. A splash screen should appear with a drop down notice. Click on OK. Relaunch the Activity Monitor. Then press the command shift 3 keys. Does the palette appear, does SP X stay listed as an active process?

If not, please go to Users/your_username/Library/Logs/CrashReporter and send along any files that reference Snapz Pro X.

Also, could you send me a System Profile?

Go to the Apple menu to About this Mac. Then click on the More Info...button. Then go to the file menu to Export...and export as plain text.

Then send it to help@AmbrosiaSW.com as an attached file.

Thanks for your help and continued patience.

Thank you for your assistance. I followed your instructions to the letter. SnapzPro is simply not responding to the hotkeys. Per the Activity Monitor, it continued to run even after pressing the (default) hotkey sequence. There are no crash logs for SnapzPro. In addition, my Activity Monitor does not have an "export" option in the File menu. My system profile is as follows:

iMac 20"
Mac OSX v10.4.6
2Ghz Intel Core Duo
2GB DDR2 SDRAM

Hello-
Do you have the built in screen capture turned on in the System Preferences ->keyboard and mouse pane?

I did not, but have turned it on and SnapzPro now works!! Thanks!