I'm just trying sabnzbd for the first time and it's not going very well so far.
Version: 0.6.15
OS: Windows XP SP3
Install-type: Windows Installer
Skin (if applicable): don't know
Firewall Software: Hardware firewall in router
Are you using IPV6? not sure; how do I tell?
Is the issue reproducible? It's consistent on my computer; I'm not sure if it will reproduce itself on yours.
I've done the installation and it seemed to go okay; no obvious errors. However, I can't figure out how to get my NZB files into the Queue portion of the interface. (I'm assuming that's where an NZB will go when it is recognized by SAB. )
When I click on "Add NZB", it gives me a variety of options. My NZB came from Newzbin and is already on my hard drive so I assumed I should use the "Upload" option. I clicked on Browse, pointed it at my NZB file, and clicked on Upload (even though I thought I was downloading). The little "working" animation spun for a second and stopped. Nothing else happened though and my Queue remains empty. I also tried going to the NZB file on my hard drive. The icon has changed from what it was before the install; I assume that is the SAB icon. (When I right-click on the NZB file, sabnzbd appears at the top of the Open list). When I try to open the NZB file, nothing happens and it certainly doesn't get added to the queue. I've looked at the FAQ and Wiki but don't see anything about this issue.
It's possible I did something wrong in the installation but I don't see how to access those settings to try to change anything.
Can anyone suggest what might be wrong and how to get it working properly?
Newbie Question
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- Do you experience problems during downloading?
Check your connection in Status and Interface settings window.
Use Test Server in Config > Servers.
We will probably ask you to do a test using only basic settings. - Do you experience problems during repair or unpacking?
Enable +Debug logging in the Status and Interface settings window and share the relevant parts of the log here using [ code ] sections.
Re: Newbie Question
I finally got my NZB to download but I still have questions and suggestions for some product improvements.
I found the "status" option in the interface and found messages that said my NZB files were empty. (I had simply put the same NZB into the queue 4 separate times as described in my original post.) I checked and sure enough, Newzbin had given me (nearly) empty NZB files. It made sense that nothing was happening although it would have helped if there'd been SOME clue on the interface over and above the Status button. Maybe you could make it change colour or blink or something so that people know that there is something of interest in the Status....
Anyway, once I'd obtained a fresh and complete NZB, I was able to put it in the queue just fine. Then, it just sat there saying "Paused". I clicked the right-facing triangle on the left of the file name and it changed to a pause. I clicked the red pause button near the upper right and it changed to a white pause button near the upper right. In short, I couldn't see any signs that it was actually downloading and I couldn't see any button to push to make it start downloading. Then, after a pause to do something else, I went back to the interface and see that my file is now in the History area instead of the Queue area. At first, I couldn't figure out where to look to determine WHERE the file was on my hard drive but then I stumbled on the fact that clicking on the file name showed me the path where it was downloaded. Sure enough, that's where I found the file.
I'd still like to know what event triggered the file in the queue to finally download. (Or did it start downloading the moment it entered the queue as I would expect? If so, why was there no clue on the GUI that anything was happeneing? It really looked as I would have to do something, like push a button, before the download would begin.) And where is the setting that tells SAB to download it where it finally put the file? I'd rather put the file somewhere else but I'm darned if I can figure out where to tell it that.
Let me be brutally honest here: this program, while probably working brilliantly, needs some work before it is friendly to use. I've been writing programs professionally for a lot of years so I'm not just approaching this as an end-user who barely knows where the Enter key is. One solution would be to write a much more detailed set of help documentation, ideally with screen caps - or videos! - showing what should happen. But let's be realistic, some users will never look at documentation. A better solution is to make the interface so intuitive that they don't NEED a manual. Whichever way you go, I think the program will be a lot stronger and easier to use.
I realize the program is just Version 0.6.15; you are probably as aware of the limitations as I am. I think this is a useful program and the idea of automating downloads to use the least user attention possible is a good one. I hope you don't take offense at my observations and simply take them the way I meant them, as constructive criticisms.
It's too bad you're writing in Python which I've never used. If you were writing Java, I might offer to pitch in and help!
I found the "status" option in the interface and found messages that said my NZB files were empty. (I had simply put the same NZB into the queue 4 separate times as described in my original post.) I checked and sure enough, Newzbin had given me (nearly) empty NZB files. It made sense that nothing was happening although it would have helped if there'd been SOME clue on the interface over and above the Status button. Maybe you could make it change colour or blink or something so that people know that there is something of interest in the Status....
Anyway, once I'd obtained a fresh and complete NZB, I was able to put it in the queue just fine. Then, it just sat there saying "Paused". I clicked the right-facing triangle on the left of the file name and it changed to a pause. I clicked the red pause button near the upper right and it changed to a white pause button near the upper right. In short, I couldn't see any signs that it was actually downloading and I couldn't see any button to push to make it start downloading. Then, after a pause to do something else, I went back to the interface and see that my file is now in the History area instead of the Queue area. At first, I couldn't figure out where to look to determine WHERE the file was on my hard drive but then I stumbled on the fact that clicking on the file name showed me the path where it was downloaded. Sure enough, that's where I found the file.
I'd still like to know what event triggered the file in the queue to finally download. (Or did it start downloading the moment it entered the queue as I would expect? If so, why was there no clue on the GUI that anything was happeneing? It really looked as I would have to do something, like push a button, before the download would begin.) And where is the setting that tells SAB to download it where it finally put the file? I'd rather put the file somewhere else but I'm darned if I can figure out where to tell it that.
Let me be brutally honest here: this program, while probably working brilliantly, needs some work before it is friendly to use. I've been writing programs professionally for a lot of years so I'm not just approaching this as an end-user who barely knows where the Enter key is. One solution would be to write a much more detailed set of help documentation, ideally with screen caps - or videos! - showing what should happen. But let's be realistic, some users will never look at documentation. A better solution is to make the interface so intuitive that they don't NEED a manual. Whichever way you go, I think the program will be a lot stronger and easier to use.
I realize the program is just Version 0.6.15; you are probably as aware of the limitations as I am. I think this is a useful program and the idea of automating downloads to use the least user attention possible is a good one. I hope you don't take offense at my observations and simply take them the way I meant them, as constructive criticisms.
It's too bad you're writing in Python which I've never used. If you were writing Java, I might offer to pitch in and help!
Re: Newbie Question
We're not targeting the average user.
That doesn't mean there's no room for improvement, there definitely is.
I am a bit surprised that, as an experienced computer user, you had so much trouble.
Regarding the empty NZBs.
You're right that that's not dealt with in a clear way.
Let's just say that SABnzbd was created at a time when sites like newzbin were really good.
(So this just never happened).
The pause/resume symbols are not a happy choice.
BTW: the UI is mostly HTML and Javascript, not Python.
That doesn't mean there's no room for improvement, there definitely is.
I am a bit surprised that, as an experienced computer user, you had so much trouble.
Regarding the empty NZBs.
You're right that that's not dealt with in a clear way.
Let's just say that SABnzbd was created at a time when sites like newzbin were really good.
(So this just never happened).
The pause/resume symbols are not a happy choice.
BTW: the UI is mostly HTML and Javascript, not Python.
Re: Newbie Question
Fair enough. If you want to assume a fair degree of sophistication in your users and higher than average patience for figuring things out, you're certainly entitled to do that.shypike wrote:We're not targeting the average user.
That doesn't mean there's no room for improvement, there definitely is.
Maybe I was just having a "stupid day" ;-)shypike wrote: I am a bit surprised that, as an experienced computer user, you had so much trouble.
Hey, it's never too late to improve it, right? As long as the version number is less than 1.0, I'm inclined to view a program as still being fairly immature with lots of room for improvement.shypike wrote:Regarding the empty NZBs.
You're right that that's not dealt with in a clear way.
Let's just say that SABnzbd was created at a time when sites like newzbin were really good.
(So this just never happened).
The pause/resume symbols are not a happy choice.
Javascript? Not one of my favourite languages I'm afraid. Stiil, if I weren't so busy I'd be tempted to pitch in anyway just so that the next guy along didn't have the same frustration I had....shypike wrote:BTW: the UI is mostly HTML and Javascript, not Python.
But back to what you've got already in SAB. Was I right in guessing that the download begins as soon as an NZB is added to the queue? If not, what DOES trigger the download? Also, is there some way to change the download path to a different one? If so, how?
Re: Newbie Question
The top job should start downloading immediately, unless:
- The overall pause is enabled (not by default)
- The category of the item set the paused "priority"
- You clicked the pause icon of the job itself (I can imagine your initial confusion here)
- Somehow the server does respond (so nothing happens)
Out-of-retention situations look a bit like paused too (very low speed, but there are active server connections).
SABnzbd suffers from under-staffing, especially concerning the UI part.
SABnzbd has had a web-based UI since day one for two reasons:
portability and being able to run it on a headless server.
We never had people in the team capable of designing a portable UI based on something like QT.
And yes, designing a UI is very hard and requires other talents than being able to write software.
- The overall pause is enabled (not by default)
- The category of the item set the paused "priority"
- You clicked the pause icon of the job itself (I can imagine your initial confusion here)
- Somehow the server does respond (so nothing happens)
Out-of-retention situations look a bit like paused too (very low speed, but there are active server connections).
SABnzbd suffers from under-staffing, especially concerning the UI part.
SABnzbd has had a web-based UI since day one for two reasons:
portability and being able to run it on a headless server.
We never had people in the team capable of designing a portable UI based on something like QT.
And yes, designing a UI is very hard and requires other talents than being able to write software.
Re: Newbie Question
What are you after - really??Rhino wrote: Hey, it's never too late to improve it, right? As long as the version number is less than 1.0, I'm inclined to view a program as still being fairly immature with lots of room for improvement.
I download an nzb, tell browser where to save it, then sabnzbd grabs it, queues it, starts downloading it if it is under a certain size, then post processes it, and leaves the finished article in a folder for me. It will also stop/start/slow down/change servers at whatever times I tell it to.
I think it is an awesome piece of software, and have hardly used anything else since I found it....
Are you really a programmer?? Tell the truth now....
Re: Newbie Question
Ad hominem attacks have no place here,
even programmers prefer intuitive user interfaces (I do).
SABnzbd may make perfect sense once you get used to it.
You'll have to admit that, initially, it is a bit puzzling,
especially if you have the bad luck that something goes wrong at your first attempt.
even programmers prefer intuitive user interfaces (I do).
SABnzbd may make perfect sense once you get used to it.
You'll have to admit that, initially, it is a bit puzzling,
especially if you have the bad luck that something goes wrong at your first attempt.
Re: Newbie Question
Apologies - I was in a cheeky mood earlier....
I guess I just love how geeky sabnzbd is, with its switches/settings that need configuring.....
I guess I just love how geeky sabnzbd is, with its switches/settings that need configuring.....