Bonsai crashes when running PylonCapture

[slew000]

Hello,

I'm experiencing several issues while trying to acquire video using a Basler camera on a Windows 11 Enterprise computer.

I initially installed the latest versions of Bonsai (2.8.5, exe.) and PylonViewer (8.0.1). However, when using PylonCapture, I encountered the following error: "The type initializer for 'OpenCV.Net.Native.NativeMethods' threw an exception." After reviewing previous discussion threads (e.g., this thread), I downgraded to PylonViewer 7.1, but the error persisted. I suspected this might be due to incompatibility between the OpenCV versions required by different Bonsai packages.

I then experimented with several older versions of Bonsai:

a. With Bonsai 2.5, PylonCapture worked, but I was unable to install other packages (e.g., Audio Library).
b. With Bonsai 2.6, the program crashed when attempting to run PylonCapture.
c. With Bonsai 2.7, I was finally able to acquire and save videos (Pylon Capture -> Image -> VideoWriter). However, this only works when I create a workflow from scratch. If I open a previously saved script, it crashes with the same error message as in point b (picture below). I have no idea on why this might be.

In all cases, I have added the .pfs file and entered the camera number in PylonCapture. I've tested with two different Basler cameras (a2A2448-75ucBAS and a2A2590-60ucPRO) across three different Windows computers, and the error is consistent on all machines. I'm out of ideas on what else to try, so I'm posting here in hope of gaining some experienced insights :)

Thank you in advance for your help!

[chiyu1203]

I use pylon viewer 7.1.0 (for basler camera) + bonsai (2.7x-2.8x) regularly so I feel the problem is due to the installation process, especially based on the error on the console. Did you use Portable or Installer when installing Bonsai in your PC? Try starting from a clean installation. Another thing I can think about is the camera as I use the first generation of Basler ace camera. Both of your Basler camera comes from the second generation (but I will be surprised if this is the problem)

[slew000]

Hi Chiyu,

Thank you very much for your input. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the different versions of Bonsai many many times (always rebooting in between) in 3 different computers and the problem was not solved. I worked mainly with the .exe versions, although I also tried with the .zip a couple times and that did not seem to work much better. I'll try again with the .zip installation of the 2.7 and 2.8 versions.

Maybe the camera generation could be the issue then?

[chiyu1203]

@slew000 We have discussed your problem here

[chiyu1203]

@slew000 After reading this "this only works when I create a workflow from scratch. If I open a previously saved script, it crashes with the same error message as in point b (picture below)", I think it is about how you save the workflow. I usually have this kind of problem when I saved the workflow somewhere outside the bonsai folders.

[adeneagle]

The referenced solutions were insufficient for me on Windows 11 with a Basler acA3088-57um. The only solution which allowed me to use the camera in Bonsai was with the VideoCaptureDevice object in the Bonsai Video package (version 2.5.0) in Bonsai version 2.9.0. I tested three versions of PylonViewer: 5.1.0, 7.1.0, and 8.1.0. Only 5.1.0 allowed the camera to be recognized by the VideoCaptureDevice.

[chiyu1203]

do you want to hop on a zoom call? or is that too much?

sure, you can send me the link to [email protected]
just looked at your workflow, I dont think you should use both CameraCapture and PylonCapture at the same time

[chiyu1203]

Hi, so our work around at the moment is to run camera first and disabling everything else in the workflow> followed by basler > then run neurophotometrics - if we do it any other way the videos simply don't save despite being viewable. Any solution to this at the moment?

And this looks like the camera is assessed by multiple softwares, which is probably the reason for the bug.

[rawanalsubaie]

I emailed you a zoom link, then what should I use to connect a basler and a webcam to capture behaviour?

[chiyu1203]

I emailed you a zoom link, then what should I use to connect a basler and a webcam to capture behaviour?

I see! I did not know about there is a webcam. Then that's fine. I have not got your invitation yet. Could you check again if the email address is correct?

[chiyu1203]

@rawanalsubaie This thread #1639 reminded me of something. When you select the Pylon software on the website, installing the Software Suite Windows.

Then while you install the Software Suite, select that you are a Developer not a Camera User (I remember both works but I use the Developer version) to include all the SDK.
Lastly, while installing Bonsai-Pylon Library, select the 0.3.0 version. In this case, you should have the exact same Bonsai/Pylon environment as my computer. It looks like Basler has reformatted their website so things look foreign to me now. A documentation for our user to go through the installation step would be great.

Note: in bonsai 2.8.5, if the OpenCV issue persists, trying uninstall the 2.9 one and have a fresh installation of 2.8.5 instead. I still do not understand why the admin right matters and not feel the need to install OpenCV separately but I am not sure.