Search Online Database not working

[smoky]

When inputting from cdg tracks the local database works very nicely and saves some typing.

But the search online database appears to be completely inactive. What tips does anyone have for me to try to get this working? I really could use this.

Smoky

[Roy Dennis]

When you press Search Online Database button Does nothing happen at all ?
Does it not grey out and an hour glass icon appear ?

Obviously you have to be connected to the internet at the time.
It has to be manufactures disc not a custom disc.
You don't need to enter any brand or disc id in the boxes for it to work but must correct what it places in these fields.

Other than that it's just put the disc in push the button.

Have you ever had it working ?
Did it just stop with this upgrade ?

[smoky]

Nope.

It greys out but no hour glass appears. Internet is open. Then it immediately sends a pop up that says online database lookup did not find any info and to then enter brand and disk id. Which I do and then the local database takes over. I have entered over 100 chartbuster and sound choice disks and never once did I receive an Internet lookup. Now starting to enter pocket songs. Did MTU stop subscribing to a third party database? I think it was called Freebase or something similar.

I have had Microstudio for over a year, but this is my first month with Hoster.

Smoky

[Roy Dennis]

The Online database is working on mine I use it all the time as I have a monthly Sunfly disc delivered to me and within about a week of that being released it returns the full list for the new tracks.
I rarely find a disc that doesn't return results with it although it is not always fully accurate.

Hosters Search local database is Hosters own database all those entries were compiled by MTU. I don't think they update it anymore.

As you say you have Microstudio installed, that uses the same on line database to recognise disc imports but it has to be activated in that from the Tools "Enable Database Lookup"
So do those discs that don't show up in Hoster also not show up in Microstudio ?

[MTUSUPPORT]

The only thing that may cause this, is to make sure hoster.exe is allowed to contact the internet through your firewall. This is the only thing that can block it.

[smoky]

Bryan, Hoster IS accessing the online manual, online MTU customer support, the help videos, MTU Facebook, affiliate page ... I have them all up via Hoster as I reply to you. But not able to get any disk updated via the Search Online Database. When I press that button with a CDG loaded it INSTANTLY pops up this message: "The Online Database Lookup did not return any information for this disc. Please enter a Brand and DiscID before continuing. "

In fact it pops up so fast I doubt if it even has time to know if the database site is out there.

I feel like I am overlooking a step, but I am following directions carefully and double checking.

I will try Microstudio like Roy is asking, but if you think of anything I can do to turn that button on please advise. I could cry at all the typing I have had to do on over 100 disks so far. But I have another 1,000 discs to go., In the meantime I have been using Music Book Deluxe, but it does not have a direct
feed to Hoster like it does to CAVS. I really want to make your button work.

Smoky

[smoky]

Roy

I followed your suggestion of trying Microstudio. As you cautioned, I had to set the flag to enable the online database for Microstudio. But it still does not get through and gives me the exact same results as the Hoster program with the same message.

Since all the other Hoster accesses to the Internet work, it must be something unique to the lookup database site that is causing the problem.

I figure it is either a software bug, a user error (me), or maybe the fact that I am using Hughesnet to access the database. Occasionally some sites that are passworded require me to answer security questions because my internet IP changes all the time as is usual with Hughesnet. I would hope my registered software would not fail because of a change in IP address.

Another thought is that I still have the Hoster demo installed. Should I uninstall it? I delayed that because I wanted to disturb as little as possible as I worked through the Hoster learning curve.

I will keep watching for help on this. This is a biggie. I would have mentioned it earlier, but I had other problems which have since been solved by you.

Smoky

[Roy Dennis]

my own ip address changes from week to week and I have never experienced any problems connecting to the online database. I don't think the demo would have anything to do with it but you can uninstall it if you want.

Bryan is the MTU expert so I would definitely look into what he suggested, When you view the manual it is just another web page, it is not accessing anything in your computer but when you access the on line database it actually has to read back on your drive so needs access in and out so your firewall might be blocking it reading your drive. It might even be in your virus software blocking it.
You basically have to tell it to trust it, I can't actually tell you exactly how to do that as all virus programs are different.

[smoky]

Thanks Roy.

As usual, you have given me some good ideas to look at.

First I will uninstall the Hoster demo.

Next I will make sure when I am working on cd input to lower the windows security.

Then I will examine Norton 360 to see if it is objecting. In the past Norton 360 has always warned me if it is troubled by anything.

I will do these and check after each one so that if the problem clears I will know exactly what was causing the problem.

Then I will report back here.

Incidentally this forum is one of the best support sites I have ever used. Often it is days before I hear back from other sites. Sometimes even weeks, or never. Thank you.

Smoky

[smoky]

I discovered Holster demo already uninstalled.

I set as many windows security settings as I could find at lowest possible.

I turned off Norton360 firewall though I am certain Norton would pop up an alert if something tried to get through. I do not believe Norton360 was blocking the online database server.

I tried numerous other things and I just cannot get any signs of the search button working. The popup window telling me it found nothing in the database is so fast that I cannot believe it is working. It pops up instantaneously.

In fact I also cannot believe after importing more than 100 karaoke discs that the database could not find a single item for me.

If I uninstall and then reinstall hoster, will I lose any of my already imported CDG info? That is the only thing I can think to do at this point.

I am hoping one of you experts will think of something simple I am not doing to get that button active. As I said the local database button works fine.

But wow, what a time saver that online database button would be for me. I was dumb for not asking for help on this earlier, but I just assumed it was no longer in service. I also would like to know if Holster is still using freedb? I see in some older posts they used to call it the freedb button. Maybe if I knew more about where it was going to get the info I might think of more troubleshooting ideas.

Smoky

[smoky]

Oh yeah, I also went directly to freedb.org and had no problem doing that. (see above)

Smoky

[Roy Dennis]

Un installing will not lose your data, but to be on the safe side use the backup/restore feature available from the help menu.
I don't think this is your problem.
You stated you got the same thing with Microstudio so it is not just Hoster which leads me to believe it is some setting on your computer that is causing this.
Which Leads me to ask, did you do all the recommended changes as shown Here: http://www.mtu.com/upgrades/hoster/windows8-changes.htm

Have you completed all the windows updates including all the optional updates. Item 7 in that list may have some bearing on it regarding allow active content to run on CDs.

[smoky]

Roy:

I have done all the items except #4 Alarms, and #6 Monitor setup.

My wife and I no longer host karaoke but are very active as professional singers and do not currently use hoster where items 4 and 6 are a problem. We do have Internet Explorer set to run active CD and active content in files.

We also meet all the specs listed at the end of the manual steps.

Smoky

[Roy Dennis]

it might be best to put in a support ticket, as I'm out of ideas.
http://www.mtu.com/support/customer-...htm#HelpTicket

I knocked up a short 2 min video showing 3 different functions that use the online database, one for importing your cd another instance is when adding a singers own disc and a view of Microstudio accessing it.
Here's the link: http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c2lO0qeuCJ

Just to show you it does work

[smoky]

Roy!

Something really caught my attention there!

Did you notice how it took about 8 seconds after you pressed the search online database until the next screen popped up after the search was completed? That is what I expected... a few seconds to do some searching.

This is EXACTLY what is troubling me. When I press that button it is not even a micro second until a screen pops up. No database search can occur that quickly. That is why I feel so convinced that something is broken in the software. It is like the software is missing a module and makes no effort at all to go to the web site and search. Yet the message I get instantaneously is that it could not find my disc in the online database. It implies it did a search and could not find the disk. I don't think it does a search.

And this is also key. If I turn Internet off and try to do an online lookup, I get the message:

"Your PC appears to be offline.
The Online Database cannot be accessed at this time."

But if I have the Internet turned on I INSTANTLY get the message:

"The Online Database Lookup did not return any information for this disc.
Please enter a Brand and DiscID before continuing."

This suggest the software knows the Internet is on but does not even try to look for the database.

The same symptoms occur in Microstudio

Smoky

[Lonman]

Online search works for me most times - but will also catch a lot of discs (some old but mostly newer discs) that bring up the same no data found response. Could be that the info just isn't in the Freedatabase and since this database is just user added (kind of like Wikipedia), just may be nobody has actually entered the data.

[smoky]

I truly doubt that would happen after entering over 100 of the most popular Karaoke discs. Chartbuster, Sound Choice, Pocket Songs, DKaraoke, Top Hits Monthly, the list goes on and on. Not even a single hit. And Music Book Deluxe finds every one (but no direct link to Holster). Besides, it should take 5 to 8 seconds before it determines a no find, but the result is instantaneous. That does not even happen if I disconnect the Internet.

Smoky

[smoky]

OK I guess I have to do a trouble ticket. I do appreciate all the attention I have received on this and other issues. I really see the potential of Holster and want very much to get it under control here.

Smoky

[smoky]

Roy:

I filed a trouble ticket and the only suggestion they had was to rename the holster.exe file as holster534.exe and run it by double clicking it. No luck, still cannot access the online database.

Basically MTU is telling me my firewall is blocking holster.exe.

But I feel certain that is not the case. I have turned the firewall completely off, insuring all ports are open, all programs are unsecured, and a vast array of other risks.

It keeps telling me "The Online Database Lookup did not return any information for this disc."

If that is true, then it must be reaching the online database. So far I have not been able to get ANY info from MTU regarding what database they are using (it used to be freedb) and exactly how they access that database. I am really flying blind here.

If I believe that message it means that the server (whoever it is) really doesn't have any karaoke music at all. Would you try a disc we both own in common? I have many Chartbuster, Sound Choice, and Pocket Song Discs. I especially have a great many Pocket Song Broadway discs.

If you access data for a disc and I cannot access data for the same discs, that would at least eliminate a chunk of wrong avenues for troubleshooting.

Smoky

[Lonman]

Which discs out of curiosity? Maybe some of us have the same discs we can test on our end as well. I have quite a lot of the Sound Choice Spotlights, not as many Chartbuster but the last 5 years they were opened I subscribed to their new releases.