• A few Zoom questions

    From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Thu Dec 10 16:21:45 2020
    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    44M Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Did the following
    urpmi lib64xcb-xtest0
    rpm --import zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    urpmi --allow-nodeps --force zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Create a zoom wrapper script which does the following:
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom
    export PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom
    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    When I run it I get a brief black pop up with a title of
    Zoom Cloud Meetings
    then the zoom sign in screen with the same title.
    When I exit Zoom, sign in screen disappears and then the
    same brief black pop screen.

    Can anyone give me a brief description of what is in the first pop up
    or is that just the way the app launcher works?

    As I type this maybe it is normal that the launcher is creating the
    black screen, then launch the sign in app passing it the screen id.

    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I am installing zoom to be able to talk with my bank portfolio manager.
    As I misunderstand it, manager schedules a meeting, I get a meeting
    email with meeting id/pw.
    I launch zoom, enter the meeting id/pw, and we should be able to talk.

    Is that basically all I need to do?



    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 02:16:19 2020
    On 2020-12-10, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    What is your Desktop Manager?


    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    I think the pubkey should remain the same through versions.
    44M Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm


    Did the following
    urpmi lib64xcb-xtest0
    rpm --import zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    urpmi --allow-nodeps --force zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    I would allow deps once so you can see if there are any unusual requests
    But the freetype requirement (Fedora/Redhat give them a different name
    than Mageian does) mean you have to do nodeps.


    Create a zoom wrapper script which does the following:
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH

    This is because Mageia has ignored the advice of the developers of Qt
    which say that QT_PLUGIN_PATH should not be globally set.


    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom

    The link /usr/bin/zoom points to (/opt/zoom/ZoomLoader)
    which sets the LD_LIBRARY_PATH anyway.

    export PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom

    Do not need that AFAIK.

    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    Is %U a bashism? I would just do /usr/bin/zoom



    When I run it I get a brief black pop up with a title of
    Zoom Cloud Meetings

    Not at all sure what that is. I have never had it.

    then the zoom sign in screen with the same title.
    When I exit Zoom, sign in screen disappears and then the
    same brief black pop screen.


    Can anyone give me a brief description of what is in the first pop up
    or is that just the way the app launcher works?

    It does not work that way here.


    As I type this maybe it is normal that the launcher is creating the
    black screen, then launch the sign in app passing it the screen id.

    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I am installing zoom to be able to talk with my bank portfolio manager.
    As I misunderstand it, manager schedules a meeting, I get a meeting
    email with meeting id/pw.

    Either He will probably send you a web link. This opens zoom.us which
    you can then tell to launch a meeting which then logs you in and opens
    the zoom window with xdg.

    I launch zoom, enter the meeting id/pw, and we should be able to talk.

    That is another way. Or the manager can set it up with no password, but
    with a "waiting room" where he has to manually let you in to the
    meeting.


    Is that basically all I need to do?

    Yes. but if you want to share a screen (eg you scanned a cheque that you
    want to query say) and you have an intel graphics card (Not positive
    that this is required for the bug) you may find him complaining that
    your screen share is flickering (about half of the shared screen gets
    replaced by the background desktop randomly and then flipping back , continuously) on his image, but you see nothing wrong on your screen. If
    so, your computer has the zoombug. (It is not there in xfce manager. It
    is apparently in cinamon and plasma).




    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 03:51:30 2020
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 02:16:19 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-10, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    What is your Desktop Manager?

    xfce




    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    I think the pubkey should remain the same through versions.

    Yeah, but if figured why not. I do not want a having spent the last
    few days creating scripts to automagically update self-signed certs
    a month before they expire, I do not want to have to troubleshoot
    a screwup on their end leaving me with a useless pubkey in my system.


    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom

    The link /usr/bin/zoom points to (/opt/zoom/ZoomLoader)
    which sets the LD_LIBRARY_PATH anyway.

    export PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom

    Do not need that AFAIK.

    I was making the above exports assumptions while reading

    https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13794&p=81012&hilit=zoom#p8101 where it appears the users did the install from/in their user account.



    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    Is %U a bashism?

    Nope, without it, /opt/zoom/ZoomLauncher (A.K.A /usr/bin/zoom ) will
    put zoom in panel/system tray and you have to click it to launch zoom.


    I would just do /usr/bin/zoom

    Wish you luck with that.
    I clicked up a terminal,
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    /usr/bin/zoom
    and which brought up the Zoom error screen offering to send info to zoom support.


    Yes. but if you want to share a screen (eg you scanned a cheque that you
    want to query say) and you have an intel graphics card (Not positive
    that this is required for the bug) you may find him complaining that
    your screen share is flickering (about half of the shared screen gets replaced by the background desktop randomly and then flipping back , continuously) on his image, but you see nothing wrong on your screen. If
    so, your computer has the zoombug. (It is not there in xfce manager. It
    is apparently in cinamon and plasma).

    Video card is Radeon. Your flickering problem had me wondering
    if you had tried setting vblank_mode=0 solved the problem in the thread
    talking about the problem.


    Oh, yeah, assuming my webcam has a built in mic, is there going to a
    problem with it causing feedback hearing audio from other users speaking?

    Everyone I see on TV are using ear buds or something like them.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 04:04:40 2020
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 02:16:19 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-10, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    What is your Desktop Manager?

    xfce




    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    I think the pubkey should remain the same through versions.

    Yeah, but if figured why not. I do not want a having spent the last
    few days creating scripts to automagically update self-signed certs
    a month before they expire, I do not want to have to troubleshoot
    a screwup on their end leaving me with a useless pubkey in my system.


    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom

    The link /usr/bin/zoom points to (/opt/zoom/ZoomLoader)
    which sets the LD_LIBRARY_PATH anyway.

    export PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom

    Do not need that AFAIK.

    I was making the above exports assumptions while reading

    https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13794&p=81012&hilit=zoom#p8101
    where it appears the users did the install from/in their user account.



    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    Is %U a bashism?

    Nope, without it, /opt/zoom/ZoomLauncher (A.K.A /usr/bin/zoom ) will
    put zoom in panel/system tray and you have to click it to launch zoom.

    Hmm. I just do zoom, or /opt/zoom/Zoomlauncher without trouble.



    I would just do /usr/bin/zoom

    Wish you luck with that.

    I have been doing that for quite a while (been using zoom for 8 months
    or more now)

    I clicked up a terminal,
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    /usr/bin/zoom
    and which brought up the Zoom error screen offering to send info to zoom support.

    I have occasionally gotten that. If you just say no, the regular zoom
    window comes up. No idea what that extraneous error screen means or why
    it comes up.



    Yes. but if you want to share a screen (eg you scanned a cheque that you
    want to query say) and you have an intel graphics card (Not positive
    that this is required for the bug) you may find him complaining that
    your screen share is flickering (about half of the shared screen gets
    replaced by the background desktop randomly and then flipping back ,
    continuously) on his image, but you see nothing wrong on your screen. If
    so, your computer has the zoombug. (It is not there in xfce manager. It
    is apparently in cinamon and plasma).

    Video card is Radeon. Your flickering problem had me wondering
    if you had tried setting vblank_mode=0 solved the problem in the thread talking about the problem.

    Nope. Nothing has solved it, except running in xfce. It is a problem
    with Plasma and apparently (from a Linux Mint forum) Cinnimon.



    Oh, yeah, assuming my webcam has a built in mic, is there going to a
    problem with it causing feedback hearing audio from other users speaking?

    It can. Zoom seems to be smart enough that the sound of your own input
    does not produce feedback. But it can do so with other people's sound. I
    have a Logitech C922 webcam and I have been astonished how lacking in
    feedback it is, even though my speaker , which I run fairly loudly (my
    age), and the webcam are only about 2 feet apart.



    Everyone I see on TV are using ear buds or something like them.

    If you do have trouble with feedback then wearing headphones of ear buds
    will cure that. It also helps to keep peace in the family so they do not
    have to hear your zoom sessions.



    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 04:51:57 2020
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 04:04:40 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 02:16:19 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:


    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    Is %U a bashism?

    Nope, without it, /opt/zoom/ZoomLauncher (A.K.A /usr/bin/zoom ) will
    put zoom in panel/system tray and you have to click it to launch zoom.

    Hmm. I just do zoom, or /opt/zoom/Zoomlauncher without trouble.



    I would just do /usr/bin/zoom

    Wish you luck with that.

    I have been doing that for quite a while (been using zoom for 8 months
    or more now)

    I clicked up a terminal,
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    /usr/bin/zoom
    and which brought up the Zoom error screen offering to send info to zoom
    support.

    I have occasionally gotten that. If you just say no, the regular zoom
    window comes up. No idea what that extraneous error screen means or why
    it comes up.

    Shucky dern, you are right. Went back tried three times and no error screen.

    I got the $U argument by looking at the properties in the Menu for Zoom.

    Looking through this thread makes me look like an idiot because what you
    say is true and what I say is false.

    I spent the last 5 or so days automating install and updates, actually
    running tests and whatnot.

    What I am thinking is the latest update makes zoom work more like your
    commands than what I saw with the previous release I had installed.

    I did notice the latest Fedora version zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1 had a smaller 5.4.xxxxx.xxxxx-1 version value than the version I had installed the
    previous week and just assumed they rolled back to a previous release.

    I have no idea what the xxxxx.xxxxx numbers mean. I had assumed they
    would at least increase on each new release.


    Everyone I see on TV are using ear buds or something like them.

    If you do have trouble with feedback then wearing headphones of ear buds
    will cure that.

    I hope I do not have the feedback problem. All I have is a headset and I am guessing pulse audio is going to give me grief with mic and audio.

    Of course pulseaudio has improved since I was using it with Skype years ago.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 06:10:38 2020
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 04:04:40 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:


    I clicked up a terminal,
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    /usr/bin/zoom
    and which brought up the Zoom error screen offering to send info to zoom
    support.

    I have occasionally gotten that. If you just say no, the regular zoom
    window comes up. No idea what that extraneous error screen means or why
    it comes up.

    I found/solved my black screen/error problem. I have compiled/linked
    generated the v4l2loopback kernel module. I ran modprobe v4l2loopback
    which created /dev/video0. Now zoom immediately pops up the sign in
    screen without delay. Since there is no webcam, /dev/video0 was never
    created causing the slow launch of zoom login screen.

    By the way, there is a ~/.zoom directory which you might consider cleaning every once in awhile. Next time you have a problem you might look in the ~/.zoom/logs directory.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 08:00:26 2020
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 04:04:40 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 02:16:19 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:


    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    Is %U a bashism?

    Nope, without it, /opt/zoom/ZoomLauncher (A.K.A /usr/bin/zoom ) will
    put zoom in panel/system tray and you have to click it to launch zoom.

    Hmm. I just do zoom, or /opt/zoom/Zoomlauncher without trouble.



    I would just do /usr/bin/zoom

    Wish you luck with that.

    I have been doing that for quite a while (been using zoom for 8 months
    or more now)

    I clicked up a terminal,
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    /usr/bin/zoom
    and which brought up the Zoom error screen offering to send info to zoom >>> support.

    I have occasionally gotten that. If you just say no, the regular zoom
    window comes up. No idea what that extraneous error screen means or why
    it comes up.

    Shucky dern, you are right. Went back tried three times and no error screen.

    I got the $U argument by looking at the properties in the Menu for Zoom.

    Yes. I have seen it before in other "Laucher" or Application command
    items. I had assumed it was a wild card if for example you dragged
    something onto the icon, and it was used as an argument placeholder. But
    I have no definite idea what it really does, nor have I any idea where
    there is a description of it.

    Looking through this thread makes me look like an idiot because what you
    say is true and what I say is false.

    I spent the last 5 or so days automating install and updates, actually running tests and whatnot.

    What I am thinking is the latest update makes zoom work more like your commands than what I saw with the previous release I had installed.

    I did notice the latest Fedora version zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1 had a smaller 5.4.xxxxx.xxxxx-1 version value than the version I had installed the
    previous week and just assumed they rolled back to a previous release.

    I have no idea what the xxxxx.xxxxx numbers mean. I had assumed they
    would at least increase on each new release.


    Everyone I see on TV are using ear buds or something like them.

    If you do have trouble with feedback then wearing headphones of ear buds
    will cure that.

    I hope I do not have the feedback problem. All I have is a headset and I am guessing pulse audio is going to give me grief with mic and audio.

    Of course pulseaudio has improved since I was using it with Skype years ago.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Herman Viaene@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 10:32:57 2020
    Op Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, schreef Bit Twister:

    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    44M Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Did the following
    urpmi lib64xcb-xtest0 rpm --import zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    urpmi --allow-nodeps --force zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Create a zoom wrapper script which does the following:
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom export
    PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom
    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    When I run it I get a brief black pop up with a title of
    Zoom Cloud Meetings
    then the zoom sign in screen with the same title.
    When I exit Zoom, sign in screen disappears and then the same brief
    black pop screen.

    Can anyone give me a brief description of what is in the first pop up or
    is that just the way the app launcher works?

    As I type this maybe it is normal that the launcher is creating the
    black screen, then launch the sign in app passing it the screen id.

    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I use zoom with the built-in cam and microphone on my Lenovo B50, and
    that works quite OK, with a few remarks:
    I use it for family gatherings every two weeks, as I have nine brothers
    and sisters, with their children and grand children it is often quite busy
    Side effects: if the number of participants gets over 15, some people
    have problems joining in. In that situation when you get in, the zoom application after a while is gradually decreasing the level of your
    microphone (and sometimes introduces noise). The best way I found is to
    mute the microphone in the zoom window when you are listening and to only unmute when you really want to talk.


    I am installing zoom to be able to talk with my bank portfolio manager.
    As I misunderstand it, manager schedules a meeting, I get a meeting
    email with meeting id/pw.
    I launch zoom, enter the meeting id/pw, and we should be able to talk.

    Is that basically all I need to do?

    In short: yes.

    Herman Viaene


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Aioe.org NNTP Server (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 12:24:20 2020
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:00:26 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:

    I got the $U argument by looking at the properties in the Menu for Zoom.

    Yes. I have seen it before in other "Laucher" or Application command
    items. I had assumed it was a wild card if for example you dragged
    something onto the icon, and it was used as an argument placeholder. But
    I have no definite idea what it really does, nor have I any idea where
    there is a description of it.

    https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/ar01s07.html

    After reading that spec, again, and had some sleep, my assumption was
    wrong. zoom showed up in the taskbar because I launched it, and
    the sign in screen was under some other application screen.

    Starting to think I meed more than my usual 8 desktop workspaces when coding
    or do less multi-tasking like mail, usenet, surfing, hunting answers to my
    current task,.....



    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 12:32:29 2020
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:32:57 +0000 (UTC), Herman Viaene wrote:
    Op Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, schreef Bit Twister:

    I have a few Zoom questions.


    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I use zoom with the built-in cam and microphone on my Lenovo B50, and
    that works quite OK, with a few remarks:
    I use it for family gatherings every two weeks, as I have nine brothers
    and sisters, with their children and grand children it is often quite busy Side effects: if the number of participants gets over 15, some people
    have problems joining in. In that situation when you get in, the zoom application after a while is gradually decreasing the level of your microphone (and sometimes introduces noise). The best way I found is to
    mute the microphone in the zoom window when you are listening and to only unmute when you really want to talk.

    Hmmm, muting the mic is a nice tip.



    Herman Viaene


    Thank you for all your Mageia work.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 15:46:17 2020
    On 12/11/20 4:32 AM, Bit Twister wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:32:57 +0000 (UTC), Herman Viaene wrote:
    Op Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, schreef Bit Twister:

    I have a few Zoom questions.


    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I use zoom with the built-in cam and microphone on my Lenovo B50, and
    that works quite OK, with a few remarks:
    I use it for family gatherings every two weeks, as I have nine brothers
    and sisters, with their children and grand children it is often quite busy >> Side effects: if the number of participants gets over 15, some people
    have problems joining in. In that situation when you get in, the zoom
    application after a while is gradually decreasing the level of your
    microphone (and sometimes introduces noise). The best way I found is to
    mute the microphone in the zoom window when you are listening and to only
    unmute when you really want to talk.

    Hmmm, muting the mic is a nice tip.



    Herman Viaene


    Thank you for all your Mageia work.


    Of course in jit.si meets we have found that separate ear phones
    are the best way to go.
    Muting the microphone is good too when you have nothing to say.

    bliss

    --
    bliss dash SF 4 ever at dslextreme dot com

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: dis-organization (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 22:00:05 2020
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 04:04:40 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:


    I clicked up a terminal,
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    /usr/bin/zoom
    and which brought up the Zoom error screen offering to send info to zoom >>> support.

    I have occasionally gotten that. If you just say no, the regular zoom
    window comes up. No idea what that extraneous error screen means or why
    it comes up.

    I found/solved my black screen/error problem. I have compiled/linked generated the v4l2loopback kernel module. I ran modprobe v4l2loopback
    which created /dev/video0. Now zoom immediately pops up the sign in
    screen without delay. Since there is no webcam, /dev/video0 was never
    created causing the slow launch of zoom login screen.

    By the way, there is a ~/.zoom directory which you might consider cleaning every once in awhile. Next time you have a problem you might look in the ~/.zoom/logs directory.

    Yes. I received a debug version of zoom from the people at zoom to try
    to debug the share flickering that I have been complaining about. They
    seem to have gotten stuck in trying to solve the QT_PLUGIN_PATH problem
    first however. It dumps a bunch of logs into .zoom/logs

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 22:05:05 2020
    On 2020-12-11, Herman Viaene <herman@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    Op Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, schreef Bit Twister:

    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    44M Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Did the following
    urpmi lib64xcb-xtest0 rpm --import zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    urpmi --allow-nodeps --force zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Create a zoom wrapper script which does the following:
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom export
    PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom
    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    When I run it I get a brief black pop up with a title of
    Zoom Cloud Meetings
    then the zoom sign in screen with the same title.
    When I exit Zoom, sign in screen disappears and then the same brief
    black pop screen.

    Can anyone give me a brief description of what is in the first pop up or
    is that just the way the app launcher works?

    As I type this maybe it is normal that the launcher is creating the
    black screen, then launch the sign in app passing it the screen id.

    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I use zoom with the built-in cam and microphone on my Lenovo B50, and
    that works quite OK, with a few remarks:
    I use it for family gatherings every two weeks, as I have nine brothers
    and sisters, with their children and grand children it is often quite busy Side effects: if the number of participants gets over 15, some people
    have problems joining in. In that situation when you get in, the zoom application after a while is gradually decreasing the level of your microphone (and sometimes introduces noise). The best way I found is to
    mute the microphone in the zoom window when you are listening and to only unmute when you really want to talk.

    Certainly with a webcam (built-in or usb) it really is quite
    straightforward (except occasionally zoom decides to use the pluseaudion
    dummy soundcard, which of course does not produce sound. I have to play
    around with the pulseaudio settings to get it playing properly again.




    I am installing zoom to be able to talk with my bank portfolio manager.
    As I misunderstand it, manager schedules a meeting, I get a meeting
    email with meeting id/pw.
    I launch zoom, enter the meeting id/pw, and we should be able to talk.

    Is that basically all I need to do?

    In short: yes.

    He has the additional problem that he is not using a usb or built-in
    camera but is trying to use a network camera because he has run out of
    usb slots (of course he coule get a usb extention box). I have never
    used a network camera so have no idea how to make it work, or if it is
    easy.

    Herman Viaene


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 22:07:46 2020
    On 2020-12-11, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:32:57 +0000 (UTC), Herman Viaene wrote:
    Op Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, schreef Bit Twister:

    I have a few Zoom questions.


    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I use zoom with the built-in cam and microphone on my Lenovo B50, and
    that works quite OK, with a few remarks:
    I use it for family gatherings every two weeks, as I have nine brothers
    and sisters, with their children and grand children it is often quite busy >> Side effects: if the number of participants gets over 15, some people
    have problems joining in. In that situation when you get in, the zoom
    application after a while is gradually decreasing the level of your
    microphone (and sometimes introduces noise). The best way I found is to
    mute the microphone in the zoom window when you are listening and to only
    unmute when you really want to talk.

    Hmmm, muting the mic is a nice tip.

    Yes. On almost all conferences participants are asked to mute their
    mics-- otherwise extraneous sounds come in, or feedback from someone's
    setup. for family, where people want to break in to conversations,
    having to push an extra invisible-until-you-move-your-mouse button
    interrupts the flow.



    Herman Viaene


    Thank you for all your Mageia work.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 11 23:59:32 2020
    On 2020-12-10, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    /usr/bin/zoom %U


    I finally found a page which explains the various % commands in the Exec
    line in the icon Properties or Launcher of the icon

    https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-la test.html

    Code Description
    %f A single file name (including the path), even if multiple files are selected. The system
    reading the desktop entry should recognize that the program in question cannot
    handle multiple file arguments, and it should should probably spawn and
    execute multiple
    copies of a program for each selected file if the program is not able to
    handle additional
    file arguments. If files are not on the local file system (i.e. are on HTTP
    or FTP locations),
    the files will be copied to the local file system and %f will be expanded to
    point at
    the temporary file. Used for programs that do not understand the URL syntax.
    %F A list of files. Use for apps that can open several local files at once.
    Each file is passed as a separate argument to the executable program. %u A single URL. Local files may either be passed as file: URLs or as file
    path.
    %U A list of URLs. Each URL is passed as a separate argument to the executable
    program.
    Local files may either be passed as file: URLs or as file path.
    %d Deprecated.
    %D Deprecated.
    %n Deprecated.
    %N Deprecated.
    %i The Icon key of the desktop entry expanded as two arguments, first --icon
    and then
    the value of the Icon key. Should not expand to any arguments if the Icon key is
    empty or missing.
    %c The translated name of the application as listed in the appropriate Name
    key in
    the desktop entry.
    %k The location of the desktop file as either a URI (if for example gotten
    from the
    vfolder system) or a local filename or empty if no location is known. %v Deprecated.
    %m Deprecated.

    A command line may contain at most one %f, %u, %F or %U field code. If the application should not open any file the %f, %u, %F and %U field codes must be removed from the command line and ignored.

    Field codes must not be used inside a quoted argument, the result of field code expansion inside a quoted argument is undefined. The %F and %U field codes may only be used as an argument on their own.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Wed Dec 23 18:29:11 2020
    On Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, Bit Twister wrote:

    When you open a test meeting, are you supposed to hear audio?

    Just an FYI: I have to unjack/jack in my webcam mic to get mic working.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Thu Dec 24 05:26:45 2020
    On 2020-12-23, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, Bit Twister wrote:

    When you open a test meeting, are you supposed to hear audio?

    A test meeting where? If you have two computers, you can log into zoom
    on one machine, and then open a meeting of your own meeting number (your personal meeting room) and then on the other computer, open zoom and
    join that same meeting. Then you can test the audio between the two.
    Mind you if both are in the same room you are liable to get bad
    feedback (but that will show that the audio is working).

    Just an FYI: I have to unjack/jack in my webcam mic to get mic working.

    You just have to setup zoom to use theright mic, not the onboard mic,
    but the webcam mike.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Thu Dec 24 06:34:42 2020
    On Thu, 24 Dec 2020 05:26:45 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-23, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, Bit Twister wrote:

    When you open a test meeting, are you supposed to hear audio?

    A test meeting where?

    Log into zoom with the zoom client, then launch
    firefox http://zoom.us/test

    If you have two computers, you can log into zoom on one machine,

    Sounds like I would have to have another webcam. :(
    All I have are desktops, controlled via a desktop switcher.



    Just an FYI: I have to unjack/jack in my webcam mic to get mic working.

    You just have to setup zoom to use theright mic, not the onboard mic,
    but the webcam mike.

    Been there, done that. Still have to dink with mic jack for the
    mic to show activity in the zoom client Audio test screen.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Thu Dec 24 18:02:35 2020
    On 2020-12-24, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 24 Dec 2020 05:26:45 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-23, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, Bit Twister wrote:

    When you open a test meeting, are you supposed to hear audio?

    A test meeting where?

    Log into zoom with the zoom client, then launch
    firefox http://zoom.us/test

    If you have two computers, you can log into zoom on one machine,

    Sounds like I would have to have another webcam. :(
    All I have are desktops, controlled via a desktop switcher.

    Yes, that will not work, since zoom will see that you are already
    running zoom as you on the other desktop. Now you can set up an
    alternative user and use that user to zoom to your hosted Personal
    Meeting (I think) .
    Mind you then you have the problem that you only have one screen
    attached, and cannot see both screens at once. Or hear both audios at
    once.

    Anyway, it was a suggestion in case you happened to have another
    computer, a laptop, a modern cell phone, a tablet, or some other way of
    running zoom on another machine.





    Just an FYI: I have to unjack/jack in my webcam mic to get mic working.

    You just have to setup zoom to use theright mic, not the onboard mic,
    but the webcam mike.

    Been there, done that. Still have to dink with mic jack for the
    mic to show activity in the zoom client Audio test screen.

    What is your webcam? Does your audio show more than one possible source?
    By default I think it uses your computer's sound. Look at the speaker
    icon on your task bar, and see what it identifies as possible sound
    sources.

    Anyway, as far as I can see, the test does not send in audio to that
    test meeting. And as a feedback preventative, as far as I can see, zoom
    damps out the sound it is broadcasting from your own speaker.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Fri Dec 25 20:31:31 2020
    On Thu, 24 Dec 2020 18:02:35 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-24, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 24 Dec 2020 05:26:45 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-23, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, Bit Twister wrote:

    When you open a test meeting, are you supposed to hear audio?



    Just an FYI: I have to unjack/jack in my webcam mic to get mic working. >>>
    You just have to setup zoom to use theright mic, not the onboard mic,
    but the webcam mike.

    Been there, done that. Still have to dink with mic jack for the
    mic to show activity in the zoom client Audio test screen.

    What is your webcam?

    webcam model Popvcly RS-N3-B0 usb-2 1080P HD Webcam Web Camera

    Does your audio show more than one possible source?


    Yes, "Same as System" and "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"

    By default I think it uses your computer's sound.

    Guessing that is true for built in webcam. Since mine is external/usb
    default is Built-in Audio Analog Stereo

    Look at the speaker
    icon on your task bar, and see what it identifies as possible sound
    sources.

    Showing Mic. Again. zoom Audio test shows mic activity after jack insertion.

    Anyway, as far as I can see, the test does not send in audio to that
    test meeting.

    And that is what I wanted conformation about.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Sat Dec 26 19:55:41 2020
    On 2020-12-25, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 24 Dec 2020 18:02:35 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-24, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 24 Dec 2020 05:26:45 -0000 (UTC), William Unruh wrote:
    On 2020-12-23, Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    On Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:21:45 -0600, Bit Twister wrote:

    When you open a test meeting, are you supposed to hear audio?



    Just an FYI: I have to unjack/jack in my webcam mic to get mic working. >>>>
    You just have to setup zoom to use theright mic, not the onboard mic,
    but the webcam mike.

    Been there, done that. Still have to dink with mic jack for the
    mic to show activity in the zoom client Audio test screen.

    What is your webcam?

    webcam model Popvcly RS-N3-B0 usb-2 1080P HD Webcam Web Camera

    Certainly looks like a cheap enough web-cam. (under $10 plus a few
    dollars shipping from Aliexpress.) Wonder if it works.
    Have you gotten the sound to work?


    Does your audio show more than one possible source?


    Yes, "Same as System" and "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"

    By default I think it uses your computer's sound.

    Guessing that is true for built in webcam. Since mine is external/usb
    default is Built-in Audio Analog Stereo

    Look at the speaker
    icon on your task bar, and see what it identifies as possible sound
    sources.

    Showing Mic. Again. zoom Audio test shows mic activity after jack insertion.

    Anyway, as far as I can see, the test does not send in audio to that
    test meeting.

    And that is what I wanted conformation about.


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Doug Laidlaw@2:250/1 to All on Mon Dec 28 14:27:23 2020
    On 11/12/20 3:21 am, Bit Twister wrote:
    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
    https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
    https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

    1.8K Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    44M Dec 7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Did the following
    urpmi lib64xcb-xtest0
    rpm --import zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
    urpmi --allow-nodeps --force zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Create a zoom wrapper script which does the following:
    unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom
    export PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom
    /usr/bin/zoom %U

    When I run it I get a brief black pop up with a title of
    Zoom Cloud Meetings
    then the zoom sign in screen with the same title.
    When I exit Zoom, sign in screen disappears and then the
    same brief black pop screen.

    Can anyone give me a brief description of what is in the first pop up
    or is that just the way the app launcher works?

    As I type this maybe it is normal that the launcher is creating the
    black screen, then launch the sign in app passing it the screen id.

    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I am installing zoom to be able to talk with my bank portfolio manager.
    As I misunderstand it, manager schedules a meeting, I get a meeting
    email with meeting id/pw.
    I launch zoom, enter the meeting id/pw, and we should be able to talk.

    Is that basically all I need to do?


    The RPM lib64xcb-xtest0 in Mageia is different from the one in (say)
    Mint. It is missing a vital element needed to play Zoom. On Mageia
    Planet, Bruno Cornec got around this by creating a small Docker and
    running Fedora's Zoom RPM inside that. I had problems getting the
    Docker subsystem set up. I have Bruno's script on my HD, and will put
    it on Dropbox and give you a link.

    HTH,

    Doug.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Aioe.org NNTP Server (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Doug Laidlaw@2:250/1 to All on Mon Dec 28 14:49:38 2020
    On 29/12/20 1:27 am, Doug Laidlaw wrote:
    On 11/12/20 3:21 am, Bit Twister wrote:
    I have a few Zoom questions.

    I have zoom scripts to downloaded the latest zoom files from
        https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm
        https://zoom.us/linux/download/pubkey
    and rename them to their version name and set the date they were built.

         1.8K Dec  7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
          44M Dec  7 21:08 zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Did the following
         urpmi lib64xcb-xtest0
         rpm --import zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.pubkey
         urpmi --allow-nodeps --force zoom-5.4.56259.1207-1.x86_64.rpm

    Create a zoom wrapper script which does the following:
         unset QT_PLUGIN_PATH
         export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/zoom
         export PATH=$PATH:/opt/zoom
        /usr/bin/zoom %U

    When I run it I get a brief black pop up with a title of
       Zoom Cloud Meetings
    then the zoom sign in screen with the same title.
    When I exit Zoom, sign in screen disappears and then the
    same brief black pop screen.

    Can anyone give me a brief description of what is in the first pop up
    or is that just the way the app launcher works?

    As I type this maybe it is normal that the launcher is creating the
    black screen, then launch the sign in app passing it the screen id.

    I was able to sign in and configure my audio output.
    Waiting for my webcam to arrive sometime next week.

    I am installing zoom to be able to talk with my bank portfolio manager.
    As I misunderstand it, manager schedules a meeting, I get a meeting
    email with meeting id/pw.
    I launch zoom, enter the meeting id/pw, and we should be able to talk.

    Is that basically all I need to do?


    The RPM lib64xcb-xtest0 in Mageia is different from the one in (say)
    Mint.  It is missing a vital element needed to play Zoom.  On Mageia Planet, Bruno Cornec got around this by creating a small Docker and
    running Fedora's Zoom RPM inside that.  I had problems getting the
    Docker subsystem set up.  I have Bruno's script on my HD, and will put
    it on Dropbox and give you a link.

    HTH,

    Doug.

    Dropbox no longer allows sharing files, and I am not sure whether Google
    Drive does. It would be simpler if you could give me an email address.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Aioe.org NNTP Server (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Bit Twister@2:250/1 to All on Mon Dec 28 15:43:40 2020
    On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 01:49:38 +1100, Doug Laidlaw wrote:


    The RPM lib64xcb-xtest0 in Mageia is different from the one in (say)
    Mint.  It is missing a vital element needed to play Zoom.  On Mageia Planet, Bruno Cornec got around this by creating a small Docker and
    running Fedora's Zoom RPM inside that.  I had problems getting the
    Docker subsystem set up.  I have Bruno's script on my HD, and will put
    it on Dropbox and give you a link.

    It would be nice to provide the link to Mageia Planet, where Bruno Cornec got
    around this by creating a small Docker


    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From William Unruh@2:250/1 to All on Mon Dec 28 17:16:47 2020
    On 2020-12-28, Doug Laidlaw <laidlaws@hotkey.net.au> wrote:

    The RPM lib64xcb-xtest0 in Mageia is different from the one in (say)
    Mint. It is missing a vital element needed to play Zoom. On Mageia
    Planet, Bruno Cornec got around this by creating a small Docker and
    running Fedora's Zoom RPM inside that. I had problems getting the
    Docker subsystem set up. I have Bruno's script on my HD, and will put
    it on Dropbox and give you a link.

    I have run zoom on Mageia for over a year. Not sure what this is
    refering to. What is missing?

    HTH,

    Doug.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Doug Laidlaw@2:250/1 to All on Tue Dec 29 17:39:38 2020
    On 29/12/20 2:43 am, Bit Twister wrote:
    On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 01:49:38 +1100, Doug Laidlaw wrote:


    The RPM lib64xcb-xtest0 in Mageia is different from the one in (say)
    Mint.  It is missing a vital element needed to play Zoom.  On Mageia
    Planet, Bruno Cornec got around this by creating a small Docker and
    running Fedora's Zoom RPM inside that.  I had problems getting the
    Docker subsystem set up.  I have Bruno's script on my HD, and will put
    it on Dropbox and give you a link.

    It would be nice to provide the link to Mageia Planet, where Bruno Cornec
    got
    around this by creating a small Docker

    Yes, it would, but there seems to be no index. I tried to find it
    earlier, for a similar question, but gave up looking. Another search
    just now fared no better. Bruno has a "Mageia-docker" item on GitHub, https://github.com/bcornec/mageia-docker
    which may be the answer to some of my issues.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Aioe.org NNTP Server (2:250/1@fidonet)
  • From Doug Laidlaw@2:250/1 to All on Tue Dec 29 18:06:00 2020
    On 30/12/20 4:39 am, Doug Laidlaw wrote:

    Yes, it  would, but there seems to be no index.

    Even a listing of "Archives" was empty. Your search skills may be more refined than mine.

    --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.17 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
    * Origin: Aioe.org NNTP Server (2:250/1@fidonet)