Config file not working

[bodobear]

Hello, first I want to say thank you for that nice project.
I hope you can help me what I am doing wrong.
On my Rasp3b I installed the newest Raspian and update. Then I followed the instructions from here:
https://www.thedigitalpictureframe.com/how-to-add-crossfading-slide-transitions-to-your-digital-picture-frame-using-pi3d/

When I power on the Raspberry Raspian boots and automaticly starts Picframe with the pictures I put in /Pictures.
The problem is that ever changed I do in the "configuration.yaml" has no effect.
I can´t change the delay time, remove the file names, change the picture size.... tried a fresh install with no luck.
I think Picframe is not doing anything I change in the config file. Do you have any idea what I´m doing wrong ?

Thanks in advance,
Bodo

[paddywwoof]

That does sound odd. Just to clarify your situation. The configuration.yaml file that you change is the one in /home/pi/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml and you are starting it with a service /home/pi/.config/systemd/user/picframe.service with

ExecStart=/home/pi/.local/bin/picframe ~/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml

It's hard to see how you are getting it to run at all unless this is the case.

[bodobear]

yes I did everything exactly like it´s written on the website:

mkdir ~/.config/systemd/user/ -p && nano ~/.config/systemd/user/picframe.service
and paste the following text into the file

[Unit]
Description=PictureFrame on Pi3
[Service]
ExecStart=/home/pi/.local/bin/picframe ~/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml
#Restart=always
[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

[helgeerbe]

Please run:

pi@picframe:~ $ picframe -v
INFO:start.py:starting ['/home/pi/.local/bin/picframe', '-v']
picframe version:  2021.05.05

Checking required packages......
PIL :  5.4.1
exifread :  2.3.2
pi3d :  2.45
yaml :  5.3.1
paho.mqtt :  1.5.1
iptcinfo3 :  2.1.4
numpy :  1.16.2
ninepatch : installed, but no version info

Checking optional packages......
pyheif : Not found!

Which version have you installed?

What do you get, if you run

ps axu | grep picframe

I would expect something like

pi         683  7.1  5.5 230976 49748 ?        Ssl  Mai11 716:55 /usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/.local/bin/picframe ~/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml

When changing log level to DEBUG and you run

journalctl --user-unit  picframe.service

What do you see in the logs?

[bodobear]

picframe version: 2021.05.05

Checking required packages......
PIL : 5.4.1
exifread : 2.3.2
pi3d : 2.45
yaml : 5.4.1
paho.mqtt : 1.5.1
iptcinfo3 : 2.1.4
numpy : 1.16.2
ninepatch : installed, but no version info
Checking optional packages......
pyheif : Not found!

pi 521 5.2 4.7 103012 42392 ? Ssl 21:07 4:29 /usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/.local/bin/picframe ~/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml
pi 984 0.0 0.0 7492 540 pts/0 S+ 22:33 0:00 grep --color=auto picframe

-- Logs begin at Thu 2019-02-14 11:11:59 CET, end at Tue 2021-05-18 22:29:51 CEST. --
Mai 18 21:07:41 raspberrypi systemd[510]: Started PictureFrame on Pi3.
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: INFO:start.py:starting ['/home/pi/.local/bin/picframe', '~/
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: INFO:model.Model:Open config file: /home/pi/picframe_data/c
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: ERROR:model.Model:Can't parse yaml config file: /home/pi/pi
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: in "/home/pi/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml", li
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: expected , but found ''
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: in "/home/pi/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml", li
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: ERROR:model.Model:error trying to set locale to en_US.utf8
lines 1-9/9 (END)

[helgeerbe]

There it is

Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: ERROR:model.Model:Can't parse yaml config file: /home/pi/pi
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: in "/home/pi/picframe_data/config/configuration.yaml", li
Mai 18 21:07:48 raspberrypi picframe[521]: expected , but found ''

It seems, that you have a typo in the config file.

Can you show us your config file. Please remove or x out passwords and email address.

[bodobear]

viewer:
blur_amount: 12 # default=12, larger values than 12 will increase processing load quite a bit
blur_zoom: 1.0 # default=1.0, must be >= 1.0 which expands the backgorund to just fill the space around the image
blur_edges: False # default=False, use blurred version of image to fill edges - will override FIT = False
edge_alpha: 0.5 # default=0.5, background colour at edge. 1.0 would show reflection of image
fps: 20.0 # default=20.0
background: [0.2, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0] # default=[0.2, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0], RGBA to fill edges when fitting
blend_type: "blend" # default="blend", choices={"blend", "burn", "bump"}, type of blend the shader can do
font_file: "/home/pi/picframe_data/data/fonts/NotoSans-Regular.ttf"
shader: "/home/pi/picframe_data/data/shaders/blend_new"
show_text_fm: "". # default "%b %d, %Y", format to show date over the image
show_text_tm: 20.0 # default=20.0, time to show text over image with file name
show_text_sz: 40 # default=40, text character size
show_text: "". # default="title caption name date folder location", show text, include combination of words: title, caption name, date, location, folder
text_justify: "L" # text justification L, C or R
fit: True # default=False, True => scale image so all visible and leave 'gaps'
# False => crop image so no 'gaps'
#auto_resize: True # default=True, set this to False if you want to use 4K resolution on Raspberry Pi 4.
# You should ensure your images are the correct size for the display")
kenburns: False # default=False, will set fit->False and blur_edges->False
display_x: 0 # offset from left of screen (can be negative)
display_y: 0 # offset from top of screen (can be negative)
display_w: null # width of display surface (null->None will use max returned by hardware)
display_h: null # height of display surface
use_glx: False # default=False. Set to True on linux with xserver running

mat_images: False # default=0.01, True, automatically mat all images. False, don't automatically mat any images. Real value, auto-mat all images with aspect ratio difference > than value
mat_type: null # default=null, A string containing the mat types to choose from when matting images. It can consist of any or
# all of 'float float_polaroid float_color_wrap single_bevel double_bevel double_flat' (null or '' will use all mat types)
outer_mat_color: null # default=null, Color of the outer mat as an RGB list. null will auto-select a reasonable color based on the image.
inner_mat_color: null # default=null, Color of the inner mat as an RGB list. null will auto-select a reasonable color based on the image.
outer_mat_border: 75 # default=75, Minimum outer mat border in pixels
inner_mat_border: 40 # default=40, Minimum inner mat border in pixels (for styles that use it)
outer_mat_use_texture: True # default=True, True uses a texture for the outer mat. False creates a solid-color outer mat.
inner_mat_use_texture: False # default=False, True uses a texture for the inner mat. False creates a solid-color inner mat.
mat_resource_folder: "/home/pi/picframe_data/data/mat" # Folder containing mat image files

#codepoints: "1234567890AÄÀÆÅÃBCÇDÈÉÊEËFGHIÏÍJKLMNÑOÓÖÔŌØPQRSTUÚÙÜVWXYZaáàãæåäbcçdeéèêëfghiíïjklmnñoóôōøöpqrsßtuúüvwxyz., _-+*()&/`´'•" # limit to 121 ie 11x11 grid_size

model:
pic_dir: "/home/pi/Pictures" # default="/home/pi/Pictures", root folder for images
deleted_pictures: "/home/pi/DeletedPictures" # move deleted pictures here
no_files_img: "/home/pi/picframe_data/data/no_pictures.jpg" # default="PictureFrame2020img.jpg", image to show if none selected
subdirectory: "" # default="", subdir of pic_dir - can be changed by MQTT"
recent_n: 7 # default=7 (days), when shuffling file change date more recent than this number of days play before the rest
reshuffle_num: 1 # default=1, times through before reshuffling
time_delay: 20.0 # default=200.0, time between consecutive slide starts - can be changed by MQTT
fade_time: 10.0 # default=10.0, change time during which slides overlap - can be changed by MQTT"
shuffle: True # default=True, shuffle on reloading image files - can be changed by MQTT"
sort_cols: 'fname ASC' # default='fname ASC' can be any columns in the table with optional ASC or DESC separated by commas
# fname, last_modified, file_id, orientation, exif_datetime, f_number,
# exposure_time, iso, focal_length, make, model, lens, rating,
# latitude, longitude, width, height, title, caption, tags,
# is_portrait, location
image_attr: [ # image attributes send by MQTT, Keys are taken from exifread library, "PICFRAME GPS" is special to retrieve GPS lon/lat, "PICFRAME LOCATION" is special to retrieve geo reverse (load_geoloc hast to be True)
"PICFRAME GPS",
"PICFRAME LOCATION",
"EXIF FNumber",
"EXIF ExposureTime",
"EXIF ISOSpeedRatings",
"EXIF FocalLength",
"EXIF DateTimeOriginal",
"Image Model",
"IPTC Caption/Abstract",
"IPTC Object Name",
"IPTC Keywords"]
load_geoloc: False # get location information from open street map NB if you switch this on (recommended)
geo_key: "this_needs_to@be_changed" # then you MUST change the geo_key to something unique to you
# i.e. use your email address
locale: "de_DE.UTF-8" # "locale -a" shows the installed locales which could used
key_list: [
["tourism","amenity","isolated_dwelling"],
["suburb","village"],
["city","county"],
["region","state","province"],
["country"]]
db_file: "/home/pi/picframe_data/data/pictureframe.db3" # database used by PictureFrame
portrait_pairs: False
log_level: "WARNING" # default=WARNING, could beDEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, CRITICAL
use_kbd: False # default=False, just for debug or console start. Crashing when started with systemd

mqtt:
use_mqtt: False # default=False. Set True true, to enable mqtt
server: "your_mqtt_broker" # No defaults for server
port: 8883 # default=8883 for tls, 1883 else (tls must be "" then !!!!!)
login: "name" # your mqtt user
password: "your_password" # password for mqtt user
tls: "/path/to/your/ca.crt" # filename including path to your ca.crt. If not used, must be set to "" !!!!
device_id: "picframe" # default="picframe" unique id of device. change if there is more than one PictureFrame

http:
use_http: False # default=False. Set True to enable http NB THIS SERVER IS FOR LOCAL NETWORK AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO EXTERNAL ACCESS
path: "/home/pi/picframe_data/html" # path to where html files are located
port: 9000 # port used to serve pages by http server < 1024 requires root which is bad idea
use_ssl: False
keyfile: "path/to/key.pem" # private-key
certfile: "path/to/cert.pem" # server certificate

[helgeerbe]

The indents are not correct. Hope your original config file has the indents?
yaml need it. See the config_example file.

At a first glance you have to remove the . behind the following keys

show_text_fm: "".
show_text: "".

[bodobear]

What do you mean with "indents" ?
That´s the index file I am using.. did not removed anthing for show here.

Deleted the two DOTS right now and restarted.. The texts are gone now, delay is working and I can also disable mat_images.
I think that solved the main problem for now. Thank you very much for your help !

Is there any option to use the frames around my pictures (mat.images) without resizing my images so small ? Just one frame and thinner, not the double ones ? Can I use just one thin frame for all pics ?

[jgodfrey]

Is there any option to use the frames around my pictures (mat.images) without resizing my images so small ? Just one frame and thinner, not the double ones ? Can I use just one thin frame for all pics ?

You can configure the automatic matting more to your liking. The docs for the auto-matting feature are on the wiki, here:

https://github.com/helgeerbe/picframe/wiki/Automatic-Matting

Currently, there are 6 matting styles. By default, they're all used randomly. You can configure that to use any subset of the styles, including just a single style. See the Mat Styles section of the above doc.

Regarding the size of the matted images... You can probably adjust the outer_mat_border option more to your liking. See the Mat Borders section of the mentioned doc.

[bodobear]

Ok great ! I will read that tomorrow and experiment with the config file.
I´m very happy for your help. Love the matting syles alot. No more reason to look for a Samsung The Frame again ;)

One last thing you could please explain me .. what is the "MQTT" for ? Is it a remote control for Picframe ?
How do you shut down the device ? How do you handle it at night ? Just turning off power ?
Is it possible tu turn off automaticly by time ?

Sorry to ask so many questions.. totally new here and exited to build my first frame now :)
Thanks again for all your help !
Have a good night ! Bodo.

[jgodfrey]

I´m very happy for your help. Love the matting syles alot. No more reason to look for a Samsung The Frame again ;)

Nice - glad to hear it! I certainly took some inspiration from The Frame when creating some of the matting styles... :)

One last thing you could please explain me .. what is the "MQTT" for ? Is it a remote control for Picframe ?

MQTT is just a messaging protocol, used by many IoT devices for simple control and monitoring. In the case of this picture frame project, it can be used to control many of the features of the frame remotely (by any MQTT-enabled client software). So, "yes", you can think of it as a way to set up a "remote control" for your frame.

There are lots of MQTT-based "dashboard" apps available that can be used to communicate with the picture frame via the MQTT protocol (iOS, Android, PC, Mac, web, ...). In my case, I've set up an Android-based remote control for my frame using this free dashboard app. There are lots of similar apps available.

Here's an article that might be helpful:

https://www.thedigitalpictureframe.com/dashmqtt-android-app-remote-control-raspberry-pi-photo-frame/

How do you shut down the device ? How do you handle it at night ? Just turning off power ?

In my case, I just turn off the display at night (via the above-mentioned remote on my Android phone). That said, it'd certainly be possible to schedule the starting and stopping of the running picture frame service on the RaspberryPi to do this automatically based on time of day...

Is it possible tu turn off automaticly by time ?

Should be, see above...

Sorry to ask so many questions.. totally new here and exited to build my first frame now :)

No worries. I hope you enjoy the DIY journey! :)

[paddywwoof]

Yes, MQTT is one way to remote control the picframe. Wolfgang has lots of info on his website (the one you reference in your original post). You can also make picframe run a simple web server so you can get a web page on your phone to 'next', 'back' turn off screen etc etc. You can set systemd or crontab to send instructions to the picframe at certain times to turn the screen on and off - again lots of info on Wolfgang's blog.

[bodobear]

Thank you, sounds very inetersting. Maybe a bit too much for today.. hehee
For sure something to look for soon.
Would be cool to control the frame with the iPhone or Alexa.
Good night !!

[jgodfrey]

Would be cool to control the frame with the iPhone or Alexa

Here's an example of the Picture Frame remote I've set up on my Android Phone via the MQTT interface. It's vertically scrollable, so there's more to it than is shown in the screenshot, but it'll give you some idea of what's possible...

[bodobear]

Thank you for showing me your setup. Looks great and so many commands to use with it.
I was trying to get the MQTT stuff running on my raspberry with the iPhone but for any reason I couldn´t get the user/password option working like described on Wolfgangs website.
Right now I am using the short commands within IOS to turn the screen on/off and shutdown the device.
For now that´s fine but when I see your options here I will give it another try. Do you know any good IOS app I should use ?

[jgodfrey]

Regarding login and password for MQTT use... By default, you shouldn't have to define them in the picture frame's config file. Looking, they're both just "" in my configuration. Also, looking at Wolfgang's article here, that's how he shows them defined too...

https://www.thedigitalpictureframe.com/dashmqtt-android-app-remote-control-raspberry-pi-photo-frame/

Regarding an iOS app, sorry I can't make any recommendations there as I'm not an Apple User (Android here). Really though, most any "MQTT Dashboard-type" app will probably work. The bigger issue is probably finding the app you like the best among the ones that work.

In my case, I've set up a frame remote in 3 or 4 different MQTT-client apps on my Android device. I still fiddle with some of the other setups from time to time, but I keep coming back to the one I posted above...