Problem with cropping

[otis]

I've been using AutoGK to convert VOB files to avi, and until now it's all worked fine. However, suddenly it's started cropping the files (which are 4:3) so that the top and bottom of the image is missing. Having searched for solutions, I've found various references to the "Tune autocrop parameters" function in Hidden Options, but I can't access Hidden Options via CTRL-F9. Can anyone offer any suggestions as to
a) how to get rid of the unwanted cropping
b) how to access Hidden Options

Thanks

[kalehrl]

b) to access hidden options, you have to select input file first. If you have already selected input file and by pressing ctrl+f9 you don't get hidden options, try clicking on the autogk window and then pressing ctrl+f9.

a) From autogk tutorial:

- Sometimes auto crop used with default parameters by AutoGK cannot totally remove black bars or removes too much of a movie material. In this case "Tune auto crop parameters" is very handy. Threshold defines how sensitive auto crop will be: the higher the value the more cropping will be done. To completely disable audio crop you can set threshold to 0. "Number of frames to examine" is useful parameter to change if movie is a mixture of full screen/wide screen shots, so by selecting different frames that auto crop examines you can improve cropping process. "Starting frame" can help auto crop in situation when you have a full screen logo as a part of widescreen movie, in which case autocrop might decide that the whole source is full screen. By selecting a different starting frames you force auto crop not to examine irrelevant starting movie sequence. "Force cropping" option allows you to crop additional pixels after autocrop operation (if you find that you need to always crop several more pixels you can use this option). If you disable autocrop with threshold 0 then "force cropping" option becomes fully manual crop. Remember always to check how movie looks like after you set new auto crop parameters using Preview function of AutoGK.

[otis]

Thanks for the quick response! I've selected the input file, but CTRL-F9 still doesn't work. (On my laptop, that key is a volume control, so all it seems to do is turn the sound up). Sorry if I'm being stupid here, but what exactly do you mean by "clicking on the autogk window"? I've tried right- and left-clicking, and nothing happens, but I'm not sure if I've understood correctly.

The really annoying thing is that after my first post it worked OK again for a while, but it's just gone back to cropping the top and the bottom. Very frustrating!

[netmask]

On many laptops the F keys can have dual functions that you can toggle the function with the Fn key - check to see if you can toggle the volume up key to normal function F9

[CWR03]

If the "F9" on the key is printed in blue (Typical for a Dell laptop) there will be a Function or Fn key also printed in blue that you need to hold when you press it. That means you'll press Ctrl + Fn + F9 all at once to access the hidden menu.

[otis]

The Fn + CTRL + F9 combination worked, and I've managed to get rid of the cropping. Fantastic! Thanks so much, all three of you. Really helpful!:):):)