How to set autoplay action for a device rather than a media

[AlanRR]

Hi

I plug in my Canon camcorder and the program that runs is the one I set for my Panasonic camcorder

The autoplay choices do not include the program I want to use for the Canon.

The Canon shows in the devices section of the autoplay window, but again its options do not appear to be editable. When the option is changed it does not work in that the system thinks the canon is a Panasonic, and consequently follows the wrong action.

The Canon shows in the 'devices and printers' page as a connected device.

Whilst preserving the action that takes place when the Panasonic is plugged in - I want to set the program that uploads files from the Canon to autoplay when the canon is plugged in.

At present when I plug the canon in - I first have to shutdown the program automatically run because the system thought the canon was a Panasonic, then doubleclick the icon on my desktop to run the canon specific uploader.

Is there any way of making life easier?

 

[AlanRR]

Let me explain a little more.

I have 2 camcorders - -the first is by Panasonic the second by Canon.

The Panasonic was set up ages ago and works fine, system senses its plugged in and runs the application I want to use to upload clips. However, when I plug the Canon in everything happens like its the Panasonic I plugged in. Checking AutoPlay when the Canon is plugged in shows the system wants to go and run the Panasonic uploader - which is why it does!

When the Canon is plugged in - in devices and printers I can see a device called Video Camera that the Properties/Hardware confirm is a device made by Canon.

Of possible interest - the autoplay function seems to be associated with drive H: rather than the device that's plugged in (when the Canon is plugged in) but when the Panasonic is plugged in, in D&P it shows as Panasonic Video Camera.

So first it would seem necessary to educate my WIndows7 to recognise the Canon and then secondly get its uploader software to be added to the Autoplay list so it can be selected as the desired action when the Canon is plugged in.

Everything seemed to go so smooth for the Panasonic - and I now want to try and get the Canon to the same state, but it seems a struggle.

Hope you can shed some more light on this.....

 

[AlanRR]

This is still bugging me - is there anyone out there who can help?

Latest is that I have solved the function where when plugging the Canon in W7 behaves like it thinks its the Panasonic, now when I plug the Canon in - nothing happens and I then have to manually run the uploader program.

Would be grateful for any thoughts or ideas.....

 

[torchwood]

Not sure but to set the associations for the Canon camera option you need to have BOTH Physically connected, at the same time in differrent USB ports.
IE Panasonic will still be the H drive and the Canon will become the I drive, as the association is the USB port not the device.

Roy

 

[AlanRR]

Ok - thanks for that Roy - I will try that tomorrow and let you know how/if that helps.

Cheers

 

[AlanRR]

Plugging both camcorders at the same time does not appear to do anything interesting.

Yes - each device seems to attract its own drive letter no matter which physical USB port it is connected to.

Canon is always H: and Panasonic is always K:

When both cams plugged in - Devices and Printers shows the Panasonic as "Panasonic video camera" and the Canon shows as "Video camera"

Further observations.

I have a DSLR that always shows in Autoplay and works fine set as Open Device Stage (the only dropdown alternative being "take no action"

The Canon appears in Autoplay - presently set to Take No Action (this stopped the system acting as though it was a Panasonic) the other dropdown choices being the standard windows set but no open device stage at all.

And the Panasonic, which does not show in autoplay yet always launches the correct s/w and works perfectly.

The DSLR always has an icon in devices and printers whether plugged in or not. Never has a port letter associated with it when plugged in - and device stage was used to set the correct s/w to run when detected.

The Panasonic has an icon that shows in Devices and Printers BUT only while plugged in.

The Canon has a generic icon displayed in Devices and Printers BUT only while plugged in.

All these devices plug into usb ports yet seem to be handled by Windows7 in totally different ways which I do not understand.

I now have the setup such that DSLR connected = runs specific s/w to upload pics.

Panasonic connected = runs specific s/w to upload video clips.

Canon connected = I have to manually start the required s/w to upload video clips.

Not ideal - or not as I think it should be - but hey ho it works, and at the moment I am totally puzzled as to why they all seems different in their own ways and two out of three work automatically as required and the other does not.

 

[ComputerGeek]

I believe the issue is that autoplay only distinguishes based on device type. Your Canon and Panasonic are different devices (of course) but both of them the same type. So the best you can do is set autoplay to "Always ask". Autoplay should then (hopefully) present you with a choice of software and you manually pick Canon or Panasonic.

Sometimes a device can be set to appear as different device types. Example: Many phones and cameras can be configured as to how you want them to appear to Windows: either a Media (MSC) or Camera (PTP) devices. So Autoplay could react different for the same physical device depending on which device type you set it to.

 

[AlanRR]

Thanks for your input - it appears this is not as simple as I had hoped - consulted with Canon and they don't really understand and referred me to Microsoft.

At the moment - and unless someone else comes up with more ideas - the Canon is set to Do Nothing and the Panasonic as was - auto running its own software.

Frustrating - as I'm sure there must be a way - but thanks for your interest.