I just finished nearly 30 single-scene virtual tours for a client.  They were all created with TW4, the latest build.  When the client posted the tours to their website, the image-loading progress bar shows progress to 33%, the tour loads and runs perfectly, but the 33% progress bar remains as an overlay on the image during the entire tour.

The bar remains as an overlay on every tour and on every computer on which they have been tried.

Here is the client's website:  http://www.redcliffslodge.com/virtual-tours

Here is my website:  http://www.perpetual-images.com/VirtualTours.htm

I posted the EXACT same tour file (for the restaurant anyway) on my website and do not have the same problem.  The problem did not appear until the client posted the tours.

My feeling is that there is a problem in the way the client has posted the tours, embedded in another page with additional script and code.

Any ideas from anyone out there?  I have agreed to rebuild every tour without the image loading progress bar.

Thanks for your replies.  The client originally indicated it was happening on all computers...I had only tried it with Vista.  After I posted,she informed me the progress bar only remained when tried with Vista or Windows 2000.  I am in the process of re-doing all tours without the image-loading progress bar.

As for my equipment, all tours are shot with either Canon's 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III, 5D or 5D Mark II.  Lenses used are Canon's 14mm rectilinear or the 24-70 zoom, both L series.  The only supplemental lighting (if any) is a 580 EX or 580 EXII on camera.

I still hope someone here can give some insight into this problem.  As usual, Easypano tech support has been useless because, on every occassion I've consulted them, they have been unable to open a single website in the USA.  I can only assume it is because of government censorship.

Hmmm...interesting.  The bar removes itself on all the tours on my website when viewed with any of my computers on either XP or Vista.  It removes itself when played from files on the computer.  The ONLY place this has happened so far is in the tours the client posted to their site.  But since you seem to experience the problem on all tours, it seems this might be a bug in TW4.  Hopefully, Easypano reads these forums.

Thanks for the info.

Ok, not sure if this is going to be 'liked' but here's what I see -

tested both your tours on AOL and IE7 and they get to 66 percent indicated on the loading bar and then it sticks.  Same on your clients. Tours look great but this is an issue I've had with all TW4 tours that I've seen - the bar doesn't disappear on my computer. Vista - and its a Dell m1330.    It's therefore, as far as I can see, not a fault that you've made and I'd rule out any camera, photo equipment type things. I've installed the latest version of Flash (installed it on Friday last week) so its not as if I have an outdated version.

I don't know TW4 but could the loading bar be removed or shifted to a less prominent position? It doesn't help, but when I looked at your tours on both sites I was more interested in the location than the annoying wee bar and I think most of your clients clients would feel the same...

Hope that helps.

I can view the tours without a problem and I am using Vista, Flash 10, IE 7.

Great job on the photos and lighting.  I would have thought you used some type of HDR blending.

One question thou, why does your clients site say "If you have problems viewing these tours, please click here to download Java for Windows"? ??  TW4 only outputs flash and the tours are in flash.  Am I missing something here? 

I am at a loss as to what could be the problem (sorry about that) becasue I have vista and I tried my XP machine at work and it worked just fine.

If I may say one more thing.  I am not a big fan of the single pictures for each room or view.  It is very detached and not smooth.  I have not concept of were I am or where I am looking.  The maps in TW4 really set it apart from the other VR tours out there.  You might want to upsell a complete tour to you client.  It would make a great tour CD they could sell or use in marketing their facility.  At the very least it would give people the option if they are farmilar with VR tours. 

DaMan

With regard to the Java notice on the client's website, I have no idea why it's there either...but I've gone several rounds with them on other matters and really do not want to get into it with them on that topic.  It's a holdover from their previous tours.

As for HDR, I sometimes use PhotomatixPro...but most often I do a lot of Photoshop work...combining (pasting, etc.) outdoor exposures with the indoor.  It takes time but I feel like it sets my tours apart from most.

The client wanted single scene tours because that is what has been on their website for years.  If you want to see an example of those old tours, click on the Lounge and Lobby, Winery or Sister Properties tabs on their site.  They are REALLY bad.  I had nothing to do with them.  I may be re-doing those some time this Spring.  The oversaturated colors in many of the tours was a special request of the client...I couldn't talk them out of it.  In my opinion, some of the exterior shots are hideously oversaturated...but...the client is always right.

I've re-done all the tours without the image-loading progress bar and sent them to the client...so I assume the new tours will be up within a week.

Today, I'm working on my first multi-scene real estate tour with Tourweaver...a $4.3 miliion house on the banks of the Colorado River.  Hopefully, I'll have it up on my website in the next few days.