ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK – C# – Capture Video From Separate Thread

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ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK – C# – Capture Video From Separate Thread

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ByteScout-Screen-Capturing-SDK-C-sharp-Capture-Video-From-Separate-Thread.pdf

How to capture video from separate thread in C# with ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK

This code in C# shows how to capture video from separate thread with this how to tutorial

On this page you will learn from code samples for programming in C#.Writing of the code to capture video from separate thread in C# can be done by developers of any level using ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK. ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK is the SDK for developers for quick implementation of screen video recording. The SDK records screen into video or into a series of screenshots. Can also record audio. Saves video into AVI,WMV and Google’s WebM. Output video quality, size, resolution or framerate can be adjusted easily. Provides additional tools for privacy features like blacking out on scren areas with sensitive information on screen right during recording. Supports web camera as input and can add instant text and images into video output. It can capture video from separate thread in C#.

C# code samples for C# developers help to speed up coding of your application when using ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK. In your C# project or application you may simply copy & paste the code and then run your app! Enjoy writing a code with ready-to-use sample codes in C#.

ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK free trial version is available on our website. C# and other programming languages are supported.

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CapturingThread.cs

      using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using System.Drawing;
using BytescoutScreenCapturingLib;

// NOTE: if you are getting error like "invalid image" related to loading the SDK's dll then 
// try to do the following:
// 1) remove the reference to the SDK by View - Solution Explorer
// then click on References, select Bytescout... reference name and right-click it and select Remove
// 2) To re-add click on the menu: Project - Add Reference
// 3) In "Add Reference" dialog switch to "COM" tab and find Bytescout...
// 4) Select it and click "Add" 
// 5) Recompile the application 
// Note: if you need to run on both x64 and x86 then please make sure you have set "Embed Interop Types" to True for this reference


namespace CaptureFromSeparateThread
{
	public class CapturingThread
	{
		public static void ThreadProc(Object obj)
		{
		    CapturingThreadData data = (CapturingThreadData) obj;
		    data.Success = true;

		    // Prepare Capturer:

		    Capturer capturer = new Capturer(); // create new screen capturer object

		    capturer.RegistrationName = "demo";
		    capturer.RegistrationKey = "demo";

		    capturer.CaptureRectLeft = data.CaptureRectangle.Left;
		    capturer.CaptureRectTop = data.CaptureRectangle.Top;
		    capturer.CaptureRectWidth = data.CaptureRectangle.Width;
		    capturer.CaptureRectHeight = data.CaptureRectangle.Height;

		    capturer.OutputWidth = 640;
		    capturer.OutputHeight = 480;

		    // WMV and WEBM output use WMVVideoBitrate property to control output video bitrate
		    // so try to increase it by x2 or x3 times if you think the output video are you are getting is laggy
		    // capturer.WMVVideoBitrate = capturer.WMVVideoBitrate * 2;

		    capturer.CaptureRectWidth = 320;
		    capturer.CaptureRectHeight = 240;

		    data.TempFile = Path.GetTempFileName();
		    data.TempFile = Path.ChangeExtension(data.TempFile, ".wmv");

		    capturer.OutputFileName = data.TempFile;
		    capturer.CapturingType = data.CaptureType;

		    // set border around captured area if we are not capturing entire screen
		    if (capturer.CapturingType != CaptureAreaType.catScreen &&
		        capturer.CapturingType != CaptureAreaType.catWebcamFullScreen)
		    {
		        capturer.CaptureAreaBorderType = CaptureAreaBorderType.cabtDashed;
		        capturer.CaptureAreaBorderColor = (uint) ColorTranslator.ToOle(Color.Red);
		    }


		    // Wait for events:

		    WaitHandle[] events = new WaitHandle[] {data.StartOrResumeEvent, data.PauseEvent, data.StopEvent};
		    
            try
		    {
                while (true)
                {
                    int i = WaitHandle.WaitAny(events);

                    if (events[i] == data.StartOrResumeEvent)
                    {
                        if (!capturer.IsRunning)
                            capturer.Run();
                    }
                    else if (events[i] == data.PauseEvent)
                    {
                        if (capturer.IsRunning)
                            capturer.Pause();
                    }
                    else if (events[i] == data.StopEvent)
                    {
                        capturer.Stop();
                        break;
                    }
                }
		    }
		    catch (Exception ex)
		    {
		        data.ErrorText = ex.Message;
		        data.Success = false;
		    }
		    finally
		    {
		        // Release resources
		        Marshal.ReleaseComObject(capturer);
		    }
		}
	}
}

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CapturingThreadData.cs

      using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using BytescoutScreenCapturingLib;


// NOTE: if you are getting error like "invalid image" related to loading the SDK's dll then 
// try to do the following:
// 1) remove the reference to the SDK by View - Solution Explorer
// then click on References, select Bytescout... reference name and right-click it and select Remove
// 2) To re-add click on the menu: Project - Add Reference
// 3) In "Add Reference" dialog switch to "COM" tab and find Bytescout...
// 4) Select it and click "Add" 
// 5) Recompile the application 



namespace CaptureFromSeparateThread
{
	public class CapturingThreadData
	{
		public CaptureAreaType CaptureType;
		public String TempFile;
        public Rectangle CaptureRectangle = new Rectangle(0, 0, 320, 240);

		public bool Success;
		public string ErrorText;

	    public AutoResetEvent StartOrResumeEvent = new AutoResetEvent(false); // event signalling to start or resume the recodring
	    public AutoResetEvent PauseEvent = new AutoResetEvent(false); // event signalling to pause the recodring
	    public AutoResetEvent StopEvent = new AutoResetEvent(false); // event signalling to stop the recording 
	}
}

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Form1.Designer.cs

      namespace CaptureFromSeparateThread
{
	partial class Form1
	{
		/// <summary>
		/// Required designer variable.
		/// </summary>
		private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;

		/// <summary>
		/// Clean up any resources being used.
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="disposing">true if managed resources should be disposed; otherwise, false.</param>
		protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
		{
			if (disposing && (components != null))
			{
				components.Dispose();
			}
			base.Dispose(disposing);
		}

		#region Windows Form Designer generated code

		/// <summary>
		/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
		/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
		/// </summary>
		private void InitializeComponent()
		{
            this.cmbCapturingType = new System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox();
            this.btnStart = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.btnStop = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.tableLayoutPanel1 = new System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel();
            this.btnPauseResume = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // cmbCapturingType
            // 
            this.cmbCapturingType.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)(((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) 
            | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
            this.cmbCapturingType.DropDownStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
            this.cmbCapturingType.FormattingEnabled = true;
            this.cmbCapturingType.Items.AddRange(new object[] {
            "Area around the mouse pointer",
            "Full screen"});
            this.cmbCapturingType.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(97, 12);
            this.cmbCapturingType.Name = "cmbCapturingType";
            this.cmbCapturingType.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(378, 21);
            this.cmbCapturingType.TabIndex = 0;
            // 
            // btnStart
            // 
            this.btnStart.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 3);
            this.btnStart.Name = "btnStart";
            this.btnStart.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 44);
            this.btnStart.TabIndex = 1;
            this.btnStart.Text = "Start";
            this.btnStart.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.btnStart.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.btnStart_Click);
            // 
            // label1
            // 
            this.label1.AutoSize = true;
            this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 15);
            this.label1.Name = "label1";
            this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(79, 13);
            this.label1.TabIndex = 3;
            this.label1.Text = "Capturing Type";
            // 
            // btnStop
            // 
            this.btnStop.Enabled = false;
            this.btnStop.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(307, 3);
            this.btnStop.Name = "btnStop";
            this.btnStop.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 44);
            this.btnStop.TabIndex = 4;
            this.btnStop.Text = "Stop";
            this.btnStop.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.btnStop.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.btnStop_Click);
            // 
            // tableLayoutPanel1
            // 
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom) 
            | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) 
            | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnCount = 3;
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33F));
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 33F));
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.ColumnStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 34F));
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(this.btnPauseResume, 0, 0);
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(this.btnStart, 0, 0);
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(this.btnStop, 2, 0);
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 52);
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Name = "tableLayoutPanel1";
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.RowCount = 1;
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.RowStyles.Add(new System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle());
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(463, 57);
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.TabIndex = 5;
            // 
            // btnPauseResume
            // 
            this.btnPauseResume.Enabled = false;
            this.btnPauseResume.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(155, 3);
            this.btnPauseResume.Name = "btnPauseResume";
            this.btnPauseResume.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 44);
            this.btnPauseResume.TabIndex = 5;
            this.btnPauseResume.Text = "Pause";
            this.btnPauseResume.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.btnPauseResume.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.btnPauseResume_Click);
            // 
            // Form1
            // 
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(487, 121);
            this.Controls.Add(this.tableLayoutPanel1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.cmbCapturingType);
            this.MaximizeBox = false;
            this.MinimizeBox = false;
            this.Name = "Form1";
            this.ShowIcon = false;
            this.StartPosition = System.Windows.Forms.FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
            this.Text = "Capture From Separate Thread";
            this.FormClosing += new System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventHandler(this.Form1_FormClosing);
            this.tableLayoutPanel1.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.PerformLayout();

		}

		#endregion

		private System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox cmbCapturingType;
		private System.Windows.Forms.Button btnStart;
		private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
		private System.Windows.Forms.Button btnStop;
		private System.Windows.Forms.TableLayoutPanel tableLayoutPanel1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button btnPauseResume;
	}
}

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Form1.cs

      using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
using System.Threading;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using BytescoutScreenCapturingLib;

// NOTE: if you are getting error like "invalid image" related to loading the SDK's dll then 
// try to do the following:
// 1) remove the reference to the SDK by View - Solution Explorer
// then click on References, select Bytescout... reference name and right-click it and select Remove
// 2) To re-add click on the menu: Project - Add Reference
// 3) In "Add Reference" dialog switch to "COM" tab and find Bytescout...
// 4) Select it and click "Add" 
// 5) Recompile the application 
// Note: if you need to run on both x64 and x86 then please make sure you have set "Embed Interop Types" to True for this reference


namespace CaptureFromSeparateThread
{
	public partial class Form1 : Form
	{
		private Thread _capturingThread;
		private CapturingThreadData _capturingThreadData; // data to exchange between form and capturing thread
	    
        public Form1()
		{
			InitializeComponent();

            _capturingThreadData = new CapturingThreadData();
            
            cmbCapturingType.SelectedIndex = 0;
		}

		private void btnStart_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
		{
			CaptureAreaType captureType = CaptureAreaType.catMouse;
			
			if (cmbCapturingType.SelectedIndex == 1)
				captureType = CaptureAreaType.catScreen;

			StartRecording(captureType);
		}

	    private void btnPauseResume_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
	    {
            PauseOrResumeRecording();
	    }

	    private void btnStop_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
		{
			StopRecording();
		}

		private void StartRecording(CaptureAreaType captureType)
		{
			btnStart.Enabled = false;
			btnPauseResume.Enabled = true;
			btnStop.Enabled = true;

			_capturingThreadData.CaptureType = captureType;

            // Start thread
			_capturingThread = new Thread(CapturingThread.ThreadProc);
			_capturingThread.Start(_capturingThreadData);

            // Signal to start the recording
		    _capturingThreadData.StartOrResumeEvent.Set();
		}

	    private void PauseOrResumeRecording()
	    {
            btnStart.Enabled = false;
            btnPauseResume.Enabled = true;
            btnStop.Enabled = true;

	        if (btnPauseResume.Text == "Pause")
	        {
                // Signal to pause
                _capturingThreadData.PauseEvent.Set();
	            btnPauseResume.Text = "Resume";
	        }
	        else
	        {
                // Signal to resume
                _capturingThreadData.StartOrResumeEvent.Set();
                btnPauseResume.Text = "Pause";
	        }
	    }

	    private void StopRecording()
		{
            Cursor = Cursors.WaitCursor;

            // Signal to stop
            _capturingThreadData.StopEvent.Set();

			try
			{
				_capturingThread.Join();
			}
			finally
			{
				Cursor = Cursors.Default;
			}

			if (!_capturingThreadData.Success)
			{
				MessageBox.Show("Capturing failed. Error: " + _capturingThreadData.ErrorText);
			}
			else
			{
				SaveFileDialog dlg = new SaveFileDialog();
				dlg.DefaultExt = "*.wmv";
				dlg.Filter = "WMV files (*.wmv)|*.wmv|All files (*.*)|*.*";

				dlg.FileName = "Screencast";
				dlg.Title = "Save captured video as";
				
				if (dlg.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
				{
					File.Copy(_capturingThreadData.TempFile, dlg.FileName, true);
					
					Process.Start(dlg.FileName); // start the video in default associated application
				}
				
				File.Delete(_capturingThreadData.TempFile);
			}

            btnStart.Enabled = true;
            btnPauseResume.Enabled = false;
            btnStop.Enabled = false;
            btnPauseResume.Text = "Pause";
		}

        private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
        {
            _capturingThreadData.StopEvent.Set();
        }
	}
}

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60 Day Free Trial or Visit ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK Home Page

Explore ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK Documentation

Explore Samples

Sign Up for ByteScout Screen Capturing SDK Online Training

ON-DEMAND REST WEB API

Get Your API Key

Explore Web API Docs

Explore Web API Samples

Program.cs

      using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace CaptureFromSeparateThread
{
	static class Program
	{
		/// <summary>
		/// The main entry point for the application.
		/// </summary>
		[STAThread]
		static void Main()
		{
			Application.EnableVisualStyles();
			Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
			Application.Run(new Form1());
		}
	}
}