Having trouble with photos, video, or voice-to-text in HomeGauge’s Desktop Report Writer? Here's a breakdown of the most common issues—plus how to fix them.
Can't Find the Filmstrip
Problem: The filmstrip (photo preview bar) is missing.
Fix:
- Go to the top menu.
- Click View > Default Pane Layout
Photos Won't Drag and Drop Into Forms
Cause: Your display settings may be incompatible with Desktop Report Writer.
- Find the HomeGauge 5 icon on your desktop
- Right-click it and select Properties
- Click the Compatibility tab
- Click Change high DPI settings
- Check the box for Override high DPI scaling behavior.
- In the dropdown, choose System
- Click OK, then Apply
Photos Appear Black When Dragged from Filmstrip
Possible Causes & Solutions:
1. Live Photos (iOS)
Apple’s Live Photo mode creates a video clip with each photo, which can confuse the software.
Fix:
- Check the photo folder for .MOV or video files.
- Remove video clips, leaving only .JPG or .PNG images.
- Re-open HomeGauge and drag the photos again.
Here is an article on how to disable Live Photo mode on your iOS device: Live Photos with your iOS camera - Apple Support
2. HEIC Format (iOS)
Fix for current images:
Convert images to .JPG using:
- MS Paint: Open a single image, click File > Save As > JPEG picture
- Use an online batch converter to convert multiple files
Fix for future images:
On your iOS device, go to Settings > Camera > Formats, and choose Most Compatible to save future photos as JPG.
3. Photos on an SD Card
HomeGauge may have trouble accessing photos directly from SD cards or cameras.
Fix:
Copy the photos to your computer’s hard drive. Then restart HomeGauge and point the filmstrip to the new location.
Can't See Pictures in a Selected Folder
-
Click the notepad icon in the Picture Pane to open the Picture Folder Options.
-
In the Show Only Pictures In Folder From dropdown, choose Show All
- Click OK
Old Report Photos Showing in a New Report
Cause: Duplicate file names from your camera are reusing old photos.
Fix Option 1:
- First, copy all camera photos to your computer. This renames them.
- Point the filmstrip to the new folder.
Fix Option 2:
- After adding your photos, go to Report > Show Photo Locker.
- Press Ctrl + A to select all photos.
- Right-click > Rename, then assign a unique name.
- Close the locker and go to Print Preview.
Strip Existing Audio Not Working
Cause: No selection was made on the video timeline.
Fix:
- Click Edit Photo to open the video editor.
- Use Set Start and Set End to create a selection on the timeline.
- Check Strip Existing Audio, then click OK.
If trimming isn’t needed, just click Set Start, check the box, and click OK.
Videos Show a Red X or Don't Play
Recommended Fix:
Update to the latest version of HomeGauge 5. You can do that by following the instructions in this article, Desktop Report Writer: Software Updates.
Alternate Fix:
If you're using HomeGauge 5.1, install QuickTime to enable video playback.