HRESULT 0x80040208 (VFW_E_INVALID_DIRECTION): meaning and diagnosis

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Description:

The requested DirectShow connection uses two pins with the same data-flow direction.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
EVENT_E_USER_EXCEPTION	HRESULT	Windows

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EVENT_E_USER_EXCEPTION	EVENT_E_TOO_MANY_METHODS

VFW_E_INVALID_DIRECTION

VFW_E_INVALID_DIRECTION is a DirectShow HRESULT. A normal DirectShow connection carries media from an output pin to an input pin. Connecting two inputs or two outputs cannot establish a data path, even if their media types appear compatible.

What to check

Inspect PIN_DIRECTION for both pins before attempting the connection.
Ensure that the source or transform output is passed as the upstream pin and the consumer input as the downstream pin.
When selecting pins by index or name, verify that a dynamic pin has not changed its role after a stream or device configuration change.

This error is deterministic: retrying without changing the chosen pins will return the same result.

Microsoft: DirectShow filters and pins

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