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VMS Workstation for 32-bit Windows
User’s Manual
For Version 3.0.11
2015 / 12 / 25
About This Manual
Target Audience
This manual is intended for End Users who actually execute security tasks such as monitoring activities,
patrolling secured zones, searching video data and managing alarms with use of NVR surveillance system.
The reader is expected to own not only the basic operation skills but also permissions to access major
functionalities, as the access rights are based upon different user roles defined by the System
Administrators.
You may also visit ACTi Download Center (http://www.acti.com/downloadcenter) for updates or release
information about this software and documents.
Related Documentation
This manual focuses on the instructions for live view and playback operations, searching videos and
exporting video files from the NVR server. For NVR system installation and configuration instructions, please
refer to the system administrator’s manuals of your purchased NVR model. You can download them from
ACTi Download Center (http://www.acti.com/downloadcenter).
Technical Support
If you have any questions during the operation, please feel free to contact our engineers via our Customer
Help Desk platform (http://www.acti.com/CHD)."
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Legal Notice
Disclaimer
•
The information contained in this document is intended for general information purposes. ACTi
Corporation shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages
arising from the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual.
•
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
•
The English version of this document is the official one for all purposes. All the translated versions are
provided as a convenience. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translations of any other
languages are not legally binding.
Copyright
Copyright® 2015 ACTi Corporation All Rights Reserved.
Trademarks
•
ACTi Connecting Vision and its logo are registered trademarks of ACTi Corporation.
•
Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
•
All other product or company names mentioned in this document may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners."
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Table of Content
About This Manual 2
Target Audience 2
Related Documentation 2
Technical Support 2
Legal Notice 3
Disclaimer 3
Copyright 3
Trademarks 3
Overview 6
ACTi NVR Server / Client Architecture 6
Log in to the System 7
Access via VMS Workstation 7
Login 7
User Interface Introduction 9
Resident Tool Bars 9
Live View Page 10
Watch Live View 11
Remove a Channel 12
Read Channel Status 12
Record Videos Manually 13
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Take Snapshots of Live View 14
Read Event Notifications 15
Enable or Disable Motion Region Indicator 16
Adjust Audio-in Volume 16
Send Audio Signal to Camera Side 17
Trigger Digital-out Device 18
Operate PTZ Functions 19
Navigate a Fisheye Camera Channel 20
Set Up Live View Window 21
Playback Page 22
Watch Playback 23
Remove a Channel 24
System Setup Page 25
5
Overview
ACTi VMS Workstation for Windows is a windows-based software that provides distributed
network video surveillance solution. This software supports real-time monitoring of up to
100 ACTi video streaming devices from local or remote network, displaying event status
upon connection loss or recovery between server and client or motion detection, among
other features.
ACTi NVR Server / Client Architecture
ACTi NVR system is a typical web-based server/client system. In a video surveillance system architecture,
the Server serves as a video management service provider, aimed to run 24/7 offering non-stop services for
clients. A Client makes requests of monitoring video streams or playback recordings to Server, which can
reside on the same computer with server program (as from local) or on another computer (as from remote).
Server starts automatically as soon as the Server computer (where it is installed) boots up, and operates in
the background without requiring login by administrator. It would provide services over the TCP/IP network to
multiple Clients upon request through HTTP Protocol.
A Workstation Client is a type of client that can access the NVR server free from any other additional
program, such as a web browser. The workstation includes a set of programs that serves as an interface
between users and the NVR server.
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Log in to the System
A Workstation Client allows you to access the NVR system via its interface. In order to
use a workstation client, the VMS Workstation needs to be pre-installed on the computer.
Access via VMS Workstation
VMS Workstation includes a set of programs that provide the interface between users and the NVR server.
It may be installed in the NVR server, or in the remote client computer that connects to the NVR server via
network. Find and double-click on the “VMS Workstation for Windows” icon to log in to the NVR server.
Login
Double-click the “VMS Workstation for Windows” icon, and then the login window will pop up.
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1.
Server IP: Key in localhost or 127.0.0.1 if VMS Workstation is installed on the same computer
with the NVR server. If you are connecting from another computer, please input the IP address
of the NVR server.
2.
Server Port: Specify the port number.
3.
Account: Enter the account name.
4.
Password: Enter the password.
5.
Initial Page: Select the page you would like to go after you log in from the dropdown list.
6.
Language: Select the language from the dropdown list, and then click to refresh.
7.
Remember Account / Password: Check the checkbox to have VMS Workstation login page
remember the your login information.
8.
Auto Login: To skip the login page and directly log in to the NVR server once you execute
VMS Workstation, check both Remember Account / Password and Auto Login.
9.
Don’t Remember: Click it to clear the login information you previously entered.
After completing the login information, click Login button to log in to the NVR server.
If you have many NVR servers, you can save the login information of each NVR server in this login page by
following the below steps, so that you can conveniently and quickly log in to NVR server you want to
manage.
Step 1 > Specify the NVR server’s name in Server Name field.
Step 2 > Complete the login information.
Step 3 > Click Save button.
After finishing the setup, you can find all the NVR servers from the dropdown list in Server Name field.
Select the NVR server, and its login information will automatically be shown.
If you forgot the login password, click Forgot Password? and fill in the necessary information to retrieve
your password."
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User Interface Introduction
VMS Workstation has a friendly and intuitive user interface that helps you monitor your
camera views easily. You will see Resident Tool Bars, Live View page, Playback page
and System Setup page after you log in to the NVR server.
Resident Tool Bars
These resident tool bars are important functions or links that you often need through all the operations in the
NVR system.
1.
Layout Selection Bar: Choose the preferable layout style for your live view / playback screen.
2.
Tool Bar: Configure general settings and see software version. The options in Tool Bar in
Live View page and Playback page are different. You can find more information and
instructions in the following sections.
3.
NVR Module Bar: Click the tab to enter Live View, Playback or System Setup page.
4.
User Information and Volume Bar: See your authority level and the number of online users. If
your cameras can record audio, you can adjust the audio volume here to hear the sound."
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Live View Page
Live View page is where you see the live views from your cameras, perform PTZ operations with mouse or
joystick, receive alerts on the event panel, record manually, take snapshots, etc.. In this section, you will be
given instructions on the said fundamental operations.
1.
View Info: The channel name of the current view is displayed here.
2.
Video Source Panel: All the channels connected to the NVR server will be listed in this panel.
3.
Event Panel: This panel shows the alerts of motion detection, DI, video status and network
status.
4.
PTZ Panel: If the camera supports optical PTZ function, you can operate it via this panel.
5.
Control Panel: In this panel you can issue some commands to perform tasks.
6.
Tool Bar: Here you can configure general settings of Live View page.
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Watch Live View
To watch the live view of a camera, you need to add the camera video stream to a blank channel in display
area. All the cameras that you are allowed to see are listed in Video Source Panel. The permissions to
watch different cameras are defined by your User Group, the details of which are managed by the System
Administrator.
To add video sources to the display area, double-click on a camera or drag it from the camera list to display
area. By double-clicking on “All Cameras”, all the cameras will be added to the display area."
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Remove a Channel
To remove a channel from display area, place the curser on that channel and right-click to bring up quick
menu, and select “Remove” to remove this video source.
Read Channel Status
When watching the live view of a channel, it is essential to observe the status of that channel to make sure
the channel is working properly or performing certain task. The channel status is displayed on the channel’s
Title Bar, and from the following you can find detailed information of the Title Bar.
1.
General Information:
You can see camera name,
current date and time.
2.
Bar Color:
The bar color will turn RED for a
while as certain event is triggered.
3.
Status Indicators:
•
Left
Recording manually
Taking a snapshot
•
Right
Camera connected with
video presence
Camera disconnected
Camera connected without
video presence"
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Record Videos Manually
You may manually record the real-time video from live view window, and this video will only be searchable in
Playback. To do the manual recording, right-click on the channel to bring up the quick menu, and select
“Manual Record”. Click it again to stop manual recording.
You can also do it by clicking in the Control Panel, and click it again to stop manual recording.
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Take Snapshots of Live View
You can easily take a snapshot of a channel's live view for certain purpose. The snapshot will be saved in
the default folder (Windows Desktop) on your client computer in JPG format. Right-click on the channel to
bring up the quick menu, and click “Snapshot”. Once a snapshot is taken, its location path will be shown on
the bottom of VMS Workstation window.
You can also click in the Control Panel to take a snapshot.
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Read Event Notifications
When certain event is triggered or the system is encountering certain problem, there will be a notification
pushed into Event Panel. All the notifications are arranged in the reverse-time order, so that you can find
the newest notification on top. There are many types of notifications, and the following will guide you how to
read them so that you will not miss any important message.
Event Icons:
For the notifications of motion events (motion detection, digital input and PIR motion) and transmission
status events (video recovery, video loss, network recovery and network loss), you can double-click on the
notification entry to bring up the event instant playback window to watch the event. "
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Event Name
Date & Time
Camera Name
Motion Detection
Digital Input
PIR Motion
Video Recovery
Video Loss
Network Recovery
Network Loss
Delete File Fail
Disk Full
Disk Not Found
Disk is Available
Server Recovery
Server Loss
Event Icon
Enable or Disable Motion Region Indicator
If you’ve already configured the motion detection settings on the camera side, from the live view window you
will see the red Motion Region Indicator blink as any motion within in this ROI is detected.
To disable it, go to Tool Bar of the Live View page and select “Disable Motion Alert”. When disabled, the
indicators in all channels will not be seen.
Adjust Audio-in Volume
If the camera is connected with an audio-in device like a microphone, or supports two-way audio function,
the audio will be recorded along with video stream and you can directly listen to the real-time audio. Find the
Volume Bar on the bottom right of the live view window to adjust the volume.
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Send Audio Signal to Camera Side
To talk to the audience through the speaker connected to the camera, right-click on the channel to bring up
the quick menu, and select “Audio Out”. When this icon appears in orange, your audio-out function is
activated, every sound you make through the microphone on your client computer will be sent out to this
camera only.
To broadcast audio to multiple cameras, click in the Control Panel. Your audio will be sent to the
cameras that are added to the live view display area.
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Trigger Digital-out Device
If the camera is connected with a digital-out device such as door contact or alarm, you can trigger it from the
live view window if that channel. Right-click on the channel to bring up the quick menu, the DO icon will
appear available if the corresponding DO device is connected. Click “DO” to trigger it, and click again to
disable the triggering.
You can also click in the Control Panel to trigger the digital-out device, and click it again to disable the
triggering.
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Operate PTZ Functions
In this section you will be given instructions on how to operate digital and optical PTZ functions to achieve
your security tasks.
Digital PTZ Operations
Regardless of the camera models, you may perform digital zooming from the live view window.
1.
Click and drag a highlight rectangle over the channel, and the area highlighted will be zoomed digitally
and displayed in the live video window. You can see a mini picture-in-picture view showing the
unzoomed video on the lower right of the live view window. The red rectangle on the mini picture-in-
picture view marks the currently zoomed area. You may drag it over the view to zoom another area.
2.
To go back to the original video view, just right-click on the mini picture-in-picture view.
Optical PTZ Operations
If the camera supports optical PTZ functions, you may operate it via the PTZ Panel.
PTZ Operations via Mouse
Placing the cursor on the live view screen, you can also operate PTZ functions directly via the mouse. The
cursor will turn into a directional arrow, and left-click to move towards the direction which the arrow is
pointing. To zoom in or zoom out, place the cursor on the live view screen and scroll up or down the mouse
wheel.
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Digital Zoomed View
Mini Unzoomed View
Focus Control
Iris Control
PTZ Speed Control
PTZ Command Menu
Navigation Control
Zoom Control
Digital / Optical Mode Switch
Goto Peset Menu
Preset Tour Menu
Navigate a Fisheye Camera Channel
On a fisheye camera channel, you may change the fisheye view mode and view point at will. What you see
in the live view window will not affect what is being recorded, and you can have an alternative of view mode
when doing playback.
Change Fisheye Mode
On the fisheye channel, right-click to bring up quick menu, and click “Fisheye Mode” to select the view
mode.
PTZ Operation
Select a fisheye mode; click the entire channel or a region of interest to navigate this view
● Use PTZ Panel to operate PTZ movements.
● Click the mouse anywhere on the view to pan/tilt, scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in/out.
● To reset the PTZ navigation area back to default viewing angle, right-click to bring up channel menu, and
then click “Reset”.
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