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Release Notes
Release Notes for MOBOTIX MxControlCenter
Document Info
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Publisher: |
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Author: |
Bernd Wilhelm |
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Date: |
2011-07-15 |
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Document: |
release-notes_en.html |
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Confidentiality: |
public |
Contents
These Release Notes contain a short technical description of the most important changes of MOBOTIX MxControlCenter (sometimes also called MxCC for short).
Software Releases—Overview:
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Release Version |
Creation Date |
Publishing Date |
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2011-07-08 |
2011-07-15 |
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2010-07-21 |
2010-07-22 |
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2010-03-25 |
2010-04-09 |
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2009-12-09 |
2009-12-09 |
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2009-07-08 |
2009-07-14 |
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2009-02-18 |
2009-03-13 |
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2009-01-29 |
2009-01-30 |
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2008-07-08 |
2008-07-10 |
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2007-12-20 |
2007-12-21 |
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2007-09-14 |
2007-09-18 |
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2007-05-03 |
2007-05-03 |
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2007-01-18 |
2007-01-18 |
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2006-09-08 |
2006-09-11 |
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2006-09-08 |
2006-09-08 |
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Notes
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Please download the stable customer releases of the software from http://www.mobotix.com/Support/Software-Downloads.
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If available, MOBOTIX offers additional language packages with the customer release (see Automatic Installation of Language Packages).
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Starting with release 1.3.6, MxViewer has been renamed to MxControlCenter. The renaming does not have any influence on existing layouts, which had been created and managed using MxViewer. All existing
MxViewer*.iniconfiguration can be loaded, edited and saved in MxControlCenter. -
Please send an e-mail to software-feedback@mobotix.com for feedback.
System Requirements
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The processor speed should be higher than 1 GHz.
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The RAM should have a size of 2GByte at least.
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This version requires Windows XP SP3 or higher.
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In order to properly use MxControlCenter, it is recommended that the monitor has a resolution of at least 1280x960 pixels.
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The 64Bit version of MxCC requires the installation of the Bonjour Print Services to execute an automatic camera detection. These services either have to be available in the system already or they can be installed during the MxCC installation setup (MxControlCenter_V2-5-0-2_x64_Setup.exe).
Automatic Installation of Language Packages
For MxControlCenter 2.3 and higher, MOBOTIX offers additional language packages. These files are named LangPack_MxCC_V*_<language[_country]>.exe, where "<language[_country]>" is replaced by the corresponding language and, if required, the country code (for Italian, this would be LangPack_MxCC_V*_it.exe, for Chinese (China)LangPack_MxCC_V*_zh_CN.exe). Please make sure that the version number of the language package matches the version of the MxControlCenter installation (e.g. "V2-3-0").
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To get the setup file for the language package, do the following:
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Download the setup file for the language package from the MOBOTIX website to your computer (e.g. your Desktop).
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If you have received an installation medium (CD, DVD or USB pen drive), you can start the setup file directly from the storage medium.
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Close MxControlCenter if the application is running.
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Launch the setup file (
LangPack_MxCC_V*_<language[_country]>.exe). -
Follow the instructions of the setup wizard. Make sure that you are installing the language package into the folder with the same version of MxControlCenter (you may have to delete the "
MxCC" that is added automatically!).
The setup file copies the language files into the Languages subfolder and the file for the print templates (PrintTemplates_<language[_country]>.ts) into the Templates subfolder of the MxControlCenter program folder.
Upon the next launch of MxControlCenter, the application will start in the language you just installed. If you would like to select a different language, open Tools > Language and click on the desired language. After restarting MxControlCenter, the application will come up in the selected language.
Version 2.5.0.2 (Release) of MxControlCenter (MxCC)
Creation Date: 2010-07-08
Publishing Date: 2010-07-15
Enhancements and Improvements
Predefined Event Searches
With the Event Searches it is now possible to predefine individual search requests for specific cameras, events, and periods of time (e.g., all motion sensor alarms of the previous night in the parking lot) and execute them at the touch of a button. For this purpose, a new section, named Event Searches has been included in the Navigator of the Sidebar. In this section, new event searches can be defined and existing search definitions can be selected for execution. After executing an event search, the event images that have been located on the individual cameras are shown in the display area of MxCC together with the parameters of this event search. The selected search can also be easily modified by changing any of the search parameters and immediately re-executed with the new settings – provided that the user is authorized to do so. The following parameters can be changed:
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Video sources (Cameras, File Server Paths)
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Event types (e.g. VM, VM2, MI, etc)
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Time span to be searched
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Sort order and criteria of the search result
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The search result displays all event images of all camera recordings that match the search parameters in the defined order. Individual events can then be investigated by double-clicking the desired event image to activate the player in the lower half of the display area.
Post Video Motion Detection (Post VM Search)
It is now possible to subsequently search existing video recordings of a MOBOTIX camera and look for image changes via the definition of so-called Video Motion (VM) windows and the execution of a search (which will then look for video motion changes within those windows). For example, if your camera was recording images of a building with a door, you could "draw" a video motion window per click-and-drag over the section of the image where the door is, and when the search is executed, all video motion changes that occurred within that doorway, within the specified timespan would then be displayed in the results as the search executed. These new Post video motion searches are defined essentially the same way as event searches are. The only differences are, (1) the option "Offline search for motion (Post VM)" has to be set as the "Search mode" and (2) only one camera or file server path can be searched at one time.
Attention:
Post VM Searches require recordings in MxPEG format which have been saved with a camera software version 4.0.4.18 or above!
Local Archive
The camera's recording storage is organized as a ring buffer, which when completely filled, will then overwrite the oldest events with newer ones. The new Local Archive allows you to use any folder you wish on your local computer as a sort of manual backup to archive events that shall not be overwritten. Archiving is accomplished by defining the folder (or folders) where you want to store events you want to save permanently and you then add events to the archive simply by clicking the events and drag them to that (or those) folder(s). Currently, any event displayed in a search result, be it a regular Event search or aPost Video Motion Search can be added to the Local Archive via this method. The clips created via the Live Recording function (explained in the next section) can also be archived in the same manner.
Data in Local Archive folders can only be deleted by users; they can and will not be deleted automatically by the MxControlCenter. The location of the Local Archive is configured in the General tab of theOptions dialog. Any desired folder structure can be created within the Local Archive and the entire structure of the archive can be examined via click the LOCAL ARCHIVE section in the Navigator of theSidebar. Data stored in the Local Archive can, just like like any other camera recording, also be exported.
Live Recording
Independent of what the camera is currently configured to record, what you see the camera displaying as a live video stream in a layout's display window of the MxControlCenter can be directly recorded simply by selecting the desired camera and clicking a button. This Live Recording will then continue indefinitely, until the user either explicitly stops it by re-clicking the button (so long as the same layout is displayed). Selecting a new camera in the same layout with the button depressed continues the recording using the live stream of the newly selected camera. So it's now possible, for example, for the department store detective to record the complete path of a suspicious person as he/she walks through the store and in the process moves out of the field of view of one camera and into the field of view of the next camera. The recording of these live streams is stored as an MxPEG clip in a subfolder of the Local Archive named Live Recordings and that same detective (from our example) can then export this clip to be used as evidence for prosecution of the criminal.
Improved/Enhanced Data Export
With this release of MxControlCenter several improvements and enhancements for exporting recorded video have been implemented:
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Improved Export with Application Files - "MxViewer"
The result of exporting data in the format MxPEG Clip or File Server Structure with the option Copy application files activated, makes it a lot easier now to examine the exported data. Besides the exported data, the target folder contains the file PlayVideo.cmd. By double clicking this file a version of the MxViewer of the MxCC is started and the exported data can be played directly out of the target folder. In addition to this, it is also possible to export the data into a password protected zip file. -
Simplified Export - Player with "Marker Mode"
The player has been expanded with a Marker Mode button. When this button is activated, whatever timespan is played back from the camera recording is automatically marked. This marked timespan can then be added to the export list simply clicking the Add to Export button and be exported from there. -
Additional Container and Video Codec Formats
The container formats AVI (.avi), MxPEG (.mxg), and Quicktime (.mov) are now available for exporting data. Depending on the chosen container format, additional video codec formats are available also
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Export of MxPEG clips to AVI
MxPEG-clips can now, just like the camera recordings, be exported as an .avi file.
Improvements in the Player
With this release of MxControlCenter several improvements and enhancements for exporting recorded video have been implemented:
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Time synchronous playback has been simplified
Synchronous playback of all cameras in a layout can now be executed via a new button directly in the Player section of the Sidebar. Clicking the button one time switches all live video channels in the complete layout to playback mode. Clicking that same button again switches them all back again to live mode. In addition to this, the functioning of the former (v2.4 and before) separate dialog with the synchronous playback slider and go to button have been incorporated into the player control in the sidebar. -
Global player time
The last time selected (or played to) in the player is saved as a "Global Player Time". This means that if one camera is switched to playback mode, playing for a bit, and stopped, when the next live video channel (camera) is switch to playback mode, it will automatically attempt to position it's player time to the one before. This feature makes it possible to successively switch selected live channels to playback mode to "follow" a person from one surveillance area to another during playback of the recorded data.
Playback of Recordings and Search with Low Bandwidth (Preview Images)
Instead of using the stored original images, it is now possible to use smaller preview images to search and display recorded data. Since the preview images are much smaller and need less bandwidth for transmission to MxControlCenter, a search and display of the recorded data is now also possible with low bandwidth. With this version of MxCC preview images can be generated with the software component MxRemotePreview as well as with the camera. To activate and configure preview images, open the dialog Properties for <camera name>, select the Access Data tab and click on Change.
Flexible Definitions of Users, Groups, and Access Privileges
Up until this release, it was only possible to define program logons and access rights for specific functions at the group (role) level and there were only four groups. With Version 2.5, it is now possible to define program logons and access rights for as many users and user groups as desired. Access rights are still assigned on the group level. The access rights for individual functions, however, can be defined more precisely. In addition, a two man control function has been implemented for some functions. This guarantees that those functions, e.g., a video search or data export, can only be carried out in the presence of an additional user such as a Data Privacy Officer. To define program logons and access rights, select Tools -> Users & groups.
Activity Log
With this version, MxControlCenter now logs automatically all user activities and system messages in a "Action Log". To configure the log, select Tools -> Options and open the Action Log tab. In order to display the log, select Tools -> Show Action Log. The entries in the log can be filtered, exported to XML files, and printed.
Other Improvements
Revision of Sidebar and addition of the Navigator
The Navigator Section was added to the Sidebar and contains the following items (trees):
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Layouts
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Video Sources
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Event Searches
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Locale Archive
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All sections that contained the different user added MxControlCenter objects and do not have their own controls are now grouped in the Navigator panel.
Saved Views
You can now store the current program window configuration and the display settings as Saved Views. In addition to several predefined Views, you can define as many Views as you wish. User- and pre-defined Saved views are saved and loaded via the menu item View -> Saved views.
Camera Softbuttons
The camera Softbuttons section of the sidebar can now be shown or hidden via the menu item View just like the other sections in the sidebar.
Display of Dual Images
When using dual sensor cameras, such as the M12, you can choose a dual image for the display of video streams, which is defined in the camera. The dual image depicted in MxControlCenter could not be altered up until now. From this version on you can choose to display only the left or the right part of the dual image in MxControlCenter. This does not affect the camera live image. For this purpose, additional drop down option menus to select the desired display mode have been included in the subsections Camera Display Mode" and MxCC Display Mode in the PTZ Control section of the Sidebar.
Generic Definition for Insertion of Foreign Make Cameras
The dialog Add Camera now includes the addition of a Generic IP camera selection for the camera Type. This now makes it possible to add any foreign make cameras, without adding specific support for a particular camera manufacturer, a method, which heretofore (and still does) necessitated a change to the MxControlCenter. The dialog has been expanded to provide fields for the purpose of entering the necessary URLs for (important!) M-JPEG streaming and PTZ control via HTTP requests. To insert a foreign make camera as Generic IP camera is a two step process: First, it is inserted via the Add Camera as previous described and then the Properties dialog must be opened to enter the necessary URLs for streaming and PTZ control.
Notes:
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It is highly probably that a camera inserted as a "Generic IP camera" will not display it's live stream immediately after insertion, although it might, so do not assume there is an error in the MxControlCenter when the live video does not appear. In this case, the correct URL for M-JPEG streaming must first be determined and entered in the appropriate field.
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The current version of the MxServer does not yet support the Generic IP camera, so that while you will be able to display the live video from cameras of this type in the MxControlCenter you will not be able to store, playback and export stored video from these camera. This assumes, of course, that the camera make and model is not one which the MxServer already supports.
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Audio Announcement to Camera via Redirection (to a Different Camera)
To send an audio announcement over the loudspeaker of a MX camera in the current layout it is now no longer necessary to select exactly this camera beforehand in the layout. Several cameras often survey the same area (e.g. a parking lot), these are usually also grouped together into one layout, and only one of the cameras is to be used for an audio announcement, because it may, for example have an Ext IO connected. In this particular case it is often difficult to remember to click on precisely that particular camera before and then click on the Activate Audio announcement to camera button in time. Now, though, with the ability to configure redirection of the audio path, all cameras in the layout can individually be configured to send (redirect) the audio announcement to a particular camera. And, if desired, you can, naturally, select the camera itself as it's redirection path. Afterwards, any one of the cameras can then be clicked to send the audio announcement and the announcement will issue from the desired camera. Configuration of this is via the Properties dialog in the Display tab.
Bugfixes
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High CPU load when certain Layouts were selected
A disproportionately high CPU load was sometimes observed when layouts containing live cameras were selected and with particular configuration settings (e.g. large values for the "Local Recorder") -
PTZ message displayed in error when missing PTZ rights
A PTZ error message was displayed, in error if the joystick was moved and the user did not have the right for PTZ operation. -
Error when the program was started via a shortcut in the Startup folder
The program would often crash when the user attempted to start the program on log on via a shortcut created in the Startup folder. -
Extra-Windows do not begin restreaming live video after a camera reboot
If the live image (stream) of camera was opened in an extra windows and that camera was restarted, the live video stream in that extra window would not restart once the camera came back online. -
Layout-Manager could not be exited in certain cases
If a layout was switched to edit mode when the sidebar, menu, and toolbar was hidden, there was now way to exit this mode because the appropriate command was missing from the layout context menu. -
New gateway address not saved to camera
The gateway address when entered during the reconfiguration of the camera's network address would not be saved to the camera's permanent configuration. -
Image flicker during the display of very large resolution images via the "mouse-over" feature
If the mouse-over view feature was used to display the original sized image of a camera and that image caused the display of the scrollbars the image would flicker strongly. -
Program error during the use of the Layout Sequencer in combination with MxControlCenter image correction (post processing deskew).
A program error would sometimes occur during the use of the Layout Sequencer in combination with certain Layout elements such as Foreign make IP cameras and post processing image deskew. -
Program error when saving rotor head position when using the Pelco-D protocol.
A camera that is mounted (and connected) to a rotor head, which is controlled via the Pelco-D protocol would sometimes cause a program error when the user attempted to store the PTZ position via a click-and-hold mouse click on any one of the 16 buttons used for this purpose in the PTZ control of the sidebar. -
AVI-Export not available for Windows Server systems
The data export to AVI was not available if the MxCC was running on a Windows Server 2003 or 2008 system. -
The configuration of Network Messages on certain camera models was not possible.
It was not possible to use the MxControlCenter to configure Network Messages (for alarm purposes) on cameras using software version 4.0.4.18 and higher.
Known Limitations
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Problems with display of dual-images from D14 cameras at higher resolutions
The display of dual-images from the D14 camera at the resolution of double-MEGA (2 x 1280x960) or double-QXGA (2 x 2048x1536) can sometimes result in image errors and a disconnection of the live stream. -
Configuration of network messaging not possible on cameras using software version 4.1.x
This release of the MxControlCenter currently does not support configuration of network messaging on cameras running software version 4.1.0.2 and higher. -
Event Searches in 2nd Program Instance
Event searches are currently not possible in a second (or more) instance(s) of the program started on the same computer. -
Action Log in 2nd Program Instance
Multiple instances of the program started on the same computer cannot currently write to the same action log. In the event that a second instance of the program is started, it will create an action log, but it will not be the same action log file the 1st instance of the program is writing to.
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Sending remote control commands of SSL cameras to MxControlCenter require port numbers
If a camera can only be reached via https/SSL, the remote commands sent from the camera to the MxControlCenter computer and which use the camera IP address, need to include the SSL port.
Examples:ShowInExtraWindow=$(ID.ETHERNET):443ShowInExtraWindow=ownip:443
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Camera Configuration – window definition not possible in all video modes and automatic switching
The definition of exposure and video motion windows on the Exposure and Events pages of the Camera Configuration is not yet fully compatible with the different display modes of the individual camera models. For Dual models, you need to switch the camera to the corresponding image sensor (left or right) before you can define these windows. For Q22M/Q24M models, defining the windows always uses the default view mode (Area Corrected) . Note that you cannot use the Surround or Panorama video modes for this purpose.
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Post PTZ settings for exporting data
When applying post PTZ settings (including distortion correction) to corrected data, you need to apply these settings in the PTZ Control section of the sidebar before you add any time ranges to the export list. Changing these settings afterwards with the export list opened will not apply the desired changes.
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Missing GUI refresh after Remote Control commands
Sidebar, menu, title bar, toolbar and status bar will not re-display as they should for remote control commands "full=0" and "hidecontrols=0". -
Availability of Language Packages
The Language Packages for the following languages are not yet available but will be uploaded as soon as they are finished: Chinese (ZH), Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Russian and Spanish
Version 2.4 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2010-07-21
Publishing Date: 2010-07-22
Enhancements and Improvements
Improved and Expanded Configuration Options when Adding Cameras
The configuration options for adding cameras to MxControlCenter have been improved in several locations.
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Menu and dialog structure
In order to display and modify the camera properties, the new Edit MOBOTIX Camera dialog provides the following tabs:
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Access Data
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Information
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Display
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PTZ/Rotor
In this context, the camera properties do not refer to the camera configuration, but rather how the camera is integrated into MxControlCenter, e.g. the data required for accessing the camera (IP address, user name and password). This dialog replaces the camera tabs in the Options dialog, which served the purpose of storing the access information, display options and the settings of the PTZ/rotor control for all cameras in the current layout. To open the dialog, click on the Properties menu item, which is available in the following menus:
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Context menu of a display window in a layout
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Video Source menu, if a display window has been selected in a layout
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Context menu of the Video Sources area in the sidebar
Besides the Properties item, these menus contain two more menu items for modifying the camera configuration itself:
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Configure
This menu item opens the Camera Configuration dialog, which allows changing the most important parameters of the camera configuration. -
Browser
This submenu allows modifying the camera configuration or displaying the camera information in a web browser. This menu item is currently not available in the context menu of the sidebar.
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Multiple selection for changing the camera properties
If you would like to change the settings of several cameras, you can select the cameras in the Video Sources section of the sidebar using the mouse while keeping the Ctrl or Shift keys pressed. If several cameras have been selected, you can use the following context menu items:
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User & password
This context menu item opens a dialog, which allows entering common access data (user name and password) for all selected cameras. -
Properties
Opens a Properties dialog for each selected camera, e.g. for comparing the configuration. -
Configure
Opens the Camera Configuration dialog and highlights the first camera in the camera list.
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Internationalizable camera name
The Edit MOBOTIX Camera dialog (see above) now allows changing the camera name. From this version on, you can use all Unicode characters in a camera name, i.e. there are no more restrictions in that respect. However, this name is not stored in the camera, but is only visible in this MxControlCenter configuration (and thus, in the
MxCC.inifile). MxControlCenter will use and display this name in all instances where the original camera name had been used before. (Note that the camera support of this feature is in the making.)
Support of the Pelco D Protocol for PTZ Heads
When using PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) heads via a MOBOTIX camera, you can now also use the Pelco D protocol. To use this protocol, set Type to Pelco D on the PTZ/Rotor tab of the Edit MOBOTIX Camera dialog.
Note, that when using the Pelco D protocol, you can also activate the Mechanical zoom checkbox (this is not possible when using the other protocols). If this checkbox is activated, the zoom commands from a joystick or the MxPEG ActiveX control are not used to control the camera's digital zoom, but the camera instead transfers the commands to the control unit of the PTZ head using the Pelco D protocol. Note that you should only activate this option if the control unit can also actuate a mechanical zoom (besides controlling the pan/tilt movements). Using this approach, you can control the CS Mount lens with motor zoom of a MOBOTIX camera via the external control unit.
If the Mechanical zoom checkbox has been activated, the PTZ Controls section of the sidebar gets an additional Focus slider, which allows adjusting the focus of the lens. The focusing itself is also accomplished by the PTZ head control unit using the Pelco D protocol.
Other Improvements
Version 2.4 of MxControlCenter has been improved and enhanced in these areas:
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Improved "Camera Configuration" dialog
In the Recording and Network Messages sections, you can only activate events that can be configured using MxControlCenter. Furthermore, MxControlCenter now properly shows the current activation status of these events in the camera. Selecting All does not automatically activate all events. Note, that the page for activating events has been removed. -
Improved behavior of extra windows
The freely movable/scalable "extra" windows have been enhanced. To open an extra window, you can now double-click on a display window or on an entry in the Video Sources section of the sidebar or you can send a network message. Extra windows now store modified position and size for each video source. To reset the stored positions and sizes, select the View > Reset extra window positions menu command. -
Buttons for sending commands
You can now add the new 'Command' button element type to background layouts. Such a command button gets a name and a URL (http://...) that is called when a user clicks on this button. This button allows executing camera features using API calls or remote-controlling other MxControlCenter computers, for example. -
Expanded possibilities for remote-controlling MxControlCenter
When remote-controlling MxControlCenter using special network messages, you can now use these additional commands:
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showMessage
Upon receiving this command, MxControlCenter shows a window with a given message. The MxControlCenter users need to acknowledge this message. The message can contain UTF-8 characters, which need to be encoded as in a URL (e.g. "ê" → UTF-8 "c3 aa" → URL-encoded "%c3%aa").For additional information on URL-encoding of special characters, open en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTF-8. To find a complete list of special characters and their URL-encoding, open www.utf8-chartable.de/.
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showInExtraWindow
Shows an extra window of the given camera (IP address or host name). -
showInAlarmWindow
Shows the image of the given camera (IP address or host name) in an alarm window.
Example for a network message with all three new parameters:
http://127.0.0.1:8001/?showInAlarmWindow=10.3.0.31&showInExtraWindow=10.3.0.31&showMessage=Caution - door is open! -
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Expanded PTZ user rights for end-user configuration
The PTZ user rights in the Tools > Access Control dialog has been expanded and restructured. These additional rights are available:
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Live PTZ configuration
This right allows configuring the camera display modes and defining PTZ positions. -
Live PTZ
This right allows executing camera PTZ actions and loading pre-defined PTZ positions. -
Post PTZ configuration
This right allows using the subsequent image correction mechanisms. This right is mainly used for correcting the "distorted" full image of a Hemispheric camera. -
Post PTZ
This right allows using subsequent PTZ actions within MxControlCenter with the defined display mode. -
Image post-processing
This right allows changing the displayed images (brightness, color saturation, sharpness and contrast) using MxControlCenter image post-processing.
Using these rights, a system administrator can configure the MxControlCenter computer in such a way that users cannot modify the camera display (Live PTZ configuration is deactivated), but can execute the standard PTZ actions in the current display mode (Live PTZ is activated) for example. MxControlCenter deactivates the controls in the PTZ Control section of the sidebar that cannot be used because of missing rights. Users thus see exactly, which functions are available and which not.
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Alarm window with "Sequencer feature"
If you add several alarm windows to a layout, the first alarm window always shows the live stream of the camera with the most recent alarm and the last alarm window shows the live stream of the camera with the nth alarm. Upon a new alarm, the live streams of all other cameras are pushed back by one window. If you have five alarm windows in one layout, for example, you will always see the live streams of the last five cameras that have triggered an alarm. -
Improved "About MxControlCenter" dialog
The About MxControlCenter dialog (Help > About menu) has been improved.
Bugfixes
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Problems when simultaneously using alarm list and alarm windows
If the alarm list was active while the current layout contained an integrated alarm window, frequent alarms sometimes produced an application error. -
Deactivated PTZ controls after network messages
After receiving network messages for remote-controlling MxControlCenter, the application sometimes deactivated the controls in the PTZ Controls section of the sidebar or changes the values of these controls. -
Problems when switching between display modes with 4:3 and 8:3 aspect ratios
When switching from the Panorama display mode (8:3) to a display mode with an aspect ratio of 4:3 (Full Image, Area Corrected), MxControlCenter sometimes continued to show the (distorted) image with an aspect ratio of 8:3. -
Program error when exiting immediately after changing camera view
If the live view mode of a camera had been changed in the PTZ Control section of the sidebar and you had been exiting MxControlCenter before this change had been saved, an application error occurred after confirming the corresponding prompt. -
Maximum size of the recording limited to 1 TByte when using "External Recording"
The maximum size in the External Recording dialog was limited to 1 TByte. Applying these values overwrote the maximum storage size even if the camera configuration had been set to a higher size before. -
AVI export of stored data from third-party cameras with faulty file names
When exporting data from third-party cameras that had been stored using MxServer, the resulting AVI files had been stored without the ".avi" extension.
Known Limitations
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Application error when using the Layout Sequencer with post PTZ functions for distortion correction in MxControlCenter
When using the Layout Sequencer, certain combinations of layout contents (e.g. third-party cameras and post PTZ image correction) can result in an application error. -
Application error when storing positions of a PTZ head controlled via Pelco D protocol
If you are trying to store the current position of a camera (long click on one of the position buttons 1 to 16 in the PTZ Controls section of the sidebar) that is mounted to a PTZ head and that is using the Pelco D protocol, an application error may occur. -
Sending emote control commands of SSL cameras to MxControlCenter required port numbers
If a camera can only be reached via https/SSL, the remote commands sent from the camera to the MxControlCenter computer and which use the camera IP address, need to include the SSL port.
Examples:ShowInExtraWindow=$(ID.ETHERNET):443ShowInExtraWindow=ownip:443 -
Camera Configuration – window definition not possible in all video modes and automatic switching
The definition of exposure and video motion windows on the Exposure and Events pages of the Camera Configuration is not yet fully compatible with the different display modes of the individual camera models. For Dual models, you need to switch the camera to the corresponding image sensor (left or right) before you can define these windows. For Q22M/Q24M models, defining the windows always uses the default view mode (Area Corrected). Note that you cannot use the Surround or Panorama video modes for this purpose. -
Post PTZ settings for exporting data
When applying post PTZ settings (including distortion correction) to corrected data, you need to apply these settings in the PTZ Control section of the sidebar before you add any time ranges to the export list. Changing these settings afterwards with the export list opened will not apply the desired changes. -
Network messages cannot be configured using MxControlCenter
From camera software version4.0.4.18on, you cannot use MxControlCenter to configure network messages from the camera for alerting an MxControlCenter application or a different recipient. This limitation is valid for all MxControlCenter versions up to 2.4 and will be fixed in version 2.5. -
Manual available for version 2.0
This version does not have a current manual. Currently, there is a manual for MxControlCenter version 2.0 available. -
Language packages for Chinese (China), Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish:
-
The language selection of the External Recording dialog does not work for the languages mentioned above.
-
A few dialogs contain minor translation errors or have not been translated.
-
Version 2.3 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2010-03-25
Publishing Date: 2010-04-09
Enhancements and Improvements
Integration of the MxRemotePreview Component (File Server Access Using Low-Bandwidth Connections)
MxRemotePreview is a software component that provides improved access for MxControlCenter to file servers when using low-bandwidth connections (e.g. via the Internet or VPN connections). MxRemotePreview is installed as a CGI module in a web server environment of a Windows computer. Note that this computer needs a fast connection with high bandwidth to access the file server recordings of the MOBOTIX cameras.
When using MxRemotePreview, MxControlCenter does not get the original audio/video data from the file server. MxControlCenter instead sends a request to the web server, which in turn calls MxRemotePreview for specific file types. MxRemotePreview reads the original (large) files, reduces their size by recoding the video contents with a reduce frame rate, resolution and JEP quality and sends the reduced data to the MxControlCenter computer. Instead of the original data, the application only gets the much smaller data back over the network. Thanks to this approach, MxControlCenter gets the data fast enough to build an event list and to play back the video sequences.
For additional information on this component and the system requirements, see MxRemotePreview in the MxControlCenter download section.
In MxControlCenter, you have two ways of using an MxRemotePreview component:
-
Options > Connection Defaults dialog
The MxRemotePreview Defaults section allows setting the web server access data as well as the desired reduction methods (JPEG quality, frame rate, resolution, audio). In the individual camera registers of the Options dialog, you can click on the Change button within the Connection Data section. This opens the Recording Target dialog, where you can activate the Use MxRemotePreview for playback and Video Search checkbox. Activating this checkbox will use the globally defined MxRemotePreview component with the settings for data reduction on the tab mentioned above. In addition, you can click on the Settings button in the same Recording Target dialog to set a custom MxRemotePreview component.CAUTION:
When exporting recordings, the application will not use the reduced audio/video data provided by MxRemotePreview, but the original data with the resolution, quality and frame rate settings, which had been used at the time of recording.
Free Scaling When Displaying Grid Layouts
When displaying grid layouts, you can use the View > Free Scaling menu entry to expand the display to the entire display area. In conjunction with the free scaling of the entire MxControlCenter application window, you can adjust the display of the layout to best fit your monitor.
Free scaling of a grid layout to any size of the display area also means that the individual display windows within the layout will be scaled freely – as opposed to the fixed grid sizes (CIF, VGA, etc.) used before. This re-scaling can be achieved using different interpolation methods. To set these methods, activate the Layout Manager and select the desired method from the context menu for each display window. Beginning with the first method, each subsequent method listed below delivers higher quality while also requiring more computing power (i.e. creates higher CPU load) on the computer running MxControlCenter.
-
Standard
Delivers the lowest quality and creates the lowest CPU load. As the quality is rather low, this setting will not be offered when using free scaling. -
Linear (default when using free scaling)
This setting is a good compromise between the achieved image quality and the required computing time. This is usually sufficient for most of the application scenarios. If no other interpolation method than Standard has been set for individual display windows, activating free scaling will automatically switch to this method. -
Lanczos
This method delivers images with higher sharpness than Linear, anti-aliasing is not performed as well as when using the Super-Sampling setting. -
Super-Sampling
This method delivers the best results when scaling down images, but it also creates the highest CPU loads. When scaling up, this setting will automatically apply the Lanczos method. This method should only be used for special, single display windows.
Further Improvements of the Layout Display
-
Centered grid layouts
When using grid layouts, you can now use a centered display when using a larger display area. This setting is applied in the Tools > Options > View dialog. -
Audio can be switched off for individual display windows
In order to reduce the required bandwidth, you can deactivate the audio data for individual live display windows. Activate the Layout Manager and select the corresponding option from the context menu of the display window. -
Full screen mode
The entire monitor area can now be used to display grid layouts. To activate this display mode, select the View > Full Screen menu entry or the corresponding option in the drop-down menu of theChange Scaling of the Display Windows button on the toolbar. This full screen mode only shows the layout without any other program elements while using the entire monitor. Press the [Esc] key on your keyboard to return to the standard view. -
Activating/deactivating the connections to all cameras in a layout
By default, the Activate Camera Connections button now applies to all live cameras in the current layout. In addition, you can use the drop-down menu of this button or the Video Source > Connected menu entry to explicitly activate/deactivate the live connections to the currently selected camera.
Improved "Options" Dialog
The Options dialog has been restructured and expanded. It now contains the following tabs:
-
General
This tab contains general settings to control the application behavior such as start layout, log file, automatic bandwidth reduction, etc. -
Connection Defaults
Use this tab to set the default connection parameters, the default file server and the new MxRemotePreview component for all cameras. -
View
This tab controls all settings regarding the mouse, the display of the layouts and the application window. -
Alarm Handling
This tab is used to configure the behavior when receiving camera alarms via live images or alarm messages (TCP/IP messages). -
Remote Control
Using the options on this tab, you can set up MxControlCenter to receive remote-control commands via network messages from other applications. -
Monitoring
This tab contains the settings for monitoring cameras and displaying camera failures, latency timeouts and the parameters of the dead-man's switch. -
Camera tabs
These tabs allow setting individual connection parameters for each camera – including MxRemotePreview settings, preferred layouts as well as PTZ control parameters.
Other Improvements
Version 2.3 of MxControlCenter has been improved and enhanced in these areas:
-
Alarm list without alarms from the live streams in the current layout, if desired
This feature provides for filling the alarm list only with alarms generated from cameras sending network messages. In the Tools > Options dialog and on the Alarm Handling tab, deactivate the Add live stream events option to exclude alarms detected in the live streams of the cameras displayed in the current layout. -
Additional alarm list filter
The Filter button above the alarm list has an additional state, which only adds images with camera connection errors (of all cameras) to the alarm list. The button thus has the following states for the selected camera. Click on the button repeatedly to cycle through the states:-
No filter
-
Alarm images of the selected camera – locked
-
Alarm images of the selected camera – unlocked
-
Only images of camera connection errors (all cameras)
-
-
Post PTZ control in the sidebar when using Video Search
The Post PTZ features in the Video Search dialog are now controlled using the elements of the PTZ Control section of the sidebar. -
Disconnect live stream upon video search
The Disconnect Stream upon Event Search setting on the Tools > Options > General tab automatically disconnects the live stream of a camera when running a Video Search. This is a very helpful option when using a low-bandwidth connection to the camera, since this leaves more bandwidth to the search and playback features. Once the video search has been closed, the live connection is automatically re-established.
Bugfixes
-
Crash when detecting problems with audio device (Windows 7)
This problem mainly appeared on Windows 7 computers if MxControlCenter could not properly access the computer's audio system. The crashes happened when searching for cameras, configuring cameras, in the export progress dialog and the Update Wizard. -
Opening the video search from the alarm list had problems with cameras not in the current layout
MxControlCenter had been unable to open the Video Search dialog (by double-clicking or using the context menu) if the corresponding camera was not part of the current layout. In some of these cases, the application crashed. -
Audio state of live cameras got lost
When switching layouts, the state of the audio output of live cameras got lost and the audio stream had to be restarted manually. The state is now maintained properly and is also stored in the INI file. -
Display mode setting of MxControlCenter got lost
When switching layouts, the current display mode of MxControlCenter (Post PTZ) got lost and had to be activated again manually. The state is now maintained properly and is also stored in the INI file. -
Export problems
The AVI export sometimes did not include the audio stream. In addition, exporting images with custom image sizes resulted in corrupt images and exporting time ranges from different cameras into one MxPEG clip presented problems, too. Note that it is now possible to export recording from analog cameras that are connected via an MxServer.
Known Limitations
-
Manual available for version 2.0
This version does not have a current manual. Currently, there is a manual for MxControlCenter version 2.0 available. -
Camera Configuration – window definition not possible in all video modes and automatic switching
The definition of exposure and video motion windows on the Exposure and Events pages of the Camera Configuration is not yet fully compatible with the different display modes of the individual camera models. For Dual models, you need to switch the camera to the corresponding image sensor (left or right) before you can define these windows. For Q22M/Q24M models, defining the windows always uses the default view mode (Area Corrected). Note that you cannot use the Surround or Panorama video modes for this purpose. -
Program error when exiting immediately after changing camera view
If the live view mode of a camera has been changed in the PTZ Control section of the sidebar and you are exiting MxControlCenter before this change has been saved, the application will crash after confirming the corresponding prompt. -
Post PTZ settings for exporting data
When applying post PTZ settings (including distortion correction) to corrected data, you need to apply these settings in the PTZ Control section of the sidebar before you add any time ranges to the export list. Changing these settings afterwards with the export list opened will not apply the desired changes. -
Language packages for Chinese (China), Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish:
-
The language selection of the External Recording dialog does not work for the languages mentioned above.
-
A few dialogs contain minor translation errors or have not been translated.
-
Version 2.2 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2009-12-08
Publishing Date: 2009-12-08
Enhancements and Improvements
Localization Process and Individual Program Translations
-
Primary languages
These are the languages English, German and French. Every new MxControlCenter version will be released with these languages. They are an integral part of the release. To switch between these languages, open the Tools > Language menu and select the desired language. -
Secondary languages
These languages (currently Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Russian and Spanish) will be provided by MOBOTIX in the form of additional language packages after the software itself has been released. These language packages are easily added to an existing MxControlCenter installation. Once a language has been installed, it can be selected in MxControlCenter from the Tools > Languagemenu. To add a language, download and execute the installer for the corresponding language. This setup process will install the language files in the MxControlCenter program folder. -
Additional languages using the translation package
If you would like to translate MxControlCenter into other languages besides the ones listed above, you can obtain a so-called "translation package". This package is provided for MOBOTIX partners who would like to provide translations into languages not supported by MOBOTIX. In order to translate the language files in the package, you need to buy a license for Alchemy Catalyst, Translator/Pro Edition (version 8.x or higher). The translation package consists of one file, which is to be translated. Once the translation has been completed, the files within the project will be exported. A batch file then creates the final format of the language files. After the language files have been copied to the correct locations within the MxControlCenter program folder, the new language can be selected in the application. The translation package also contains documentation, which describes the translation process in detail. Advantage of this process: The translations of older program versions can be re-used in the current package. The translation package is available upon request by sending an e-mail to translation-package@mobotix.com.CAUTION:
The provider of the translation is solely responsible for the completeness and correctness of the translations generated on the basis of the translation package. MOBOTIX does not assume any responsibility and does not warrant for erroneous translations or program errors, which result from using such a translation!
Integration of Overland Storage Snap Server Products
Release 2.2 of MxControlCenter supports Overland Storage Snap Server NAS devices with more recent production dates. These devices need to run on a firmware (GOS) version 5.2.056 or higher! Just like when adding MOBOTIX cameras as new video sources, Snap Servers with a corresponding GOS version will be shown in the Video Sources list with the type, name and the GOS version. In addition, you can change the network data of a Snap Server in this list (just like for MOBOTIX cameras).
Regardless of whether the Snap Servers have been added with or without cameras, Snap Servers will appear in the Storage Devices folder of the Video Sources section in the sidebar. In order to change the settings of a Snap Server, open its context menu and select the Configure command. This will open the Configure Snap Server dialog. This dialog allows modifying the most important settings of the Snap Server, which are relevant for using it as a storage target of MOBOTIX cameras.
The dialog offers three different methods for configuring a Snap Server:
-
Quick Setup
This is the fastest method for configuring a Snap Server so that MOBOTIX cameras can use it as a storage target. You only need to enter two passwords; MxControlCenter will preset the remaining settings automatically. Open the tabs of the Expert Setup to see the settings preset by MxCC (see next section). -
Expert Setup
This section contains different tabs for setting the most important parameters of a Snap Server (General Settings, Users, Shares, UPS and Time Server). In contrast to Quick Setup, you can use this section for adjusting the Snap Server more precisely to the current application scenario. If this is still insufficient, you should use the Snap Server's web interface (see next section). -
Browser
If using the Expert Setup described above is still insufficient, you should use the Snap Server's web interface to modify the settings (see next section).
Once the Snap Server has been added to MxControlCenter and configured properly, it can be used immediately as a file server for camera recordings. Open the Camera Configuration dialog, select theRecording section and open the External Recording dialog. Select the server from the list box according to its name and set it as a storage target for the cameras selected before. The same dialog also offers to use the shares and users, which are defined on the Snap Server.
Enhancements to Export and Video Search Features
The export of stored recordings has been enhanced and improved in various ways. No changes have been made to how the export itself is started and how camera recordings are exported.
-
Checking the digital signature
In order to prevent manipulation of the stored data, MxControlCenter can verify the digital signature of the stored data, to see if the data integrity has been kept. To do so, activate the new Check digital signature option in the Export dialog.
The Check button also allows checking the data integrity later and independent of an export. Either way, MxControlCenter will show the results of the check in the integrated dialog.CAUTION:
To properly check the data, the exported sequences need to contain a digital signature. In addition, MxControlCenter needs to be able to establish a connection to the camera, which had created the sequences. If one of these prerequisites has not been met, MxControlCenter will alert the user with a corresponding message. -
Data export including post PTZ actions
MxControlCenter now offers to store the recorded data not only in its original format, but also with applied vPTZ actions. This means that you can export the original (distorted) full images of a Hemispheric camera as Panorama images or with a zoomed and corrected image section. The export applies the vPTZ settings of MxCC used during playback or in the event search, i.e. it uses the settings of the MxCC menu in the Mode section of the PTZ Controls in the sidebar. The new Apply image post-processing incl. PTZ option in the Export dialog allows activating/deactivating the PTZ settings for the exported video data. -
AVI export improvements
By default, MxControlCenter now uses the Windows Media Video 8 video codec when exporting to AVI format. The export now uses the PCM (16 bit mono) audio codec (was A-Law (8 bit mono) before). If the default audio and video codecs are used, you can play back the exported AVI files in Windows Media Player without having to install additional codecs. -
Improved progress bar and preview while exporting
While MxControlCenter is exporting the data, it displays a more precise progress bar. At the same time, the application shows one image for each recorded sequence in a preview window.
Camera and Action Monitoring
This section presents functions for improved monitoring of camera failures and also features, which allow "monitoring" the alertness of MxControlCenter users.
-
Camera monitoring in the background
Before, MxControlCenter was able to detect camera failures only if that camera had been included in the currently displayed layout. The new camera failure detection now monitors all cameras known to the current MxCC configuration, even if they are currently not displayed. A detected camera failure will also prompt a special entry in the MxCC alarm list. This entry consists of an error image (if defined) together with a system message with the camera information. It is stored as an alarm image in the alarm list. In addition, you can also play a sound when MxCC detects a failed camera. In order to activate the camera failure detection, open the Options > Monitoring dialog and activate one (or both) of the Sound on lost camera or Error display on lost camera options. -
Dead Man's Switch
The Options dialog now also contains a Dead Man's Switch in the Monitoring section. Activating this switch will trigger an alarm in MxControlCenter if the defined number of minutes have passed without detecting any user activity. User activity in this sense are mouse clicks into the program window and clicking on the Reset Dead Man's Switch button. This button is located in the lower left corner of the application if the Dead Man's Switch has been activated. This switch will ensure that the user is actually fulfilling his/her surveillance tasks in MxControlCenter and that the system is not ignored. MxControlCenter will play back a specific sound if such an alert occurs. In addition, you can specify an e-mail message in the Monitoring tab, which will be sent automatically in such a case.
Update Assistant and Software Updates
Automatic updates of the software (Software Update) for cameras as well as the MxControlCenter and MxEasy applications have been improved. MxControlCenter can now check for new software versions, download new software and also install it automatically. To start a manual search for new software, click on Tools > Software Downloads in the menu. Click on the Settings button in theSoftware Downloads dialog to activate the automatic check for new software every time MxControlCenter starts.
Besides the Software Downloads dialog, the Update Assistant now also includes an additional section for showing and applying new software versions. This new panel is displayed in the top right corner of the Update Assistant. Click on Tools > Downloads in the menu to activate/deactivate this panel.
Configuring Camera Network Messages (IP Notify)
The new Network Messages section has been added to the Camera Configuration dialog. This section allows sending network messages to an MxControlCenter computer or other recipients if triggered by specific events on one or more cameras. By default, the IP address of the MxControlCenter computer has been set as Alarm Target for these network messages. This dialog also allows activating the events, which will trigger such a message. You can also activate an acknowledgement action of such a network message. If acknowledgement has been activated, the user needs to acknowledge a network message within 60 seconds. If this is not the case, the cameras will send the network message to the next Alarm Target defined in this dialog. To acknowledge such a message, the user needs to click on the corresponding alarm image in the alarm list. Opening the Admin Menu > IP Notify Profiles dialog in the browser interface of the cameras is not required for this application scenario any more!
When setting up network messages for one or more cameras, MxControlCenter will also be configured automatically to accept these network messages. Note that MxControlCenter will automatically use the port defined in the Network Messages section for the cameras, if no other port had been set up before. Note that you can verify and change these automatic settings in the Options > Alarm Settings > Alarm Messages dialog. This section also allows fine-tuning the MxControlCenter behavior when receiving alarm messages.
Improvements in the "Options" Dialog
In order to improve the grouping of the different settings in the Options dialog and to make it more user-friendly, additional tabs have been added to this dialog and some sections of the General tab have been moved to these new tabs.
-
"General" Tab
The sections Sound on error, Sound on lost camera, Error display on lost camera and Error display on latency timeout have been moved to the new Monitoring tab. -
"Remote Settings" Tab
The settings of this section are only used to configure the remote control features of MxControlCenter using http requests. Note that the Alarm Settings tab contains all settings for receiving TCP/IP network messages as alarm messages. -
"Monitoring" Tab
This new tab contains the sections for monitoring actions previously found on the General tab and one new section for controlling the Dead Man's Switch. -
"Alarm Settings" Tab
Note that the Alarm Settings tab contains all settings for receiving TCP/IP network messages and use them as alarm messages. This includes the settings for receiving and processing of camera network messages.
Known Limitations
-
Only German manual for version 2.0 available
This version does not have a current manual. There is only a German manual for version 2.0 available. The English manual for version 2.0 will be published shortly. -
Camera Configuration – window definition not possible in all video modes and automatic switching
The definition of exposure and video motion windows on the Exposure and Events pages of the Camera Configuration is not yet fully compatible with the different display modes of the individual camera models. For Dual models, you need to switch the camera to the corresponding image sensor (left or right) before you can define these windows. For Q22/Q24 models, defining the windows always uses the default view mode (Area Corrected). Note that you cannot use the Surround or Panorama video modes for this purpose.
Version 2.1 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2009-07-08
Publishing Date: 2009-07-14
Enhancements and Improvements
Login Process With User Groups and Definable Group Functions
MxControlCenter now supports four user groups, which allow assigning specific rights for executing the individual functions: Guest, User, Owner, Administrator. Open the File > Authentication dialog to set individual passwords for every one of these user groups. The passwords for these user groups are also stored in the MxCC.ini configuration file. Once you have assigned a password to all user groups and have stored the settings, you will have to select a user group and enter the corresponding password upon the next launch of MxControlCenter. If you have not set passwords for one or more user groups, MxControlCenter will automatically use the highest group without password upon the next launch.
To switch to a different user group while running the application, open the File > Authentication dialog. Any user can open this dialog anytime while the application is running. Note that you need to be logged in as Administrator to change the passwords.
By default, every user group can execute specific functions. You can open the Tools > Access control dialog anytime and change the function matrix for the individual user groups according to your needs. If a user group does not have the rights to execute specific functions, the buttons for these functions are removed from the toolbar. The corresponding menu commands and elements of the sidebar are visible, but deactivated (grey).
Display of Camera Softbuttons
The softbuttons defined in the MultiView screen of a camera are automatically displayed in the new Softbuttons section of the sidebar. Like the other sections, this sidebar section is also context-sensitive and always shows the softbuttons of the selected camera in the current layout. In addition, you can show and hide this section.
Enhanced Export Features
MxControlCenter version 2.1 can load and export the audio/video data either directly from an external file server or via the camera. Apart from the File Server Structure and MxPEG Clips, MxControlCenter can also export the audio/video data as AVI Clips. As in version 2.0, you can start the export either from the Player or the Event Search dialogs.
-
AVI export
When exporting audio/video data as AVI clips, you can select specific settings for file size, resolution, video codec, audio, image rates, etc. in the Export Format Settings dialog. Click on the Settingsbutton in the Export dialog to open this dialog. -
Flexible export list
The events or recording ranges selected for exporting can now come from different cameras and do not have to be in the proper chronological order. You can thus create and export a freely defined export list in the Export dialog. -
Export log
In order to log all export features, you can now select any given file. Note, that you can specifically use a file, which cannot be edited/deleted by the current user, but only by authorized persons. To set such a file, open the Options > General dialog and enter the Windows access information (user and password) for this file in the Export log section. This procedure guarantees that a log file automatically created by MxControlCenter cannot be manipulated by unauthorized persons. In addition, MxControlCenter encrypts all information in the log file since it contains information on export functions executed by different users. Only MxControlCenter users with the right Application settings (usually only Administrators) can access this file.
Enhanced Camera Configuration
The Camera Configuration now offers additional features for displaying and changing the camera settings without having to open a web browser.
-
"Overview" Page
This page of the dialog has been enlarged to show these additional columns and changing the camera settings in a comfortable manner:-
Codec: Displays the current video codec and allows changing it (MxPEG or M-JPEG)
-
Resolution: Displays the current image resolution and allows changing it
-
Quality: Displays the current JPEG quality and allows changing it
-
fps: Displays the current camera image rate and allows changing it
-
Speaker: Displays the current speaker status
-
Microphone: Displays the current microphone status
-
-
"Exposure" Page (new!)
This page allows defining exposure times and custom exposure windows. To define custom exposure windows, simply draw a frame over the image with your mouse.
CAUTION:
The exposure settings for dual cameras are valid for either the right or the left image sensor. By default, this dialog activates the right sensor and you can switch to the left sensor. Note that this is not a temporary setting, but this actually switches the current sensor of the camera. If you had been using a different setting before, such as Both or Automatic, you will have to manually set this parameter to its old value afterwards! -
"Audio" Page (new!)
This page displays the status of the speaker and the microphone of a camera; you can activate and deactivate these audio features. -
"Events" Page (new!)
You can define the video motion (VM) windows and activate/deactivate other events on this page. To define custom video motion windows, simply draw a frame over the image with your mouse.
CAUTION:
The definitions of VM windows for dual cameras are valid for either the right or the left image sensor. By default, this dialog activates the right sensor and you can switch to the left sensor. Note that this is not a temporary setting, but this actually switches the current sensor of the camera. If you had been using a different setting before, such as Both or Automatic, you will have to manually set this parameter to its old value afterwards!
Improved Management of Layouts and Video Sources
The creation and management of layouts has been greatly improved in several ways:
-
Structured list of all video sources
The list of video cameras in the sidebar of the activated Layout Manager is now grouped in cameras, recording folders and clips. You can sort the list of video sources within these groups in ascending or descending order by simply clicking on the Name and Address column heads. Since the video sources used in the current layout are highlighted by a colored background, they are easily recognized. The context menu also allows showing a small preview image for cameras and MxPEG clips. -
Creating new layouts by dragging&dropping cameras and clips
When creating a new or editing an existing layout, you can simply drag&drop several cameras or clips to the current layout at once. This is possible for both grid and background layouts. If the current layout is a background layout, MxControlCenter will offer to show the cameras either as live cameras or as status icons. If a camera or clips is already part of the layout, MxControlCenter will ask you if it is OK to overwrite identical elements. -
Improved editing of existing layout elements
The Edit display element dialog (context menu of the display area with activated Layout Manager) has been improved. The video source selected for the current display element stays selected even though the element type has changed. In addition, the list of video sources has two columns (Name and Video source), which can be used for sorting the list. Note that the Preview element type allows setting the sensor as well as the desired frame rate and the resolution. -
Deleting video sources (cameras, recording folders, MxPEG clips) from the system
When activating the Layout Manager, you can easily delete existing video sources from the Video Sources list. To do so, select the unwanted video sources and select Delete Video Sources from the context menu.
Improved Features for Live Display and Playback of Recordings
-
Extra window – movable and scalable
Double-clicking a live window opens an additional ("extra") live window for this camera. Double-clicking a window in Player mode opens an additional window, which plays back the recording. This extra window can be freely moved and scaled. -
Alignment of images with different aspect ratio (height to width)
If the displayed camera image has a different aspect ratio (width to height) than the display window within the layout, you can now select how MxControlCenter should display the camera image. Activate the Layout Manager and right-click the display window to open the context menu. The Alignment command has two values: Top left and Center. For example, selecting Alignment > Centerfor a Panorama image with an aspect ratio of 8:4 will vertically center this image in a standard VGA display window with an aspect ratio of 4:3. -
"Better rendering" feature
When showing a camera image in a display window with a resolution that is no whole-number multiple or whole-number divider of the actual camera resolution, the rounding error produces images with slightly reduced quality. The same applies when displaying one camera in the full MxCC display area or in full-screen mode. If this is the case, you can now activate the Layout Manager, right-click the display window to open the context menu and select Better rendering. This improves the image quality of an "odd scaling", but also increases the load on the MxControlCenter computer. -
Recording and search of incomplete recordings
MxControlCenter can also access file server recordings with a missing or corrupted.erdinfofile in the root folder of the file server path. In such a case, MxControlCenter will prompt the user whether it should recreate the file. Note, that such a recreated.erdinfofile has reduced contents and *cannot* be used by the camera!
Enhancements and Improvements of the Update Assistant
-
Improved "Upload Settings" feature
When uploading an existing configuration to MOBOTIX cameras, the configuration sections are now treated as a "white list". You now have to select the sections you would like to overwrite rather than the sections you would like to protect.
In addition, you can now exclude the Time Tables in the Time Tasks section from being overwritten by the uploaded configuration. -
Creating and restoring a system backup
The File > System Backup menu command allows creating a zip file with the configuration files (*.cfg) of all cameras shown in the Update Assistant. The File > Restore System Backup menu command restores the configurations of these cameras again. When loading such a file, the configuration files of the cameras are automatically uploaded and stored in the individual cameras. These commands basically automate the Camera > Save Settings and Camera > Upload Settings menu commands for all cameras. They can thus be used to comfortably backup and restore the complete set of camera configurations of the MxControlCenter system!
Other Improvements
Version 2.1 of MxControlCenter has been improved and enhanced in these areas:
-
Improved menu commands and menu structure
The menu commands have been revised and improved compared to version 2.0. Among other things, you will now find the commands for saving and loading the configuration file (MxCC.ini) in theFile menu. The Camera menu has been renamed to Video Sources, the Edit menu has been dropped. Likewise, the commands of the Tools menu have been revised. -
Selecting a configuration (
MxCC.ini) at runtime
The File > Configuration > Load menu command allows loading a different configuration file (MxCC.ini). The application automatically restarts afterwards, using the selected configuration file. -
Selecting a different language at runtime
To switch between the installed languages at runtime, open the Tools > Language menu and select one of the languages. Currently, only English, German and French are available. The application automatically restarts after selecting a different language. -
Support of Provitek PT4 PTZ heads
Besides the Provitek pan/tilt heads PT2 and PT3, this version now also supports the Provitek PT4 models. -
Number of layouts increased to 500
You can now define and manage 500 instead of only 50 different layouts in an MxControlCenter configuration file (MxCC.ini). -
Support of the 3Dconnexion Space Navigator
For easy use of the PTZ features, you can now also use the 3D joysticks Space Navigator and Space Pilot from 3Dconnexion instead of the MEGATRON joystick. Note that you will have to install and activate the driver for the joystick on the MxControlCenter computer before you launch the application. After launching MxControlCenter, you can immediately use the joysticks. Turning the joystick zooms the image, tilting it sideways pans the image (right - left) and tilting it forwards and backwards tilts the camera down or up, respectively. Depending on the hardware used, it is recommended to adjust the joystick settings afterwards, especially the speed of the movements. Wrong speed settings may lead to very slow reactions or to no reactions at all.
Known Limitations
-
Only German manual for version 2.0 available
This version does not have a current manual. There is only a German manual for version 2.0 available. The English manual for version 2.0 will be published shortly. -
Not all supported languages available
Version 2.1 currently only supports English, German and French. -
Directly accessing MxFFS-formatted USB harddrives is not possible
Recordings of MOBOTIX cameras on USB harddrives cannot be read directly on the computer (possible for a file server path, for example) for playing back recordings and searching events. Currently, these recordings can only be accessed via the camera. -
Display of camera mode in the "PTZ Controls" section of the sidebar
If the live display mode or other PTZ settings of a camera are changed from somewhere else and not from the running MxControlCenter, the PTZ Controls section may show wrong values and settings. -
Mouse-over in Alarm List not working properly
When hovering the mouse over an image of the alarm list, the application can stop unexpectedly. -
Camera Configuration – "Exposure" page for Q24 models
When selecting the Exposure page of a Q24 model, the application may stop unexpectedly. -
Camera Configuration – window definition not possible in all video modes and automatic switching
The definition of exposure and video motion windows on the Exposure and Events pages is not yet fully compatible with the different display modes of the individual camera models. For Dual models, you can only define these windows for either the right or the left image sensor and you need to switch the camera to this image sensor. For Q22/Q24 models, defining the windows always uses the default view mode (Area Corrected). Note that you cannot use the Surround or Panorama video modes for this purpose. -
Canceling an AVI export may not work properly
Once an AVI export has been started, the application may not be able to stop it cleanly. If this happens, the system may crash. -
Update Assistant – problems loading an
mplfile over the network
When loading anmplfile over the network and high network loads delay the loading process, the Update Assistant may crash. -
Switching a layout stops automatically rotating Q22/Q24 models
If a Q22/Q24 camera in an MxControlCenter layout has been set to automatically show a rotating image using its virtual PTZ, switching to a different layout will stop the automatic rotation. -
Exporting data from MxPEG clips does not work
Although the application allows exporting data from a loaded MxPEG clip file, selecting this option will not export anything! Note, that you will not be informed about this. -
No direct reading of SD Cards possible
SD cards written by MOBOTIX cameras with software version 4.0.1.x or higher cannot be read directly on a computer running this version of MxControlCenter. This will be possible with version 2.2 of MxControlCenter.
Version 2.0.1 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2009-02-18
Publishing Date: 2009-03-13
Enhancements and Improvements
-
Integration of Panasonic and Sony IP cameras
This version can use the following additional IP cameras:-
Panasonic WV-NS202AE
-
Sony SNC-RZ30N
To add such a camera, open the Add Video Sources dialog from the Add Cameras - Search and Selection by clicking on the Camera button.
-
-
Manually editing of grid layouts improved
Manually editing the grid of a grid layout has been improved in several aspects. -
Latency time check improved
To set the latency time, which has to expire before MxCC recognizes an error, open the Options dialog and set the Maximum overdue time in the Error display on latency timeout group field. In addition, MxCC now also detects negative latency times, which may occur if the MxCC computer's time is out of sync with the cameras.
Bugfixes
-
PTZ control deactivated if a layout only contains one camera
After opening a layout that only contains one camera, some controls of the PTZ Controls area in the sidebar had been disabled. Among other things, the live image mode of the camera could not be switched. -
Camera configuration: Storage on an external file server without limits did not work properly
If no limits had been set for storage size, time to keep and the maximum number of sequences in the External Recording dialog, MxControlCenter had set0as value for the limits, prompting the camera to delete all recordings!
Known Limitations
Please see version 2.0!
Version 2.0 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2009-01-29
Publishing Date: 2009-01-30
Enhancements and Improvements
Completely Redesigned User Interface
This version has a completely redesigned Windows-compliant user interface, including menu bar, toolbar and the new sidebar with context-sensitive function areas (layout list, playback controls, vPTZ controls). The features of the predecessor versions up to version 1.8 have been migrated to MxControlCenter (MxCC) 2.0 for the most part. The most important features required for using MxControlCenter can now be executed using toolbar buttons, all of which also have tool tips (bubble help). Note that you can execute all functions of the new toolbar using menu commands. In addition, some new features can only be executed using the corresponding commands of the new sidebar: layout selection, playback of recordings, vPTZ control.
IMPORTANT:
Note that you can load, edit and save all existing MxCC configuration files (MxCC.ini) in MxCC 2.0. Stored layouts containing both a grid and a background definition are automatically converted to two separate layouts when loading the INI file. Note that MxCC 2.0 always maintains and stores grid and background layouts as separate definitions.
New Sidebar with Context-Sensitive Function Areas
The new sidebar on the left side of the main window contains several context-sensitive areas for executing different functions. The contents of the sidebar changes depending on wether the main window is in standard mode or the Layout Manager has been activated. To activate the Layout Manager, execute either the View > Layout Manager, the Layout > New or the Layout > Edit menu command. Both view modes allow opening/closing the function areas in the sidebar independent from one another. To open and close the function areas, you can either click on the little arrows on the header bars above the areas, using the View menu or the context menu that opens after right-clicking on the corresponding area.
The Sidebar in Standard Mode
When in standard mode, the MxCC sidebar contains these three function areas:
-
Hierarchical Layout Lists
This area displays all layouts that have been defined in the current configuration (MxCC.ini). Click on any layout or use the arrow keys on the computer keyboard to select the desired layout. In order to change a layout or the structure of the layout list, make sure that you activate the Layout Manager (see below). -
Player
This area contains the functions for playing back recorded video sequences. The functions of this area always act on the currently selected display window in the layout (yellow frame). Note that the playback functions are only active if the selected display window is in Player mode. To activate/deactivate the Player mode, click on the Toggle Player Mode button, on the Recording > Player mode menu command or the corresponding command of the context menu. As an improvement over MxCC 1.x, this area always shows a slider for easy browsing of the sequences and a time selector for searching sequences at or around a specific date and time. This area also allows setting a time range for exporting video sequences (see below). -
PTZ Controls
The functions of this area allow executing virtual (digital) Pan/Tilt/Zoom actions on the current display window. These functions are active both when viewing live cameras and when playing back recorded video sequences in a display window. The difference is that the vPTZ commands are executed by the camera when viewing live video and by MxCC when playing back recorded data.
The Sidebar with Activated Layout Manager
When the Layout Manager has been activated, the sidebar contains these three function areas:
-
Hierarchical Layout Lists
This area displays all layouts that have been defined in the current configuration (MxCC.ini). Click on any layout or use the arrow keys on the computer keyboard to select the desired layout. When the Layout Manager has been activated, you can edit the layout list and create a tree structure with a virtually unlimited number of nested layouts. Simply drag&drop the desired layout onto the "parent layout" or use the commands of the context menu (right-click on the layout list) to create the hierarchical structure. This context menu also allows creating new layouts and editing existing ones. -
Cameras and devices
This area lists all cameras, MxPEG clips and included file server paths that are used in the different layouts of the current configuration. To use one of these elements in the current layout, simplydrag&drop the desired element to any display window in the current layout. -
The contents of the third area is context-sensitive, it depends on the type of layout that is currently active.
-
Grid (grid layouts)
When using a grid layout, you can select one of the predefined grids or define a new one here. If a layout has been opened in the Layout Manager, the current grid will be replaced when you select a new one.CAUTION:
If the new grid has fewer display windows than the current one, MxCC will not display all cameras of the old layout any more! In addition, the Edit Grids button opens a new dialog, which allows changing the existing grids or defining new grids (see below). -
Background images (background layouts)
This area allows selecting different background images or defining new background images after clicking on the Add Image button.
-
Hierarchical Layout Structure and Redesigned Layout Editor
Apart from the new hierarchical layout list already mentioned above, defining and using layouts has been improved in several other ways.
-
Separate grid and background layouts
Every layout can only have one type; it is either a grid layout or a background layout. You can see this in the layout list as the two types of layouts carry different icons. When loading MxCC INI files that had been created by MxCC 1.x, layouts containing both a grid and a background definition are automatically converted to two separate definitions, one with a "(Grid)" suffix and one with a "(Background)" suffix at the end of the name. -
New Autogrid type
When defining new grid layouts, you can select the new "Autogrid", which appears as the first layout above the other predefined layouts in the graphical layout list of the Layout Manager. A layout based on the Autogrid automatically grows with the number of elements that are to be displayed. To do so, right-click in the Layout Manager and use the Insert and Add commands of the context menu. The entire display area is divided up according to the following rules:-
All display windows have the same size.
-
When adding a display window, the number of windows will be increased to create the next larger rectangle or square of windows. Rectangles will be filled from left to right first, then from top to bottom.
-
-
Manually editing and creating layout grids
If the Layout Manager is active, you can click on the Edit Grids button to edit existing and to create new grids. The grid definitions consist of a simple description language that is explained in the dialog. The results of manipulating the definition are directly visible in the preview window of the dialog, making it easy to achieve the desired results.
Improved vPTZ Features (Virtual Pan/Tilt/Zoom) and Q22M-Specific Features
Once a MOBOTIX camera has been added to MxCC, you can immediately use the virtual Pan/Tilt/Zoom features of the camera with a MEGATRON joystick (if attached to the computer) or the PTZ Controls area of the new sidebar. The controls and their functions are also context-sensitive, i.e. they depend on the contents of the currently selected display window (yellow frame). This area has four sub areas:
-
Mode
The Camera Live Image field allows selecting different PTZ views directly on the camera. The MxCC Display field, on the other hand, allows selecting vPTZ views for the vPTZ actions that are applied by MxCC on recorded video sequences.CAUTION:
-
As long as the MxCC Display field has been set to Unchanged, all vPTZ commands will be sent to the camera and executed by this camera.
-
If a different value has been selected, the vPTZ actions are executed by MxCC and its post-processing features. For example, you can select Surround to show the recorded (and distorted) full image of a Q22M in the same Surround view as if the camera itself would have created this view in live mode.
Note that the availability and the contents of the two selection boxes Camera Live Image and MxCC Display always depend on the contents of the currently selected display window (yellow frame). As a result, you can select Q22M-specific view modes, such as Surround, Panorama, etc. only if the display window contains a Q22M.
-
-
PTZ control
This control simulates the behavior of a joystick: Movements to the right or left move the camera in horizontal direction while movements up and down tilt the camera in vertical direction. Turning the ring or moving the slider will zoom in or zoom out of the image, i.e. this will change the zoom level. These features are especially interesting when using the new Q22M models with hemispherical 180° lens and integrated distortion correction on stored full image video. -
PTZ Views
The features 1x Zoom, Center Pan and the option to store/load the positions from 1 to 16 (to store a position, press a button for at least three seconds) are activated when seeing the live images of all camera models, while the special features in the Auto Move can only be applied to Q22M cameras in live mode. -
Installation
This area is only active for Q22M cameras. You can use this area to set the type of installation for wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted cameras; for the latter installation type, you can also set the North Direction.
|
Note: |
In order to use the full vPTZ functionality, you need to make sure that tall cameras are using at least software version MX-V3.4.5.4 (seewww.mobotix.com/eng_GB/Support/Software-Downloads/). |
|---|
Optimized Synchronous Playback
The Player area in the sidebar also allows playing back several cameras simultaneously in synchronized manner. The synchronous playback applies to all display windows in a layout that are currently in Player mode. You can switch individual display windows (yellow frame) using the Toggle Player Mode button in the toolbar or for all windows in the layout at once using the All button in the Player area.
Selecting a value in the Synch. Mode box opens a dialog for setting the start time. To control the playback functions, use the buttons in the Player area. The two selectable synchronization modes are working as follows:
-
Real Time
Use this option to play back all selected display windows synchronized and in real time. Note that MxCC has to able to load all required data fast enough for this to work. When playing back synchronized data of many recordings from the same file server or via individual cameras, this sometimes cannot be guaranteed!CAUTION:
If MxCC cannot read the data fast enough in order to play back in real time, MxCC will drop (i.e. leave out) individual images. This may lead to moving objects making "jumpy" movements. If this should be the case, you should select the second option, which is improved notably: Reduced Speed (see next item). -
Reduced Speed
This mode plays back the video data in synchronized manner, but does not enforce real-time playback in case the data cannot be read fast enough. In this case, MxCC plays back the data with slightly reduced speed. In addition, synchronization is handled less strictly as an offset of up to 600 milliseconds is still considered acceptable. Both measures applied together allow playing back considerably more cameras in "almost synchronized" manner. When applying the Standard System Configuration presented below, the recorded data of up to 16 cameras in one layout can be played back for 10 minutes in synchronized fashion, with an offset from realtime of about two seconds at the end.
Standard System Configuration for Reduced Speed
In order to achieve the playback performance mentioned above, the following settings have been combined with the hardware as listed below:
Recording Parameters
-
Continuous Recording
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MxPEG format
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VGA resolution
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Recording frame rate 12 to 16 fps
File Server
-
Hardware
-
Server type: NAS (N)etwork (A)ttached (S)torage
-
Manufacturer: Overland Storage (Adaptec)
-
Model: Snap Server 410, 1 TB harddisk capacity, 2 GB RAM
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Hard disks: 4 x 250 GB SATA, used as one RAID 5 volume
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Operating system: GuardianOS 5.0 133 SP1
-
-
Configuration
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Ethernet 1: 1000 Mbps
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Ethernet 2: 1000 Mbps
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Server type: CIFS, configured as standalone workgroup server
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Volumes: One volume with 692 GB, 47% used
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Quotas: None
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Hardware of the MxCC Client PC
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HP Compaq dc7800p
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Intel Core 2 Duo CPU with 2.66 GHz
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2 GB RAM
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Windows Vista 32Bit
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Video card NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
New Export Features and Export of Data on SD/CF Cards
This version contains a new dialog for exporting recorded video data. At present, this dialog allows reading the recordings via a camera and exporting the video data as MOBOTIX file server structure or as MxPEG clips. This also means that you can use this dialog to export data from internal SD/CF cards of the MOBOTIX cameras. Note that the dialog does not support exporting into AVI format or reading directly from a file server. At the moment, the export dialog from MxCC 1.8 is still used to read the data from a directly accessed file server path, but this dialog only allows exporting individual images and MxPEG clips (see also below under Known Limitations).
There are two possibilities for exporting the data:
-
Export using the Player
First, select the Player mode for the display window of a camera. Next, use the slider in the Player area of the sidebar to set the start and end position for the range you would like to export. Us theSet start position and Set end position commands of the context menu in the Player area to define the range. Click on the Export button to open to the corresponding dialog and to carry over the range you just defined. If no time range has been set for exporting, MxCC automatically sets the entire time range in the Export dialog. You can repeat this procedure for different cameras and time ranges and thus create an export list. To delete a line item in the list of the Export dialog, select it and press the [Del] key on the computer keyboard. -
Export using the Event Search
To open the Export dialog from the Video Search dialog, click on the Export or Add to export list buttons (the latter button add the selected events/time ranges to the export list. To add a single event, highlight it in the event list and click on the Add to export list button. To define a time range, search the desired time in the player and execute the Set start position command in the context menu of the Player area. Now search the last scene you would like to include in the exported video and execute the Set end position command in the context menu.Remarks
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The time range defined in this manner can contain any number of events.
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If you have not defined a time range for exporting, MxCC also carries over the entire time range into the Export dialog.
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Other Improvements
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Enhanced features of the preview windows
When defining a preview window in the Layout Manager, you can now set further parameters such as the frame rate and the resolution of this window. -
Improvements of the Camera Sequencer
-
The Camera Sequencer can also display cameras, which are only included as icons in the corresponding layout.
-
You can also set the order in which the cameras are displayed in the Sequencer window.
-
-
Improvements of the Layout Sequencer
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MxCC can now start the Layout Sequencer automatically after program launch, if you select the Layout Sequencer option in the On startup list (Options > General dialog).
-
The Layout Sequencer does not switch to the next alarm any more if an alarm has not yet been acknowledged.
-
-
Improvements of the camera status icons
The camera status icons now use these colors to show the following states:-
Green: Camera is displayed live, it is "monitored".
-
Yellow: Camera is connected, but not monitored live.
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Gray with red dot (*new*): Camera has sent an alarm (e.g. using a network message), but it is not monitored live anywhere.
-
Red: No connection to the camera.
-
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Advanced Video Search: EL and EL2 as Event Filters
You can now use the EL and EL2 events in the event filter when searching specific events. -
Improvements of the alarm list
-
Double.clicking on an image of the alarm list opens the Video Search for the corresponding camera even if the camera is not part of the current layout.
-
MxCC stores the alarm list at regular intervals in the background.
-
-
Visualization of connection errors
The Options > General dialog allows specifying a JPG graphics file in the Error display on lost camera group box, which will be shown in the corresponding display window if MxCC loses the connection to a camera. -
Visualization of latency timeouts
The Options > General dialog also allows specifying a JPG graphics file in the Error display on latency timeout group box, which will be shown in the corresponding display window if the latency of the camera is too high. This group box also allows setting the maximum latency time to use. "Latency time" in this context means the time difference between the generation time if an individual image in the camera and the time when MxCC displays the image.
Known Limitations
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No manual and no online help
This version does not yet have a current manual nor does it have an online help. -
Incomplete translations
In version 2.0, only the texts of the German and the English versions are up-to-date. All other translations may be missing some texts, which appear in English in the other languages. -
Two different export dialogs and AVI export not possible
Depending on the video source, MxCC opens two different export dialogs:-
When exporting video data that are loaded via the camera, the new export dialog of MxCC 2.0 appears. This dialog allows exporting the data as file server structure or as MxPEG clips. This dialog does not yet allow exporting into AVI files.
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When exporting video data that are loaded directly from a file server, MxCC shows the old export dialog of MxCC 1.x, but without the possibility to create AVI exports.
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Post PTZ not possible on dual images
When showing dual images of Dual cameras, MxCC at present cannot execute PTZ actions as the two images cannot be processed independent from one another. -
PTZ control deactivated if a layout only contains one camera
After opening a layout that only contains one camera, some controls of the PTZ Controls area in the sidebar had been disabled. Click on the lock icon in this area to unlock and lock the live views will activate the disabled elements again. -
Cameras cannot be deleted from the configuration
Once cameras, MxPEG clips or file server paths have been added to the MxCC configuration, they cannot be removed from the configuration using user interface options. You will have to manually delete these elements from the INI file (with MxCC not running). -
JPG files from Photoshop cannot be used for visualizing error conditions
JPG files created in the Photoshop graphics application cannot be used to visualize the connection and latency time errors as outlined above. -
No direct reading of SD Cards possible
SD cards written by MOBOTIX cameras with software version 4.0.1.x or higher cannot be read directly on a computer running this version of MxControlCenter. This will be possible with version 2.2 of MxControlCenter.
Version 1.8 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2008-07-08
Publishing Date: 2008-07-10
Enhancements and Improvements
New Print Dialog
This new dialog offers flexible options for printing single camera images from the main window or the video search dialog. To open this dialog, right-click into the main window and select Print... from the context menu or click on the Print current and post-processed image button in the Video Search dialog. You can change the following settings (among others):
-
Page format (portrait/landscape, size, page margins)
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Export as a PDF file
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Image size on printed page
Enhancements to the Video Search and the Player
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Direct video search on Flash devices (SD cards, USB devices) without camera.
A Flash device (SD card, USB stick, USB harddisk) on which a MOBOTIX camera has recorded using the MxFFS file system, can be attached directly to a computer for examination and in-depth video search. To do so, simply insert an SD card into a card reader or attach a USB device to the computer running MxCC. Next, add the logical drive of the USB device or SD card reader as a File Server Path in MxCC.
CAUTION:
-
If the MxFFS driver has not been installed yet, Windows will not recognize MxFFS-formatted storage media. Instead, Windows will show a message box prompting you format the device.Never answer Yes when asked to format the device, since this will destroy the stored data without any chance of recovery!
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Without installed MxFFS driver, MxCC will offer installing the MxFFS driver when you first access a Flash device that has been used in a MOBOTIX camera. Please note that installing this driver is only possible if you have the rights required for installing software on the Windows system!
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Search time preselection in Video Search
When closing the Video Search dialog, MxCC stores the last position played back for each camera. Upon reopening the Video Search dialog, MxCC automatically tries to load the stored positions.
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Time-synchronized playback with additional overload option
When playing back recorded video data for several cameras in synchronized fashion, you may experience problems (i.e. choppy movements, lost images) when handling many cameras at once. The number of cameras that can be handled for time-synchronized playback greatly depends on the file server and the computer running MxCC; determining an exact figure is nearly impossible. If the number of cameras that can be handled is too low for a specific application, the time-synchronized playback can be instructed to manage the cameras in a different manner, which significantly enhances the number of cameras that show smooth live video. If MxCC detects delays when receiving or displaying the files from the cameras, it reduces the playback speed dynamically to ensure that the video sequences are played back smoothly. To do so, activate the new Reduce on overload option in the Synchronous Player dialog.
CAUTION:
Note that when using his option, MxCC cannot play back the events in real time any more and time synchronization between the different cameras may not be 100 percent exact. -
Current time of the slider below the event list
When moving the slider control below the event list, MxCC displays the time/date information of the current slider position. This feature provides for better positioning of the slider control.
Virtual Pan/Tilt/Zoom (vPTZ) for all MOBOTIX Cameras, including the Q22M Models
Once a MOBOTIX camera has been added to MxCC, you can immediately use the virtual Pan/Tilt/Zoom features of the camera if a MEGATRON joystick is attached to the computer.
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Joystick navigation
Turning the joystick controls the zoom, moving the joystick to the right/left pans the camera accordingly and moving the joystick forward/backward tilts the camera down or up. These features are especially interesting when using a new Q22M model with hemispherical 180° lens and integrated distortion correction.
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Setting and loading preset positions:
Similar to mechanical pan/tilt heads, you can activate the Rotor option, the Set button and the selection box to set and load individual "presets", i.e. virtual (digital) PTZ positions (pan/tilt position and zoom level). When using a MEGATRON joystick, you can also use the function keys on the joystick housing to set and load preset positions: Pressing a function key for at least 2 seconds will set a preset, briefly pressing the key will load the corresponding preset.
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Function buttons for Q22M:
When using the new Q22M with hemispherical lens and 360° surround view, pressing one of the two function keys on the joystick itself will execute these operations: The left key rotates the camera by 180° (like looking back over your shoulder), the right key cycles through the different display modes of the Q22M, Normal (corrected image), Full Image (uncorrected image of the full image sensor),Surround (image from four virtual cameras that cover the entire room).
Other Improvements
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Export path stored in Video Search
When again loading the Export dialog, it will reopen the directory that had been selected when last closing the dialog. This path will remain stored when restarting MxCC, provided you saved the configuration file (
MxCC.ini) when closing the application. -
Easier saving of layouts
When saving a layout, a new dialog prompts the user to save the layout and the changed MxCC configuration in either the current or a different configuration file. Consequently, the application will not prompt the user any more to save the changes when closing the Layout Editor or the application (provided no other parameters have been changed in the meantime).
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Improved reconfiguring of cameras via Bonjour
This dialog allowed entering IP addresses, which ended in '
.000'; this is not possible any more. -
Playing back MxPEG clips with up to 1 GB size
When playing back MxPEG clips, MxCC played back clips up to a maximum of 128 GB. This limit has been increased to 1 GB.
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Saving and printing single images of an MxPEG video clip
It is now possible to print single images of MxPEG clips or to store them as
.jpgor.bmpfile. -
Improved Player stability when encountering missing files
When playing back recording in Snapshot mode (pre-alarm, alarm, and post-alarm images), the MxCC player could hang if files in the folder were missing, e.g. because the camera was not able to store all pre- and post-alarm images due to overload. This problem has been solved as MxCC only plays back the files that are actually there.
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MxCC can play back contents of exported
.tararchivesMxCC now allows using the uncompressed contents of tar files that have been exported from a camera by adding these contents as a File server path. This means that you can play back the contents of such a file and also use the full Video Search features in MxCC.
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Loading file server paths now also works using UNC paths
Up until now, file server paths required a logical drive name. You can now also use UNC paths for this purpose. This allows using paths like '
\\Server1\MX-Data\10_xx_yy_zz' besides 'z:\10_xx_yy_zz'. -
Sequential Live display mode for limited bandwidths
This display mode has been added especially for situations in which only limited bandwidth is available for retrieving the camera images. Once the Sequential mode check box has been activated inOptions > General, MxCC will do the following:
It will not try to get all live streams from the cameras of the current layout at once, but will try to get the pictures in sequential mode, i.e. one image of camera A, one image of camera B, etc. Once an image has been obtained, MxCC waits for the specified Update time before it tries to get the image from the next camera: If this parameter has been set to 0, MxCC tries to get the images as fast as possible and waits for the selected time otherwise.
Bugfixes
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Layout Editor, background mode: Crash after changing window to camera icon
After changing the live window of a camera to an icon, the application could crash when clicking on the icon.
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Distorted display of custom resolutions in Player
If a camera had been recording using a custom image format (e.g. 1280x752), playing back these recordings in the Player did not show the proper resolution, but a distorted image.
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Faulty display in preview windows of images rotated by 180°
Camera images rotated by 180° were sometimes displayed improperly in the preview window.
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Crash when exporting snapshot recordings
When exporting time ranges in which the camera had been recording the images in Snapshot recording mode, the application sometimes crashed.
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Errors sending remote commands
When using the remote command string '
GET ip=layout&active=0&speaker=1', the camera speaker was not activated as instructed. -
Error in automatic alarm acknowledgement
If automatic alarm acknowledgement had been set to a value of 60 minutes or higher, the alarms were acknowledged immediately.
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Error playing back MxPEG clips in fast forward
When playing back in fast forward, the application sometimes skipped single images (frames).
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Faulty Hide camera controls command
This command did not only hide the camera controls, but also the MxCC controls.
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Camera access data in Update Assistant faulty
When starting the Update Assistant, the access data of the individual cameras (user name, password) were sometimes not copied properly and had to be defined again in the Update Assistant. Likewise, storing these access data in a camera list of the Update Assistant was sometime faulty.
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Problems in Video Search when files on the file server were missing
The stability of the Video Search feature has been improved, where the application could crash if the '
.erdinfo' or 'info.jpg' files had been missing.
Version 1.6 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2007-12-20
Publishing Date: 2007-12-21
Changes to Event Search Features
Player Functions and Video Search
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Player with time-synchronized playback
MxControlCenter can now play back all camera windows of a layout, which are in Player mode, in a time-synchronized manner. This means that you can follow an incident recorded by several cameras in the correct sequence of events. To activate this feature, click on the new Time-synchronized playback button in the main window. Enter a start time in the Time-Synchronous Player dialog and set all cameras to the desired time by clicking on Goto. Leave the Time-Synchronous Player dialog open and use the player buttons of the main window to start and stop the playback.
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Enhanced Event Search Also For M1 Cameras
The enhanced video search now also processes file server contents that have been recorded using M1 cameras.
Video Export
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Logging of all executed export actions
MxControlCenter automatically logs all executed export functions in an encrypted file, which can be opened in MxControlCenter for viewing. Exporting and viewing the log file requires user rights within MxControlCenter. To see the export log file, open the Export dialog and click on the Open Log button.
Adding and Controlling Cameras
Adding Cameras of Other Manufacturers
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Axis Video Server and Toshiba IP cameras integrated
MxControlCenter can now integrate Axis Video Server and Toshiba IP cameras. This allows showing live MJPEG video streams in MxControlCenter and also provides a method for storing the video stream in the MOBOTIX folder structure when using an MxServer. To add a video channel of an Axis Video Server or a Toshiba IP camera, open the Search/open video sources dialog or use the Layout Editor.
Bugfixes
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Export of Bitmaps in the "Video Search" Dialog
When trying to export bitmaps (.bmp) in the Video Search dialog, this feature did not work.
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Contents of the "Configure Element" dialog
The contents of the Configure Element dialog did not show the last settings even though the Remember last settings checkbox had been checked.
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Missing time ranges when playing back MxPEG clips
When playing back MxPEG clips, MxControlCenter sometimes missed certain time ranges.
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Scrollbars of mouse-over windows overlapping the alarm list did not work
The scrollbars of camera windows, which had been enlarged using mouse-over and overlapped the alarm list, did not work.
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Audio activation was lost
When switching between several camera windows or after loosing a camera connection (e.g. due to a network failure), the audio channel of the camera was not transmitted any more.
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Display of MOBOTIX cameras, which only support SSL/https connections
It was not possible to add MX camera using the https protocol. It is now possible to activate SSL when adding a camera.
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Integration of analog cameras using MxServer
Setting different ports of MxServer when integrating analog cameras had errors.
Version 1.5.11 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Creation Date: 2007-09-14
Publishing Date: 2007-09-18
User Interface and General
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Version also Available for Windows 2000
For this version, a separate installation package for Windows 2000 is supplied.
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Redesigned Buttons and Icons
Buttons and icons of the MxCC main window have been completely redesigned and display improved popup help.
Changes to Event Search Features
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Video Search Dialog with Additional and Freely Scalable Player Window
The Video Search dialog now features a separate, freely moveable and scalable window for displaying the stored camera videos. When opening the window, MxCC will open it in its original size (camera resolution) and will position it directly above the Player buttons. You can open this window by double-clicking into the Player window or by clicking on the new Open/close search windowbutton. Double-clicking into the window or clicking the new Open/close search window button will close this window again.
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Improved Handling when Playing Back Recorded Clips in the Main Window
When playing back stored MxPEG files in the Main window, the Loading clip... notification does not show any more and the display does not pause any more when MxCC is loading a new video sequence.
Changes in Layouts and When Creating Layouts
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New Dialog for Adding Layout Elements
When right-clicking a display element in the Layout Editor, selecting Insert or Configure in the context menu will open a dialog which allows adding/configuring a display element from the list of available elements.
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Live
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Preview
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Player
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Video clip
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File server path
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Player window
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Alarm window
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Sequencer window (see New Sequencer window Element Type for Grid and Background Layouts)
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Focus window (only for background layouts, see Focus window)
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Status symbol (only for background layouts, see Status Symbol and 'MxStatus.exe' Application)
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Layout button (only for background layouts)
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Configure Sequencer button (only for background layouts, see New "'Configure Sequencer' button" Element Type)
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Close windows button (only for background layouts)
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New Status symbol and Focus window Display Element Types for Background Layouts
When using the new Insert dialog in the Layout Editor with background image, you can now add Status symbols and Focus windows to background layouts. Using these two new display elements, you can comfortably create overview layouts with all or some cameras shows as small status icons. When needed, you can add one or more focus windows for several cameras or live windows to display individual cameras. You can combine these two display elements as follows:
Status Symbol and 'MxStatus.exe' Application
First, add a Status symbol and connect it to the camera (IP address). The symbol is then displayed as a colored circle with fans that indicate the directing of viewing and the angle of the lens, for cameras with one or two lenses. The colors have the following meanings:
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Red: the connection to the camera is not working
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Yellow: the connection to the camera is working properly, but this camera is not displayed live in any of the connected MxControlCenter instances!
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Green: this camera is displayed live in one of the connected MxControlCenter instances.
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IMPORTANT: Please also read the description of the MxStatus application in New 'MxStatus.exe' Application for Updating the Status Symbols!
In addition to the status symbols, you can add one or more Focus windows to the layout. When clicking on a status symbol, the corresponding camera will be shown live in the focus window, if only one focus window exists. If several focus windows are present in the layout, simply click into the desired focus window, then click on the camera.
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New 'MxStatus.exe' Application for Updating the Status Symbols
The MxStatus.exe Windows application should run on a Windows computer that is already running MxControlCenter. MxStatus is used to update the displayed status of the camera symbols of all connected MxControlCenter instances and to send the status to the connected MxControlCenter instances, i.e. the other computers running MxControlCenter. (Please also see the description of the status symbols in the Status Symbol and 'MxStatus.exe' Application section.)
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Starting the Application:
You can start MxStatus.exe by double-clicking or right-click > Open without any parameters. In this case, the application opens the default port 8080 for other computers running MxControlCenter. If required, you can start MxStatus at the command prompt with an IP address and a port number.
Example:C:\Program Files\MOBOTIX\MxCC\MxStatus 127.0.0.1 8100 -
Connecting MxControlCenter and MxStatus:
The connected MxControlCenter instances are all computers with a running MxControlCenter in the network, which also have a connection to one single computer running MxStatus. In order to connect an MxControlCenter computer to an MxStatus computer, make sure that MxStatus is properly running on the computer. In addition, you need to configure all MxControlCenter computers in Options > General > MxStatus IP by entering the IP address (and the port number if different from 8080) of the Windows computer running MxStatus. It is not required to enter the port in MxControlCenter if you are using the default port 8080.
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New Sequencer window Element Type for Grid and Background Layouts
When using the new Insert dialog in the Layout Editor with background image, you can now add Sequencer windows to grid and background layouts. A window of this type does display one camera (IP address). This window cycles through all live cameras and MxPEG clips of the current layout. You can set the interval for showing the individual cameras and select the cameras to show (IP addresses/names) in the Configure dialog.
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New 'Configure Sequencer' button Element Type
This element type allows adding a button to background layouts, which opens the dialog for configuring the Layout Sequencer window of the layout. This button allows users without administration rights to configure the Sequencer window in the running application.
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New 'Close Window' button Element Type
This element type allows adding a button to background layouts, which closes all open and freely moveable live camera windows of the layout.
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Layout Sequencer Feature
Clicking on a Sequencer button in a layout will start the Layout Sequencer. If the Layout Sequencer is running, MxControlCenter will cycle through the defined layouts using the interval defined in the Options > General dialog, Sequencer time. You can activate the Layout Sequencer by Ctrl-clicking on the Sequencer button of the main window.
Adding and Controlling Cameras
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Improved Open Video Sources Dialog
If you click on the Search/open video sources button in the main window and the Open Video Sources dialog opens, this dialog will contain the video sources of the current layout. This dialog will only start searching for cameras automatically, if you start MxControlCenter for the first time or without INI file.
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Simplified Definition of the Camera File Server Paths
The definition of the file server paths for the video search features has been improved. Every camera tab in the Options dialog now has three settings for Get Player images:
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Via camera
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Global file server path (subfolder with camera factory IP is appended automatically)
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Camera file server path
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Improved Bonjour Search and Changes of Camera Network Configuration
If a camera has been found via Bonjour you can change not only the network settings, but also the standard gateway.
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Merit Li-Lin IP PTZ Cameras Integrated
When clicking on the Search/open video sources you can now add Merit Li-Lin IP PTZ dome cameras. For now, the current model PIH-7625IP has been integrated.
CAUTION:
In order to store the Merit Li-Lin video stream as M-JPEG in the MOBOTIX files structure, you need to use MxServer version 1.0.34 or higher.
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Provitek PT3 Pan/Tilt Head Integrated
Besides the Provitek pan/tilt heads PT and PT2, MxControlCenter now also supports the PT3 models. You can select the model in the Options dialog on the tab of the camera that is mounted on the pan/tilt head.
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Inverted Control Commands for Pan/Tilt Heads and Analog PTZ Dome Cameras
When using pan/tilt heads and analog PTZ dome cameras, you can now invert the X and Y control commands. This provides for proper control of pan/tilt heads, which have been mounted upside-down. You can also set these options in the Options dialog on the tab of the camera mounted on the pan/tilt head or the PTZ camera.
Bugfixes
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Sending Audio from PC Microphone to Camera did not work
When trying to make an announcement, the audio signal recorded by the computer's microphone was not transmitted to the camera (audio announcement).
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Wrong Days Displayed in Video Search
In the event list of the Video Search dialog, the weekday always showed Fri, while the date itself was displayed properly.
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German/English Language Mixed in Print Output
When printing images in the Video Search dialog, some texts in the print layout still appeared in German.
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Missing Files When Saving MxCC Configuration Completely
When saving the MxControlCenter configuration (including the runtime files), the DLL files were missing.
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Automatic Language Selection of GUI Did Not Work
When opening MxControlCenter on Windows versions other than German, some dialogs appeared in different languages.
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Camera Network Configuration Not Saved When Using Bonjour
When changing the camera network settings for IP address and network mask in MxControlCenter, these changes did not get saved in the camera.
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Application Errors in Player Mode and in the "Open Video Sources" Dialog
When clicking on the Select all channels button and the Player mode had been pressed, the application could hang. The same could happen, when clicking on the Automatic search button in theOpen Video Sources dialog.
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Camera Configuration - Error When Accessing M1 or M10/D10 Cameras
When trying to open the configuration dialog for M1 cameras or M10/D10 cameras with older software versions, the application could hang.
Version 1.5.8 (Release) of MxControlCenter
User Interface
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New Export Dialog and AVI Generation
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Icons Redesigned
The Export dialog (click on the Export button in either the main MxControlCenter window or in the Video Search dialog) has been completely redesigned. Selecting the export format and setting the time span for exporting has been combined into one dialog. In addition, this dialog also allows selecting different codecs for generating AVI files, either with or without audio channel from the camera.
All icons of MxControlCenter have been completely redesigned.
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Language Versions
This version is available only in English and German. The other languages (French, Spanish and Italian) will be added in a later version.
Camera Search and IP Configuration via Bonjour
When starting MxControlCenter without a default layout, the application automatically searches the network for MOBOTIX cameras. Apart from the broadcast search, which only found cameras on the same subnet, MxControlCenter now uses the recently integrated Bonjour service. The application thus automatically finds Bonjour-enabled MOBOTIX cameras (software version >= 3.0.8.7) in other subnets, as long as they are using the same physical network and are not blocked off by firewalls. In addition, the MOBOTIX cameras found using Bonjour can be reconfigured directly from MxControlCenter either to use the specified IP addresses or to use DHCP to obtain their network addresses. Opening the Admin Menu > Ethernet Interface dialog in the browser interface of the cameras to reconfigure the network address is not required any more. The same search is also conducted every time you open the Open Video Sources dialog later on.
New Camera Configuration Dialog
Clicking on the Camera Configuration button opens a new dialog, which allows to conveniently change various parameters in different sections of the camera settings. The following sections are currently available:
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Overview
This tab lists the most important settings of the cameras in a table that can be accessed using the default password (arming, recording, events, etc.).
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Image Setup
This tab allows changing the most relevant image settings. Currently, it is only possible to change one camera at a time.
Hint:
Exposure windows cannot be managed using this dialog – yet, but this will supported in a future version of MxControlCenter.
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Recording
This tab allows changing the most important recording settings for one or more selected cameras. If the cameras are running software versions 3.1.x or higher, you can also use this tab to setup recording to an external file server. This means that you can create a Windows share on the computer running MxControlCenter that is also used by the camera as an external file server. If the camera is supposed to use the MxControlCenter computer for recording, you do not have to use the Windows dialogs to set up a corresponding shared folder.
CAUTION:
All changes to the settings in the Camera Configuration dialog will always be stored in the camera's permanent memory!
Update Assistant
The Update Assistant is the tool for simultaneously updating the system software of one or more cameras. It automatically finds all MOBOTIX cameras using the Bonjour service (activated by default on the cameras), even if they are on a different subnet. You can also add and remove cameras manually and you can also store and load the compiled camera list.
In addition, you can store the configuration of one or more cameras for backup purposes and load the configuration back into the cameras.
Changes to Video Search Features
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Video Search (Event Search) via the camera – without direct file server access
The Video Search dialog (formerly named Event Search) now allows searching for stored events or a specific time when using continuous recording. In this case, MxControlCenter uses the MOBOTIX camera, which in turn has to have a properly working connection to the file server used for external storage. In order to search via the camera, make sure that Options > <camera tab>, option Get Player images has been set to Via camera.
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Video Search on continuous recording even without real events
The Video Search dialog features a new button named Show real events only in the Search Parameters group. If this button is pressed, it is only relevant when searching for data stored usingContinuous Recording. The button has an effect only in the following cases:
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Files stored by MOBOTIX cameras using continuous recording, either with or without true events.
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Video data of other manufacturer's cameras (analog or IP-based), which have been stored using MxServer, currently only if the data do not contain true events.
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Improved print feature
When printing the original image together with an image changed by PTZ/PP, both images will be printed in a redesigned layout.
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Export feature available in Video Search
The export feature in the Export dialog already described above can now also be started in the video search by clicking on the Export button.
Activating the Show real events only option (button) on continuously recorded video data only makes sense when using MOBOTIX cameras. In this case, the event list contains only the additionalreal events (such as VM, IL, UC, ...) and not the minute clips recorded on a continuous basis. If this has not been activated (default setting), the event list contains the real events and the minute clips, which are stored every minute, allowing you to search the continuously recorded video data.
Performance Enhancements in Software Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) and Image Post Processing (PP)
The performance of the Software Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) and Image Post Processing (PP) features has been improved considerably.
Bugfixes
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Windows language version not determined correctly and wrong language displayed
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Zoom features automatically activated the Sequencer mode
When playing back events recorded in Snapshot mode, the Player could only show a maximum of 10 pre-alarm and 10 post-alarm images. This number has been increased to 20 pre- and post-alarm images.
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Flickering of the PTZ function on still images
When activating the PTZ function on still images, the images started flickering.
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Unnecessary input box to save a changed layout
When switching between different layouts in the MxControlCenter main window, the application asked whether to store the changed layout, even though the layout had not been changed.
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Frame rate of alarm window dropped to 1 fps
If MxControlCenter had been started on a computer with a Windows language version other than German, the application nonetheless displayed the German user interface. This behavior could only be remedied by moving the language DLLs to a different folder or by simply deleting the DLLs.
If a layout contained an alarm window, the triggering camera was correctly displayed in the alarm window, but its frame rate dropped to 1 frame per second.
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Dual images distorted in Video Search dialog
If a dual camera with dual image (Camera selection: Both) was displayed in the Video Search (Event Search) dialog to search for events, the images in the film strip and in the preview had not been scaled proportionally, but were distorted.
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Event search did not work on cameras set to a different port than 80
Events from cameras were not displayed in the Video Search (Event Search) dialog if these cameras had been set to a port that was different from the default port 80 and the images were collected via the camera (and not directly from a file server).
Version 1.3.6 (Release) of MxControlCenter
Note:
Starting with release 1.3.6, MxViewer has been renamed to MxControlCenter. The renaming does not have any influence on existing layouts, which had been created and managed using MxViewer. All existing MxViewer*.ini configuration can be loaded, edited and saved in MxControlCenter. The basic functionality and the user interface have not changed a lot from MxViewer.
New Features Software Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) and Image Post Processing (PP)
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Integrated software PTZ functions, including distortion correction
MxControlCenter now allows using the Pan/Tilt/Zoom features even on recorded clips, which have been added for evaluation/presentation purposes. Using these features, you can also pan to a certain spot in the live image of a camera and zoom into the image. This feature works for any window in MxControlCenter, regardless of the type of displayed video source!
This means that the PTZ features can be used on live streams, MxPEG clips and on the files stored on a file server; even still images (e.g. paused streams) can be examined using these features. Another strong point is the automatic correction of distorted images that are delivered by cameras with Super Wide-Angle and Ultra Wide-Angle lenses (360°). Once the lens type and camera mount type have been set, MxControlCenter automatically calculates the corresponding distortion correction. You can control the PTZ features of any camera window using a joystick or the mouse. -
Integrated image Post Processing (PP)
Besides the PTZ features with automatic distortion correction, you can also correct images in post-processing mode, i.e. you can change image color contrast, brightness, contrast and sharpness even after the video has been recorded by a camera. Again, this feature works for any window containing live streams, recorded video and still images, regardless of the type of displayed video source.
Three additional buttons for controlling the PTZ and PP features have been added to the toolbar:
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Show PTZ/PP dialog
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Toggle Pan Tilt Zoom
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Toggle Post Processing
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Download the MxControlCenter Manual from www.mobotix.com, in the Support > Manuals section for more information on these functions.
Changes to Event Search Features
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New Dialog for extended event search with direct file server access
If a file server path has been set for a MOBOTIX camera (either in Options > General or in Options > <camera tab>), MxControlCenter will open the new Event Search dialog when clicking on the Show Eventlist button instead of the browser-based event list. The following functions have been added by the enhanced event search feature; for a more detailed information, please consult theMxControlCenter manual.
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Selecting and switching between all cameras of the current layout when searching for events.
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Display of all event images of a camera and navigation within the event images using a storyboard.
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Manual and automatic setting of a reference time, which can be used when searching for events while switching between two or more cameras.
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Integrated event player with audio channel.
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Creating and playing back the contents of the Playlist, which consists of events and event sequences of any camera in the current layout.
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PTZ and image post processing also in event search
The new dialog for enhanced event search with direct file server access also allows using the integrated PTZ and image post-processing (PP) features. This means that you can use the same PTZ and PP operations within event search as in the MxControlCenter main window. Use the PTZ and PP buttons on the additional toolbar above the event player in order to adjust the lens and image post-processing parameters.
Note:
The enhanced event search is currently only supported when directly accessing a file server on which a MOBOTIX camera has been recording its video data. One of the next releases ofMxControlCenter will also support indirect access to the stored video and audio data, i.e. the files are accessed via the cameras and not on the file server.
Changes to Image Display Features
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Adding two different image channels of a Dual camera (second image channel)
In addition to showing the live images of a Dual camera's current image sensor (left, right, both), MxControlCenter can display the images of the sensor that is currently not shown. Select the Set image link options command from the context menu of a camera window and set the desired parameters.
Note:
When using this option, the frame rate is restricted to max. 1 F/s! -
Improvements of the Live window
Toggle audio on/off:
Using the context menu of a live window, you can also switch the audio channel for this window on or off.Double-click to open the Live window:
Double-click any camera window to open the video in a detached window, regardless of whether it contains a live stream, a second image channel or camera events.
Changes and Enhancements to Camera Integration and Configuration
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Integration of Axis IP cameras
This version of MxControlCenter can also get the M-JPEG stream from Axis IP cameras. To do so, simply add the string
:TAafter the camera's IP address. When using an Axis dome camera, such as the Axis 232 dome, MxControlCenter automatically activates PTZ control using a joystick.
Example:192.168.1.173:TA -
Changing camera image settings from MxControlCenter
Right-click a live window and click on the Camera Control command to open a dialog for directly setting the most important exposure and image settings of the corresponding camera. Using this dialog, you can control MOPBOTIX cameras just like the cameras of other manufacturers (currently only Axis).
Changes to Remote Control Features
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Opening Live Windows Using Camnotify
Upon receiving a network message from a camera, MxControlCenter can be instructed to open the video stream of the sending camera in a detached Live window. To do so, activate the Open live window checkbox on the Options dialog, Remote Control tab.
Version 1.2.50 (Beta) of MxViewer
Changes and Enhancements to the Configuration and the User Interface
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New Dialog for Extended Event Search—BETA
If a File server path has been set for a MOBOTIX camera (either in Options->General or in Options-><camera tab>), MxControlCenter will open the new Event Search search dialog instead of the browser-based event list. This dialog allows searching one (or more) events according to specific criteria and can play back the corresponding video sequences.
Note: This dialog is not quite finished, i.e. not all visible features are usable!
Version 1.2.49 (Release) of MxViewer
Note: This version does not contain the extended event search. You should try the MxViewer Beta version 1.2.50 (see above) to try out some of its features.
Changes and Enhancements to the Configuration and the User Interface
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New dialog for storing the current configuration
The Save configuration button opens a dialog, which allows storing the current configuration of MxViewer at a specific location. The dialog offers three options:
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Configuration only (INI file)
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Configuration and resources
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Complete package (configuration, resources, MxViewer program files)
This allows creating a complete MxViewer installation at any location on your network.
In addition, this dialog also allows setting the target directory as the global folder. If MxViewer is started in a folder without local configuration file (INI), the configuration will be taken from the global folder.
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CAUTION: To be able to store the configuration, a user needs to have Administrator privileges in MxViewer!
In order to store JPEG and MxPEG clip files, simply click on the Export to file button (to the right of the Stop button).
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MxViewer with French User Interface
Depending on the current country setting in Windows, MxViewer will be launched with a an English, German or French user interface. For all other country settings, the English user interface will be used.
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New camera live window and double-click behavior
The behavior of double-clicking a camera window can be changed on the General options tab: You can either switch between the two image sensors (only for MOBOTIX Dual models) or MxControlCenter can pop up a Live window. A new window with a regular Windows title bar opens, which shows the live stream of the selected camera. This window can be positioned freelyanywhere on the desktop.
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Exporting an event time range from an external together with MxViewer Program files
When exporting (i.e. storing) a time range of events that has been stored on an external file server, the MxViewer program files will be automatically copied to the target folder. Likewise, a new configuration file (INI) will be created in the target folder, which will be loaded automatically when starting the MxViewer in the target folder, prompting MxControlCenter to play back the stored clips. This makes for easy creation of a CD with MxPEG clips, which can be viewed without having to install MxViewer.
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Number of layouts increased to 50
The number of layouts has been increased from 20 to 50.
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Currently active layout in the softbutton bar is bold
MxViewer displays the currently active layout in the softbutton bar in bold print.
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Zoom factor is stored for every layout
The zoom factor can be set and stored individually for each layout (and not only globally, as was the case before). This means that the mx2 camera window could be 640 pixels wide in Layout1, 1280 pixels in Layout2 and 320 pixels in Layout3.
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Scroll bars in MxControlCenter and mouse-over windows
If the camera windows do not fit into MxControlCenter or a mouse-over window, MxControlCenter will display vertical and horizontal scroll bars to see the hidden parts of the camera images.
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Added relative time difference to date/time indicator
The large date/time display in the top right corner of MxViewer shows the relative time to the first image when playing back clips of when in Loop mode.
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Icon for closing icon alarm windows
The windows that are popping up from the camera icons of a background layout can now be closed using the small X icon in the title bar of these windows.
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Layout editor Grid mode: single VGA window definable
In the Grid mode of the Layout editor, an additional grid is available, which consists of one VGA-size window (mx26).
Bugfixes
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Number of pre- and post-alarm images visible in the Player limited to 10
When playing back events recorded in Snapshot mode, the Player could only show a maximum of 10 pre-alarm and 10 post-alarm images. This number has been increased to 20 pre- and post-alarm images.
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Several smaller bugfixes
Version 1.2.13 of MxViewer
Changes and Enhancements to the Configuration and the User Interface
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New Dialog for Extended Event Search
If a File server path has been set for a MOBOTIX camera (either in Options->General or in Options-><camera tab>), MxControlCenter will open the new Event Search search dialog instead of the browser-based event list. This dialog allows searching one (or more) events according to specific criteria and can play back the corresponding video sequences.
Version 1.2.7 of MxViewer
MxPEG Viewer Renamed to MxViewer
In order to find a more concise name for this MOBOTIX client application, MxPEG Viewer has been renamed to MxViewer.
Changes and Enhancements to the Configuration and the User Interface
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New Launch Dialog for Automatic or Manual Camera Search
If no Start Layout has been set on the current computer, MxViewer will show the new MxViewer Video Sources dialog. This dialog allows automatically searching for MOBOTIX cameras and also manually selecting cameras and stored MxPEG video clips. Moreover, MxViewer can automatically generate a default layout using the defined video sources.
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New Dialog Scan Network for MOBOTIX Cameras
MxViewer can now search the networks of this computer for MOBOTIX cameras and will create a list of the discovered cameras. After scanning, you can click on the cameras, check the images in the preview window and edit the list to your liking. Once you have accepted the list, MxViewer can automatically generate a default layout with all highlighted cameras.
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This new dialog for opening video sources allows entering IP addresses or DNS names of MOBOTIX cameras and also allows selecting MxPEG video clip files. These video sources are then added to the existing list of video sources of this MxViewer installation. This list can also be filled by adding the path of a file server, which is used by the MOBOTIX cameras as an external ring buffer storage. This dialog also allows starting the automatic scan for MOBOTIX cameras to find new cameras.
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"Watchdog" Feature
MxViewer now has an integrated "watchdog" feature, which will restart MxViewer automatically if it has ceased operating for unknown reasons.
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Language DLLs
MxViewer is not released in the form of several translated executables any more. MxViewer will now search the application folder for a language DLL that corresponds to the operating system language. If it does not find such a DLL, MxControlCenter launches the English (default) user interface.
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Automatically Playing Back Stored Alarms in a Player Window
Each layout can now take one Player window. If such a window has been defined and the user clicks on an event in the alarm list, MxViewer automatically displays the stored alarms of the corresponding camera. All other windows (especially the live windows) will continue operating as before.
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Extended Layout Editor
The Layout Editor has been extended by the Camera List, which contains all cameras that are present in one of the layouts. If you would like to update the list, simply open the Open Video Sourcesdialog and scan the network for new cameras, for example.
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Demo Mode for Presentations
If Options->Demo mode has been activated and the user does not move the mouse, MxViewer will move the mouse by itself and will stop at each camera window of the layout. If the Mouse-Overoption has been activated, the corresponding image will be enlarged accordingly.
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Camera Settings Stored with IP Address and Port
MxViewer now uses the camera's IP address and its port number to store the camera's settings. This approach allows configuring several cameras, which are situated behind a router, and thus have only one IP address as seen from the outside.
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Cameras Displayed as Icons
In order to avoid a crowded impression in background mode, you can show individual video sources as icons (right-click->Icon) while MxControlCenter continues to monitor the camera's live stream. If you hold the mouse pointer over such an icon (mouse-over) or an event occurs, MxControlCenter will automatically revert to the previous size.
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Name of the Highlighted Camera is Displayed in MxViewer Title Bar
The title bar of MxViewer will now display the name or the IP address of the selected video source (yellow frame) in the layout.
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Standard IP Notify Network Message
A new protocol has been established between the cameras and MxViewer: the Standard IP Network message (Standard IPN). The camera only needs to know the IP address of the computer, which is running MxViewer. Upon an event, the camera will send a message to MxViewer, prompting it to acquire the corresponding event image from the camera and to display this image in its alarm list. MxControlCenter does not need to monitor the full live stream to detect events. Additionally, you may prompt the user to acknowledge this alarm within the specified duration. Failing to do so will prompt the camera to send the message to another computer running MxViewer.
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Displaying Other Manufacturer's Cameras
The decoder of MxViewer can now display the cameras of other manufacturers. Simply enter the corresponding camera as a video source, e.g. "http://<IP address>/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi".
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Saving a Section of a Video as Clip or JPEG Sequence
Live video recordings and clip files defined as video sources do not have to be stored as full video clip or JPEG sequence any more. In Local Recorder mode, the slider's context menu allows setting the start and end points of the video clip. MxControlCenter shows the selected range in gray and will store this section only when clicking on Save to disk->MxPEG Clip or Sequence of JPEGs.
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Date/Time of Current Camera Window Displayed in Tool Bar
The date and time of the selected camera (yellow frame) are displayed at the right border of the tool bar, provided that enough space is available (you may have to enlarge the application window's width to see this button). If the video source is a live camera and its time differs by more than ten seconds from the time of the computer, MxControlCenter will show the date/time information in red.
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Return to Start Layout
MxViewer can automatically return from any other layout to the Start Layout, if no mouse action has been detected for the specified duration (Options->Return to Start Layout after).
Version 1.1.9 of MxViewer
Changes and Enhancements to the Configuration and the User Interface
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Dynamic Buttons of the Camera Player Mode Directly in the Image
When viewing a camera in Player mode, you may either use the |<, <<, etc. Player buttons from the toolbar to navigate between the stored events or the dynamic mouse buttons that are displayed when moving the mouse over the active zone at the bottom of the image. If the mouse enters the active zone at the bottom of a camera window in Player mode, the Player buttons from the toolbar will be displayed dynamically, depending on the mouse position. Clicking will execute the action of the currently displayed button.
The feature is available for regular camera windows in Layout mode and in mouse-over windows. Make sure to deactivate the
Small areaoption, since the mouse-over window will be closed before the mouse pointer reaches the active zone at the bottom of the image otherwise. -
Configuration can Only be Changed by MxViewer Administrators
A user logged in as
userof MxViewer cannot save the configuration when exiting MxControlCenter. Administration users (admin) of MxControlCenter will be given a choice where to save the configuration (locally or globally) when exiting MxControlCenter. -
Selection Dialog for Storing the Configuration for MxViewer Administrators
Administrators can select where to store the configuration—locally (working directory of MxViewer) or globally (if defined and activated).
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Improved "Global Folder" Handling
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MxControlCenter will not enforce setting a global folder when starting; this folder can be set separately (and activated) later in the Options dialog.
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Unless a global folder has been set, MxControlCenter will ask you to do so every time when starting; this dialog may be switched off using the Do not show this message again option at the bottom.
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The Options dialog now displays the location of the current configuration at the bottom: Windows registry, local or global folder (folders with path).
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File Checks in the Options Dialog
MxControlCenter will test if the files or folders actually exist that have been specified in the corresponding text fields of the Options dialog.
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Saving MxPEG Clips From Cameras in Player Mode
It is now possible to save an MxPEG clip file (
.mxg) of a camera window in Player mode by clicking on the Save to disk button of MxControlCenter. To be able to do so, the camera has to run in MxPEG mode. -
Irritating Mouse Pointer Icons in Layout Editor Have Been Removed
In Layout Editor mode, the form of the mouse pointer will only be changed to signal states that are specific to the Layout Editor itself.
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Same Title Bar in Layout Mode and Mouse-Over Images
The title bars in both image windows now have the same buttons with the same functionality.
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Clicking on Title Bar Buttons Will Show an Error if Files are Missing
If an Instruction file or a Reference image are not available or cannot be accessed for any reason, MxControlCenter will issue an error message if an icon on the title bar is clicked (in Layout mode or in the mouse-over image).
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Information on Space Requirements When Storing Video Clips or Images
When saving video clips or images, the format selection dialog will display the estimated storage space this will clip or file will require.
Enhancements of Alarm Processing
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Camnotify Will Switch MxControlCenter Even With Deactivated Alarm List
If a camera sends the camnotify command that prompts MxViewer to get the images of one or more cameras and display them in the alarm list, this command will fill the alarm list even though it has been deactivated.
Bugfixes
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Problems When Accessing Cameras With Guest Access
When accessing cameras (mostly not on the local network) with guest access using slow network connections, MxViewer had problems connecting to the cameras.
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Crashes Receiving Many Camnotify Actions
MxViewer crashed when receiving many camnotify remote control commands from cameras.
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Preemptive Password Requests
If a user had been using MxViewer in guest mode, and moved the mouse over the title bar of a live stream in Layout mode, the Password dialog popped up.
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Saving an Image From the Alarm List
When tying to Save (context menu) an image from the alarm list of the selected camera (yellow frame), MxControlCenter saved the current live image of the selected camera instead.
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Error Saving a JPEG Snapshot
When playing back an MxPEG clip stored by a camera, Save to disk->JPEG Snapshot always saved the last image of the clip and not the currently displayed image.
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Wrong Tab Order in the Password Dialog
The order of the fields in the Password dialog when pressing the Tab key did not match the logical order.
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Help Question Mark (?) Next to About
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The question mark ? next to About did not disappear when hiding the controls of MxControlCenter.
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Wrong text of the bubble help (tool tip) has been corrected.
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Version 1.0 (Beta) of MxViewer
Changes and Enhancements to the Configuration and the User Interface
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Global Configuration (Default Folder)
When closing, MxViewer can store the current configuration settings and all files specified in the layouts in one Default Folder. A folder stored in this manner can be set as Global Default Folder in the Windows Registry. This folder provides the same settings and Layout definitions to all users running MxViewer on the same computer. Changed configuration settings of MxViewer can only be saved in the global default folder if the user has Admin access rights for MxControlCenter. Depending on where the
MXPEG_Viewer.inifile is located when starting MxViewer, the settings will be loaded from the global default folder or from the current location of MxControlCenter when starting, or —if this does not exist—from the Windows Registry. -
Updated Options Dialog
All Registers of the Options dialog have been completely restructured and updated. Options that have become superfluous have been removed.
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Freely Definable Sounds
When MxControlCenter detects camera alarms, missing cameras or application errors, it can play back specific sound files (
*.wav) from the computer. -
Hiding / Showing Controls
All camera controls of MxViewer are hidden when starting the application for the first time, but can be displayed again using the corresponding option in the context menu or in the Options dialog.
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New Softbutton Functions
MxViewer has its own softbutton bar that can be used to switch between the defined layouts. When activating a camera (yellow frame), you can also copy the camera's softbuttons to its own softbutton bar. The context menu also provides an option for hiding the softbutton bar.
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New User Access Level
Users may work with MxViewer, but they cannot open the Options dialog and manipulate its options and parameters.
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Camera Settings are Stored in the Layout
The settings of all cameras (image resolution, quality, etc.) are stored together with the information of the corresponding layout. If differences are detected, MxViewer offers to reset all cameras to the stored settings of the layout.
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Pause Mode When Minimizing MxViewer
MxViewer can be set to pause all defined video streams when minimizing the application. MxViewer automatically resumes showing the streams again once it is brought up again. Pausing will not require starting the live cameras again, which requires at least user-level access rights.
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Updated Online Help
Version 1.0 Beta features an updated online help, which currently is not yet context-sensitive.
Enhancements to Camera Control and Monitoring
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Offline Mode for Cameras
Activated cameras (yellow frame) can be switched Offline and Online using the Live button to help reduce network load, especially when viewing many cameras at once.
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Setting the Camera Default Start Mode
You can set a default start mode for all cameras defined in a layout: Live or Player.
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Command For Setting Resolution and Frame Rate for all Cameras
The context menu allows setting the image resolution and image quality with one command for all live cameras displayed by MxControlCenter.
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Camera-Specific Instruction File
The camera options allow setting any information file that can be displayed using the buttons of the title bar of the camera windows. This file may display floor plans or information on emergency procedures.
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Setting Preferred Layouts for Alarm Cameras
The camera options allow setting a so-called Preferred/alarm layout. The preferred/alarm layout of a camera will be displayed automatically if this camera sends an IP Notify (network) message. It may also be activated manually using the corresponding button in the title bar of the camera window.
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Definition of Camera-Specific Reference Images
You may save the current image of the camera as so-called "reference image". Using the corresponding icon on the title bar of the camera window, you may compare the camera image to the stored reference image.
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Enhanced Title Bar of the Camera Windows
The title bar of the camera windows contains additional buttons for activating the camera instruction file, to view the stored reference image and to activate the preferred layout for this camera.
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Automatic Alarms for Missing Cameras
MxViewer monitors the connection to all displayed live cameras at regular intervals. If the connection to a camera fails, an alarm sound may be played back and an error message is always displayed in the camera image.
Enhancements of Alarm Processing
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Filtering Feature for Alarm List
The Filter button on the Alarm List allows showing only the images of the selected camera (yellow frame). This feature has two different settings:
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The filter remains active even if alarms from other cameras are added to the alarm list.
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The filter will be deactivated automatically if alarms from other cameras are added to the alarm list.
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Alarm Cameras Automatically Activate Preferred Layouts Using Network Messages
If MxViewer receives a network message (IP Notify) from one of the displayed cameras, MxControlCenter will automatically switch to the camera's preferred layout, if a preferred layout has been set. This will happen for the first time a preferred layout is called after starting MxViewer or if the application has been minimized. If MxViewer is not minimized, a preferred layout is active and another network message triggers another preferred layout, MxControlCenter will ask before switching to the new layout.
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Alarm Windows in Layouts
Any window in one of the layouts can be set to act as an alarm window. An alarm window will always show the newest alarm image, even if the alarm list is not visible at the moment. The alarm window also allows acknowledging alarms.
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Automatic Alarm Acknowledgement
Instead of acknowledging all camera alarms at once, the administrator may now set a time after which all alarms will be acknowledged automatically.
Bugfixes
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Entering
http://...as IP AddressThe IP Address input field will now also take addresses beginning with
http://.... Example:http://10.1.10.111 -
Only First Alarm Shown
Sometimes, only the first alarm of a camera was shown in the alarm list, the following alarms were suppressed.
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Events Every Minute When Recording Continuously
MOBOTIX cameras with software version >= 2.2.0.x recording MxPEG streams in continuous mode triggered an alarm every minute, even though the camera did not trigger an alarm.
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No Sound When Receiving Camera Network Messages
If a camera was displayed in MxViewer and another camera was sending a network message, this camera's alarm image was stored in the alarm list, but MxControlCenter did not play a sound.
Version 0.15.39 (Beta) of MxViewer
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Added the Layout Editor, which allows defining MultiView layouts with numerous possibilities for arranging the camera images.
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Added Background Images, which allows to easily set up building plans or the like with the camera images.
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Storing a snapshot image of the selected camera (yellow frame) in the alarm list is now possible using the corresponding button.
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Added the Remote Control tab for actions of MxViewer that are triggered by cameras sending specific network commands.
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Alarms in the alarm list can be acknowledged by clicking on the corresponding alarm.
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Number of individual layouts increased from four to ten.
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MxControlCenter can now save encrypted passwords.
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Double-clicking a camera in the live image will now switch from one lens to the other, if possible.
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The last events in a mouse-over image can be displayed by clicking again into the mouse-over image and moving the mouse over the title bar of the image.
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Stored events can be displayed not only from the camera, but also from the file server, if it has been specified.
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