You have finished the installation and the application is running. The following items are leading you through the first settings and possibilities of the application. Afterwards, the software is ready to use.
PC-Configuration
Select for your graphic adapter card a resolution of at least 800
x 600 dots. The colors should be set to 'High Color [16-Bit]' or
'True Color [32-Bit]'. The configurations of your graphic card
could be done with 'Display' in the 'Control panel' of Windows.
For further help, contact your dealer or look at the manual for
Windows or of the manufacturer of your graphic adapter card.
Location
Select your location. Therefore, open the dialog 'Options' in the
menu bar 'Edit, Options'. In this dialog you have to press the
button 'Dialing properties'. The following dialog window needs to
know your country and the areacode. Should your computer be
connected to an internal telephone network, it is possible, that
you need an additional digit at the beginning of your number to
make a call to an external destination. For this case, you have
to input this digit. At least, input a name to save this
configuration. The application needs this informations to convert
any received telephon numbers to identify foreign callers with
the database.
For
connections with Modem
To make connections to any destination via the common analogue
telephone network, you need a Modem. The direct link between PC
and device requires a Nullmodem. If a Modem is already installed, you have the
possibility to select this Modem in the menu bar 'Phone,
Options'. On the dialog window you will find the field 'Modem,
Dialing Properties' where you can select your Modem. The selected
Modem will be saved as default for all common links up to the
moment, you are going to change the setup. If you have not
installed a Modem now, follow the guide of the manufacturer,
please. After a successful installation of a new Modem, you will
find it within the list and ready to use. We recommend as default
setup for your Modem to enable the 'Error control' and to disable
the 'Compression'. This items can be find in the 'Control panel,
Modems, Properties' at the button 'Extended'.
For
connections with ISDN
To make connections to any destination via the ISDN network, you
need a CAPI 2.0 compatible ISDN interface card. If any ISDN card
is installed correctly, the application will find this card and
the drivers automatically. The dialog window 'Options' contains a
box 'ISDN configuration'. Input the MSN of your connection. If no
card is installed, follow the instructions of the card
manufacturer, please. After a successful installation, the card
is ready to use.
How to add a new object in the database
All your devices, which are available, should be managed by the
database. This database contains telephone numbers, passwords and
additional informations about all objects. Furthermore, callers
can be identified to check their passwords or to activate the
recording automatically..
Therefore, open at first the database in
the menu bar 'File, Edit Objectlist'. A list with all registered
names of objects appears. Select one entry in this list to edit.
If you like to add a new entry, you can press the button 'New'.
Afterwards you can see following items:
Name: | for example: 'main entrance' |
Location: | Location of object. For example: 'My lovely company' |
Phone number: | International Phone number of the
device. For example:'+49-591-123555' Germany:0049, Area code: 0591, Number: 123555 |
Port: | Select ISDN link or Modem link. |
Alarm: | Enable the checkbox 'Save' and input the default recording time to activate the automatic recording. |
Passwords: | The access password is a must if
the device is protected by this password. On the other
hand, you can not be linked to the device if the password
is wrong or unknown. The control password is not in use. For the future, the password will be necessary for remote contol functions. You need the config password, if the device is protected by this password. It is possible to be linked to the device but you cannot change any configurations or clear alarms. |
How
to make a call
At first open the menu bar 'Phone, Dial...'. Now you have
following options.
1.) Dialing:
Input the number of the destination in the editfield. Don't
forget to add the country code, area code a.s.o. Enable within
the box 'Port' if you like to use ISDN or Modem.
You can start the dialing, when you press the button with the
telephon icon. Attention: Passwords will not be transmitted. If
the device is protected by access passwords, it is not possible
to get a link.
2.) Link to an object, which is already stored in the database:
Press the button with the book icon. When a list appears, which
contains all stored objects in alphabetical order. Select one
object and press ENTER or 'OK'. The international formatted phone
number will be translated to a dialable number. Also the
passwords and the kind of linking will be transmitted
automatically.
3.) Fast link with hotkeys:
All objects, which are be called very often can be stored as a
hotlink to one of the hotkeys. Therefore, press the right mouse
button on a free hotkey. A list with all stored objects appears.
Select the object, which you like to copy to the hotkey. All you
need to make a link is now to press this key.
A status windows appears during the linking procedure to show the
current messages or errors. If any cause exists, which permits
the connection, the window shows a message. Passwords can be only
transmitted automatically, at the beginning of the connection.
Process
a call
With this application your are able to receive calls from
devices, to inform the user and to record the live images as
movie. To be ready for alarm calls, it is very important, that
the application is still running. Don't run the computer in
'Standby' mode. All calls in this mode will be ignored.
Registered
callers
The application can identify the caller by his telephone number
in the database. The passwords, which are belonging to the caller
will be transmitted and the automatic recording will be started
if the object has a record time unequal zero. After a successful
connection the application shows the current live pictures.
Attention: It's possible to identify the caller only if the
connection uses ISDN. The traditional possibility via Modem does
not support automatic number transmitting. For this case, all
callers are unknown.
Unknown
callers
In case of that the telephon number is unknown or the number is not registered in the database, it is not possible to identify the caller. For this causes, the call can only accept when the default recording time is unequal zero. For further informations, look at 'ptwin.ini'. In case of that the device is protected by an access password, a window appears and demands this password. The name of the device will be shown to make the identification more easier. After a specified time 'Timeout', the call will be rejected if no input occurs.
All recordings will be stored to the
archive in the folder 'Unknown'. For more informations about the
archive, look at Remarks about the hierarchy of archive
folders.
If you enabled the Alarmsound, the
application plays a wavefile. As soon as you press the
mousebutton or hit a key, the sound stops.
The application consists of following parts:
1 | Menu bar | Menu bar of application. |
2 | Toolbar: | The toolbar has hotkeys, which contains the most important functions of the menu bar. |
3 | Error indicator: | If an error occurs, the lamp lights yellow, see also... |
4 | Unset button: | Press this button to set or unset the alarm lines, see also... |
5 | Clear button: | Button to reset the alarm lines and error indicator, see also... |
6 | Alarm indicators: | The lamps light red, when an alarm is active, see also... |
7 | Camera enable buttons: | Selection of camera, see also... |
8 | Resolution: | Enable buttons for resolution of the picture, see also... |
9 | Part of picture: | Enable buttons for zoom into the picture, see also... |
10 | Relay buttons and Macro dialog: | Relay buttons and customer defined buttons and objects. Important: The dialog appears only in case of stored macro dialogs in the device. see also... |
11 | Live picture: | The live picture shows the view of the current camera. In addition to it, the application transmits the position of the mouse to the device, when a hit on the mouse button occurs. Furthermore, the application can reduced to an icon, which shows only the view of the camera. This icon stays always on top and can be moved to any position of the desktop. If you press the right mouse button again, the window will be restored to the old style. |
12 | Camera name: | This field shows the name of the current camera. |
13 | Duration of frames: | Time of frame repitation in milliseconds. |
14 | Phone charges: | While the application is online with the device, the field shows the telephone charges and the currency. See also... |
15 | Online indicator: | This lamp indicates whether the application is online or not. |
16 | Time: | The current time and date of the frames are displayed. |
Camera
enable button
The sender can be equipped with at most three cameras. The
transfer of images is limited to only one camera at once. To
enable one of the cameras, press the button, which belongs to the
camera. Note: It takes a little time, when you
change the camera.
Imagesize and zoom
You have the possibility to set the picture in three different
resolutions. Important is the fact, that the more time the
transmission needs, the better is the quality of the images.
According to the speed of the link, it takes some milliseconds up
to some seconds from picture to picture. The buttons to enable
the resolution are located at the left side of the field. The
other buttons are to select a part of the image. (digital zoom).
Pictures of differences
The function 'Pictures of differences' intends to show you moving
objects in the image. This kind of view is recommend to indicate,
whether a part in the view of the camera is moving or not. For
example, persons, vehicles a.s.o. All parts which are changed,
are highlighted in red. To activate the function, select 'View,
Pictures of differences'.
Alarms
All devices are equiped with alarm lines. Active alarms are
indicated by red lamps in the field 'Alarms'. By pressing the
button 'C' (Clear), you can reset the lines. To activate the
lines you need to press the button 'Unset'. While the alarms are
unseted, the button is highlighted. Note: This
functions are only available if you have the legitimation for
configurations. (Password-protected )
Error display
As soon as an error occurs, the lamp lights yellow. This lamp has
the caption 'Error'. The kind or reason of this error can be
found in the Eventlist.
Remote
Relay
Alll devices are supplied with at least two relays to react on
alarms and events. While the application is online, you can use
the buttons to switch the relays on or off. If the relay is
switched on, the button which belongs to this relay is
highlighted. You can disable this feature if the relays are
switching sensible things. For this matter see also..
Macro
dialog
The beauty of this application is the property to show
customerdefined buttons and operating elements, while the
application is online. The macros intend to expand the common
functions for adjust the local requirements. They are creating
dialog elements in addition to the standard elements.The dialogs
provide you with informations and permit to react on events. If
your apparatus is supplied with macros, they will be indicated on
the macro dialog. In addition to it, you can hide this dialog
with 'View, Macro dialog'.
Not all dialogs are visible. Also the area of the camera image
reacts on mouse events, which can be transmitted to the macros.
Supported are events of the left mouse button, like key up, key
down and key pressed. Should one of this events occur during the
mouse arrow is on the image, the position of the mouse will be
transmitted. This information is useful to control a lamp, a door
or other things which are always fixed at the same position on
the screen.
Eventlist
All devices are recording all events which are occuring. The list
consists of at most 100 entries, like alarms, errors or phone
calls. As soon as a new event occurs, the oldest, most
unimportant event will be removed by the new event. The button
'Delete list' eliminates all entries at once. If you need the
list as a file, select the button 'Save list'. The list can be
saved as a simple text document.
Remote
disk
The devices are supporting external harddisks at their universal
port. If your device comes equipped supplied with a harddisk, you
can get access by selecting 'Edit, Remote Harddisk' in the menu
bar.
The list consists of columns for date, time, number of camera and
size of recorded sequence. The box 'Filter' is for selecting
entries, which are matching to the date and camera. The box 'Area
of time' determines the temporal order of the entries. The edit
fields are to input a time and date. After pressing the 'Accept'
button, the list shows the entries before or after the date,
according to the selection.
Below the listfield are buttons located, whichs allow to scroll
up and down all items in steps of minutes, hours and days.
The buttons at the bottom of the dialog are
for play and control the sequences. At first, select one entry of
the list with the mouse and then press the play button to start
the sequence. When you press the button with the caption 'Copy',
the sequence will be played and recorded at once into the archive
folder. This procedure takes less time than playing. The button
'Delete' marks the highlighted item as deleted and removes the
space to disk.
Remote
Ram
The devices are supplied with an internal memory for archiving a
limited quantity of pictures. The menu bar 'Edit, Remote RAM'
opens a dialog to get access to the entries. At first, all
entries will be loaded from the device into the list. All items
are listed in temporal order and can be scrolled up and down by
moving the scrollbar. If you like to view a picture, select one
item in the list and press the play button. To view the next
item, hit the play button again. If you like to record the
pictures on disk, press the button 'Copy'. The pictures will be
stored to the archive folder. If you need to stop the playing,
press the stop button. The playing terminates as soon as the last
requested picture was transmitted.
Remote
configuration
The application has the feature to let you configure the device
in the same way how you can do it with the device directly. The
remote dialog has the same look and function like the operating
panel of the box.
The menu bar 'Edit, Remote configuration' opens the remote
dialog. If you have not yet any configuration access, the dialog
requires the password at first. While the dialog is open, the
transmission of pictures is stopped. To terminate the dialog, you
have to hit the ESC-key as so many times as the current menus in
the dialog are closed. If the application terminated the link to
the device before the remote dialog was closed, you can use the
close button on the top right corner. (Button with a cross)
The function 'Remote output' in the nenu bar 'Edit, Remote configuration' allows to configure buttons and to visualize them on the panel of the application. The dialog box has items to enable or disable the buttons or to change their caption. Afterwards, the configuration can be saved on the box. The buttons are available for the next connection.
Save
image
In the menu bar 'Edit, Save picture...' you can save the current
picture as a snapshot on disk. The application requires a name
for the file and a destination folder. The image will be saved in
the Windows BMP format.
You can print the current pictures as
snapshots together with the date, time, name of object a.s.o. The
print can be started in the menu bar 'Edit, Print picture...'.
Further informations about 'Printing under Windows' you can find
in the manual for Windows.
Edit object database
See also How to add a new object in the database .
Import object database
This application allows you to import a database by selecting
this function in the menu bar 'File, Import database...'. If you
have already a database of an older version of this application
(Windows or MS-DOS), you can import the objects to your database.
The file format is 'SDF'.
Options
The dialog 'Options' consists of devices to configure the
application for ISDN and Modem connection. Furthermore, you can
select your location. See also Your location.
Notes about the hierarchy of archive
folders
The application uses a special structure to administrate the
pictures, movies and protocols.
The main subfolder is located on drive C and has the name
'Archiv'. This subfolder contains folders which have the same
names like the objects in the database. Files of unknown objects
were saved in the folder 'UNKNOWN'. Every subfolder has again
subfolders for every day. The names of this folders are created
by the year+month+day of the recording. Finally, all recorded
pictures and movies are be saved in this directories. The names
of the files consists of the time and the extension 'PTS'.
Example: At 23th, September 2001, 11.45 PM a alarm call reaches
the application from the object 'MAIN ENTRANCE'. The movie will
be saved on disk to following archive structure: Local harddisk 'C:\ ARCHIV \MAIN ENTRANCE \
20010923 \ 234500.pts '
If it was not possible to identify the
caller, the movie files will be saved to the folder 'UNKNOWN'.
The protocol files have the extension 'LOG', and can be open with
an editor. The default directory is 'C:\ARCHIV\LOG'.
Selection
of language
The beauty of this application is the feature to select a
language. All text, comments and dialogs are managed within a
textfile. This file has the name 'stwin.wtx' and is located in
the working directory of the application. The files contains
basically the languages English and German and are editable by
any editor. The text for each language is introduced by the
headline [STRINGS]. With a leading semicolon you can deactivate
the text. The application will find automatically any activated
language.
All settings and options of this application (Modem, alarmsound,
etc.) are saved in the configuration file 'ptwin.ini'. Some
entries are configurable with an editor.
The configuration file contains following editable items:
During ISDN links, the telephone charges can be shown below the
application window. The entry 'UNIT' describes the charge for one
unit. The entry 'CURRENCY' should be set to the abbreviate of the
currency.
Example:
[TELEFONE UNITS]
UNIT=0.12
CURRENCY=DM
When you are receiving an alarmcall from an unregistered object,
the call will be accepted and the pictures saved automatically.
The recordtime depends on the entry 'RECORDTIME, Min'. The number
is the time in minutes. If the time is 'Min=0', the call will be
not accepted and won't be recorded. The recordtime for known
objects, which are registered, depend on the recordtime which is
saved in the database.
Example:
[RECORDTIME]
Min=1
All
devices are equipped with one or more relays, that are for
switching lamps, automatic doors etc. This relays can be
controlled with buttons during the application is online. If you
like to hide the buttons, set the entry equal zero.
In the example below, the relay one is enabled, relay two and
relay three is disabled.
Example:
[Relais]
Relais1=1
Relais2=0
Relais3=0
Should your application get an alarmcall, the connection
will be terminated after the timeout automatically. The time is
defined in minutes as the entry 'TIMEOUT'. This timeout can be
interrupted if you hit a key or press the mousebutton.
Example:
[TIMEOUT]
Min=10
The application has it's own directoy structure for saving
pictures and protocols. The entry 'DIRECTORIES' contains the two
main subfolders for this structure. The 'PicturePath' is the
mainfolder for pictures and moviefiles, that are created during
alarmcalls or recordings. Protocol files are saved in the
directory 'LogPath'. Should both directories not exist, they will
be created automatically. The default directories are described
in the example below.
Examplel:
[DIRECTORIES]
PicturePath=C:\Archiv
LogPath=C:\Archiv\log
Alarmcalls can be indicated by a sound. Very important is that
your computer is already supplied with a sound adapter card. If
you have further questions about the installation of sound cards,
contact your dealer, please.
The entry 'CALLRING' can be set to the name of a sound file,
which should be installed to the working directory of the
installation. The type of this file is 'WAV'. The application
comes equipped with some demo files. Use the Windows mediaplayer
to play the files.
Example:
[CALLRING]
Wavefile=007.wav
Connections
with Nullmodem
The direct link to a device can be done with a seriell nullmodem.
This kind of link is recommend as a cheap and fast connection if
the device is mounted very close to your computer.
The installation can be done if you follow these steps:
1.) Connect the cabel to a free serial port
of your computer. For example to port 'COM1' or to 'COM2'. The
connection with the device is described in it's operating manual.
Warning: Switch off your computer and your device while you
connect the cable!
2.) The application uses the nullmodem in the same way like a conventional Modem. Before the application is able to use the cable, it must be installed in Windows. Open the icon 'Modems' in the folder 'Control panel' to add a modem to the list. Hit the 'Add' button and a dialog with the caption 'Install new modem...' appears. Enable the box 'Select Modem' and hit the button 'Next'. Now, you see a list with manufacturers and modems. Enable 'Floppydisk' because the driver is located on the installation disk of your application. Put the disk or CD-ROM into the drive. Open the file 'nullmodem.inf' on this disk and hit 'OK'. A list with all available modems appears. Select the 'Nullmodem' and press the button 'Next'. Than, you see a list with all available ports at your computer. Select the port, which was already enabled at step 1.). Press at least the button 'Next'. The installation is ready.
3.) Open again the icon 'Modems' in the folder 'Control panel'. Select the Nullmodem and hit the button 'Properties'. The maximum speed of the modem must be set to the same rate like the V.24 connector of the device. Close all dialogs to accept the configuration.
4.) The last step is to configurate the application. See also 'For connections with Modem'.
The application works with the direct cable in the same way, like with all other modems. The only difference is, that all phone numbers in the database are ignored while a connection proceeds. Alarmcalls are saved as unknown.
The
Archive Player
You can open and view the pictures and movie files with the
Archive Player. It is possible to play or to print the files. A
double click on the 'PTS' icon opens the file. If the player is
already open, you select a file by using the menu bar: 'File,
Open'. The tool bar has buttons to play and to navigate the
movie.
Play of movie files
The playing may be done in three different ways:
The easiest way to play is to use the play button (black arrow).
With both single-picture buttons (black arrows with a thick line
at the top), the movie can be viewed picture by picture. The
cursor keys allow to play and to navigate the movie. The keys
'Arrow left, arrow right' are to start and to stop the playing.
The keys 'Arrow up' and 'Arrow down' are to jump forward and
back.
A special feature is to navigate event-dependend through the
movie. By using the buttons with the red arrows you may jump from
event to event. Events are alarms, changings of picture
information, moving objects, changed camera, etc. A very useful
tool to navigate is the event diagram. As soon as one movie file
is opened, the diagram is shown below the application.
The event
diagram
The event diagram makes it simple to search for events in the
file. The green-colored curve indicates the changing of picture
information. A quick ascent of the curve shows that the
information is changed at this point. The reason could be a
person or a vehicle, which is running in or out of the picture.
The current position is indicated by a blue vertical line.
Vertical green lines are showing the position of a new fullsize
image. The horizontal white line represents the point, where the
application decides whether the changing of the information is an
event or not. As soon the green curve climbs over this offset,
the point will be marked as an event. The white line can be
adjusted by using the control key and the mouse.
Printing and saving of picture
Single pictures may saved as BMP-file, when you select 'File,
Save picture ' in the menu bar. After the function was selected,
a dialog appears and asks for the filename. Furthermore, the
image can be printed if you select 'File. Print picture'. If you
need further informations about printing, ask your dealer,
please.
Options
You can find the dialog options in the menu bar 'Edit, Options'.
The device 'Searching for events' comprises the filter parameters
for events. Furthermore, the value for changing of informations
can be adjusted. The box 'delay' incorporates the delay in
milliseconds from picture to picture. If the option 'Repeat' is
enabled, the movie will be replayed again after the end. The
option 'Automatic rewind' is for rewind the movie to the start
without replay it again.
Error during connections: | |
"Call rejected" | Call was rejected from device |
"Destination out of order" | The object is temporary not available. Try to call again later or check the line. |
"No circuit/channel available" | The channel is temporary not available. Either try to call again later or check the ISDN network. |
"No free B channel" | The B channel is busy. Either try to call again later or check the ISDN network. |
"Wrong access password!" | The access password is wrong. Check again the password in the object database. |
"Wrong config password!" | The config password is wrong. Check again the password in the database. |
"Layer 1 down" | There is no connection to ISDN network. Check the links and cables, please. |
"Connection with CAPI 2.0 not possible" | You have tried to make a connection with ISDN. Either no ISDN card is installed or the installation is not complete. Install your card and drivers again, please. For more informations look at the manual of your ISDN card. |
Errors during start of application: | |
"We recommend a color mode from 16 up to 32 bit colors!" | The chosen colormode is not optimized. For more informations see also PC-configuration. |