WebCam-Control-Center - Easy to use Webcam Software
 
 

 

Dialogs

Main Dialog
Picture Settings
Picture Viewer
Preview Window
Adjust Motion Detection

Select Relevant Areas

Device Driver Dialogs
File Transfer FTP/EMAIL/PPM
File Transfer Status
Files To Transfer
Files To Attach

Main Dialog

GROUPS

AVI record
AVI filename - shows the filename of the AVI file which will be generated at recording
select filename - opens a filedialog to choose the filename for the AVI file
start AVI record - starts the recording
stop AVI record - stops the recording
AVI with audio - select if the AVI should recorded with audio, if possible

picture capture
picture filename - shows the filename of the BMP picture file
select filename - opens a filedialog to choose the filename for the BMP picture
take a picture - takes a picture from the actual preview window + selected settings Picture Settings
view picture - opens a dialog which shows the last taken picture Picture Viewer
adjust - opens a dialog with picture settings Picture Settings

preview video device
video run - enable the video running in the video window
video halt - halts the video at the actual picture
show window - shows the preview window in which the video is shown Preview Window
hide window - hides the preview window Preview Window
only preview - shows the preview window in the middle of the desktop with a black background around
fullscreen - stretches the actual preview window to fullscreen

adjust video device
frames/sec - selects the amount of frames per second which the video device should show in the preview window
video source - this dialog is supported from the device driver of the video device ( enabled if available ) Device Driver Dialogs
video format - this dialog is supported from the device driver of the video device ( enabled if available ) Device Driver Dialogs
video display - this dialog is supported from the device driver of the video device ( enabled if available ) Device Driver Dialogs
video compression - this dialog is supported from the device driver of the video device ( enabled if available ) Device Driver Dialogs

motion detector
adjust - opens a dialog to adjust all motion detector settings Adjust Motion Detector
stop - stops the motion detector
start - starts the motion detector ( the activate file transfer option would be disabled )
DIFFERENCE - shows the difference between the two tested pictures in %
TESTED - shows how often the motion detection tested for difference since start
DETECTED - shows how often the motion detection have detected a motion

file transfer
activate file transfer - check this if you want to activate the selected modes from the File Transfer FTP/EMAIL/PPM
adjust - opens a dialog to adjust all settings for the file transfer File Transfer FTP/EMAIL/PPM

window on top - select if the preview window should be topmost above all other windows

about - opens an info window
quit - quits the program

Picture Settings

Select what should be done with the taken picture !

convert to GIF - select if the taken BMP picture should be converted into GIF
convert to JPG - select if the taken BMP picture should be converted into GIF
% quality - determines the picture quality and file size of the JPG picture

The convert to GIF and convert to JPG options are useful if you would show your video picture as a GIF and/or JPG on your webpage ! A GIF picture has max. 256 colors, so it's smaller than the BMP. If the BMP has more than 256 colors, the amount of colors would be decreased to 256 ! The JPG format supports a high compression factor, so you can reduce very much the picture file size, at nearly the same quality. If you reduce the quality factor you get smaller picture file sizes. All browsers supports GIF and JPG pictures.

remove BMP - select if the taken BMP picture should be removed after conversion

GROUP

textoutput in picture
date - select if the date should be printed in the picture at the selected position
format - day/month/year or month/day/year
time - select if the time should be printed in the picture at the selected position in 12 or 24 h format
text - select if your user defined text should be printed in the picture at the selected position
textcolor - select the textcolor
backgroundcolor - select the backgroundcolor
background transparent - select if the text should be printed transparent

preview - takes a picture and shows the picture with the choosen settings

Picture Viewer

Shows the last taken BMP picture ! The filename is the picture filename from the picture capture group.

Preview Window

Shows the actual video in a preview window.
In the caption is the driver name and version shown.
Double click with the left mousebutton to hide or unhide the caption.
Double click with the right mousebutton to hide or unhide the Main Dialog.

Adjust Motion Detector

In this dialog you can adjust nearly all settings for the motion detector.
Two additional settings are the FTP transfer and Email sending at motion detection, which you can select
in the File Transfer FTP/EMAIL/PPM dialog.

select relevant areas - opens the dialog for the selection of the areas which are tested while motion detection. Select Relevant Areas

GROUPS

how to test the actual picture
test against start picture - select if the actual picture should always be compared against the start picture, made at the start of the motion detection
test against previous picture - select if the actual picture should be compared against the previous actual picture, so permanent changes are only reported once
test against last no detection picture - select if the actual picture should be compared against the last picture which had no detection. This if important after a detection, with that you don't get immediately a second detection reported. If you select previous picture you get in most cases 2 detections one after the other, because after a detection the previous picture includes the detection movement and the actual not !

test for motion
until the first detection - the motion detection only runs until the first detection appears, it runs with the every x sec adjustment
often as possible - the detection runs as often as your PC it make possible ( be careful with that mode ! )
every x sec - every x seconds the program tests for motion ( if you want one test in an hour input 3600 ! )

report detection at x % area change - to detect a motion x% of the selected area must be different
x COLOR-VALUE-DIFF for change - if the color value difference of one pixel is greater than x this pixel is counted as a different one

action at detection
record AVI - select if an AVI video should be recorded at motion detection
only one AVI - there is only one AVI file in existence, the actual motion detection overwrites the AVI file ( this is useful if you have less harddisk space ! )
every detection a new AVI - a new AVI file is created every motion detection, the filenames are the selected filename plus the detection number 001...99999 ! ( Example: filename is MOVE_.AVI, this results in MOVE_001.AVI, MOVE_002.AVI, ... )
set max AVI nr - set the max filenumber, restart beginns at 001 ( Example: MOVE_001.AVI to MOVE_020.AVI )
AVI length x sec - the length of the AVI video in seconds
select filename - opens a filedialog to select the filename for the AVI video

take a picture - takes a picture at motion detection + picture settings Picture Settings
only one picture - there is only one BMP file in existence, the actual motion detection overwrites the BMP file ( this is useful if you have less harddisk space ! )
every detection a new picture - a new BMP file is created every detection, the filenames are the selected filename plus the detection number 001...99999 ! (Example: filename is MOVE_.BMP, this results in MOVE_001.BMP, MOVE_002.BMP, ... )
set max PIC nr - set the max filenumber, restart beginns at 001 ( Example: MOVE_001.BMP to MOVE_020.BMP )
select filename - opens a filedialog to select the filename for the BMP picture

execute a program - an extern program would be executed if a motion detection occurs
execute once - the program will be executed only once
execute at each detection - the program will be executed at each motion detection
select filename - opens a filedialog to select the filename for the program

create a protocol file - select if a protocol file should be created at the start of the motion detection. A previous file gets overwritten. It's a TEXT file which includes the detection number, date and time when the detection occurs:
Nr.:001 DATE: 13-04-1999 TIME: 17:48:47
Nr.:002 DATE: 13-04-1999 TIME: 17:48:53
select filename - opens a filedialog to select the filename for the protocol file

play a sound - plays a sound if a motion detection occurs ( WAV file ! )
play in a loop - plays the sound permanent, if you don't check, the sound plays only until it ends
select filename - opens a filedialog to select the filename for WAV file

Remarks
The motion detection generates at the start the picture START.BMP. During the detection the program generates the picture AKT.BMP every time a detection should be made. Then the pictures would be compared and different pixels will be counted. The pixels ONLY in the selected areas will be compared ! Are at least x % of the pixels are different, a motion detection occurs. The COLOR-VALUE-DIFF value is important to decide if two pixels are different. Video cameras makes always different pictures, also when the object doesn't change. To bring the difference on an useful level you can adjust this value. The program calculates the difference for the red, green and blue value of the both pixels. If the difference is greater than the COLOR-VALUE-DIFF value, the pixel is counted as different ! The differences goes from 0 to 255. To get the best result you must select a RGB picture format Device Driver Dialogs . All RGB formats are converted into 24 bit !

Select Relevant Areas

You have to select areas of the video picture or the whole picture, before you can start the motion detection.
The pixels in this selected areas are the only ones, which are tested for differences.
These areas are saved in a mask, which results in the mask file MASK_widthxheight.BIN ( example: MASK_160x120.BIN ).
For each selected video resolution a mask file is saved.

select all - selects the whole video area
unselect all - unselects all
3 buttons for the brush size - changes the brush size for drawing the mask
color - changes the brush color to get a better contrast against the picture

Press the left mousebutton down to draw into the picture.

Device Driver Dialogs

With the device driver dialogs you can adjust the main settings for your video device.
The device driver dialogs are:


Additional there is sometimes a Video Display driver dialog available !

 

File Transfer FTP/EMAIL/PPM

GROUPS

dial up
phone # - insert the phone number for your internet access
username - username for your internet access
password - password for your internet access
x attempts to connect - quantity of attempts to connect
x sec pause between attempts - sec pause between attempts to connect
dialup before FTP/email/ppm - select if you wish to dial up ( and later hang up ) and connect to the internet before the program uploads the files ( if you are already or allways in the internet don't check this ). The dialup is used in FTP, Email and PPM !
hide transfer status window - hide the File Transfer Status window ; If you run the WCCC in background, it's better to hide this window, for test purposes, show the window to see what happens !

permanent picture mode
stop after x sec - select if the picture taking and sending should stop after x seconds, if you have selected dialup at start, the program hangs up !
restart after x sec - select if the picture taking and sending should be restarted in x seconds after a stop
take picture every x sec - select if the program should takes and converts a picture periodic every x seconds
take picture permanent - select if the program should takes pictures as often as possible
send GIF picture - select if the last taken picture ( converted into GIF Picture Settings ) should be immediatly sended after taking
send JPG picture - select if the last taken picture ( converted into JPG Picture Settings ) should be immediatly sended after taking
select filename - opens a filedialog to select the picture file name for the PPM

Remarks
In the permanent picture mode the program connects once to the internet ( if selected ) and your FTP server and then takes and uploads pictures permanent or in second intervals. If you like, the program makes a break for a while and then restarts from the beginning ! So you have always the actual video picture on your webpage to see what is happening. A JAVA applet for periodic picture showing on your webpage is included ! JAVA applet
The other possibility is, to take permanent pictures (with breaks and/or intervalls) on your harddrive.
Then install one of the several freeware webservers/FTPservers and you have a constant surveillance in your LAN or from the internet !

fiel transfer is active
always - the whole day all activated modes are active
only from - the activated modes are only within the selected time intervall active ( Example: 8:30 to 14:30 h, if you have activated email every 60 sec, the WCCC sends every 60 sec an email, but only from 8:30 to 14:30; Perhaps your provider has a cheaper access within this period ! )

FTP / connection to FTP server
hostname - the ftp server name (address)
username - username for your ftp server access
password - password for your ftp server access
x hostport - the port of your host ( 21 is default and in most cases correct ! )
change to directory - if you want to change on your ftp server to a decided directory before upload, then input the directory name ( input nothing for no directory change ! )
FTP / file transfer
on motion detection - select if the transfer should start after a motion detection occurs, it is not necessary to select additional activate FTP, you have only to start the motion detection, that this option works
every x second - select if the transfer should start periodic every x seconds
take a picture - select if the program should take a picture from the actual video source before upload ( the filename is taken from the picture caption option ! Main Dialog ) Conversions are made if selected Picture Settings. Choose the picturefile for transfer Files To Transfer

transfer now - starts the file transfer direct
stop transfer - stops the file transfer
choose files to transfer - opens this dialog Files To Transfer to choose which files should be uploaded

Remarks
If you want to use the dialup function, you must have installed the Dialer Network component of your OS ! This includes the RASAPI32.DLL. The program tests the existence at startup ! The convert to GIF and convert to JPG options Picture Settings are useful if you would show your video picture as a GIF and/or JPG on your webpage ! All browsers supports GIF and JPG pictures. If you have checked take a picture and would upload this file, insert the filename.GIF/.JPG into the files to transfer list Files To Transfer. If you haven't checked take a picture the actual motion detection picture AKT.BMP would be converted, it results AKT.GIF/.JPG ! During the file transfer is running, the File Transfer Status dialog shows you the status of the transfer !

Email
send email to - insert the address of the receiver and press the + button, you can insert several different receivers ; To remove an address, select the address and press the - button ! The email addresses are listed in the file EMAIL_TO.DAT ! You can edit this file manual. In the first line stands the number of addresses, in the following lines are the addresses.
SMTP - insert your SMTP server ; You can find your SMTP server in your standard email application !
email address - insert your email address ( the address from which the email is sending ) ; If you leave this field empty, the email was sended from unknown !
email subject - the subject of the email ( the headline ! )
email body - a text for the body

send email
on motion detection - select if the transfer should start after a motion detection occurs, it is not necessary to select additional activate Email , you have only to start the motion detection, that this option works
every x second - select if the transfer should start periodic every x seconds
take a picture - select if the program should take a picture from the actual video source before email sending ( the filename is taken from the picture caption option ! Main Dialog ) Conversions are made if selected Picture Settings. Choose the picturefile for transfer Files To Attach
take AVI
- select if the program should record an AVI with desired length before email sending ( the filename is taken from the AVI record option ! Main Dialog ) Choose the AVIfile for transfer Files To Attach

send email now - starts the email sending direct
choose files to attach - opens this dialog Files To Attach to choose which files should be sended

activate FTP - select to activate the FTP transfer ; You have additional to select the activate file transfer checkbox from the Main Dialog.
activate Email - select to activate the Email sending functions ; You have additional to select the activate file transfer checkbox from the Main Dialog.
activate Permanent Picture Mode - select to activate the PPM ; You have additional to select the activate file transfer checkbox from the Main Dialog.

Remarks
You can activate both FTP and Email together, but the Permanent Picture Mode only works alone !

File Transfer Status

Shows the actual action while Dialup, FTP transfer or Email sending.

Files To Transfer

insert - inserts a file or several files into the file list
delete - deletes the actual selected file from the file list
delete all - erases the file list

The selected files for the file transfer are listed in the file FILES.DAT. You can edit this file manual. In the first line stands the number of files, in the following lines are the filenames with pathes.

Files To Attach

insert - inserts a file or several files into the file list
delete - deletes the actual selected file from the file list
delete all - erases the file list

The selected files which are attached to the email are listed in the file ATTACH.DAT. You can edit this file manual. In the first line stands the number of files, in the following lines are the filenames with pathes.

 

 


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Copyright © 1999-2001 Marc Schneider