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Pivot CMS Functions
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Pivot CMS Functions

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Affected Roles:  All Users

Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps:  Pivot CMS

Complexity:  Low

Software Version:  Pivot v1.1.1.1

Last Edit:  July 29, 2024

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Using Pivot CMS

The Pivot CMS program allows users to easily access and monitor camera video from the comfort of a personal computer.  Acting as an extension of the recording unit, Pivot CMS provides some of the same functions of a DVR or NVR such as:

  • Live Monitoring
  • Video Playback/Search
  • Footage Export/Backup
  • Firmware Upgrade

This article will outline how to use these functions in Pivot CMS.

 

Supported/Affected Devices

  • VMAX Series (Legacy)
  • VMAX Flex Series
  • VMAX 480 Series
  • VMAX 960H Series
  • VMAX A1 Series (2.1 MP)
  • VMAX IP Plus Series

 

Site Setup

Sites contain the network connection information that Pivot CMS uses to communicate with your recording unit.  To use the viewing functions of Pivot CMS, each recording unit must have their own Site created.

 

If you still must create a Site for your recording unit in Pivot CMS, please read Adding and Removing Sites in Pivot CMS.

 

Live Monitoring & Searching Video

There are three ways to access live streams or playback through Pivot CMS:

  • Live/Search Connect
  • Drag and Drop
  • Site List Context Menu

 

Live/Search Connect

  1. To view live video, select your Site from the Site List, then click the Live Connect button.

Note:  The yellow highlight that appears around the viewing channels in Pivot CMS represents which channel will display Channel-1 from the DVR/NVR at the time of connection.

 

  1. To view playback video, select your Site from the Site List, then click the Search Connect button.

Note:  When searching video through Pivot CMS, video will only display for cameras that have recorded video for the point in time that you are viewing.  Use the Search Calendar and Timeline at the bottom of the window to search through the video archives.

Text overlay will appear in a red color while searching video.

 

Drag and Drop

  1. Drag and drop your Site from the Site List, into a viewing channel of your choice.

Note:  The Site will list the cameras that are connected to the DVR/NVR.  If you drag/drop the entire Site, then all of the cameras will be prompted to display in Pivot CMS.  However, if you only drag/drop a single camera over, then only that camera will be prompted to display video.

 

  1. Two icons will display in the channel.

Select the icon without the magnifying glass to prompt the Live Monitoring function.

Select the icon with the magnifying glass to prompt the Search function

 

 

Site List Context Menu

  1. Right-click on your Site to prompt the Site List context menu.

Select Live from the context menu to prompt the Live Monitoring function.

Select Search to prompt the Search function.

 

Backup/Export Footage

Pivot CMS allows users to remotely backup select video footage from their DVR/NVR, without having to be directly in front of the recording unit.

 

Note:  The Remote Backup feature will export footage in .PSF format.  Use the Pivot_Player program to view .PSF format files.

Pivot_Player is included with the installation of Pivot CMS, by default.

 

To backup footage using Pivot CMS:

  1. Before beginning the backup process, confirm that the footage that you will be exporting can be searched and viewed.

 

  1. Right-click on your Site to prompt the Site List context menu.

Select Remote Backup from the context menu.

 

  1. The Remote Backup window will display.

The System Connection Info will already be filled out, based on your Site settings.  Click the Connect button.

 

  1. Click the Create Directory button.

Select the Directory where the .PSF footage file will save.

Enter a File Name to label the footage file.

Click the Save button to confirm the Directory settings.

 

  1. Select the Start and End times of the footage that you will be exporting.

Select the Channels that you want to export video from.

 

Note:  Video will not export if there is no available for the selected cameras at the designated Start time.  It is recommended to include multiple channels when setting up the video export.

If you must export footage that covers a large period of time, it is recommended to break up the footage into separate files.

This increases the success rate of the video backup.

 

  1. Click the Start Backup button to begin the remote backup.

The overall file size and progress will display in the Backup Progress area.

Depending on the size of the footage file, this process may take several minutes.

 

  1. Pivot CMS will notify you once the backup has completed.

Use the Pivot_Player program to play the .PSF footage file.

 

Firmware Upgrade

Upgrading firmware for a DVR or NVR through Pivot CMS is performed from the comfort of your computer, rather than having to be directly in front of the recording unit.

 

Obtaining Firmware

If you do not yet have a copy of the firmware update file:

  1. Open a web browser and visit https://digital-watchdog.com to obtain the firmware update file.

 

  1. Enter the Model Number of your DVR or NVR into the search box.  This information is located on the sticker, physically on top of the recording unit.

 

  1. Scroll down the product page and locate the Software tab.

 

  1. Make sure that you download the correct Version of firmware for your recording unit. 

You can determine which Version to use by the first three letters of the unit’s serial number (S/N), located on the sticker, physically on top of the recording unit.

Alternatively, you can compare the currently installed Firmware version of the recording unit, located in the System Information menu of the unit.

 

Upgrading Firmware

To upgrade firmware using Pivot CMS:

  1. Right-click on your Site to prompt the Site List context menu.

Select Firmware Upgrade from the context menu.

 

  1. The Firmware Upgrade window will display.

The Device information will already be filled out, based on your Site settings.  Click the Connect button.

 

  1. Click the Open button, under Firmware File Directory.

Locate and select the firmware upgrade file.

Click the Open button to use the selected firmware file.

 

  1. Click the Start Upgrade button to begin the remote upgrade.

Pivot CMS will notify you once the upgrade has been completed.

 

Note:  During this process, Pivot CMS will upload the firmware upgrade to the recording unit before installing the update.  Do not unplug the unit before the upgrade has completed.

The DVR or NVR will reboot once the upgrade is complete.

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