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Affected Roles: All Users
Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps: C3™ CMS
Complexity: Low
Last Edit: April 7, 2022
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When utilizing C3™ CMS to monitor your recording system, it becomes possible to export previously recorded video footage through this desktop software.
The following article will outline the various ways that you can export video footage from a recording unit directly to your computer with the C3 CMS software including:
**NOTE: If you have not added your DVR or NVR site to the C3 CMS software, please read Adding a Site to C3 CMS before proceeding.
**NOTE: If you are connected to your recorder site using the PathFinder P2P function (PathFinder ID), please be aware that the remote backup features will not function. To perform a remote backup, the recorder site must be registered to C3 CMS using an IP address or DDNS address to maintain a direct connection.
When a standalone recorder archives camera video footage, the video files will be stored in the local storage drive (HDD) that is installed within the VMAX unit. This previously recorded video footage can be reviewed locally at the recorder itself, but it can also be retrieved through C3 CMS.
In addition to the convenience of using a computer desktop application for regular viewing, video files can also be exported/backed-up directly to the computer. Below are a few of the remote backup options that the C3 CMS service provides.
This method is different than using the Site Backup feature of C3 CMS as users are able to be more specific with the timeframe of the target footage for backup, rather than being limited to only exporting footage in hour-long blocks.
To use the Streaming Backup feature to export video through C3 CMS:
Use the Calendar to specify the date and time of the desired video playback. In the Calendar, dates that are highlighted in yellow represents previously recorded video that is available for playback.
After making your selections in the Calendar, the Timeline will activate at the bottom pane of the window. You may use the mouse wheel to zoom-in closer or to zoom out further on the Timeline.
**NOTE: If the bottom pane is currently hidden, click the collapsible tab at the bottom of the window to display the viewing controls.
**NOTE: Breaks in the green ribbon on the Timeline are normal. Empty areas represent either the fact that you have not selected all of the desired cameras in the viewing area and/or the camera settings in the recorder have been set to only archive footage when motion has been detected by the camera.
Using the right mouse button, click-and-drag in the Timeline to highlight the desired timeframe. You can click and slide the Start and End points with your mouse if an adjustment needed.
Alternatively, to set up the Streaming Export, right-click in the Timeline at the starting point of your desired section of footage, then select “Backup Start Set”. A Start marker will display on the Timeline.
To set the ending point of your desired section of footage, right-click at the end of your desired footage, then select “Backup End Set”. An End marker will display on the Timeline.
In the Streaming Backup window, configure the following setting before continuing:
Once the export process has been completed, a confirmation message will display. Click the “OK” button to close the pop-up.
The exported footage and Backup Player will be saved in the destination (Path) folder that was specified in the Streaming Backup settings window.
To export video through File Backup:
For “Path”, determine the location where the video file will be saved in the computer. To change the file pathing, click the ellipses (…) button.
Under the Backup Time section, choose the time of the footage that you would like to backup. In the File Backup dialogue, footage may only be backed up by the hour.
Use C3 CMS to periodically backup video files on a set schedule with the Schedule Backup feature.
**NOTE: The computer must remain turned on during the runtime for the scheduled backup for this feature to work.
To set up Schedule Backup:
The Backup window will display. Click on the “Schedule Backup” tab.
The “Path” setting will determine the location where the video file will be saved on the computer. To change the file pathing, click the ellipses (…) button and select the new file location.
Enable the “Continue” setting to have C3 CMS backup footage, beginning at the designated starting date, and to continuously backup video beyond the set end-date.
In the Channels to Backup section, select which channels to include in the backup. Enable “ALL Channels” to include all video channels in the backup.
Once the settings have been configured, click the Save button. C3 is ready to begin following the schedule upon clicking saving the settings.
The Schedule FTP Upload function is supported for stable backup for multiple sites. To use the Schedule FTP Upload function, the FTP server must be operated on the backup PC.
To set up the Schedule FTP Upload function:
The Backup window will display. Click on the “Schedule FTP Upload” tab.
Set the Path of the backup file.
If you check the “Continue” box, the setting will be designated from the start date to the present date.
If you check the “Latest” box, the setting will start from the previous day and proceed like continuous backup.
Under the Channels to Backup section, select which channels to include in the backup. Enable “ALL Channels” to select all channels.
Once the settings have been configured, click the Save/Connect Test button to test the connection and save the settings.
At the bottom of the window, set the “Delete Old Folders” and “Days” settings to configure the auto deletion of old recordings of the Scheduled FTP Upload feature.
C3 users have the option to utilize the File Password menu, which allows the encrypting of exported video files and will require users to enter a password to view them.
To set up a File Password in C3 CMS:
The Backup window will display. Click on the “File Password” tab.
Select the file location from the Drive List, then select the backup file in the Backup File List that you would like to encrypt.
Click the “Encryption” button to encrypt the selected file(s) and apply the password.
Enable the “No password” setting to disable the current password altogether.
Enter a new password in the “New Password” and “Confirm Password” settings to change the password to something else.
Click the “Save” button when finished to apply the settings.
To play exported footage, users may use the C3 CMS Backup Viewer feature or standalone player version (Streaming Backup setting).
To use the Backup Viewer to view an exported video file:
If you do not have C3 CMS and are trying to view an exported video, use the C3Player executable (.exe) program that was included when the video export was created.
If the files are password protected, enter the password in the “File Password” box to decrypt the video footage files for viewing.
Alternatively, select the “Multi” tab to view multiple channels simultaneously during playback.
Double-click on a video file to begin viewing the exported video file.
