Bookmarks (usage)

This feature is only available in certain XProtect VMS products. See the complete feature list, which is available on the product overview page on the Milestone website (https://www.milestonesys.com/products/software/xprotect-comparison/).

You can use bookmarks to quickly locate relevant video sequences. You can use the feature in both live mode (see Viewing live video) and playback mode (see Find and view video recordings) or while you use video push (see Stream video from your device to your surveillance system).

Bookmarks (explained)

A bookmark is, essentially, a small video clip. When you bookmark an incident, the system automatically assigns it an ID and adds the user who created the bookmark.

A bookmark video clip typically contains video from a few seconds before and a few seconds after the bookmarked incident (the time interval is specified by the system administrator) to ensure that the incident is recorded, regardless of any delays.

Depending on your user permissions, you may not be able to add bookmarks from certain cameras due to restrictions. You may be able to view bookmarks even if you cannot add them, and the other way around.

Play bookmark video clip, share bookmark or view bookmark details

  1. On the Home screen, tap Bookmarks (Android) or (iOS) to open the bookmarks list.
  2. On the Bookmarks screen, select All bookmarks to open the complete list of bookmarks created by all users or My bookmarks to open a list of bookmarks that only shows those bookmarks that you have created yourself.
  3. Optional. If the list of bookmarks is too long, tap Load more.
  4. Optional. To make the search easier, you can filter the list of bookmarks (see Filter your bookmarks).
  5. Navigate to the bookmark that you want to view, then tap on it. The Bookmark details screen opens.
  6. To share the bookmark, tap (Android) or (iOS). Share the bookmark link using your preferred communication app.

    To open a shared bookmark, you must have added the server it comes from to the server list in your XProtect Mobile app.

  7. To play the bookmark video clip, tap on the video.
  8. To view the bookmark video clip in full screen, tap (Android) or (iOS). Use the playback timeline to go to a specific time in the bookmark video clip (see Using the playback timeline (explained)). Tap (Android) or (iOS) to take a snapshot. Tap (Android) or (iOS) to play back audio in the bookmark video clip. Tap (Android) or (iOS) to go back to the Bookmark details screen.

On the Bookmark details screen, you can also view:

Name

Description
Headline

The headline of the bookmark that must contain a maximum of 50 characters. The field is required.
Description

The additional description of the bookmark. The field is optional.
Start time The suggested start time of the bookmark clip is a number of seconds before the time of the bookmark event. The start time is specified by the system administrator.
Bookmark event The time in the video clip that shows when the bookmark event was triggered.
End time The suggested end time of the bookmark clip is a number of seconds after the time of the bookmark event. The end time is specified by the system administrator.
Bookmark ID

A unique ID number that is assigned to the bookmark automatically.
Added by

The user who has created the bookmark.
Camera name The name of the camera that streams the bookmark video clip.
Duration The duration of the bookmark video clip.
See live video Tap to return to the video in live mode.

Add or edit bookmarks

You can add bookmarks to live videos and video recordings.

Steps to add bookmarks to videos in live mode:

  1. Tap Views (Android) or (iOS), then select the required camera in the view.
  2. Tap (Android) or (iOS). The bookmark is added with the name Quick bookmark assigned by the system automatically.
  3. Optional. To change the bookmark name, tap Edit on the success message. The Edit bookmark screen opens.
    1. In the Headline field, enter a name for the bookmark. You can also change the name later.
    2. Optional. Describe the incident. You can also change the description later.
    3. Tap Save.

The Duration of a bookmark clip is determined on the surveillance system server.

Steps to add bookmarks to videos in playback mode:

  1. Select the required camera in the view and switch to playback mode.
  2. Tap (Android) or (iOS). The Add bookmark screen opens.
  3. In the Headline field, enter a name for the bookmark. You can also change the name later.
  4. Optional. In the Description field, describe the incident. You can also change the description later.
  5. Tap (Android) or Save (iOS).

The Duration of a bookmark clip is determined on the surveillance system server.

  • Depending on your user permissions, you can find the added bookmarks on the timeline of the video recording.

    • Steps to edit bookmarks

    1. On the Bookmarks screen, navigate to the bookmark that you want to edit, then tap on it. The Bookmark details screen opens.
    2. To edit the bookmark, tap (Android) or Edit (iOS). The Edit bookmark screen opens.
    3. In the Headline field, enter a name for the bookmark.
    4. Optional. Describe the incident.
    5. Optional. Although the time of the bookmark event and the start and end time of the video clip are specified by the system administrator, you can adjust these settings. To do that, navigate to the time setting that you want to edit and tap . The Edit time frame screen opens. The time setting that you want to edit is highlighted in yellow.
      1. Drag the time indicator of the setting to the desired position on the timeline. You can also edit the time frame by tapping on the timeline to open the time picker.
      2. Optional. On the Edit time frame screen, repeat the step above to edit the other two time settings of the bookmark. The bookmark event time must be between the start time and the end time of the video clip.
    6. Tap (Android) or Save (iOS).

    The Duration of a bookmark clip is determined on the surveillance system server.

    Delete bookmarks

    Depending on your user permissions, you can delete bookmarks created by yourself or others. If you delete a bookmark, it is removed from the database, and you can no longer access it.

    Steps to delete bookmarks:

    1. On the Edit bookmarks screen, tap (Android) or Delete (iOS).
    2. On the confirmation message, tap Delete.
    3. Optional. Tap the bookmark you want to delete and swipe it to the left.