Creating video evidence

There are several ways of documenting incidents and events in XProtect Smart Client, for example by exporting recordings and creating single still images from the video stream.

You can lock video evidence to prevent it from being deleted, or you can export the locked video.

Export video, audio, and still images

To share video evidence, you can export video and associated audio in different formats. You can also export still images and other types of data that—depending on your XProtect VMS system—may be available.

On the Exports tab, you can export video evidence in three steps:

The Exports tab in XProtect Smart Client with the export list, export formats, and the Export button.

  1. Add the video sequences that you want to export to the Exports tab > Export list. See also Add video sequences to the Export list.

  2. Select at least one export format and adjust the export settings. See also Adjust export settings.

  3. Create the export. See also Create the export.

Add video sequences to the Export list

You can add video sequences to the Export list on the:

In the Export list, select Add item to add the video sequences that you want to export.

  1. In the timeline, select the button to select the start and end time of the sequence that you want to export.

  2. For each item that you want to include in the export, select the associated check box .

  3. Select Export > Export to add the selected video sequences to the Export list and to move to the Exports tab.

    OR:

    Select Export > Add to export list to add the selected video sequences to the Export list and to stay in playback mode.

Or alternatively, select Evidence lock > View > Evidence lock list

  1. In the Evidence lock list, select an existing evidence lock.

  2. Select Add to export list to add the selected evidence lock to the Export list and to stay in playback mode.

  1. If you want to export all your search results at one time, select the Select all button on the workspace toolbar in the upper-right corner.

  2. For each search result that you want to export, hover over it and select the blue check box .

  3. In the blue action bar, select Add to export list Export from search results in XProtect Smart Client..

Adjust export settings

After you added at least one sequence to the Exports tab > Export list, you must select at least one export format. Optionally, you can adjust export settings.

Steps:

The Export settings window in XProtect Smart Client. The window has tabs for each export format: XProtect format, Media player format, Still images.

  1. Under the Export list, select at least one export format.

    • Export as XProtect format - use the XProtect format if you want to include the XProtect Smart Client – Player along with the export. Other media players will not work. If you want the recipient to be able to verify that the exported evidence has not been tampered with, select Export settings > XProtect format > Include digital signature. This will enable the Verify signatures button in the XProtect Smart Client – Player
    • Export as media player format - use a format that most media players can play. This requires that a media player is installed on the computer where the export is to be viewed
    • Export as still images - export a still image file for each frame for the selected period

  2. Optionally, for each video sequence on the Export list, you can change the Start time and the End time.

  3. Optionally, you can add privacy masks to video sequences to cover different video areas. See also Add privacy masks to recordings during export.

  4. Optionally, for each format, you can change the Export settings. See Export settings.

The duration of the export and the number of cameras affect how long it takes to complete the export. To reduce the time spent, you may try changing the export format.

Create the export

After you added at least one sequence to the Exports tab > Export list and selected at least one export format, you can create the export.

Steps:

The Create export window. Choose a name and export destinaton, and optionally, add comments to the XProtect format of the export.

  1. Select the Export button. The Create export window opens.
  2. In the Export name field, an export name is automatically created for you. You can change the name.
  3. In the Export destination field, specify a path for the export. The export that you create will be stored in the folder that you specify here.
  4. Select Create export to export the evidence.
  5. The export is created and stored in the folder that you specified as the Export destination. See also View exported video.

If you want to export several video sequences from the same camera, you can split your video sequence into several video sequences by clicking the split camera icon .

Missing user permissions may prevent you from exporting video data.

You are now ready to store and share the video safely. See the GDPR Privacy Guide and the Milestone GDPR e-learning for VMS Operators for more information on handling data exports. To safely email video evidence, see Handling exported data in notifications and email.

Add privacy masks to recordings during export

When you export video, you can add privacy masks to cover selected areas. When someone watches the exported video, the areas with privacy masks appear as solid blocks.

The privacy masks you add here apply to all the video sequences in the current export from the camera you selected in the Export list. If you remove a privacy mask from one video sequence, it is also automatically removed from all other video sequences for that camera. The export may already include privacy masks which your system administrator has already defined for certain cameras. See also Privacy masking (explained).

Steps:

  1. On the Exports tab > Export list, select the camera you want to add a privacy mask to.
  2. For each area you want to add a privacy mask to, click the button, and drag the pointer over the area.

  3. To remove a part of a privacy mask, click the button, and drag the pointer over the area you want to remove a privacy mask from. Repeat this step for each part you want to remove.

    To temporarily hide privacy masks, click and hold the Hide privacy mask button.

  4. Click OK to return to the Exports tab.

The preview image contains an invisible grid with cells. If the area you select includes any portion of a cell, the system adds a privacy mask to the entire cell. The result can be that the system adds a privacy masks to slightly more of the image than you intended.

Storyboards (explained)

The storyboard function helps you paste together video sequences from one camera or from multiple cameras into one cohesive flow. You can use the sequence of events, the storyboard, as proof of evidence in internal investigations or the court of law.

You can skip all sequences that are not relevant and avoid wasting time looking through long sequences of video that you do not need. Also, you avoid wasting storage space on stored sequences that do not contain relevant video.

Export storyboards

You can create a storyboard by pasting together video sequences into one cohesive flow and then export it.

Steps:

  1. In playback mode, start by opening a view that contains items that you want to add to your storyboard.
  2. In the timeline, click .
  3. Select the start time and the end time for the storyboard.
  4. For each item in the view that you want to add, select the corresponding check box and click Export > Add to export list.

    Repeat steps 1-4 until you have added all items that you need for your storyboard.

  5. Continue with the export process. See Adjust export settings and Create the export.

Export locked video evidence

When you export evidence locksClosedA video sequence that is protected, so it cannot be deleted., also the data from devices related to the cameras is included in the export.

Steps:

  1. Switch to playback mode.
  2. On the workspace toolbar in the upper-right corner, click Evidence lock and select View.

  3. If you want to stay in live mode instead of in playback mode, select Evidence lock on the global toolbar.

    A list of existing evidence locks with devices that you have permission to access appears.

  4. Select an evidence lock and click Add to export list.

  5. Continue with the export process. See Adjust export settings and Create the export.

View exported video

The exports that you create are stored in the folder that you specified in the Create export window > Export destination field.

Steps:

  1. To view the exported video immediately after creating it:

    1. In the upper-right corner of XProtect Smart Client, select Export details.

      2. In the Export details window > Export location field, a link shows the location of the output folder.

    2. Click the link to open the output folder and to access the exported files.

      The Export details window. The export location is a hyperlink. When you click the hyperlink, the folder that contains the export files opens.

  2. If you exported video at a previous point in time:
    1. Go to the folder where you store exports. The default location is C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Milestone\Video Export. You can check the folder location in the Create export window > Export destination field. This works only if you always use the same export destination.
    2. Depending on the output format, open the relevant folder and double-click the video file or still image. If the format is XProtect format, double-click the Smart Client – Player file with the .exe extension.

Printing or creating surveillance reports

Depending on your needs, you can either print surveillance reports on the fly based on still images from surveillance cameras, or you can create surveillance reports that you save to your computer.

See also Print alarm reports and Get statistics on alarms.

Print report from single cameras

You can print single still images and related information from live cameras or from recorded video. Notes that you add are also printed.

Steps:

  1. To print a recorded still image, switch to playback mode.
  2. To print a live still image, switch to live mode.
  3. Open the view that contains the camera you are interested in.

  4. Hover over the view item. The camera toolbar appears.

    The camera toolbar in XProtect Smart Client.

  5. Click the icon. A window appears.

    The Surveillance report window in XProtect Smart Client.

  6. Add notes if required.
  7. Click Print. The Windows Print dialog appears.
  8. If necessary, change the print settings and print. Otherwise, just click Print.

You can also print information about alarms if your organization uses the alarm handling features. See also Alarms (explained).

Create reports from search results

Based on search results, you can create a surveillance report that contains information about the events or incidents, for example still images, event time, information about the cameras, and notes. The report is saved as a PDF file.

Steps:

  1. Go to the Search tab and run a search.
  2. For each search result that you want to include in the report, hover over it and select the blue check box .
  3. In the blue action bar, click . A window appears.
  4. Change the default report name into something meaningful. In the report, the name is displayed as the page header.
  5. To change the folder that the report is saved to, in the Report destination section, click and select a different folder.
  6. Optionally, write a note in the Report note field.

  7. Click Create. A progress bar shows that the report is generated.

  8. When the report is generated, select Details from the progress bar.

  9. Select Open to open the report or click the link to open the report's destination folder.

    Location of reports in XProtect Smart Client.

To change the layout of the report, open the Settings dialog, click Advanced, and then select a different value in the PDF report format list.

Copy images to clipboard

You can copy single still images from selected cameras. Copied images can then be pasted (as bitmap images) into other applications, such as word processors, e-mail clients, etc. You can only copy a single image from one camera at a time.

  • On the camera toolbar, click the Copy to clipboard button to copy an image

    Copy images to clipboard in XProtect Smart Client.