Time Ranges

The Time ranges menu allows you to specify rules for how the recording will handle days off, holidays and weekends. Additionally, you can create customized time ranges.

By using time ranges you can exploit the available memory space optimally, since they can control the permanent recording. When configuring permanent recording, you decide if a camera is also subject to time ranges and to which one the camera belongs (see Add to Media Channel). Time ranges are also important for configuring events and alarms related to activity detection (AD) and video motion detection (VMD) (see Event/Alarm).

Rest of Time

The Rest of time entry is listed in the Time range list and cannot be configured. It ensures that even if time ranges are missing, recordings are made, and it is the standard setting for event configuration. The Rest of time entry is a special time range which is only used if no time range has been configured, or if no other time range is valid.

Depending on the configuration, the Rest of time entry represents different time ranges. You will only notice it when configuring an event and you have to decide whether or not the event should be stopped when the valid time range has elapsed. You can include the Rest of time time range there.

Create a Time Range

You can create different time ranges by right-clicking on the Time range list and then clicking on Add in the pop-up menu, or alternatively by clicking on the icon in the menu bar. A new time range is added to the Time range list.

The time ranges are automatically named Time range plus a sequentially assigned number. To change the name, right-click on the time range and then on Rename, or click on the time range twice.

The Time ranges menu offers you various tabs to configure a time range:

Under the Settings tab, you can configure the time range.

How to configure the time range:

  1. Select the day(s) for which the time range should apply.

    The default setting is Every day. If you want to specify certain days, deselect the Every day checkbox and select the days for which the time range shall apply.

  2. Specify the Active time(s). If the time range shall apply to the whole day, select the All day checkbox. If you want to specify a time period for the time range, select Timer for one general time period or List for more precise or alternating times.

    To be able to configure the Timer or List, the All day checkbox must be deselected.

    Timer:

    • The red indicator marks the current time.

    • Use the left mouse button to select a time period, which is marked in yellow.

    • Use the right mouse button to undo the selection of the time period.

    List:

    • Use the Add button to add a time period to the list.

    • Determine the time period by selecting From and To times.

    • Optionally, determine a time period by selecting Sunrise, Sunset or Solar noon.

      Additionally, you can determine buffer times and select the of next day checkbox for the end time of the time period.

    To have the correct sunrise, sunset and solar noon times, you must enter the necessary information under the Location tab (see Location).

  3. Under the Public holidays or Company vacations tab, you can combine predefined company vacations or public holidays with the configured time period.

Under the Company vacations tab, you can add company vacations to the time range.

The set company vacations are automatically added to the other time ranges as well and can be combined with them under Settings > Company vacations.

How to add company vacations:

  1. Click on the Add button. A new company vacation entry is added to the Company vacations list.

  2. Determine the time period of the company vacation by selecting the respective From and To values.

Under the Public holidays tab, you can add public holidays to the time range. You can do so by either adding predefined public holidays, which are pre-installed by default, or by adding public holidays manually.

The set public holidays are automatically added to the other time ranges as well and can be combined with them under Settings > Public holidays.

You also have the possibility to export the holiday date format (HDF) file which contains your determined public holidays. You can, for example, import it when setting up a new system.

How to add predefined standard public holidays:

  1. Click on the Add standard holidays button.

    The Select holiday definitions dialog window opens.

  2. Select a listed holiday definition and click on the OK button. The public holidays are added to the Public holidays list.

How to add public holidays manually:

  1. Click on the Add button. A new entry is added to the Public holidays list.

  2. Configure the entry. You have the following setting options:

    Setting

    Description

    Fixed date

    Select the day and the month.

    Offset from Easter

    Select the number of days to be used as offset before and after Easter.

    Fixed weekday in month

    Select the weekday, the week of the weekday (First, Second, etc.) and the month.

    Weekday before/after fixed date (with offset)

    This setting can be used for dynamic public holidays which do not have a fixed date but are related to specific dates or weekdays.

    Select a fixed date, the week of the weekday (first, second, etc.) and the weekday as well as either Before or After. Additionally, you can set an offset.

How to export a HDF file:

  1. Click on the Export HDF button.

    The Export dialog window opens.

  2. Enter a description in the HDF-File Description input field.

  3. Click on the Export button.

Under the Location tab, you can enter your location in Latitude and Longitude.

This is important for the calculation of the sunrise, sunset and solar noon times which can be used when specifying the Active time(s) of the time range.

Under the Check tab, you can check which time range is active at a specific time or location and if the configuration is correct.

To do so, enter the requested data and click on the Find button. The Active time range is displayed.

Add to Media Channel

How to add a time range to a media channel:

  1. After creating a time range, go to Media channels / Hardware > Media channels.

  2. In the Media channel list, right-click on Permanent recording of the media channel to which you want to add the time range.

  3. Click on Add. The Permanent recording on time ranges dialog window opens.

  4. Select the time range and click on the Add button. The time range is added to the media channel.