Configuring actions

iCatcher can perform a number of actions based on an event like an I/O device changing value, a tripwire crossing or motion. For example a PIR can trigger an email alert and a light coming on, or a virtual tripwire could trigger a PTZ camera to move to a preset position.

Current supported actions include:

• Send an email
• Send a text message
• Send a Tweet
• Play an audio file through the local sound card speakers
• Record all activity from a camera for a specified duration even if there is no motion
• Move a PTZ camera to a preset position
• Perform a command on a PTZ camera
• Set an output I/O device to a new state, e.g. to turn equipment on or off
• Make an HTTP request
• Run a third-party application
• Send an event to a console
• Switch to a saved layout
• Write an entry to the iCatcher log

Each action has its own set of configuration that must be completed to ensure the action is defined correctly.

Send an email

The email action type allows you to send an email to a set of recipients. You need to enter the recipient email address, and the subject. You can also enter the message body text as well.

Please see the email alert help for more information.

Send a text message

The text message action type allows you to send a text message to the specified recipients.

Please see the SMS alert help for more information.

Send a Tweet

iCatcher can send a Tweet via the Twitter network.

Please see the Twitter alert help for more information.

Play an audio file

Any WAV audio file can be selected to be played.

Record all activity on a camera

When this action is triggered, iCatcher can "panic" record all activity on all or a given feed for a period of time.

This can be used with a panic button input device.

Move a PTZ camera

This action will move any PTZ camera to a preconfigured preset position.

If you specify a custom priority, then these actions can override other PTZ controls. Please see the PTZ priority help for more information.

Perform a command on a PTZ camera

This action will perform configured commands on supported cameras.

Set the state of an I/O device

Any output device can be controlled by this action. For most devices, you can select the new value from a dropdown list.

Make an HTTP request

If you have a device or web service that can be controlled over HTTP, you can use this action to make an HTTP request to any service. If the request requires a username and password you can specify it before the hostname using the following format:

http://username:password@address/resource

The URL can contain Macros which include dynamic information such as the feed name. Please see the Macros help for more information.

Run an external application

This action can be used to run a 3rd party application to provide extra functionality that is not built in to iCatcher Console.

The path can contain Macros which include dynamic information such as the feed name. Please see the Macros help for more information.

Send an event to a remote console

This action allows you to send events and notifications to all connected Consoles or a specific Console.

The type can be one of the predefined values or custom text.

The event can also be associated with another feed, allowing the remote Console to show a live video.

Switch to a saved layout

This action allows you to switch to showing a different set of feeds or show them at different sizes when an action occurs.

An example of this would be to show all the car park cameras full screen when any of them see motion and then restore the previously loaded layout after 10 seconds.

If you select to display the layout on top of other applications, then the icon in the task bar will flash and all the layout windows will be brought on top of your current applications without taking focus.

Write an entry to the iCatcher log

Any text can be written to the iCatcher log with a specific priority level.

The message can contain Macros which include dynamic information such as the feed name. Please see the Macros help for more information.

Schedule and conditions

Each action can be configured to run only during certain times allowing, for example, you to move a PTZ camera when a tripwire is crossed out of office hours only. The action will only be carried out during periods where the schedule is blue and marked as "Active".

When using the alert arming, you can set actions so they are only performed when the system is armed, by ticking the "Only perform this action when alerting is armed" option. When this is unticked, the action will be performed even when disarmed, but for actions that send an alert (email, FTP, or SMS), not when all alerts are disabled.