Watchfolders automatically encodes media files in a selected folder. The media will be placed in Hippotizer’s media library where it can be added to the media map and sent to other systems across the network.
Watchfolders is used in many ways to save time and improve the media workflow to:
- Instantly encode content as it is created by watching a shared network folder
- Synchronize media on primary and backup systems by watching the same folder with two (or more) systems.
- Automatically download new content from web based folders such as Dropbox
- Remotely update the media map of an installation
Watchfolders is configured from within the media manager settings.
Enabled
If enabled, Watchfolders will automatically encode any media placed in the designated watch folder path.
With the above settings:
Media Placed in C:\Watchfolder will automatically encode using the codec chosen in media manager’s settings and be placed in the Watchfolder folder in media manager. Files deleted from the watchfolder will not be changed in media manager.
| Note: When Watchfolders is enabled it will check to see if the folder on the watchfolder path exists, if it doesn’t the folder will be created. Watchfolders will also place a small hidden file on the designated folder, this is integral for normal function of Watchfolders: do not delete or modify it. |
Continuous Sync
If enabled, Watchfolders will synchronise file deletes from the Watchfolder to the Media Manager.
Continuous Sync only deletes media that is deleted while it is enabled; it does not synchronise the folder when it is enabled
Media deleted while Continuous Sync is disabled will be deleted from the Media Manager if the engine is restarted with Continuous Sync enabled.
| Note: Media deletes are synchronised across media manager no matter what folder the clip is placed in. This setting will result in media being deleted automatically from media manager and the media map; use with caution. |
Watch Folder Path
The source folder where Watchfolders reads from. Networking and Watchfolders can be complex. More info is here.
Media Manager Destination
The folder in media manager where content is encoded to. Folder trees in the Media Manager Path will be replicated in the destination.
Read Media Map Info from File Name
If enabled, any clips that contain [bank number, clip number] in the name will automatically be placed in the media map.
For example:
Layout[10,10].mov will be placed in bank 10, clip 10 of the media map.
| Note: This will overwrite any media already present in this media location. |
Use Polling Method
An alternate way to detect media changes other than using Windows. By default, Watchfolders uses a Microsoft Windows subsystem to detect when files are added to the Watchfolder. On some Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices this is not supported. Polling will manually check the designated folder for changes at every poll interval. Polling is a more intensive system than using Windows notifications so should be used only where required.
More info on different folder methods can be found here.
Image Sequences and Watchfolders
Watchfolders will encode any numbered sequence of images as an image sequence providing they are named correctly:
- All images in the sequence share the same name preceding the file number
Filename_####. The name must be more than 3 characters. - The number must be at least 4 digits. For frame numbers less than 1000, use preceding zeros.
Filename_0001. The frame number must have a preceeding hash, space, underscore or dash. - When using bank and clip information, it should be between the file name and the frame number.
FileName_[##,##]_0001
Frame Rate
Image sequences are encoded at the set frame rate. The setting for Media Manager’s image sequence frame rate and that of Watchfolders are separate. All other encode settings are shared.
File Timeout
Watchfolders can import image sequences however it is a little more complicated than in a normal file encode. This is due to the fact that as an image sequence is added to the watchfolder path Hippotizer will detect the image files being added one at time but not know when to start encoding them. (There is no way to know the copy has been completed). To fix this, Watchfolders has a File Timeout which is the time in seconds that it will wait before attempting to encode an image sequence from the time the last image was added. After each image is added Watchfolders waits for the File Timeout period, if the time elapses and no additional frames of that sequence are added it will be encoded. As a new frame is added the file timeout is reset. The default setting of 30 seconds is appropriate for most applications.
Auto Sync to Media Managers
Will synchronise media encoded with Watchfolders to selected media managers on the network as they are uploaded.
Post your comment on this topic.