Starting the recorder with no command line arguments brings up the main input window. If arguments were specified on the command line, they would be shown as entered.
There are two ways to specify sessions and streams to play. The easiest is to use the catalog files (*.ctg) which are generated during recording. Catalog files are text files, so they can also be generated or manipulated by users to add and remove sessions and streams.
Clicking on the Read catalog button brings up a file dialog box which allows users to view the file system and select catalog files. Highlighting a file causes its contents to be shown in the preview box. The catalog preview box shows the data and index stream files associated with that particular catalog.
Clicking on Open causes the catalog file to be selected for playback, and closes the catalog file dialog box. Clicking on Read catalog again allows the user to change the catalog selection.
After selecting a catalog, component sessions and streams are shown in the main input window. The presentation window on the left lists the sessions which are specified for playback. The format is protocol: media address/port. The address/port may be changed by the user by highlighting the displayed address and typing a new address/port. Sessions may be deleted or added by clicking in the session window with the right mouse button.
Holding down the right mouse button presents a small menu of choices: New session, New stream, Delete, Start tool, Advanced options. Selecting the New session option brings up a small window which allows the user to enter protocol: media address/port for a new session. The New stream option brings up the stream browse window, described below. The Delete option removes from the play list the session or stream which is under the current mouse position. This option will be greyed out if the mouse is not over a session or stream listing. The Start tool option also depends upon the mouse location. When positioned over a session listing, it starts the appropriate viewing tool (vic, vat, or mb) on the correct address. The Advanced options selection currently allows users to set the Time to Live (ttl) for the presentation.
The stream window on the right lists the streams included in the highlighted session. In this example, the video session is highlighted, and the video streams to be played are shown in the stream window. As described above, streams may be removed from the play list by clicking with the right mouse button and selecting Delete Stream. Clicking on the magnifying glass icon brings up a stream browse window. This allows individual streams to be changed or added.
Data files or index files may be input by selecting the button at the top of the window. In this case, the data file is selected. At the right, the preview option shows some information for the highlighted file, including the source's name, source's email and the timing information for the stream. Matching data and index files (from the same stream) must be entered for correct playback.
Returning to the main window, after the sessions and component streams have been specified to the user's satisfaction, the Start playback button should be clicked. This causes the interface to change to the player control window.
This is structured similarly to the input dialog box described above. Sessions are shown on the right, streams of the highlighted session are shown on the left. A green light indicates that data is being sent, a red light indicates that no data is currently being sent. Streams and sessions are played with the timing that existed when they were recorded. The Pause button temporarily stops all playback. The button will then appear as a Play button, which, when clicked, resumes playback. The slider at the bottom of the window may be dragged for random access through the stream. The Exit ends the player application.