[Fisheye Camera] How can I find fisheye dewarping option from Milestone XProtect Smart Client?

Question

How can I find the fisheye dewarping option from Milestone XProtect Smart Client for use with the fisheye cameras?

Answer

The VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer Plug-in is compatible with 2022 R3 or later versions.

• Plugins apply to: XProtect Professional / XProtect Professional +/ XProtect Expert / XProtect Corporate / XProtect Express / XProtect Express+ / XProtect Essential+
• Plugins do not apply to: XProtect Go / XProtect Essential (+)

(1) How to install the VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer Plug-in?

Step 1. Download VIVOTEK's fisheye plug-in from the plug-in for Milestone download page for appropriate plug-ins (for x64 or x86 versions).

Step 2. Install the .NET framework 4.7 Runtime. The .NET framework is essential for installing XProtect Smart Client.

Step 3. Install the DirectX runtime (9.29.1974) and above. The DirectX runtime is also necessary
for the plug-in for managing DirectX components, especially for older Windows XP Systems.

Step 4. Install the Milestone XProtect Smart Client 2022 R3 or above.

Step 5. Stop Milestone XProtect Event Server.

Step 6. Execute the VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer Plug-in installer file.

Step 6.1. Select components to install, client, or server plugins. Click "Next" to proceed with the
installation.

Step 6.2. By default, a sub-folder named MIPPlugins is available under the XProtect Smart Client installation path. The default file path should look like the following:

C:\Program Files\Milestone\MIPPlugins\VIVOTEK Deep Search and Vision Enhancer for Milestone

Step 6.3. Select the deep search metadata storage path. The default file path should look like the following: C:\ProgramData\VIVOTEK Inc\Milestone\ObjectMetaInfo

For storage capacity concerns, it is recommended to store Object Metadata in a separate location with a larger disk capacity, ensuring that it does not impact server operations.

Step 6.4. Click Install to proceed with the installation.

(2) How to set up the VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer Plug-in?

Step 1. Start the XProtect Smart Client and log in to your Milestone XProtect server.

Step 2. On the Live View window, click on "Setup". On the Live View window, click on "Setup".

Step 3. On the Setup Window, search for the "VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer Plug-in" by dragging the pulldown menu on the "System Overview" pane to the bottom.
Please note that if you install the plug-in when your XProtect Smart Client is started, restart the XProtect Smart Client.

Step 4. Click and drag the "VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer Plug-in" to a view cell. When done, the view cell will be highlighted by a light blue outer frame.

Step 5. Locate the "Properties" panel and click on the "Select Camera…". An "Item Picker" window will prompt.

Unfold the device tree and select a VIVOTEK camera. A camera snapshot will be shown on the view cell after a few seconds for connecting to the server.

Step 6. Go to XProtect Management Client > Recording Server > Properties > VIVOTEK Vision Enhancer. You need to open this page and perform the related settings first. If the default settings are all correct, it's okay to leave everything as is. Once this page is accessed, Milestone will retrieve some data from the camera to enable the dewarp feature.

Step 7. You can now click on the "Setup" button and return to the "Live" or "Playback" window.

The VIVOTEK VCA rules and analytics events overlay will be displayed as shown in the picture below.

Step 8. The "Fisheye" icon will appear in the view cell toolbar if this camera is the Fisheye model and configured in the Management Client.

Select different dewarp modes to adjust the display content in XProtect Smart Client.

Step 9.  When a view cell is hovered over with the mouse, the toolbar will be shown. Click the "Tool" icon, and the VCA display settings window will pop up.