Classroom Capture Admin Guide & Instructor Guide

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Classroom Capture

Admin Guide &

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Classroom Capture Specifications

Classroom Capture (CCAP) is a Windows-only software program that can be downloaded and installed on the PC resident in a classroom. It effectively turns the computer into a capture device, where the installed CCAP software and the attached cameras and microphones are used to capture classroom lectures.

See Recommended Devices for CCAP and PCAP Windows for information on supported capture input devices.

See Classroom Capture for Administrators or Classroom Capture for Instructors as appropriate, for information on installation, configuration, and use of CCAP.

System requirements for Classroom Capture

The following are the minimum specifications for a Classroom Capture PC:

 Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 operating system

 Windows .NET 3.5 (required - you will be prompted to install it if not present)

 Intel i5-2400 Quad Core Processor

 2 GB RAM

 10/100 network interface

 20 GB free hard drive space

 Internal audio device or USB port for audio capture

NOTE: Capturing CPU or memory-intensive applications such as CAD or 3D modeling software may require a more capable computer.

Capture input

Audio MUST be captured. You can use the built-in sound card input, or 1/8" line-in/mic-in connection, or USB-based audio or capture device (line-in/mic-includline-in/mic-ing a microphone on an attached video camera, if there is one). Audio levels should be configured on the input to be as high as possible without reaching maximum levels during peaks, which can cause audible distortion during recording.

Display is captured from the local VGA screen buffer, and requires no external connection or configuration.

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USB-Capture options

Classroom Capture supports the following input combinations:

 Audio (A)

 Audio/Video (A/V)

 Audio/Display (A/D)

 Audio/Display/Video (A/D/V)

 Audio/Video/Video (A/V/V)

Capture products

Classroom Capture can generate the following output:

 Classroom Player presentation, including audio, display, and/or video

 Downloadable mp3 audio-only file

 Downloadable SD mp4 file, including audio, display, and/or video

 Downloadable HD mp4 file, including audio, display, and/or video

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Classroom Capture for Instructors

Classroom Capture is a Windows-only application that can be installed on a classroom PC, and used as a capture device for recording lectures and other classroom activities. Because it has an easy to use Windows interface, instructors can easily launch the application and use it to perform adhoc captures, or control scheduled captures as needed.

Classroom Capture is accessed through the Start menu, as shown in the below figure, or may be available via a shortcut icon located on the desktop.

If there is a recording pending for the room, the Classroom Capture option in the Start menu also provides that information, as shown in the below figure.

BEST PRACTICE: Do not attempt to start an adhoc capture within five minutes of the next scheduled capture. The scheduled capture requires a "preroll" period before it can begin, and any currently running adhoc capture will be automatically stopped prior to the next scheduled capture.

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Controlling Classroom Capture Recordings

You can pause, resume, or stop any Classroom Capture (CCAP) recordings, either adhoc or scheduled. You can also start a scheduled capture early, or add time to a currently recording capture.

To start a scheduled capture early

1. Click the Windows taskbar icon to open the CCAP window.

Five minutes before the scheduled capture is slated to start, the CCAP window indicates a pending capture, and includes a Start now button for the upcoming capture.

2. Click Start now. A five-second countdown appears, after which the CCAP window minimizes and the capture begins.

To add time to a scheduled capture

1. Click the Windows taskbar icon to open the CCAP window.

The time remaining in the capture schedule is shown below the preview panes. 2. To add time to the capture, click Add 10 minutes.

NOTE: You cannot extend a capture into the next scheduled capture. The Time Remaining may increase by 10 minute increments, but the capture will stop several minutes before the next scheduled capture (to allow the system to complete pre-roll for the next capture).

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To pause, resume or stop a capture

1. Click the Windows taskbar icon to open the CCAP window. 2. From there, click Stop, Pause, or Resume as needed.

To use keyboard shortcuts to control a capture

 Pause/Resume = Alt + F5

 Stop = Alt + F6

If you forget these shortcuts, they are also noted in the right-click and Start menus shown below.

To use the Windows taskbar icon to control a capture

1. Right-click the CCAP Windows taskbar icon

2. Select the appropriate command from the shortcut menu.

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To use the Windows Start menu to control a capture

1. Click the Windows Start menu.

2. Hover over the Classroom Capture option to show the commands. 3. Select an appropriate control option.

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Using Classroom Capture for Adhoc Recordings

Classroom Capture (CCAP) has been designed with an easy-to-use interface, allowing you to capture an adhoc recording or impromptu lecture (instructions below), or to control a scheduled lecture being recorded through CCAP.

Classroom Capture is accessed through a desktop icon (if one has been provided) or through the Start menu, as shown in the below figure. If there is a scheduled capture due to start in the next 15 minutes, the Start Menu also indicates this.

BEST PRACTICE: Do not attempt to start an adhoc capture within five minutes of the next scheduled capture. The scheduled capture requires a "preroll" period before it can begin, and any currently running adhoc capture will be automatically stopped prior to the next scheduled capture.

Creating an adhoc recording using Classroom Capture

When creating an ad hoc recording in CCAP, you select the course you want to

publish to but do not select a particular class. CCAP automatically CREATES a new class in the course/section you select to hold the capture. Meaning you may need to edit the class details after the capture is published. In addition, captures are immediately available to students on publish. If necessary you can make the capture unavailable or set a time-based availability.

1. Launch Classroom Capture using the Start Menu (shown above) or the desktop icon.

2. Check the Scheduled list of captures at the bottom of the window, and make sure there isn't an upcoming capture that would keep you from creating a recording of the length you need.

3. Select the inputs you want to capture. You must capture audio. You can select to capture display and video, or two video inputs besides the audio.

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4. Preview the inputs on the screen, to be sure they will record properly.

5. If you need to, select a different output quality setting. This should be left at the default unless you have a reason to change it.

6. Click Record.

7. Enter your Active Learning Platform username and password if requested, and click Login.

8. In the capture details dialog box, enter a Title, select a Course, then select the Output (what inputs will be captured) for the recording.

9. Click Record.

The main CCAP screen re-appears briefly, showing a five second countdown to begin recording. Once recording starts, the CCAP screen automatically

minimizes, and the CCAP icon in the windows taskbar shows a red dot, indicating that recording is in process.

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The recording is completed and uploaded to the ALP server for processing. You will receive an email notification when processing is finished and the capture is available for viewing.

Alternate Pause/Resume/Stop methods

You can pause, resume, or stop an adhoc capture or a scheduled capture. Besides opening the program from the windows taskbar icon or start menu, you can also Pause, Resume, and Stop a capture as follows:

 Use the following keyboard shortcuts: -- Pause/Resume = Alt + F5

-- Stop = Alt + F6

If you forget these shortcuts, they are also noted in the right-click and Start menus shown below

 Right-click the Windows taskbar icon, then select the appropriate command from the shortcut menu.

 Click the Windows Start menu, then hover over the Classroom Capture option to select an appropriate control option.

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Selecting Inputs for Classroom Capture Adhoc

Recordings

Classroom Capture allows you to record up to three inputs, as follows:

 Audio only - capturing only audio input. This will generate an MP3 file for students to listen to.

 Audio and Video (A/V) - capturing sound and video input from the built in or USB-connected video camera.

 Audio and Display (A/D) - capturing sound and whatever is shown on the computer screen.

 Audio, Display, and Video (A/D/V) - capturing sound, the display on the computer screen, and video input.

 Audio and Dual Video (A/V/V) - capturing sound and the input from two different video sources.

Use the input drop-down lists, located on the left side of the screen, to select the inputs you want to use. Choose None Selected if applicable to that input.

You MUST have Audio input: You cannot choose None Selected for audio input; audio is always captured. You can use the internal microphone, an externally-attached

microphone, or a camera's microphone if the external camera has one.

After you select the appropriate inputs, check the preview of those inputs shown on the screen. Each are identified in the following figure and described below the figure.

Microphone Input: The Audio preview is a colored "sound level" indicator bar across the top of the preview panes. Make some noise to be sure the microphone is active, and

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second video input if there are multiple cameras available to select and the Primary Video selection has been made. To capture only primary video with audio, choose None Selected from the drop-down list. The display preview no longer appears.

Primary Video: The primary video input appears on the right side of the preview pane. If you are not capturing video, choose None Selected. The video preview no longer appears and the preview pane shows only the Display preview (if one is selected).

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Selecting Output Quality for Classroom Capture

Adhoc Recordings

The output selection drop-down list is located on the right side of the screen, above the preview panes. This allows you to determine the resolution of the video and display of the capture, which in turn determines the size of the capture files uploaded to the server and subsequently viewed or downloaded by students.

The selections available are as follows:

Good Quality/Smaller Files - This creates a capture with slightly lower resolution video and display. The lower resolution keeps the final file size to a minimum. This is a good choice if you or your students have bandwidth issues that may cause larger file uploads or capture playback to fail.

Better Quality/Medium Files - This is the default setting. It generates a capture with standard resolution video and display. This setting creates medium sized files for the recording. This setting is probably sufficient for playback on most devices.

High Quality/Larger Files - This setting creates high-definition resolution for video and display. Consequently this setting also creates very large files for these captures.

Use this setting ONLY if you have visual details in the display or video of the capture that requires students to see the recording in very high resolution. Otherwise this setting should be used sparingly, due to the time required to upload and process the

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Classroom Capture Indicator in Windows Taskbar

When the program is open, the Classroom Capture icon in the Windows taskbar shows the status of the recording.

For example, the below figure shows the taskbar icon with a red dot, indicating that Classroom Capture is currently recording.

Pausing the capture changes the taskbar icon to show a pause symbol, as shown in the below figure.

If there is a Device Monitor light installed on the podium PC, it will also indicate the current status of the capture.

Do not use "small icons" on the Taskbar

If you are not seeing the capture status indicated in the Windows taskbar as described here, right-click the taskbar and check the taskbar Properties.

Be sure the Use small icons checkbox is NOT checked, as shown in the below figure. Small icons do not allow for the "overlay" graphics (pause sign or red dot) that Echo uses for the status indicator.

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Classroom Capture for Admins

Classroom Capture (CCAP) is a Windows-only application that allows you to use the PC located in a classroom as a capture device.

Because the capture controls are installed on the PC, Academic Staff can easily use the CCAP interface to set up adhoc captures for impromptu lectures, or manipulate scheduled recordings if they need to.

Workflow

1. Review the Classroom Capture Specifications. 2. Download and Install Classroom Capture software.

3. Attach and configure the input devices (cameras and microphones). 4. Assign the device to a room.

5. Configure device defaults (input sources and generic device logins).

Once setup is finished and the CCAP device is assigned to a room, you can schedule captures for the room.

**Podium PC Must Be On and a User Must Be Logged In**

In order for Classroom Capture to record a scheduled lecture: -- The podium PC must be on.

-- A user must be logged in. |

This allows scheduled captures to begin at the predetermined time. Furthermore, if the user logs out during the capture, the capture will stop at that point.

Best Practice: Have the classroom PC continuously logged in to a shared account.

Alternate Practice: Have Instructors log in to the PC as soon as they enter the classroom and before the capture is scheduled to begin. The allows the PC to complete the login process and begin recording the lecture. Be sure Instructors log out before the

scheduled start of the next capture, particularly where back-to-back captures are scheduled.

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Installing Classroom Capture Software

Classroom Capture is a Windows-only application that turns a classroom PC into a capture device for the room. The Classroom Capture software is available through the Downloads page in the Active Learning Platform. The installation wizard guides you through installation.

To install Classroom Capture

1. Log onto the classroom PC as a user with administrator rights. 2. Open ALP and log in as an ALP administrator.

3. Click the Settings icon in the top right corner of the screen, and select Downloads from the menu (shown in the above figure).

4. From the Downloads page, click the Windows Download link provided for Classroom Capture.

5. Locate the downloaded installer (.exe file) and launch it. If you receive a warning message, click Yes to trust the download and proceed.

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7. Accept the default Installation and Data directories or click the folder icons for each to select different locations for these files.

8. Click Next to continue through the wizard.

9. A dialog box appears, identifying the MAC address of the computer. Make a note of the MAC address, as you will need it to assign the CCAP device to a room. You can also find the MAC address on the Settings page of the CCAP application (shown below).

10.Click OK.

11.When installation completes, click Finish.

Launch Classroom Capture (it may launch automatically after installation if the Launch Classroom Capture checkbox is enabled on the final installation pane). This allows you to see what is being captured by the currently attached devices, and adjust them accordingly. The input selections and preview/monitor panes are shown in the below figure.

Click the Settings icon located in the top right corner of the CCAP window to open the Settings page, shown below. The MAC address of the computer is listed in the Serial

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Configure Classroom Capture Input Devices

Once Classroom Capture (CCAP) is installed and has been assigned to a room, you can configure the device input settings for the room.

Room configuration, described below, defines which devices will be used to capture each input type (audio, video, display, second video). The input to be captured for each class (i.e., A/D/V or A/V) is configured on the capture schedule.

To set classroom capture defaults:

1. Navigate to the ROOMS page.

2. Use the filtering drop-down lists and/or Search text box to find the room containing the CCAP device.

3. Hover your mouse over the Room tile to show the menu arrow in the top-right corner of the tile.

4. Click the menu arrow and select Configure.

The Configure Room dialog box appears, with the capture input section at the top of the box. The options are described in more detail in the section below.

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5. Scroll down to see the Configurations section at the bottom of the box.

6. When finished making changes, click SAVE to retain your changes, click

DOWNLOAD to download a device.xml file with the configuration shown, or click SAVE AND DOWNLOAD to do both.

Setting input devices for capture

The capture input section of the Configure Room page allows you to select which devices will be used to capture each input type. Your options include all of the installed capture devices (cameras, microphones, and display inputs) that have been installed on the machine and are detected by CCAP.

CCAP must always capture audio. If there is no audio input device installed on the CCAP machine, your captures will fail. By default, CCAP uses the integrated

microphone on the PC (if one is detected).

When you configure a capture for the room (scheduled or one-time), you can select what inputs you want to capture. The Room configurations described here identify which devices are used for each input type.

NOTE: These settings only identify the device to be used for an input; the capture configuration identifies what inputs to capture.

To set the audio input device

 In the Audio section of the Configure Room dialog box, use the drop-down list to select the audio device you want to use.

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To set the display input device

 In the Display/Video section of the Configure Room dialog box, enable the Display slider, then use the drop-down list to select the display input you want to use.

By default, CCAP will use the primary display of the computer. If the computer has a secondary display attached, you can select that instead.

To set the primary video input device

 In the Display/Video section of the Configure Room dialog box, enable the Video slider, then use the drop-down list to select the video device you want to use.

To set the secondary video input device

 In the Secondary Video section of the Configure Room dialog box, enable the Video slider, then use the drop-down list to select the video device you want to use.

NOTE: The Secondary Video section of the Configure Room dialog box does not appear unless the Primary Video slider is enabled.

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Installing or Replacing Cameras for Classroom

Capture

When you install a USB-attached camera on a PC, you should always install the camera driver but we strongly recommend NOT installing any application software that may have come with the camera. The camera application can interfere with Classroom Capture (CCAP).

If driver-only installation is not possible, be sure that you:

 Exit the camera application. CCAP controls the camera for you; you will not need to use the camera application.

 Prevent the camera application from starting automatically upon login. Refer to the following article from Microsoft:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en- US/windows-vista/Stop-a-program-from-running-automatically-when-Windows-starts.

 Remove the camera application icon from the Windows system tray. If the

application is launched accidentally (or automatically upon subsequent login), it could interfere with CCAP. Refer to the following article from Microsoft:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Remove-icons-from-the-notification-area-system-tray.

We strongly recommend performing a test capture using the camera, then reviewing the results, to be sure it is functioning properly. See Test Protocol for Web Cameras on the recommended CCAP devices page.

After replacing, removing, or installing a new input device

CCAP device support is designed specifically for static input configurations. Although an instructor can plug a capture device into the USB port and it will be detected, the use of the new device is not guaranteed. An Administrator should review any new source configurations before the start of a capture session.

Follow these steps if you:

 Replaced an existing source device

 Installed a new or additional USB source device to the classroom PC

 Removed an existing USB source in favor of using another already-connected USB source or an existing integrated input source, such as the integrated webcam or internal microphone

To add/replace/remove a device

1. Connect the new input device to the USB port of the classroom PC. If you are only removing (not replacing) a device, skip to step 3.

2. If possible, install ONLY the camera driver; do not install the application software that may have come with the camera.

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3. Log into the Active Learning Platform (as an administrator), and navigate to the Configure Room dialog box.

4. Review, and if necessary, change the device input selections for the room. The system should automatically recognize a replacement device and select it, but you will want to check to be sure.

5. Click SAVE.

Accidental device removal

If a device becomes disconnected from the classroom PC, the Room Configuration settings will automatically change to use the remaining available devices. The system cannot distinguish between an accidental device removal and an intentional one, and will attempt to auto-detect any changes, reconfiguring input selections accordingly. For example, if you have a USB video camera to capture video, and the device becomes disconnected, the system automatically detects the change and reconfigures the Video selection to use the integrated webcam for video input (if available), or disables the video option and does not capture video.

If, however, a scheduled capture is configured to record video, and the video camera becomes disconnected and there is no other video source available, the system will do the following:

 A balloon notification will appear on the classroom PC, informing the instructor that the device is not being detected. If plugged in during the capture, that input will begin being recorded.

 For missing video or display inputs, the capture will still occur but those portions of the capture will be missing. Audio is always captured.

 For missing audio input, a balloon notification appears; if the instructor

reconnects the device, the capture will begin at that time. However if no audio is detected, the capture will not occur.

 The Rooms Management page identifies the problem room/device, indicating that a capture input is missing or not connected.

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Configuring Quality Selection Settings - Advanced

Users Only

We're serious - this information is not for the average user. It's provided because we believe in giving all users the information they might want, and not hiding stuff just because it might not be appropriate for everyone.

The resolution defaults for Personal Capture for Windows outputs are maintained in a set of XML files installed with the program. If the resolution and other output details for the pre-configured selections are not appropriate for your situation and needs, you can manually configure these files. Changes in the XML files will change the output generated for captures made with the corresponding selection in the interface. If you are not familiar with working in XML files, you are strongly encouraged to work with a local expert or contact Echo360 Customer Support for assistance. You must have Windows Administrator rights on the computer to alter these files.

The output quality XML files are located in the /config/ sub-folder of the Data directory identified during installation. By default this is:

c:/ProgramData/Echo360/PersonalCapture/config The directory contains the following files:

 HighRes.xml - This file controls the output resolution of the Best Quality/Larger Files selection.

 MedRes.xml - This file controls the output resolution of the Better Quality/Medium Files selection.

 LowRes.xml - This file controls the output resolution of the Good Quality/Smaller Files selection.

Each XML file contains property values that determine the capture output quality for Audio, Display, and Video inputs. If needed, you may change these files to generate different output settings for each of the selection options.

You must restart the Personal Capture application for your changes to these files to take effect.

Create Copies of the Original XML Files Before Editing

We strongly recommend that you save a copy of the original XML files, as installed,

PRIOR to making changes. In the event something happens where the altered files do not work or are not generating the desired output, you will want to have the original files for the program to use. You can simply create a copy in the same directory with

"_ORIG" appended to the file name. For example, MedRes_ORIG.xml.

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Command Line Installation of Classroom Capture

Classroom Capture (CCAP) and Personal Capture (PCAP) for Windows allows for command line installation of the software on the target Windows PC. Classroom Capture and Personal Capture Windows are supported on Windows 7 or Windows 8, and require Microsoft .NET 3.5.

A configuration file provides the installation parameters, and the same configuration file can be used for all installations of the same product (either Classroom Capture or

Personal Capture).

For Classroom Capture installations, you will need to note the MAC address of each PC on which it is installed. You can typically find the MAC address printed on a label on the PC, or you can launch CCAP after installation and open the Settings page. The MAC address is shown in the Serial Number field of the CCAP Settings page.

Previous Versions MUST be Removed First: If you are using a previous version of

Classroom Capture, you must include a parameter to remove the old version before installing the new version.

Workflow

1. Create a configuration file to use for all of the classroom installations.

2. Identify the classroom computers where you want to install Classroom Capture, and verify they are running either Windows 7 or Windows 8 and have Microsoft .NET 3.5 installed.

3. Download the installer.

4. Run the installation command.

5. Note the MAC address and location of each PC on which CCAP is installed. 6. Attach the cameras and/or microphones to be used as capture input devices. 7. Assign the CCAP devices to rooms.

8. Configure each Room, selecting which devices to use for each type of input (audio, display, primary and secondary video).

Command line installation for Personal Capture Windows

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Remove CCAP and reinstall via command line

If Classroom Capture is not performing correctly and Customer Support has suggested you perform a fresh installation, uninstall the existing instance and restart the PC before re-installing. To do this via the command line rather than the UI, you have the following options:

 Add the line UninstallPreviousVersions=true to the configuration file. This removes the existing version before proceeding with the new version

installation.

 Add the option –UninstallPreviousVersions true to the command line you execute to launch installation.

 Perform separate command line uninstallation by running the following command:

<installation directory>\Uninstall_Echo360ClassroomCapture.exe --mode unattended.

This option can be performed for any version of Classroom Capture.

BEFORE REMOVING THE PROGRAM, perform the following steps

1. Be sure all captures have been published to the server, OR be sure to back up any captures currently resident on the PC. All content is removed on

uninstallation.

2. If necessary, back up any Classroom Capture log files resident on the classroom PC.

All log files are removed on uninstallation.

3. If removing the program separately from the installation, it is recommended that you reboot the PC. You can then use the instructions on this page to perform a command line installation of Classroom Capture.

Create the configuration file

The configuration file contains the same information you would normally enter via the installation wizard, and includes the following parameters:

 prefix - This is the directory to which the program is installed. The directory shown in each example below is the default directory used by the installation wizard. You can identify any location you want.

 pre - This is the directory to which the software data files are written. It should be a volume with at least 20 GB of space. The directory shown in each example below is the default directory used by the installation wizard. You can identify any location you want.

Create the configuration file and save it. You can name the file anything you want; the instructions on this page assume the name of the configuration file is config.txt.

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You can use the same configuration file for multiple installations of each software application.

An example configuration file for Classroom Capture installation: prefix=c:\Program Files\Echo360

pre=c:\ProgramData\Echo360\Client

An example configuration file for Personal Capture installation: prefix=c:\Program Files\Echo360\Personal Capture pre=c:\ProgramData\Echo360\Personal Capture

Run the command line installation

The installation procedure provided below assumes the following:

 The directories identified in the configuration file can be created on the target PC.

 You know and can include the fully qualified path to the configuration file.

To install CCAP via command line:

1. Create and save a configuration file as described above.

2. Log into the target classroom PC as a user with administrator rights. 3. Log into the Active Learning Platform as an administrator.

4. Download the installation executable from the Downloads page (Settings > Downloads). Be sure to note the location of the saved executable.

5. Open a DOS command window. (Start Menu > Run > type cmd)

6. Navigate to the directory where the installation executable was saved. 7. Enter the following command, including the fully qualified path to the

configuration file. The example command shown below assumes the

configuration file is saved at the root of a USB drive recognized as the F: drive by the target PC. Replace F:\ with the appropriate directory/path.

Echo360ClassroomCaptureForWindows.exe mode unattended --optionfile F:\config.txt

8. Press Enter to execute the command.

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NOTE: If you are using these instructions to install Personal Capture for Windows, the executable file called by the command line is:

Echo360PersonalCaptureForWindows.exe

Troubleshooting the installation

If you have problems with the installation, you can turn on a higher level of error

messaging by adding the "–debuglevel 4" option in the installation command. This is the most "verbose" debug level and should provide you with sufficient information. Enter the command as follows:

Echo360ClassroomCaptureForWindows.exe --debuglevel 4 --mode unattended --optionfile F:\config.txt

Classroom Capture Admin Guide & Instructor Guide