Fw: VARS

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Brian Schlining

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Feb 2, 2012, 12:04:38 PM2/2/12

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Hi Michelle,
>
> I have just finished an ROV expedition to the SW Indian Ocean with Prof Rogers here at Oxford University. We are currently purchasing a video analysis suite to process the hundreds of hours of data we have accumulated and are very interested in utilising VARS for this purpose. I have downloaded all the files, logged in (I cannot work out how to just launch from GUI so have to start from Terminal every time… I'm not sure if this is the norm or not),
Unfortunately, the command line is the correct way to launch the the GUI. At MBARI, VARS is used by a large number of people every day. Rather than distribute VARS as an application that people have to install, we have VARS set up to be launched by clicking on a link on a web page. (Details about this are at http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/javaws/). For small labs, setting up this kind of web launcher is a) overkill and b) a big pain; so I provide scripts for folks to use instead.

> read all the paperwork I can find etc but am having a lot of trouble actually connecting to video etc. Your help pages are great however on Mac I do not have File in the bar at the top of the page etc so cannot work out how to Open Archives or link to video etc. To open a video file
1) Click on the 'Video' label at the top of the VARS window (See http://cl.ly/3V2J18373w3D0t180T3f )
2) A dialog will appear allowing you to either browse to a file or reopen one you've already annotated (See http://cl.ly/3X3Z0s013f1T2e0U3E08 )

A few things about video files. VARS was designed for a large institute. We host our video files on a web server and enter URL's into the 'open by location' text field. Local files work fine too. But VARS doesn't expect them to move. So it's best to pick a directory to store your files in and just leave them there. Otherwise VARS won't be able to find them when you try to reopen the video files.
> I was wondering if you have a help booklet for Mac?

Sorry, but no. I'm happy to answer your questions though. If you have questions about annotations procedures I can put you in touch with our video lab staff. They'd be happy to help.
> Or, if at some time in the near future, you are running a VARS training course?
We do occasionally host video and/or imaging workshops here at MBARI. I don't think there's one scheduled for this year though.

Best of luck!

-- B
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Brian Schlining
MBARI
Software Engineer
br...@mbari.org (mailto:br...@mbari.org)
(831)775-1855