FastTracker
Asset Tracking, Tagging and Access Software for Facilis Shared Storage
Version 3.0.0 Quick Start Guide
1 Contents
Page Overview & Licensing 3
Installation 3
Backing up a FastTracker Database 6
Adobe CC Panel & Desktop Browse 7
XenData & Object Cloud Integration 10
Admin Interface & Client Desktop App 11
Search 11
Browse 13
Index 14
Auto Index 16
Catalogs 17
Proxy Generation 19
Administration 20
File Menu 22
Contact Technical Support 22
2 Overview
Facilis FastTracker is a server and client application for cataloging, searching, and viewing any media type within the Facilis Shared Storage System. This easy-to-use system includes Adobe Panel integration, custom metadata tags, per-catalog user permissions, Boolean search capability, Proxy Clip encoding, and incremental indexing functionality.
Facilis FastTracker also includes a desktop player that supports most popular image formats, including file sequences like DPX and TARGA. Even when the edit room is busy, users can browse content, play finished mix-downs for approval, and log shot comments into custom metadata fields.
Licensing
You will need to request a license from Facilis to install Facilis FastTracker 3.0. You will be asked to provide the TBLicenseData file from your Facilis server, located in C:\Program Files\Facilis\TerraBlock. Licenses from previous FastTracker 2.x versions will work with FastTracker 3.0.
Installation
System Requirements Server: Facilis Version 7.1.x / 7.2.x (Web Console) Windows Client: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit, Server 2008/2012/2016/2019 64-bit OSX & macOS Client: 10.9.x - 10.14.x
Please review Backing up a FastTracker Database before installing a new version of FastTracker.
The FastTracker installer includes server and client components. In order to access the FastTracker database from a client workstation, you must have ethernet access to the server through a static or assigned IP address. Facilis clients that do not have ethernet access to the server will need to be connected to the same network as the Facilis server before launching the client-side application.
Server installation: The first step is to run the FastTracker server installer on the Facilis server. This will not require a reboot, and can be done while the Facilis server is active.
Launch FastTrackerInstaller.exe and the Facilis FastTracker Setup dialog will open. It is recommended to close all other applications first. Click Next. You will be prompted to select “Client only” or “Server and client”. Select the “Server and client” option and click Next. Setup is ready - click Install. Click Finish to exit Setup.
The FastTracker service starts automatically, and is listening for connections on port 3000 over any IP address active on the server.
3 Windows Client Installation: The FastTracker client installer can be run at any time on client workstations. It does not require a reboot.
Launch FastTrackerInstaller.exe and the Facilis FastTracker Setup dialog will open. It is recommended to close all other applications first. Click Next. You will be prompted to select “Client only” - click Next. Setup is ready - click Install. Click Finish to exit Setup. Launch FastTracker from the Windows Start Menu. Replace “localhost” with a FastTracker server IP address. Use the username “Admin” and a blank password for initial setup. To use the desktop admin app instead of Desktop Browse, add the server IP in File > Network Configuration prior to login.
OSX & macOS Client Installation
Extract the contents of FastTrackerClient.zip to /Applications. Add an alias/shortcut to the Desktop and/or Dock. Launch FastTracker from the alias/shortcut or application package. Replace “localhost” with a FastTracker server IP address. Use the username “Admin” and a blank password for initial setup. To use the desktop admin app instead of Desktop Browse, add the server IP in Mac Menu Bar > Network Configuration prior to login.
The “File Types” folder contains empty files with popular extensions. These are used to set file types to open in MPV, the dedicated FastTracker player. This is important, as not all file types supported in FastTracker will be playable in QuickTime.
Only change file types that you cannot open in QuickTime. Changing file types that are normally associated with QuickTime may change the behavior of some applications.
To change default application for file types:
Select the file you want to change association for (“changeme.mts” for example). Right-click > Get Info. In the Get Info window, choose Open With and select MPV (if MPV is not listed, choose other, browse to the Applications folder, and choose MPV). Once MPV is selected, select Change All to apply to all of the files of that type.
Adobe CC Panel Installation
The easiest method of installation is through Adobe Exchange with Creative Cloud installed on a client.
FastTracker on Adobe Exchange - https://www.adobeexchange.com/creativecloud.details.100753.html
Adobe Creative Cloud – https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html
4 FastTracker’s Adobe Panel can also be installed manually, using a utility provided in the FastTracker 3.0 release package.
Close all Adobe CC applications. Install ZXPInstaller from the FastTracker 3.0.0 package or http://zxpinstaller.com/.
On macOS Sierra, High Sierra, and Mojave clients, ZXPInstaller must be manually approved in Mac System Preferences > Security (General tab) after first launch.
Launch ZXPInstaller and drag-and-drop Facilis FastTracker Adobe Panel 3.0.0.zxp into the application. Launch Adobe Premier / After Effects CC, open a project, and enable FastTracker Panel in Windows > Extensions > FastTracker Panel.
The Adobe CC FastTracker Panel can be installed on clients independent of the FastTracker Desktop Browse and admin app software.
Desktop Browse Installation
Windows: Extract the FastTracker 3.0.0 .zip and move “FastTracker Win Desktop Browse 3.0.0” to the desired location (ex. C:\Program Files\Facilis\FastTracker), then create a shortcut to “FastTracker Win Desktop Browse 3.0.0\fasttracker.exe” (or pin a shortcut to the Taskbar / Start Menu).
Mac: Extract the FastTracker 3.0.0 .zip and move “FastTracker Mac Desktop Browse 3.0.0” to the desired location (ex. /Applications), then add the “FastTracker Mac Desktop Browse 3.0.0.app” package to the dock or create a desktop alias.
5 Backing up a FastTracker Database
The database and thumbnails folders should be backed-up regularly, as this information is not recoverable without re-indexing the catalogs.
On the FastTracker server, navigate to C:\ and copy the PGData folder to the desired backup location. A best practice is to add a date to the name of the PGData backup. On the FastTracker server, navigate to C:\Program Files\Facilis\FastTracker\ and copy the thumbnails folder to the desired backup location. A best practice is to add a date to the name of the thumbnails backup.
Restoring a FastTracker database NOTE: This process will disconnect any users logged-in to FastTracker.
On the FastTracker server, launch the FastTracker installer for the current version and click “Yes” when prompted to uninstall the existing FastTracker installation. Move on to the next step before continuing the FastTracker installation (do not click “Next” or “Cancel” when prompted to select components). If applicable, rename the existing PGData folder in C: Copy the PGData backup to C: and make sure it is named PGData. If applicable, rename the existing thumbnails folder in C:\Program Files\Facilis\FastTracker\ Copy the thumbnails backup to C:\Program Files\Facilis\FastTracker\ and make sure it is named thumbnails. Continue the FastTracker installation, selecting “Server and client” when prompted to select components. Once installation completes the restored FastTracker database will be available in the FastTracker application.
6 Adobe CC Panel & Desktop Browse Interface
The Adobe Panel and Desktop Browse interfaces include simple views for searching catalogs/volumes, playing back proxies, scrubbing thumbnails, and tagging metadata.
Type a search term and press Enter to find records. You can use an asterisk (*) before, after, or surrounding a portion of a search term for wildcard searches. Boolean search is also supported (AND, OR, NOT). This will search most metadata tags, keywords, and notes as well as record name and file path. Index time/date and specific metadata tags can also be used as filters (“Tags” and “Any Time” dropdowns). Catalog/Volume to be searched can be set, or left as “All” to perform a global search.
The interface also includes utility buttons in the upper-right. From left-to-right:
Reset Zoom – Sets the interface zoom back to default. Zoom Out – Zooms out of the interface view (useful on low resolution monitors). Zoom In – Zooms in on the interface view (useful on high resolution monitors). Refresh View – Updates the current view with changes to the database. Log Out – Logs the user out and returns to the log-in menu.
7 Records can have four color-coded statuses. Availability is based on the client’s visibility of the Facilis server and mounted virtual volumes.
RED – Unavailable/Missing – The source media’s volume is not available for mounting on the client at this time. This could be due to lack of client volume permissions in the Facilis storage software, the source file having been moved, or the source file having been deleted.
BLUE - Mountable – The source media’s volume is available for mounting on the client, but is currently unmounted. You can then click the menu to the right of the record to mount the volume from within FastTracker Panel, which also mounts the volume in Facilis Client Console.
GREEN - Online – The record’s source media is available to the client, and the record is available for drag-and-drop into applications with drag-and-drop support. Online records can also be double-clicked, which will open the clip in the default OS player for that file extension.
ORANGE – Offline (Windows only) – Facilis Object Cloud integration. Files that are currently considered “offline” (in cloud/LTO) will appear with an offline status. Once the files are retrieved from cloud/LTO then the status will change to Online.
Records also have a status indicating if a proxy has been generated or queued, located to the right of the aforementioned source status indicator. The proxy status icon will turn green when the highest quality proxy is available. All proxies can be played back directly in the FastTracker software, in addition to thumbnail scrubbing.
8 The right side of the interface is where metadata can be viewed in addition to proxy playback and thumbnail scrubbing.
File tags are displayed in the top of the list, in addition to the editable Keywords and Notes fields. These tags contain basic file information such as name, volume, path, proxy status, index time, etc.
Any values added to the Keywords or Notes fields will immediately be searchable in FastTracker, allowing for quick tagging and organization of new records.
In addition to Keywords and Notes, there are other fields with useful user functions.
Status – Click a record’s Status to reveal a delete asset option.
Catalogs – Click a record’s Catalog to reveal options for adding or removing the records from other catalogs. Records can exist in multiple catalogs at the same time.
Title – Click a record’s Title to edit that value.
Filename – Click a record’s Filename to reveal the source file in Windows Explorer or Mac Finder.
Proxies – Click to the right of an existing proxy to reveal an option to delete it. Real time encoding options (Create proxy) will also be available for proxy presets associated with the record’s catalog that have not yet been generated.
Bitrate – Click a record’s Bitrate to edit that value.
Add Tag – Add a default or custom metadata tag to a record, which is then editable. Custom tags are managed in the admin app on the Administration tab.
Below the file tags are stream tags, which provide information about video, audio, and data streams included in the source file’s container. These tags include resolution, codec, framerate, bitrate, and more, and cannot be edited.
9 XenData & Object Cloud Integration
Facilis FastTracker is a quick and efficient way to not only catalog, search, and view media within the Facilis Shared Storage System, but also to track offline files stored in Cloud/LTO locations with XenData and Facilis Object Cloud.
FastTracker’s server software can be installed on the same server as XenData, where its Auto Indexing functionality can be leveraged to automatically track media and encode proxies for files stored on XenData cache volumes.
In this workflow the best practice is to Auto Index files as soon as they are moved to a XenData cache volume (Auto Index job set to check every minute), with XenData retention rates set to move new files to Cloud/LTO at least an hour after being written.
Once files are moved to Cloud/LTO, FastTracker will still have an indexed record for quick access to metadata, proxy playback, thumbnail scrubbing, and drag-and-drop pulldown from Cloud/LTO, directly into editorial projects using FastTracker’s client- side Adobe Panel or Desktop Browse application.
FastTracker will also alert Windows users that indexed files are currently available for retrieval from Cloud/LTO via the status notification pictured below (OFFLINE).
Browsing an offline record in FastTracker will not pull it down from Cloud/LTO, however users can drag a record into their project to do so on-demand.
10 Admin Interface & Client Desktop App
The new Desktop Browse interface and Adobe CC Panel are the preferred way for clients to search the FastTracker database. However, FastTracker administrators will need to use the desktop Admin Interface app when indexing records, managing users/catalogs, creating custom tags, approving deletions, etc.
FastTracker is set up with tabs to access different functions in the software. The tabs included in the Admin Interface are:
Search Catalogs Browse Proxy Generation Index Administration Auto Index
Search Tab
Type a search term to find records. You can use an asterisk (*) before, after, or surrounding a portion of the search term for wildcard searches. Boolean search is also supported (AND, OR, NOT). This will search most metadata tags as well as asset name and path. Index time/date and specific metadata tags can also be used as filters (“Tags” button and “Any Time” dropdown). The catalog to be searched can be set, or left at
Records found in search are displayed with a head frame, clip title and file name. The top half of the bar notifies the user whether the source file is available for playback on the local workstation (green for available, red for unavailable). The bottom half of the bar indicates if a proxy has been generated (green for yes with the proxy file
11 available on the local workstation, yellow for yes when the proxy file is not available on the local workstation, and red for no). In order for the clip to be played, displayed in its location, or dragged out of the search window, the source volume must be mounted to the local workstation and the source file bar (top half) must be green.
Thumbnail Display / Proxy Player: The thumbnail(s) for an asset will be displayed here. If the asset is less than 10 seconds long, only the lead thumbnail is displayed. If longer, thumbnails are displayed at variable points in the clip. If available, users can also click the play arrow to view encoded proxies.
Metadata Display & Function Buttons: Metadata is displayed here that was extracted from the asset during indexing, as well any custom metadata added during or after indexing. Functions for records in the display include:
Set catalogs – Add or remove the record’s catalog location. A record can live in multiple catalogs, and each catalog can be permissioned separately.
Add new tag – Choose a new tag from the list of available tags, and immediately add custom metadata to the record.
Play – If the source file location is available, the clip will open in the default OS player for that file extension.
Manage Proxies – Allows for on-demand encoding of proxies, displays the location of existing proxies, and allows for the deletion of proxies.
Show in Folder – If the source file’s location is available, the directory will open.
Rename – Users can rename assets to maintain the database link. It is not recommended to rename assets unless the name was first changed outside of FastTracker.
Delete – Select one or more records to mark as inactive and remove from existing catalogs. Deleted records will be moved to the [Deleted] catalog where they can be restored or permanently deleted.
Files cannot be re-indexed until they are permanently deleted from the Delete tab. Indexing duplicate records will automatically add those records to the specified catalog.
Records that have not been deleted but do not have a catalog association will be saved in the [Orphaned] catalog until returned to a catalog or deleted.
12 Browse Tab
Browse Area: In this window you can navigate paths to indexed files. The green arrow “..” goes up one level, and “.” selects the root level. If the root level is selected, and “List files recursively” is checked, all records below the root level will be displayed.
Thumbnail Display / Proxy Player: The thumbnail(s) for an asset will be displayed here. If the asset is less than 10 seconds long, only the lead thumbnail is displayed. If longer, thumbnails are displayed at variable points in the clip. If available, users can also click the play arrow to playback encoded proxies.
Metadata Display & Function Buttons: Metadata is displayed here that was extracted from the asset during indexing, as well any custom metadata added during or after indexing. Functions for records in the display include:
Set catalogs – Add or remove the record’s catalog location. A record can live in multiple catalogs, and each catalog can be permissioned separately.
Add new tag – Choose a new tag from the list of available tags, and immediately add custom metadata to the record.
Play – If the source file location is available, the clip will open in the default OS player for that file extension.
Manage Proxies – Allows for on-demand encoding of proxies, displays the location of existing proxies, and allows for the deletion of proxies.
Show in Folder – If the source file’s location is available, the directory will open.
13 Rename – Users can rename assets to maintain the database link. It is not recommended to rename assets unless the name was first changed outside of FastTracker.
Delete – Select one or more records to mark as inactive and remove from existing catalogs. Deleted records will be moved to the [Deleted] catalog where they can be restored or permanently deleted.
Files cannot be re-indexed until they are permanently deleted from the Delete tab. Indexing duplicate records will automatically add those records to the specified catalog.
Records that have not been deleted but do not have a catalog association will be saved in the [Orphaned] catalog until returned to a catalog or deleted.
Index Tab
Index Selector: There are two ways to locally index files, direct file or file directory. All filters are in place when “Index Directory” is used. “Index Files” overrides filters.
Sequence Handling: Determine which file types will be seen as single files if a number of frames are named sequentially (DPX or TARGA, for example).
None – No sequential files will be combined into single files for cataloging.
Extensions – Only sequential files listed in Sequence Extensions are combined.
All – Every sequential file type allowed in either extension list will be combined as single files for cataloging.
14 Insert Mode: Choose whether the files being index will be displayed prior to cataloging (Edit) or immediately cataloged (Immediate).
Skip Files: A filter that skips over files that are under a certain file size threshold.
Catalog Dropdown: Specify a catalog for indexed records.
Index Extensions: Filters which file extensions will be indexed. Leave this field blank to index all file extensions.
Sequence Extensions: Determines which file extensions will be considered image sequences (works in conjunction with Sequence Handling).
File Display Area: Files found after navigating to the directory or file set to be indexed are displayed with clip title, file name, path, and date. Select files here or select all (control/command-a) to activate the function buttons.
Metadata Display & Function Buttons: Metadata is displayed that was extracted from the asset during indexing, as well as any custom metadata that has been added. Functions for records in the display include:
Add new tag – Choose a new tag from the list of available tags, and immediately add custom metadata to the record.
Remove Selected – Remove selected clips from indexing.
Add Selected to Catalog – Any selected clip will be added to the catalog specified above the File Display Area.
Show Raw Metadata – Displays the raw metadata for the asset, including information that may not be captured during the indexing process.
15 Auto Index Tab
Auto Index Selector: After selecting the directory to be indexed and cataloged, the process will start pending the selected Repeat interval and if the server time falls within the Index Window setting.
Sequence Handling: Determine which file types will be seen as single files if a number of frames are named sequentially (DPX or TARGA, for example).
None – No sequential files will be combined into single files for cataloging.
Extensions – Only sequential files listed in Sequence Extensions are combined.
All – Every sequential file type allowed in either extension list will be combined as single files for cataloging.
Index Window: Specifies when Auto Index jobs will run, based on server time.
Catalog Dropdown: Specify a catalog for assets indexed by the current Auto Index job. In order to Auto Index, a catalog must be selected first.
Large Auto Index profiles may increase load on the Facilis server. The best practice is to run large Auto Index profiles during periods of minimal Facilis client activity.
Auto Index Display Area: Directories selected for Auto Index will appear here with the selected Volume, Path, Catalog, Sequence Handling, Extensions, Sequence Extensions, Status, Repeat Interval, Last Run, Last Try, Min File Size, and Access.
16 Refresh – Updates the view with new information.
Run Now – Allows the user to start the index outside of the repeat interval.
Stop Selected – Allows the user to stop a profile while indexing.
Update Selected – Highlight an Auto Index profile, change filter settings, and click this button to modify an existing profile.
Delete – Removes the Auto Index profile from the list. The records already cataloged are not removed.
Catalogs Tab (Admin User Only)
Non-admin users have a simplified view of this tab, which only lists catalogs they have read/write access to along which the specific permissions for each of those catalogs. The following overview is for the admin user view.
Catalog List: Catalogs are displayed here, with the current user’s Access, Status (Active/Disabled), Comment, and Proxy Generation settings (Proxy Generation is for auto encodes at index time, Proxy Presets are for on-demand proxy generation).
Add Catalog – Admin users can create catalogs and give them a description. The user that creates the catalog has Write permission by default.
Rename Catalog – Change the catalog name and description.
17 Toggle Active – Allows the Admin to disable a catalog so it can no longer be used, but still exists. No records are removed by disabling a catalog, but records cannot be viewed in Search, Browse, or Adobe Panel / Desktop Browse.
Proxy Settings – Opens a menu for proxy generation preset management.
Presets and paths configured on the Proxy Generation tab can be applied to individual catalogs, along with auto encode settings that automatically generate the specified proxies when new assets are added to that catalog.
The preset contains resolution, quality, and encode speed settings, while the path designates where new proxies will be saved (should be a location accessible by the server, typically a Facilis volume).
Proxies can be auto encoded at index time, or encoded on-demand on a per-asset basis based on each catalog’s proxy settings and user actions on the Search/Browse tabs, in the Adobe Panel, or in Desktop Browse.
Set Write Permission – Select a catalog and add users that can index to it, add/modify metadata, encode proxies, and delete records.
Set Read Permission – Select a catalog and add users that can only search and view records.
Remove Permissions – Select users and remove their permissions to a catalog.
Refresh – Updates the view with new information.
Delete Inactive Catalog – After deactivating a catalog, remove it from the list. The records in the catalog are active, but can only be viewed in the [Orphaned] catalog if no other Catalogs contain those records.
Files cannot be re-indexed until they are permanently deleted from the [Deleted] catalog. Indexing duplicate records will automatically add those records to the specified catalog.
Catalog Permissions List: When a catalog is highlighted, the user list populates and shows the permissions of each user for the catalog. User permissions can be modified in this area.
18 Proxy Generation Tab (Admin User Only)
The Proxy Generation tab replaces Preview Clip Generation as of FastTracker 3.0. Proxy Generation improves on Preview Clips by offering per-catalog encode customization, per-catalog auto-encode settings, and on-demand encoding for individual assets.
Presets and paths configured on the Proxy Generation tab can be applied to individual catalogs, along with auto encode settings that automatically generate the specified proxies when new assets are added to that catalog.
The preset contains resolution, quality, and encode speed settings, while the path designates where new proxies will be saved (should be a location accessible by the server, typically a Facilis volume).
Proxies can be auto encoded at index time, or encoded on-demand on a per-asset basis based on each catalog’s proxy settings and user actions on the Search/Browse tabs, in the Adobe Panel, or in Desktop Browse.
Add Preset – Save the current preset settings as a named preset, which can be applied to individual catalogs for auto or on-demand encoding.
Remove Preset – Deletes the selected preset, if it is not currently applied to a catalog’s proxy settings.
Add Path – Add a new path for any proxy encode job (auto or on-demand).
Remove Path – Deletes the selected path, if it is not currently applied to a catalog’s proxy settings.
Refresh – Updates the view with new information.
19 Administration Tab (Admin User Only)
User List: Users are displayed here, with their current Status (Active or Disabled), Admin level (Yes or No), description, date/time created, and active connections.
User Function Buttons:
Add User – Create a user with a password and description.
Set Password – Change a user’s password after creation. This can also be changed by the user after logging-in via the File Menu.
Rename User – Change username and description.
Toggle Active – Toggle users between active/inactive. Inactive users cannot log-in and can be deleted.
Toggle Admin – Toggle a user between admin and non-admin.
Disconnect User – Remotely disconnect a logged-in user from all FastTracker interfaces.
Refresh – Updates the view with new information.
Delete Inactive User – Deletes the selected inactive user.
20 Tag List: List of custom tags that can be added to any record. Many tags are provided by FastTracker by default, however admins can create additional tags to meet custom workflow needs.
Add Custom Tag – Add a new tag that can be manually added to a record.
Modify Tag – Edit parameters of selected metadata tag.
Toggle Active – Toggle a tag between active/inactive.
Delete Inactive Tag – Delete the selected, inactive tag.
Refresh – Updates the view with new information.
There are several options that need to be set when creating a custom tag.
Data Type – This value should be set as “Text” in most cases.
Options - Pre-defined parameters for adding a tag to a record, created by entering the desired values with a comma (,) separator. These values will appear in a dropdown menu when a user adds a tag to a record, although custom values can still be used.
ex. baseball,football,basketball,soccer,hockey
Name – A tag’s display name, which will be displayed in FastTracker when the tag is added to a record.
Sort Order – The order in which tags are displayed (top to bottom) when added to a record. Smaller numbers will appear higher in the list, and vice versa.
Always Show – Determines if a tag will always be displayed on all records, regardless if it holds a value. Leaving this box unchecked will only display a tag if it is manually added to a record with a value.
21 Admin Interface File Menu
About – Display version and copyright information.
Settings – Change language and adjust thumbnail index settings (higher numbers display later thumbnails as search result head frames).
Network Configuration – Specify the FastTracker server IP prior to connecting. The port should remain 3000, and the server itself connects to localhost.
Server Global Index Configuration - Automatically index all volumes mounted in C:\Volumes on the FastTracker server. Global Index will also create new Auto Index jobs for newly created volumes and storage devices as they appear in C:\Volumes on the FastTracker server.
CatDV Notification Configuration – Connect to a CatDV database to alert CatDV when new assets are available.
Change Password – Change the password for the currently logged-in user.
Log Out – Disconnect and log out from the current session.
There are also File Menu functions only available in the admin interface on the FastTracker server.
Clear Database – Clears the entire FastTracker database and creates a default Admin user with no password. WARNING: This is a destructive process. All records and associated thumbnails will be permanently deleted.
Import/Export Tag Types – Import/export custom FastTracker tags as CSV.
Reset Admin User – Creates an Admin user with no password.
Contact Technical Support Support engineers are available to assist from 8AM - 8PM ET, Monday - Friday.
Phone +1-978-562-7022, Option 2 Email [email protected] Web https://facilis.com/support/
We value your feedback. Please contact [email protected] if you have any comments or concerns regarding the FastTracker software.
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