Viewing snapshot EXIF data - Security Center 5.11

Security Center User Guide 5.11

Product
Security Center
Content type
Guides > User guides
Version
5.11
Language
English
Last updated
2024-07-05

Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) encodes additional information in an image file, such as when and where the image was taken. This additional information provides chain of custody information that can be can be used by internal or external authorities in the analysis of a case and in a court of law where admissible.

Before you begin

Set your snapshot options.

What you should know

  • All snapshots are saved with the following naming convention: CameraName (Date Time).png. By default, snapshots are saved as a PNG file in the following location: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Genetec Inc\Vault.
  • EXIF data is only available if the Include additional properties on export/snapshot option is enabled on the Advanced tab for a user in Config Tool.
  • EXIF data is only available for JPEG files.
  • EXIF data can be changed. You know that a file has been changed if the Date modified no longer matches the Date created.

  • There are free third-party EXIF viewers available online or for download. Some online EXIF viewers include: http://metapicz.com or http://regex.info/exif.cgi.
  • The labels of the EXIF tags differs across viewers. For example, the name of the user that created the snapshot appears as Authors in Windows Properties and as Artist in metapicz.com.

Procedure

To view additional file information in Security Desk:

  1. Open the Vault: from the homepage, click Tools > Vault.
    Thumbnails of all snapshots are displayed in the Vault.
  2. Right-click a file in the Vault and select Show properties.

To view the EXIF data of a snapshot in Microsoft Windows:

  1. From File Explorer, right-click an image, click Properties, and then click the Details tab.
    The following EXIF data is available.
    Camera Model
    The name of the camera from which the video snapshot originated.
    Date Time
    The date and time that the snapshot was exported.
    Date
    Same as Date Time.
    Host
    The name of the computer where the snapshot was created.
    Artist
    The name of the Security Desk operator who exported the snapshot.
    Latitude/LatitudeRef
    The latitude of the camera’s location, which can be used to plot the camera's location on a map.
    Longitude/LongitudeRef
    The longitude of the camera’s location, which can be used to plot the camera's location on a map.
    Comment
    Additional information about the snapshot in XML format.
  2. Click the Comments box to view all of the information there.
    The following list contains the XML tags and sample data.
    <G64xAuditMetadata>
    The XML tag that indicates the beginning of the Comments data.
    <Version>1</Version>
    The version number of the image.
    <OperatorName>Admin</OperatorName>
    The name of the Security Desk operator who exported the snapshot. In this example, the user is Admin.
    <WorkstationName>SecurityDesk</WorkstationName>
    The name of the computer where the snapshot was created.
    <ExportTime>10/18/2016 11:23:57 am EDT</ExportTime>
    The date and time when the snapshot was exported from Security Desk.
    <Sequences>
    An XML tag that indicates the beginning of camera information.
    <CameraName>Front Lobby Camera</CameraName>
    The name of the camera from which the video snapshot originated.
    <StartTime>10/18/2016 11:23:56 am EDT</StartTime>
    The date and time that the snapshot was exported.
    <EndTime />
    Applies to video only. This will be blank for a snapshot.
    <CameraLocation>< Altitude>0</Altitude>< Latitude>85.051128779806589</Latitude>< Longitude>-180</Longitude></CameraLocation>
    The map coordinates of the camera's location, which can be used to plot the camera's location in a map.
    </Sequences>
    An XML tag that indicates the end of the camera information.
    <Encryption>false</Encryption>
    Indicates if fusion stream encryption was enabled (true) or disabled (false) when the camera captured the video image. Encryption protects the privacy of your video archives.
    <MetadataType>Snapshot</MetadataType>
    Indicates if this is a snapshot or a video.
    </G64xAuditMetadata>
    An XML tag that indicates the end of the EXIF comments.