Create a rule

Create rules to automate various actions. When the rule's condition bulb icon  is lit , the rule is true and selected actions are performed. Conditions and actions can be daisy chained to create complex rules. Below are a couple of simple examples.

Creating a scheduled recording rule

In this example, we create a rule that activates recording for weekdays only. Note that this example does not use actions.

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Rules.
   
2. Click + to add a new rule.
3. Give the rule a name by clicking the name field e.g. "Weekdays".
4. Click Add condition.
5. Set Condition type to Schedule.
6. Click the Edit schedule calendar button (the green grid).
   
7. Select the desired days or hours in the opening dialogue window by clicking the corresponding buttons.
   
8. Click OK. The calendar button will update to show the selected days and hours.
   
9. Go back to Menu > Settings > Rules.
   
10. Set Limit recording on motion detection with rule to "Weekdays".
    

Creating a rule for continuous recording

To enable continuous recording, you need to create a rule with a Schedule condition.

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Rules.
2. Click + to add a new rule.
3. Give the rule a name by clicking the name field.
4. Click Add condition.
5. Set Condition type to Schedule. By default the schedule is ”always on”.
6. Go to Menu > Settings > Cameras > [name of the camera] > Motion detection.
7. Choose the now created rule in the Continuous record by rule setting.
8. The camera preview window will get an orange indicator on the lower right corner if continuous recording is enabled.
9. Copy/repeat this setting on other cameras.

Creating a rule to disable motion-based recording

You can disable motion-based recording with rules, the same way you can enable continuous recording. First create a rule with a Schedule condition that is never active. Then there are two ways to use the setting:

1. If you want to use the setting for all cameras, go to Settings > Rules > Limit recording on motion detection with rule.
2. If you want to use the setting on an individual camera, go to Settings > Cameras > [name of the camera] > Motion detection > Limit recording on motion detection with rule.

Creating a button-activated rule

In this example, we have already created a button named "Trigger action".

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Rules.
2. Click + to add a new rule.
3. Give the rule a name by clicking the name field.
4. Click Add condition.
5. Set Condition type to Button pressed.
6. Set Button source to Local.
7. Set Button to "Trigger action".
8. Click Add action.
9. Set Action 1 to e.g. Place a bookmark.

Now whenever the "Trigger action" button is pressed, a bookmark will appear on the timeline.

Control digital output on any camera connection loss

In this example, a rule is created to control digital output based on connection loss for any camera.

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Rules.
2. Click + to add a new rule.
3. Give the rule a name by clicking the name field.
4. Click Add condition.
5. Set Condition type to Connection lost.
6. Set Network device to Any camera.
7. Set the wait time to the desired time.
8. Click Add action.
9. Set Action 1 to Control a digital output.
10. Select a device and desired output. Choose to which state the output is set when the action is triggered.
11. Set a Release action to return the output state once the connection is restored.

Since this rule has only one condition, you can choose either operator (All/some conditions are met) without affecting the operation of the rule.

Scheduled area motion detection notification

In this example, a rule with 2 conditions is created to trigger from area based motion detection on a single camera at a set schedule. The schedule will be disabled for working hours 8:00 (8AM) to 16:00 (4PM).

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Rules.
2. Click + to add a new rule.
3. Give the rule a name by clicking the name field.
4. Click Add condition twice to add 2 conditions.
5. On the first condition, set Condition type to Schedule.
6. Click the grid at the Edit schedule item of the first condition, which opens up the Weekly schedule dialog. Remove the wanted times and click OK . In this case the rule does not trigger any actions from Monday to Friday between 8:00 (8AM) and 16:00 (4PM).
   
7. On the second condition, set Condition type to Area motion detection.
8. Choose a camera for the condition.
9. Click the white square at the Edit the motion detection area item to open the Select motion area window.
10. Click and hold the left mouse button on the camera image and draw a mask for motion detection. The orange area drawn triggers the action, other parts will be ignored.
    
    
11. Set a desired hold time. For example, if the rule action is a notification, setting this to 5 seconds prevents the notification from repeating in less than 5 seconds even if there is motion for a longer period of time.
12. Choose All conditions are met from the operators. In this case the rule requires that the schedule is active when any motion is detected.
13. Click Add action.
14. Set Action 1 to Notification/Alarm.
15. Choose a camera for the notification event. The camera name will be visible in the alarm log. Choose a background color for the notification and type a text to show in the notification. The text will also be visible in the alarm log.
16. When the notification event widget is open on a layout, all the triggered notifications will be displayed in it. These notifications also open up over remote connection. Each notification is logged to the alarm log.