Multimedia module

The Multimedia module stores all multimedia resources used in Vitalware. Vitalware's extensive Digital Asset Management system (DAMS) is fully integrated so that any record can incorporate multimedia resources. Vitalware's DAMS complies with the Dublin Core Metadata Standard. The complete Dublin Core attribute set can be recorded for each multimedia resource.

Not only can Vitalware store any multimedia resource, it has the ability to show / play more than 100 image, video and audio formats.

Overview

Multimedia resources are registered with the Multimedia manager, which collects information such as:

Type of resource (image, audio, video, etc.)
Format of the resource (GIF, JPEG, AU, WAV, MPEG, etc.)
Source
Description
Creators and other contributors
Restrictions on the use of the resource

Vitalware can automatically generate derivative versions of an image to satisfy different requirements. For instance, Vitalware can create a thumbnail JPEG for browsing, an 800x600 PNG image for publication on the web, whilst maintaining the image in its original format and resolution.

Vitalware not only supports basic multimedia types (images, audio and video), but complex objects also (Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, etc.). Its multimedia support is also extensible: an external viewer can be associated with a multimedia type so that adding a new media format is as easy as installing the appropriate viewing application on your workstation.

If the multimedia resource is textual (and a suitable viewer is defined), the content of the document is fully indexed, thus enabling full text retrieval (see How to search attached documents for details).

Vitalware's Multimedia repository can also be used to store multimedia resources that aren't specifically related to any collection record (e.g. minutes of meetings, planning papers).

When you access or view a multimedia resource it is downloaded and cached on your local PC. Multimedia resources can be viewed within Vitalware (on a module's Multimedia tab or in the Multimedia module itself) or via an external viewer: external viewers must be registered on your local PC to play the required multimedia formats.

Typical Multimedia module tabs and their purpose

Tab	Description
Multimedia	This tab records: The title of the multimedia resource. The name of the person responsible for creating the multimedia resource. The (MIME) type of multimedia resource, e.g. image, video, document. The (MIME) format of the multimedia resource, e.g. JPG, MPG, MS Word document. A description.
Details	Holds details about the multimedia, including: Subject matter Publisher Contributors Source Coverage Rights
Registration	If the Multimedia record captures certificate imagery, details about the registration event can be recorded here. With this information, operators are more easily able to locate an image of a registration within the Multimedia module without having to go via a registration module.
Characteristics	This tab records characteristics of the current multimedia, including: The name of the repository where the resource is stored, as well as an indication of the expected audience. Image, video or audio attributes. The following fields are automatically populated with properties as the resource is added to the module: Width Height MD5 Checksum (useful for checking validity of media) File Size Image Resolution Colour Depth
Documents	The Documents tab displays when any other resource than an image is added to the Multimedia module (audio, video, document, etc.). It records: The file name of the resource. The (MIME) type and format of the resource. Its file size. See Image and Document resolution tables for more details.
Resolutions	The Resolutions tab displays when an image is added to the Multimedia module. Details include: The file name of the resource Image Type (Monochrome, Greyscale, True Colour or Palette) Colour Space (RGB or CMYK) Colour Depth (number of bits required to reflect accurately all colours) File size Compression Quality Height and width of the image in pixels Number of Planes in an image Colours, compression and file size MD5 Checksum field for all media (useful for checking validity of media) See Image and Document resolution tables for more details.
Supplementary	All management of supplementary media is performed via the Supplementary tab. The bottom half of the tab consists of a Supplementary table that lists all supplementary media. The set of fields above the table display data about the media currently selected in the Supplementary table. See Supplementary tab for more detail about the Supplementary tab. See Supplementary Media for details about working with Supplementary Media.
EXIF	When an image is added to the Multimedia module EXIF metadata is extracted from the source file and added to this tab (EXIF supports jpeg and tiff formats). This tab is currently read-only; data on this tab can be used in a search and included in a report. See Supported multimedia Formats and Metadata for more details.
IPTC	When an image is added to the Multimedia module IPTC metadata is extracted from the source file and added to this tab (IPTC supports jpeg, tiff, pict, ps and psd formats). This tab is currently read-only; data on this tab can be used in a search and included in a report. See Supported multimedia Formats and Metadata for more details.
XMP	When an image is added to the Multimedia module XMP metadata is extracted from the source file and added to this tab (XMP supports jpeg and tiff image formats). This tab is currently read-only; data on this tab can be used in a search and included in a report. See Supported multimedia Formats and Metadata for more details.
Notes	See Notes tab for details.
Security	See Security tab for details.
Audit	See Audit tab for details.
Admin	See Admin tab for details.