WcCtrl V 1.6.52

Provides an easy interface for the web cam controls - allows to save and load settings

Main screen

V.1.6.52 update:

Fixed a command line issue that prevented loading of slots.

V.1.6 updates:

WcCtrl does support the TRUST5400 USB2 cam - see the release notes included in the download for some hints to use the camera with wcCtrl.

V.1.5 updates:

WcCtrl is now able to dump a screenshot along with the textual description of an event - so you may completely track you imaging sessions. It will save the file in JPG format.

As more options are included those are now neatly compiled in a separate Options screen and not longer in the Cam-Tab directly. Among them the language can now be set in the Options too.

See also some more V1.5 marked entries along and the RelNotes file for complete information.

V.1.4 updates:
(pls. note that I did not update the screenshots so it shows still 1.3.34 throughout this page)

WcCtrl is now able to control the SPC900NC with full properties.
For the QuickCam Fusion some basic support is available.
Note: the FPS slider acts here from as a kind of exposure program with exposure times of around 5sec and more - though it's not really deterministic and when doing imaging at regular conditions it just steps back to regular exposure - trial and error is the way to go here. 

New is also the Sharpening slider on the Secondary tab if the camera supports it.

V.1.3 updates:

WcCtrl allows remote dump by sending a CtrlS character to its main window (alas, Ctrl S is now a shortcut to clicking the 'Dump Setting' button).

WcCtrl allows to be translated now. Just find the installation directory and lookout for a file WcCtrl.lng.ZZ where ZZ is a country designation i.e. DE for German. Copy this file as WcCtrl.lng and restart WcCtrl.

If you don't find your language you may use the default one and make your own. Be sure to change only the texts after the '=' character and nothing else. Then save the file with the new country extension i.e. FR and also copy it as the one to be used (WcCtr.lng).

You may send me the file and I will make it available on my site for download so others may get it too.  (Send it to bm98 _at_ bluewin _dot_ ch)

Currently English, German, Dutch and Norsk is in the download package.

(Thanks Matthias and Carsten)

Note for V.1.0 users:

New is the number after the cam driver name - this number should allow to identify each cam even it is the same brand.

See here for information about moving from V1.0.11 to any newer one.

New is also the layout selection.

Jan is a special layout which fits K3CCDTools with preview on a 1024x768 screen 
(don't remember why I've chosen this name for the layout ;-) )

The main screen allows you to connect a camera and to tweak the general behavior.

Most prominent is the textbox which shows which cam is currently connected (also shown in the green status line right now)

Press Connect a Cam... to open another window for choosing a camera (see below)

Options is where all the configuration items are now located (see next paragraph)

Use Tips to get some hints about the usage (the only help provided)

The new Options screen

Always on top is just what it says.

Show raw units changes the slider units from percent (0...100%) to the cam internal unit.

Use K3 directory is a special feature to save the dump file into the K3CCDTools capture directory (get it from the ini file - therefore you have to let WcCtrl know where it is - use the ... button and enter the path there)
V1.3 supports remote dump - so this may become obsolete once in a while. 

The Update Interval is used to lessen the CPU load with slower computers. - You may even want to turn it off as it is only used when another program is changing those camera sliders as well.

WcCtrl Layout it allows you to choose from 6 different layouts: Standard - Tower - Flat - Jan - Small Tower - Small Flat (just click to see them)

The Add screenshot  feature has been added in V1.5. You may choose different types - when in doubt just grab 'Full Screen'.

If you click Cancel to leave, no changes are applied!

Note: if you have e.g. two ToUCams connected you will get two entries with the same name but a different number and may have to find out which is which - the sequence is not predictable but quite stable.

The Camera Presets refers to the same items as the ones you know from the regular camera property window. These values are stored in the cam itself and not on your computer.

Each slot stores the camera settings currently used.

Click a slot to make it active (#2) , click the text box and enter a reminder, then hit the Save button (It will complain if the slot is already used but you may overwrite it too).

Loading from a Slot will restore the values immediately.

The settings are saved per camera. 

All settings are saved in the file 'WcCtrl.cfg' you can find it in the installation directory. You may also copy this file to another computer.

Beware the cam numbers may be different on an other computer (well, it is...)

See also here how to make the saved settings available for other cams after moving the config file.

Note for V.1.0 users:

At any time you may hit the Dump button and the current settings are ...

a) appended to the file 'WcCtrl.txt' in the installation directory  
V1.5 e the files are now named with date AND time e.g. 20041008T152333-WcCtrl.txt and dropped into a new folder "logs_" in the installation directory of WcCtrl if not otherwise guided by a remote dump program.

V1.3 if a capture program uses the remote dump facility WcCtrl may dump its settings into a file assigned by the capture program.

V1.5 if a capture program uses the remote dump facility WcCtrl may dump a screenshot along with the settings into a file assigned by the capture program - the filename is extended with ".jpg" then.

b) copied to the clipboard where it can be retrieved in e.g. an Editor (as shown)

The Comment given will be added as the 3rd text line from top.

THE COMMAND LINE
How to start a pre-configured WcCtrl

Command Line Arguments: 

Format: FullPath\WcCtrl.exe c:0xhhhhh,r,s l:m d:k 

(note the space between the 3 args - format checking is strict !! You may however omit any of the 3 arguments)

The easiest way to use it is to hit the Get Startup String button and to paste the line into an editor e.g. Notepad.exe and review and edit the string until it fits - then use it for any purpose.

e.g. "W:\WcCtrl\WcCtrl.exe" c:0x2eb5dee6,n,1 l:1 d:y

means: 

Arguments: 

Cam to connect c:camSerial,factrReset,slot 

Look and feel l:layout 

K3 dump directory d:useIt 

How to use it:

The command line can be used to make some shortcuts on the desktop which do start a cam with a certain setup and/or layout. It can be used to start different cams with initial setups etc.

How to make a shortcut: