Lesson Videos:
Introduction
When a folder is closed, it is ready to be transferred to the external hard drive to ship to the processing center.
- Verify that the external hard drive is connected to the computer and turned on.
- Ensure that the status of all completed folders is Closed.
A best practice is to transfer folders to the external HD when the camera is in downtime. For example, in the morning, transfer the images captured the previous day while you wait 15 minutes for the lights to warm up, or transfer the images captured during your lunch period.
To open the Transfer Folders to External HD screen, do one of the following:
- In the brown communications section on the DCam home screen, click Transfer Folders to External HD.
- At the completion of the evaluation process, click Close this folder and return to Transfer to External HD screen.
Note: The Close this folder option should be chosen as a last resort, since it requires the operator to transfer each folder as it is captured rather than as a group of folders and disrupts the workflow. A best practice is to only use this option on the day you are mailing the HD.
- At the bottom of the DCam screen, click Transfer Needed (highlighted in yellow).
- At the top left of the DCam screen, click the Transfer tab.
When the Transfer Folders to External HD screen opens, the folders to be transferred display in the right-hand box.
Review the folders to ensure that only those folders you want to transfer are listed. Remember, all closed folders transfer. If there is a folder that needs to be held, make sure to change the folder status.
At the bottom of the dialog, click Transfer to External HD.
The next window that displays shows the assigned media number. If the media number is 1, a message appears asking you to confirm that the media number is correct. (The media number should only be reported as 1 if this is the very first hard drive to be sent in for this project. If needed, after talking with your supervisor or manager, adjust the media number to identify the correct media number to be used.)
You need to understand media numbers to assign them. The system assigns the same media number to all new folders in a project that are captured during the same week and are shipped on the same external hard drive. The media number is also listed on the Digital Camera Operator's Report (DOR). The media number starts at 1 for a new project and sequentially increases for each week of production as long as it is the same project.
When a previously shipped folder needs to be shipped again due to rework or possible image corruption, the original media number remains the same for the folder.
To distinguish a new folder shipment (with the rework or resend) from the original folder shipment, a reship number is autogenerated and added to the folder’s original media number. For example, if the original media number for a folder is 63 and it is sent again after being reworked, the media number changes to 63-1. If it was shipped again a third time, the media number changes to 63-2.
You can change media numbers at times. For information on when to do so, see the DCam User Guide.
If, after you confirm the media number, DCam detects there are closed folders on the external hard drive from the previous week, a message displays to ensure that the folders are associated with the correct week.
To move folders to the correct week before shipping the external hard drive, use the double arrow keys. Click Continue.
Before starting the transfer, DCam checks that enough space is available on the external hard drive. If there is not enough space, an error message displays and aborts the image transfer. If needed, you can free up space on the external hard drive by transferring files to a different external hard drive or to the I:/ drive. If this occurs, simply choose another empty hard drive, and begin the transfer over again.
Note: Only move folders to the I drive under the direction of a supervisor or manager. A progress bar with the folder transfer status displays for each of the following:
- Overall folder transfer
- Each group of folders being transferred to the hard drive
- Each individual folder
To check the folder transfer status, at the bottom of the screen click the progress bar, or in the upper left corner of the screen, click Transfer.
To start work on another folder while the closed folders are being transferred, in the upper left corner of the screen, click Folders.
When the folders have been transferred to the external hard drive, the status on the Transfer Folders to External hard drive screen displays "On HD.”
To view the Digital Camera Operator's Report (DOR) for folders being transferred to the hard drive, click Show. A DOR is automatically generated for each hard drive of images sent to the processing center. The report is updated as folders are added to the hard drive during the capture week.
When all images are transferred, click Close.
After transferring folders to an external hard drive, exit DCam, and then wait at least 60 seconds before either turning the computer off or disconnecting the external hard drive. This ensures that all of the images get transferred to the hard drive.
Note: While a transfer may appear to be complete, in the background, critical digital device processes are often finishing up. When these processes are halted prematurely, the transfer fails.
A copy of the DOR is automatically included on the external hard drive.
Ship the external hard drive to the ingest center. This is generally done at the end of each week, or when arranged by the supervisor.
Completing Listings and Projects
When you have captured all of the archival units for all of the listings within a project, go to the Manage Projects, Listings, and Folders screen. In the Projects section, select the project name, and click Complete.
Note: Mark a project complete only after you have discussed it with your manager or field supervisor.
Ship the External Hard Drive
At the end of each week, or when arranged by your supervisor, ship the external hard drive to the ingest center assigned to your project. The external hard drive does not have to be full. A best practice is to send the hard drive every Friday to keep the flow of images to the ingest locations consistent.
- Safely disconnect the external hard drive from the computer by shutting down the computer and forcing all activities to complete.
- Place the external HD in the black Pelican case.
For questions about which carrier is approved, contact your supervisor.
Learning Experiences
Activity 1: Check Your Understanding
When should an operator transfer images to the HD?
- After every folder
- Only at the end of the week
- Every morning while waiting for the lights to warm up, or at lunch time, or any other camera downtime
- When you feel you have enough production to fill an HD
True or False: You should mail the HD only when you have filled the HD to capacity.
Which is the correct procedure for disconnecting the HD prior to mailing it to the processing center?
- After the transfer is complete, immediately disconnect the HD.
- After the transfer is complete, exit DCam and shut down the computer by clicking the Microsoft windows icon.
- Wait for the system to completely shut down and then disconnect the HD.
- After the transfer is complete, shut down DCam and disconnect the HD.
- Click on the Safely Remove HD icon and disconnect the HD.
True or False: An operator should choose the Close this folder and return to the Transfer to External HD screen option after evaluation only on the day the HD needs to be prepared to ship.