FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What kind of a digital still camera will work with your software?
A. This is possible using an AV > USB adapter. The USB output in cams cannot be used for this purpose. The problem is that the adapters restrict video resolution, though in most cases the resolution is enough. There is another solution: an AV > S-video (composite) adapter plus a video-in card or TV tuner.

Q. What kind of IP Network Camera will work with your software?
A. The program works with IP cameras that have the jpeg output. If you have such a cam, you should find the jpeg file name the html code for viewing the cam (you can get it while viewing the picture from the cam in your browser), for example: image.jpg

Q. Why does the program freeze after a while?
A. Willing Webcam may freeze when it is connected to a driver that does not work or when the connected camera stops working (a camcorder or a still digital cam).
Camcorders stop working in a few minutes if there is a cassette inside them.

Q. I downloaded Willing Webcam to test it. I can’t get it to see my camera. Is there a driver that I can download to make it work?
A. The program collects all WDM and VFW driver headers on your system and works only with them. Drivers are provided by webcam manufacturers.

Q. How to avoid the auto search of the appropriate video driver when the program is started (the program crashes at startup):
A. You should use the -driver parameter of the program, for example: "c:\program files\willing webcam\wwcam.exe" -driver

Q. Every other webcam software I have used allows access to the video capture card controls via the "Video Source" window to allow control of brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. I see you have image controls built in but I am wondering if there is a way to access my capture card controls directly in Willing Webcam.
A. Look at the 'Video Options' button above the Preview window and click the arrow to view the items.

Q. The video from my Quickcam Express appearing in the Willing program was jumping in contrast, from high to low contrast and back. I could not fix this within the Willing program. I loaded a graphics viewer and accessed the camera via the Twain interface. This gave me an enhanced set of video controls, so I turned off flicker control and this fixed the problem in the Willing application.
My question is which set of controls has precedence over my camera and what is their relation to one another?
A. In the Willing Webcam program you also have access to video driver controls. Please, select the 'Video Source' item of the 'Video Options' menu (above the video preview window). The video driver controls are under Willing Webcam Video Effects.

Q. Every time I restart my PC, I have to open the 'Video Device > Video Source > Webcam > Video for Windows > Analog Video > Input' drop-down list and select ’Composite’.
A. Install DirectX software, version 8.1 or higher. Though you use the VFW driver set in the program, it is possible to save this option only via DirectX.

Q. I can’t find the pan, tilt, zoom options for my Logitech QuickCam Sphere camera in the DirectX options.
A. You should at least once use a ptz operation for your Logitech Orbit or Sphere cam under the ‘Video for Windows’ driver set to open these options under DirectX.

Q. The motion detection feature doesn't work for my Logitech QuickCam Sphere camera. It freezes.
A. Logitech QuickCam Sphere and Orbit cameras have the automatic gain control option. Disable it and set the Exposure and Gain options to appropriate values. See the 'Options > Video Source (the button above the preview window) > Advanced > Automatic Gain Control' checkbox. This video driver option causes the video to fade in/out, which triggers motion detection all the time.

Compatibility with Windows Vista
If you have a few video feeds and work under the VFW mode you can avoid the 'Video Source > Select Video Device' dialog box. You can use one of the following ways:
- Change the program mode to DirectX.
- You should run the program with administrator rights:
Control Panel > Computer > \Program Files\Willing Webcam\wwcam.exe > Properties > Compatibility > Privilege Level > Run this program as an administrator.
- You can disable the User Account Control (UAC), but disabling UAC will lead to a less secure system:
Control Panel > User Account and Family Safety > User Accounts > Change Security Settings > Disable UAC.

If you have a Logitech Orbit (Sphere) camera and need its pan/tilt/zoom functions, the above mentioned ways will help you as well.

Q. Why do I see only a black window in my webcam view?
A. You should make your webcam driver active under the ‘Microsoft WDM Image Capture (Win 32)’ driver using the 'Options > Video Source' hot button above the preview window.

Q. There's a blue screen when I use my webcam.
A. If you see a solid blue or green screen in the VFW mode, you should change the current video format using the 'Options > Video Format' hot button above the preview window.

Q. Does the program support the command line? I have a program that needs to operate my webcam.
A. The –command parameter precedes a commands line enclosed by double quotes. For example, <wwcam.exe -command "ftp on,capture"> for the full version, <wwlite.exe -command "picture on,capture"> for the lite version (remove the angle brackets). Use a comma to separate multiple commands on one line. Please see the Commands page below for the option table. Your program can also communicate with the Willing Webcam application via e-mail, sms and http commands. Please look at the ‘Option table > Management Kit’ options.

Q. I am now getting 1400 visitors per day. Soon reaching my ISP limit of 10 gigabytes per month bandwidth. How do I decrease uploading size?
A. See 'Preferences > Picture Quality > Picture Format > Jpeg Quality'.
If you decrease the 'Jpeg Quality' value you will decrease image size. You have to find a compromise between quality and image size. For easy tuning run 'HTTP server > Run Browser'. You can see image quality in the browser while you are changing the control value, because the preview image will not change. A small change in image size or quality will provide big monthly savings.

Q. Is there a way to schedule WW to make a telephone call by modem, log on to my server (with username and password), and then send an image via ftp (with username and different password) to my website server?
A. 1. Select the 'Preferences > Dial-up > Auto Dial-Up' checkbox
2. Select the 'Preferences > Dial-up > Non-default connection'  checkbox
Fill in the Name, Password, Phone fields; leave the Pulse unchecked if your phone line uses Tone dialing mode. Usually the Domain field is blank, but you have to ask an administrator of your server.
3. Select the 'Preferences > Dial-up > Disconnect After usage' checkbox
4. Select the 'FTP Upload > Enable' checkbox
5. 'FTP Upload > Cycle > Value' 24
6. 'FTP Upload > Cycle > Period' hours
7. Clear the 'FTP Upload > Schedule' checkbox
Use the ‘Connect’ button to force Dial-Up connection while you are tuning.

Q. Can you explain what webcam relay mode is, and how it will let me go from  the USB standard length of 15' all the way out to 100'?
A. You need a local net with two or more computers using Willing Webcam. One computer has a webcam and HTTP server enabled (embedded in the program). It broadcasts video over a local net. Another computer with Webcam Relay enabled gets the video. The relay computer may itself have HTTP server enabled and broadcast the above mentioned video over local net or Internet. It doesn’t matter how long your local net is, or how many computers with webcams you have. On the Relay computer you can switch between them. You may have other Relay computers.
NB: Each licensed copy of the software may only be used on a single computer by a single user.

Q. Under Video Device -> Video Source -> Hard disc directory there is a box labeled "Delete files after usage". If I check this box, it erases, within a second or two, all the jpeg files in the directory, even though it has not uploaded the files to my server.
A. Some video devices provide video files for a certain directory all the time. WW takes these files and views them. WW does all the operations at once when working with a video source. "Delete files after usage" - deletes a file after viewing, so we get real time work. If you prefer not to delete files and you want to view them in an endless cycle, select the Rewind checkbox.

Q. When I enable the time stamp, I get two time fields on my video and I can’t adjust the position of the time.  Any ideas?
A. There are two time parts. Please look at 'Option table > Text Caption > Enable Time' and 'Option table > Time Caption > Enable Time' .
The 'Option table > Text Caption' and 'Option table > Time Caption' both consist of  two parts: a text part and a time part. The text part uses the  'Text' field, while the time part uses the 'Format' and 'GMT' fields. Both use the 'Placement' and 'Font' controls. You can change vertical and horizontal positions by the 'Placement > Vertical' and 'Placement > Horizontal' controls. 
0,0 point is the top left corner.

Q. Where can I find a quick description with samples of the time formats used?
A.
c  Displays the date, followed by the time. The time is not displayed if the date-time value indicates midnight precisely.
d  Displays the day as a number without a leading zero (1-31).
dd  Displays the day as a number with a leading zero (01-31).
ddd  Displays the day as an abbreviation (Sun-Sat).
dddd  Displays the day as a full name (Sunday-Saturday).
ddddd  Displays the date.
dddddd  Displays the date.
e  Displays the year in the current period/era as a number without a leading zero (Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese locales only).
ee  Displays the year in the current period/era as a number with a leading zero (Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese locales only).
g  Displays the period/era as an abbreviation (Japanese and Taiwanese locales only).
gg  Displays the period/era as a full name. (Japanese and Taiwanese locales only).
m  Displays the month as a number without a leading zero (1-12). If the m specifier immediately follows an h or hh specifier, the minute rather than the month is displayed.
mm  Displays the month as a number with a leading zero (01-12). If the mm specifier immediately follows an h or hh specifier, the minute rather than the month is displayed.
mmm  Displays the month as an abbreviation (Jan-Dec).
mmmm  Displays the month as a full name (January-December) using the strings given by the LongMonthNames global variable.
yy  Displays the year as a two-digit number (00-99).
yyyy  Displays the year as a four-digit number (0000-9999).
h  Displays the hour without a leading zero (0-23).
hh  Displays the hour with a leading zero (00-23).
n  Displays the minute without a leading zero (0-59).
nn  Displays the minute with a leading zero (00-59).
s  Displays the second without a leading zero (0-59).
ss  Displays the second with a leading zero (00-59).
z  Displays the millisecond without a leading zero (0-999).
zzz  Displays the millisecond with a leading zero (000-999).
t  Displays the time.
tt  Displays the time.
am/pm  Uses the 12-hour clock for the preceding h or hh specifier, and displays 'am' for any hour before noon, and 'pm' for any hour after noon. The am/pm specifier can use lower, upper, or mixed case, and the result is displayed accordingly.
a/p  Uses the 12-hour clock for the preceding h or hh specifier, and displays 'a' for any hour before noon, and 'p' for any hour after noon. The a/p specifier can use lower, upper, or mixed case, and the result is displayed accordingly.
/ Displays the date separator character.
: Displays the time separator character.
'xx'/"xx"  Characters enclosed in single or double quotes are displayed as-is, and do not affect formatting.

Q. How do I use the ftp upload feature?
A. Fill the Server, Name, Password fields with values given to you by your ISP.
When you select the Enable checkbox or click the Ftp button it will initiate ftp upload to your web site. There you should have your webpage with the webcam image link.

Select the ‘FTP Upload > Passive mode’ checkbox if your client is behind a firewall. Active FTP may cause problems. From the firewall’s point of view, the FTP server that is trying to initiate a connection with your client looks like an intruder and is usually blocked.

Select the ‘FTP Upload > Passive mode’ checkbox if you have a DSL connection.

Please take a look at the 'Program Files\Willing Webcam\Web Pages\FTP Upload\index.html' webpage template. You are free to change the template to meet your needs if you want to. Its java script is used to refresh the webcam image only without affecting other webpage elements.

Q. The program uploads images via FTP alright most of the time, but sometimes it looses uploaded images.
A. The problem depends mainly on the FTP server and the Internet connection quality. It's normal that an FTP connection hangs sometimes, but the program must reestablish it after that. Actually uploading via FTP consists of four main stages: establishing an FTP connection, changing the FTP folder, actually uploading files via FTP and breaking the FTP connection (it may also include renaming files). If establishing an FTP connection takes more than the 'FTP Upload > Advanced > Timeout' value, the FTP cycle will be interrupted by the program. If uploading via FTP takes more than 5*Timeout value, the FTP cycle will be interrupted as well. So if the Timeout is 20 and uploading via FTP hangs on the uploading stage, the new cycle will start in 100 seconds. The cycle will start in 20 seconds for other stages.

Q. Can the program upload webpage files in addition to video ones without me buying other ftp software?
A. You can upload your webcam page files using webpage templates from subdirectories in ‘Program Files\Willing Webcam\Web Pages’. See the ‘FTP Upload > Synchronization > Local Folder’ options. You are free to change the templates to meet your needs if you want to. The template with the java script is designed for the FTP Upload and HTTP Upload features, the template with the java applet is designed for the HTTP Server feature. The java script is used to refresh the webcam image only without affecting other webpage elements.

Q. When I upload video through FTP, the file is shown as a ww.tmp file, not a ww.jpg file in the program.
A. The security settings of your upload folder (on your Web Server / Hosting server) must have 'Modify' allowed for that folder otherwise a TMP file cannot rename itself.
You may have to contact your ISP to change this setting.

Q. In the ftp section, what is the "upload number" which is set to 5? What is it for?
A. You may upload a file sequence. "Upload number" is a file sequence qty.
File numbers change after each upload so the last uploaded file has a number 0001.

Q. I want to upload a photo instantaneously and I need to click FTP button, then the Capture button and finally uncheck the FTP button. How can I do it in one operation?
A. Clear the ‘FTP Upload > Cycle’ checkbox and you can upload a photo with the ‘Capture’ button. ‘FTP Upload’ cycle will be inactive.

Q. How do I set up streaming video with this program?
A. Willing Webcam uses a java applet to establish 'live streaming'.
How to ...

Q. I tested your solution and I could not get a live webcam broadcast (it was a slideshow) despite the fact that both computers were interconnected using LAN (on the same subnet) and none of them was over the limit regarding processing power.The frame rate of the preview window was set to 10 frames per second.Do you have any idea how to get a fluent stream instead of a slide show??
A. Fluency depends on:

1. Video Device / Video Preview Rate
2. Video Device / Video Window Size
3. Preferences / Picture Quality / Picture Format (JPEG) / Jpeg Quality
4. Network card capacity

For the best stream results you have to increase p1, p4  and decrease p2, p3 values.

Q. I have tried your program. And it works great.. But when I try to send the url to my friends they only see pictures of me. Not Live video. When I try it on my computer with the same url it works great. I have tried different browsers and java programs but nothing works.I have unchecked the last saved box also and enabled live video on http settings. Do you know what could be wrong?
A. Do your friends' computers have Sun Java VM v.1.4.1 installed?It seems that Sun Java VM version 1.4.1_01 does not work properly.On the remote computer your friend must uncheck the 'Use Java 2 v1.4.1_01 for <applet>' option in MS Explorer. After unchecking Java v1.4.1 they have to refresh the IE browser. Then the browser will use Java v.1.3.1 or they can update v1.4.1 to 1.4.2 at www.java.com
The situation is the same in 2000 and XP.

Q. How do I configure the http server to work behind a router?
A. Connect to the router through web browser. Set the broadcasting IP address and Port, select TCP-IP protocol. How to ...

Q. I selected the Audio checkbox, but I do not hear anything from my broadcasting page.
A. If you hear nothing from your broadcasting page, check the ‘Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Java (Sun) > Use JRE v1.x.x_xx for <applet>' option in MS Explorer.
If there is no such option or if the JRE version is lower than 1.3, you should install the latest Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on the client computer where the broadcasting page will be opened:
http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_xpi.jsp
If this option exists and the version is 1.3 or higher, but it is not selected, select it.
See also the ‘Option Table > HTTP Server > Audio’ and the ‘Option Table > Preferences > Audio Source’ options.

Q. When I run the http server, I can connect to it via LAN. If I try to connect from the Internet it doesn't work.
A. If you have a router, you should connect to the http server from another computer, which is not in your network.

Q. HTTP Upload doesn't work for me. What should I do?
A. You have to upload the wwsubmit.php script file from the '\Program Files\Willing Webcam\Web Pages\HTTP Upload\PHP' directory to your web site. Most web hosting services have a PHP engine. Fill the HTTP Upload > Script Address field with URL of this script.
The behavior of http upload is affected by settings in php.ini at the web hoster side. Usually these settings are workable for you by default.

The program saves some diagnostic info to the '\Program Files\Willing Webcam\ww.log' file if http upload fails. Compare the diagnostic data with the settings below. If the php version is earlier than 4.1.0 then edit the wwsubmit.php script file before uploading it again. If you need to change other settings you have to call the php.ini file from your web hoster, edit and place the edited php.ini in a root of your webspace.

php version
In PHP versions earlier than 4.1.0, $HTTP_POST_FILES should be used instead of $_FILES.

file_uploads
Whether or not to allow HTTP file uploads. Make sure it is on.

upload_tmp_dir
Temporary directory used for storing files when doing file upload. Must be writable by whatever user PHP is running as. If not specified PHP will use the system's default.

upload_max_filesize
Maximum size of an uploaded file. Must be larger than the size of your uploaded image file.

max_input_time
This sets the maximum time in seconds a script is allowed to receive input data and file uploads. Must be larger than the uploading time of your image file.

How to build a good protection against upload attacks?

Some firewall software, for example Norton Personal Firewall, can interfere with the work of the http upload progress bar indicator. Go to 'Norton Personal Firewall > Options > Firewall > Http port list' and remove port 80.

Q. When I try to specify the drive/directory under the picture option, the drive drop-down list shows only local computer drives without mapped network drives.
A. You should work with a UNC path: \\servername\drive\dir, for example: \\john\d\webcam

Q. When I record an AVI file to the hard disk of my PC, the movie does not have the time and date stamps.
A. If you use the VFW/WDM video set, you will need to select one of the video formats: RGB, YUV12(I420), UYVY, YUY2 (the 'Options > Video Format' button above the Preview window). Don't enable video compression.
The DirectX driver set does not have these restrictions.

Q. What video compression type does the program use to compress a time-lapse avi?
A. MS Video 1, Indeo(R) video 5.10, SWF.

Q. What does the "compression" value under the time lapse mean. There is another compression option under the "Options" icon where I can select my compression codec and select a level of compression but this doesn't change the compression value in the time-lapse section.
A. The compression option under the 'Options' icon works with streaming avis. The 'compression' value under time lapse works with time-lapse ones.

Q. I cannot view the video file created in the SWF format.
A. Adobe Flash Player loads the entire video file in memory when you are viewing it. If the file is very large, you may run short of RAM. In this case, you should reduce the following value: 'Time Lapse > Max file size Mb'. Also, take this problem into account if you plan to send the file to someone else. Please pay attention to an example of using a video file in the directory 'Program Files\Willing Webcam\Web Pages\Time Lapse\SWF'.

Q.I can't find any options for Motion detection (i.e. threshold, area, etc.). Where is the motion menu?
A.
1. Expand the 'Motion Detection' option with the green 'motion' button or in the Option Table at the left side of the Webcam page.
2. If your Option Table is occasionally hidden restore it by clicking on the left vertical line with two triangles or drag the blue vertical line to the right.

Q. Can you tell me how the software works with multiple cameras. I read that it does work with more then one cam but can't find anywhere how. Do I need to multiplex a USB port or can I use a multi input video card with two ore more cam's.
A. If your webcams use different drivers, you can launch a few copies of Willing Webcam and select a different driver for each one. If your webcams use the same driver, Windows doesn't permit you to work with them at the same time. You should use the 'Video Device > Video Output' feature in this case. It sends the video stream from the program to the ‘Willing Webcam Capture’ video driver. You can select this driver in other instances of Willing Webcam or in Skype, an instant messenger (for example, MSN, Yahoo). It would be a good idea to adjust the image size in the program so that it corresponds to the image size in the target software.

Q. Why some of the icons at the top are always just grey boxes?
A. It means that these operations are not available at the moment or in the current program mode.
Icon "Video Size" - try the 'Options -> Video Format' hot button.
Icon "HTTP Server" - enable the HTTP Server in the Option Table or click the green triangle button under the Preview window.
Icon "Last saved" - upload or save an image locally at least once.

Q. What has that got to do with gaming? What is "program view"?
A. Program view is the specific view mode. Program may be always on top, translucent, or small (at your option) with only the video window showing. Willing Webcam users can play or do computer work and see the webcam at the same time.

Q. I can't even figure out what the Management Kit is for.
A. Management Kit is a security and remote management tool.The security part consists of the login program and hiding of the program. Remote management include creating your own commands from small basic commands under the plus icon in the table. Get a brief hint in the status bar by keeping the cursor over subcommands when choosing a set of them. With the navigator under the command table you can add, delete, and navigate commands. If you uncheck the Enable command flag this command will become unavailable. You can create a message with your subject known only to you and a command bulk (command names)  in the body. Each command should be separated by commas. They will be executed command by command. The 'Listen to e-mail, sms and http commands > Enable e-mail' option must be on to check your mailbox for the specified subject. The 'Listen to e-mail, sms and http commands > Enable SMS' option must be on to check new SMS messages for the specified password (the SMS password should be at the first position of the command list in the SMS message). The program doesn't touch other messages. Command messages will be deleted after execution.

Enable the 'Management Kit > Listen to e-mail, sms and http commands > Enable HTTP' option to allow the program to accept commands via the enabled 'HTTP Server' feature. You can also enable the 'HTTP Server > Authentication' option to protect the program. In this case you should specify the Name and Password command parameters.

1. Enable the 'Management Kit > Listen to' feature.
2. Enable the 'Management Kit > Listen to > Enable HTTP' option.
3. Enable the 'HTTP Server > Enable' option.

Please take a look at the 'Program Files\Willing Webcam\Web Pages\HTTP Server\Commands\index.html' web page. You can use this remote control panel both from the local hard disk and from any website. You can also use this page as a template for creating your own web page (for example, for sending the tilt, pan, zoom commands).

You can set time for two command lines, using the Schedule feature. Each of them can be run every day or on a certain day and time.

Q. I have set it to the Stealth mode and it seems I cannot make it reappear.
A. Press Shift+R (the default key combination) if you did not change this setting earlier.

Q. What is the video helper section for?
A. Video helper section serves two purposes:
- Searching for video sources
- Saving all program settings as a bookmark (the Save button)

You can get nine buttons for bookmarks above the Preview window.
Access extra bookmarks using the grid navigator.

Q. I have 3 laptops. If I will buy one license for Willing Webcam, can I install the software on 3 laptops? Or only on one?
A. If you use your 3 laptops in turn, you can purchase only one license, because only one person will use the program at a time (as a book).
If all copies of the program work at the same time (each on its computer), you must purchase 3 licenses for them.

Q. Where can I find program documentation?
A. See Site map. Also you can see brief hints in the program status bar when the cursor stops over an interface element or an option.