# Preview Search

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This feature helps to search through data in large archives by breaking the selected time range into smaller time increments and displaying these increments as separate items. Preview search can be used iteratively until the desired event is located.

For instance, a one month period will be broken down into ten 3-day segments, the 3-day segments will be broken down into nine 8-hour periods, the 8-hour segments into eight 1-hour periods, and so on. It may take three to five iterations to locate an event within an initial period of several months.

To perform Preview Search

1.Select the desired camera in layout. (To make viewing easier, zoom in on the Timeline using a mouse wheel.)

2.Select the region to export on the timeline:

•Use Right-click-and-drag

•Open the context menu on the Timeline and click Mark Selection Start (shortcut [), then choose and end point and click Mark Selection End (shortcut ])

•You can adjust the region by dragging edges or delete it from the context menu using Clear Selection

3.Invoke the context menu and choose Preview Search.

A new tab will open containing several items showing archive from the selected Camera in different periods.

If you click on Items, the selection on Timeline will display the particular period in archive related to the selected Item.

If the selection does not contain archive data this feature is not available.

4.Locate the period of time the desired event took place and select appropriate Tab.

5.Repeat steps 1-3 on the desired Item on Preview Search Tab to further refine the search.

It is also possible to perform the following actions in Preview Search Tab:

•Navigate through archive

•Thumbnail Navigation

•Smart Motion Search

•Calendar Search

•Tours

•Screenshot

•Export