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Universal Capture

Install the Universal Capture Desktop Application

Hannah Petty
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Universal Capture is a cross-platform application that turns a classroom Mac or Windows PC into a capture device for the room. Universal Capture software is available through the Downloads page in Echo360. The installation wizard guides you through installation. Command line installation instructions are also available. Once installed, Universal Capture will keep itself up to date by downloading and applying updates in the background.

The Universal Capture application can coexist with legacy Personal Capture, however, we do not recommend attempting to run both applications at once. If you have not already done so, please see Universal Capture Specifications to be sure the computer you are using meets the minimum system requirement for Universal Capture.

Download the Installer

  1. Log into Echo360.
  2. Click the Settings menu to open it and select Downloads, as shown in the below figure.
  3. Click the Download link from the Universal Capture section of your choice from the Downloads page, shown below. The installer must be run locally, so save the file to your computer.
    Universal Capture download options (Admin view)

Install the Program

The Universal Capture Download link downloads a .dmg (Disk Image) or .msi for installation purposes. Use the steps below to install Universal Capture.

Use Local Directories for Installation!
The Universal Capture installation and data directories must be on the local drive; they cannot be located on a network, remote (mapped), or USB thumb drive. Use the defaults provided during installation.

Note that in Classroom mode, the Installer will prompt you for your Institution ID. This is necessary so that your Universal Capture application can be registered with your Institution.

To find your institution ID:

  1. While logged in as an admin, click the Settings icon, then select Configuration.
  2. On the Configuration page, select API Configurations from the left.
    The Institution ID resides on this page, as shown in the below figure, and can be selected and copied for use in the installer.
    API Configurations page with arrows showing navigation to the page and the institution ID field as described

To install Universal Capture on a Mac

Universal Capture on the Mac does not allow for custom installation directories, which may conflict with programs like Faronics Deep Freeze. Universal Capture must be installed to the default Macintosh HD.

  1. Locate the downloaded Universal Capture Installer .dmg file. It should be located in the Downloads folder (Finder > Downloads).
  2. Double-click the .dmg file to mount the image and begin the installation process.
  3. A new Finder window should appear showing the .dmg contents. Double-click the UniversalCapture.pkg file to launch the installer.
  4. Once the installer is launched, follow the prompts to the complete installation.

    The Institution ID is needed during the installation of Classroom mode so that your Universal Capture application can be registered with your Institution. Use the above procedure to obtain it if you have not already.

  5. If installing in Classroom mode, locate and make a note of the MAC address of the built-in wifi network adapter for the computer. This will be the MAC address used to add the device to a Room.
    Note that this does not mean that you have to use the built-in wifi network adapter, this is only for identification purposes.

To install Universal Capture on a Windows PC

If, during installation, you choose to install to a custom directory, note the following requirements:

  • The program directory and data directory must be different.
  • The application cannot be installed at the root of any drive.
  • The folder(s) chosen as the target installation directories must be empty or non-existent.
  1. Locate the downloaded Universal Capture Installer .msi file. It should be located in the Downloads folder by default.
  2. Double-click the .msi file to begin the installation process.
  3. Once the installer is launched, follow the prompts to the complete installation.

    The Institution ID is needed during the installation of Classroom mode so that your Universal Capture application can be registered with your Institution. Use the above procedure to obtain it if you have not already.

  4. If installing in Classroom mode, locate and make a note of the MAC address of the built-in wifi network adapter for the computer. This will be the MAC address used to add the device to a Room.
    Note that this does not mean that you have to use the built-in wifi network adapter, this is only for identification purposes.

After Universal Capture is installed, launch it. Log in and run a test capture to ensure it works as expected. If it does, you may delete the downloaded installer file and unmount the disk image.

NOTE that when Universal Capture is first launched (after installation) it takes approximately 2-5 minutes for the application to establish a connection to your Institution and make sure that the latest software is being used. During this time a loading screen will be displayed that will disappear once the connection is established. This is a good time to create the Room assignment if using Classroom mode.

Command Line Installation

macOS

Universal Capture allows for command line installation of the software on a target Mac running High Sierra (OS X 10.13) or higher.

To install UC Classroom

  1. Identify the computer(s) where you want to install Universal Capture.
  2. Download the Installer to the Downloads directory.
  3. Navigate to the Downloads directory and run the following command to mount the disk image:
    hdiutil mount UniversalCaptureClassroom<Region>_<VersionNumber>.dmg
  4. Copy the package contents to the target directory:
    cp "Install Echo360 Capture Classroom.pkg" "<target directory>"
  5. Create a text file in the same directory as above (Step 4) of the target computer containing only your Institution ID named:
    institutionId.txt
  6. Run the following command to install the package:
    sudo installer -package /<target directory>/UniversalCaptureClassroom<Region> _<VersionNumber>/Install\ Echo360\ Capture\ Classroom.pkg -target "/Volumes/Macintosh HD"
  7. Clean up by unmounting the disk image:
    hdiutil unmount /Volumes/UniversalCaptureClassroom<Region> _<VersionNumber>

To install UC Personal

  1. Identify the computer(s) where you want to install Universal Capture.
  2. Download the Installer to the Downloads directory.
  3. Navigate to the Downloads directory and run the following command to mount the disk image:
    hdiutil mount UniversalCapturePersonal<Region>_<VersionNumber>.dmg
  4. Run the following command to install the package:
    sudo installer -package /Volumes/UniversalCapturePersonal<Region> _<VersionNumber>/Install\ Echo360\ Capture\ Personal.pkg -target "/Volumes/Macintosh HD"
  5. Clean up by unmounting the disk image:
    hdiutil unmount /Volumes/UniversalCapturePersonal<Region> _<VersionNumber>

To add a Desktop Shortcut for Universal Capture

You also have the ability to optionally add a Desktop Shortcut during the installation process.

  1. Navigate to the Desktop
    cd ~/Desktop
  2. Run the following command
    ln -s /Applications/Echo360\ Capture.app <Shortcut Name>

Uninstall from macOS

Uninstalling Universal Capture is easy, however, be aware that sudo access is needed and all data is deleted on the removal of the program.

To remove Universal Capture

  1. Run the following command to run the script:
    sudo /Applications/Echo360\ Capture.app/Contents/Resources/uninstall.sh

Windows

Universal Capture allows for command line installation of the software on a target PC running Windows 10 (64-bit) or higher.

To install UC Classroom

  1. Identify the computer(s) where you want to install Universal Capture.
  2. Download the Installer to the Downloads directory.
  3. Launch a Command Prompt as an Administrator.
  4. Run the following command to install the application:
    msiexec /qn /i "<download directory>\UniversalCaptureClassroom<region>_<version>.msi" INSTITUTION_ID=<institutionid>
  5. To install to custom directories:
    msiexec /qn /i "<download directory>\UniversalCaptureClassroom<region>_<version>.msi" INSTITUTION_ID=<institutionid> DATADIR=“<path>” PROGRAMDIR=“<path>”

To install UC Personal

  1. Identify the computer(s) where you want to install Universal Capture.
  2. Download the Installer to the Downloads directory.
  3. Launch a Command Prompt as an Administrator.
  4. Run the following command to install the application:
    msiexec /qn /i "<download directory>\UniversalCapturePersonal<region>_<version>.msi"
  5. To install to custom directories:
    msiexec /qn /i "<download directory>\UniversalCapturePersonal<region>_<version>.msi" INSTITUTION_ID=<institutionid> DATADIR=“<path>” PROGRAMDIR=“<path>”

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstalling Universal Capture is easy, however, be aware that the Command Prompt must be launched as an Administrator and all data is deleted on the removal of the program.

To remove Universal Capture

  1. Run the following command:
    msiexec /x "~\UniversalCapture<mode><region>_<version>.msi"

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