How to access IMatch Webviewer from my (Android) phone

[BanjoTom]

First tests of the IMatch Webviewer are VERY impressive indeed.  I did those on my PC, the same machine on which my IMatch database resides.  Easy configuration, which found the datbase and set things up so my browser (Google chrome) quickly opened the IM Webviewer.

Now -- how do I do the same thing on my phone?  (Just want to try out this functionality) . . . ?  I'm sure this is a VERY easy and basic thing to do . . . but a bit of guidance here may prove helpful!

[BanjoTom]

Just to add: I tried opening Google Chrome on my phone and entering the URL shown on the IMatch Webservice Control Panel, which I've attached.  The Chrome browser never did bring up anything . . .

[jch2103]

I had a similar issue: I could access Webviewer from a browser window on my PC, but not from other devices on my wireless network. In my case, I needed to tweak the firewall on my PC by manually adding IMatch WebServices (it was on the list, but for some reason didn't allow access). Not sure this is your issue, but worth checking out. (Be sure you leave access as Private, not Public, for normal 'internal' network access.)

[Mario]

There are two kinds of networks in Windows: Public and Private.

Private is your network at home or your company network.
Public is "the Internet".

(I simplify things here a bit).

The Windows firewall needs to be configured to allow IMatch WebServices to accept connections. When IMatch Anywhere is installed, it creates a firewall rule that allows IMatch WebService to accept connections from your private network. This means that all devices that have access to your home network (WLAN / Wi-Fi) can access it.

Please check that your mobile phone connects to your wireless network at home.
If it only connects via the mobile network ("moble data"), it is not part of your network at home.

If it connects via the mobile network, it is actually part of "the Internet" (public network). And connection requests from computers on the Internet to your computer at home are blocked by the Windows firewall. Which is very important! You don't want to allow computers on the internet to access your PC or IMatch WebServices. This would be dangerous.
The IMatch Anywhere help file contains more detailed information on this topic.

Make sure your phone is configured to connect to your network at home and you should be good.

Also, as explained by John above, have a look at the Windows firewall.
If you can connect from the computer running IMatch WebServices, the firewall should be configured correctly, though.
How to open the Windows firewall settings and how to check that IMatch WebServices is configured correctly is explained in the IMatch Anywhere help. You can open it via the Help button in the Controller application.

[jelvers]

Hi All,

got it working without any problems! Just copied "my" URL in my Chrome Mobile (on Galaxy S7). Connected immediately! Then started my search etc. Works without any problem! Whowww! I was always waiting for this kind of software addon for IMatch. I will now try to get my S7 screen to my TV, but that's outside Mario's task, I guess.

Wonderful! Am delighted. Will now play around with it!

[Mario]

...) Whowww! I was always waiting for this kind of software addon for IMatch. I will now try to get my S7 screen to my TV, but that's outside Mario's task, I guess.
Wonderful! Am delighted. Will now play around with it!

Excellent 

I know that it works. So far when it did not work on a device, it was always the firewall or a user trying to connect via the mobile network (and thus not in his private network).
I've added a corresponding entry to the IMatch Anywhere FAQ. This way users can find it in the help and the FAQ.

Wonderful! Am delighted. Will now play around with it!

On smart phones or other devices with smallish screens it's useful to hide the Navigator when not needed (button in the menu bar, also button at the bottom of the Navigator).

[jelvers]

Have now also easily figured out how to get the photos on the TV screen. Just mirroring the screen of my S7 to TV via Google's "Home" App and Chromecast stick on my TV. Works phantastic. One can of course also use the chromecast plugin for the Chrome-Browser.

Everything is really easy and intuitively to use. The only questions I have so far is related to the search bit:
(1)Say I am searching for a certain item within "attributes" (similar to the search bar in IMatch) in a given directory with lots of subdirectories. How can I ensure that all "levels" of the hierarchy are taken into account (I cannot click on a main directory so that all subs are included as well, or can I? How?). I understand that I could get to the result by clicking on all subdirectories, which may be a little cumbersome, though.
(2) The other question is related to a conditional search, e.g. files with a certain file name (e.g. nyc) AND certain attributes (e.g. times square). Guess this may be too sophisticated?

Otherwise I am deeply impressed by this piece of software. So far flawless execution. I never seen a network utility before that really worked from the beginning!!! And many thks for the hint with hiding the navigator, Mario. Makes the work easier indeed. But I guess I will get a tablet and use that one.

Again many thks Mario for the excellent work.

Regards, Juergen

[Mario]

(1)Say I am searching for a certain item within "attributes" (similar to the search bar in IMatch) in a given directory with lots of subdirectories. How can I ensure that all "levels" of the hierarchy are taken into account (I cannot click on a main directory so that all subs are included as well, or can I? How?). I understand that I could get to the result by clicking on all subdirectories, which may be a little cumbersome, though.
(2) The other question is related to a conditional search, e.g. files with a certain file name (e.g. nyc) AND certain attributes (e.g. times square). Guess this may be too sophisticated?

I just noticed you asked a some totally unrelated questions in this thread.
This is never good, because such questions hidden "in-line" are often overlooked. It is always better to ask unrelated questions in your own thread.

[wolbar]

I have a similar problem as Tom.
On my PC all is working fine. Also with Iphone 6 the connection is immediately available and all functions are working fast.
But with Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo  (Android version 4.4.2) the web site is not available.

Samsung Galaxy TAB A SM-T555 (Android version 6.0.1) needs more than 20 min  to open it.
After that the functions are available, but extremely slowly so it is not possible to work with it.
(internal memory: 13,78 GB from 16 GB)

Both devices are connected with the same WiFi as the Iphone.
The Firewall rule is available acc. your help file.

Wolfgang

[Mario]

If you have access with your iPhone, your firewall is configured correctly.
The response time of IMWS is always the same, independent from the device you are using.

The S3 is of course several years older than the iPhone 6 and hence will be slower.
I have a S3 here for testing. It works quite fast. Not as fast as a PC or a more modern smart phone, but workable.

Are your sure your S3 is using the WLAN / Wi-FI correctly?
Which browser do you use?
Are you accessing folders for which IMWS needs to create cache files first?
Do you work with RAW files? In that case generating cache images on the server will take longer (but for all devices, not just the S3).

[wolbar]

Are your sure your S3 is using the WLAN / Wi-FI correctly? - yes
Which browser do you use? - I have tried it with Firefox and Chrome
Are you accessing folders for which IMWS needs to create cache files first? - no
Do you work with RAW files? - no

Just I have tried it again. If I wait now several minutes (10 or so) the connection is coming.
But all is so slowly like the Samsung Galaxy TAB A.

[Mario]

Have you tried the info link?
How fast do you get a response when you use the

http://<SERVER>:Port/info

URL?  Tip: The URL for your system can be seen in the Controller application.

This link fetches some minimal info about IMatch WebServices and displays it in the browser. It's just text and only a few hundred bytes to transfer.
If this also takes a long time, something in your network is acting up.

[wolbar]

http://<SERVER>:Port/info
IT needs about 20 s.

Also a S5 Mini is as slowly.

An old Notebook ist working without problems.
It seems that  only Samsung devises are not working in my network...

[Mario]

When you switch the "Debug Info" setting in the Configure  > Advanced Options to "Normal", the /info request tells you how long IMWS took to produce and return the answer. A typical time would be < 10 ms. This looks like this in the browser:

...
"debug" : {
      "runtime" : "8ms"
   }

If it takes longer, the time is used up by the browser, device or network.

Test: Did you try to use the IP address of your server in the browser and in the config.json? Maybe the Samsung device has a problem with the DNS lookup (getting the IP address from the computer name from your router). If you use the IP address directly (don't forget to update the config.json file as well) you can rule that out.

For info about the config.json please see the IMatch Anywhere help. Click on Configuring WebViewer at the top.

[wolbar]

I have used now the IP address.
Now it's working

I'will now "play" with this great tool more in detail. At the tablet it looks really nice and is fast!

"runtime" : "0ms"

Thank you very much Mario for your great and super fast support!!!

Ich wünsche dir einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr und alles Gute und Gesundheit.

[Mario]

Ah, very good.
Another issue solved. I will add an entry to the IMatch Anywhere FAQ.

Seems your Samsung devices have problems with your local DNS server and it takes them minutes (!) to map the computer name to the IP address.
I'm sure when you google for your device + DNG + router name you should find hints how to fix it. If DNS is slow, everything is slow. Your router should return the IP for local computer names super-fast.

[wolbar]

I have configured now in the Fritzbox a different DNS-V4 Server (from Google).
Now all Videos at the Tablet are running smoothly. In the past it was very slow, so that it was not useful.
Thank you very much Mario for your tip!