Breeze user interface

Breeze uses "Multiple Tabbed Document Interface" (MTDI). It includes the following main components:

  • Main frame window
  • Title bar of main window
  • Tabbed media document windows;
    each window may include from 1 to 4 video panes and controller pane
  • Ribbon bar
  • Toolbars
  • Breeze explorer
  • Property window
  • Status bar
  • Scroll bars
  • Set of special dialogs and property pages




Each media document may operate with up to 4 media data streams of different types: images, video, audio, media devices.

Each media source opened to the media document is associated with the media document channels (MDC-1, MDC-2, MDC-3, MDC-4). Channels MDC-1 and MDC-2 are called "Primary" and "Assistant" media document channels (media channels). In order to become available for the user, the media source (stream) must be open (attached) to the selected channel of the media document. The media source is closed (detached) from channel of the media document when a work with the media stream is completed. The media data are ALWAYS OPEN to the primary channel FIRST, and are ALWAYS CLOSED from the primary channel LAST (the primary channel is opened first and closed last).

Each media document channel (MDC-1, MDC-2, MDC-3, MDC-4) has individual output data buffer, called "Video Port": VPort-1, VPort-2, VPort-3, VPort-4. The video port VPort-1 and VPort-2 are called "Primary" and "Assistant" video ports. Video ports VPort-3 and VPort-4 are called "Auxiliary".

Output data from the video ports of media channels are displayed in the video panes of media document window. There 4 video panes: VP-1, VP-2, VP-3, VP-4 The primary video port VPort-1 is ALWAYS connected to (associated with) the video pane VP-1. Therefore the video pane VP-1 is called "Primary". Other video panes, VP-2, VP-3, VP-4, can be associated with any video port available.

The primary video pane VP-1 is alway shown in the media document window. Other video panes may be shown of hidden. There are 4 combinations of video panes shown in the media document window:

  1. VP-1 only
  2. VP-1 and VP-2 - in a row
  3. VP-1 and VP-3 - in a column
  4. VP1-, VP-2, VP-3, VP-4 - in the table

The associattion of all video ports with the video panes is called "Video Port/Pane Layout". There are 2 predefined layouts (horizontal and vertical), and custom layout. These layouts can be selected in the options configuration dialog.

Title bar displays names of open input documents, files, video streams, images etc. for primary and assistant channels.

Ribbon bar combines features of traditional menu and toolbars.

Main menu provides an access to the majority of commands available in Breeze. Most frequently used commands are also available in the pop-up menus invoked by the clicking the right button of a mouse.

Toolbars is fast way to access Breeze commands. All commands supported by toolbars are also available in the main menu and ribbon bar.

Status bar is used to display text information about current state of a media document windows, menus, toolbars etc.

The Breeze explorer shows the list of all open media documents and media channels.

The property window displays the properties of the application objects selected in the Breeze explorer.

Media document window can be configured according to the concrete job. All components of media window can be hidden of shown at any time, except primary video pane. Controller and assistant video panes, toolbars and status bar can be hidden or shown in all available display modes. Title bar, main menu, toolbars and status line are hidden or shown automatically during a switching between the normal and full screen display modes.

When work in Breeze is completed and it is closing, the configuration data from the media windows is saved. When Breeze starts next time a media window restore its main configuration parameters from the saved data.