File management

Opening a file

The Iconik Player can open files from Iconik or directly from your computer:

From Iconik

1. Open the Iconik browser 
2. Select the Assets tab
3. Navigate through your collection structure or use the search field
4. Double-click any asset to load it in the player

From Local Files

1. Open the Iconik browser
2. Select the Local Files tab
3. Browse to your file using the file system navigator
4. Double-click the file to load it in the player
5. Local files can also be added by dragging and dropping into the player UI

From My Shares

1. Open the Iconik browser
2. Select the My Shares tab
3. Choose a share to open
4. Click Open Share to open all shared assets

From a shared link

1. Copy a shared link
2. In the Iconik Player, click Open Share
3. Paste the link and click OK

Files will download and begin playing. You can switch between files without closing the current one by simply double-clicking another asset.

Playing files from storage

The Iconik Player can access files from multiple storage locations:

Cloud storage

Files stored in cloud storage (AWS S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, etc) are downloaded to your local machine before playback for full color accuracy and sync. Downloaded files are stored in a temporary location. Auto-delete preferences can be configured in settings.

ISG (Iconik Storage Gateway)

Files on ISG storage are accessed directly from local or network-attached storage. No download required; playback happens from the ISG location. Zero egress costs for ISG playback.

Egress Considerations When playing files from cloud storage, the player downloads the file, which incurs egress charges from your cloud provider. Consider these factors:

• Original files: Full file size download (potentially 50-200GB for high-resolution video)
• Proxies: Much smaller download (typically 500MB-2GB)
• ISG files: No egress charges as files are accessed locally

File type preferences

Configure which file types the player loads by default:

1. Open Preferences
2. Select FileType
3. Choose your preferred default:

• Original File - Load highest quality original media
• Web Proxy - Load web-optimized proxy files

Setting preferred ISG for original files

You can select which ISG (Iconik Storage Gateway) to use by default when playing back original files. This setting determines which local or network storage location the player will access first when multiple ISGs are available.

1. Open Preferences
2. Select Preferred ISG for original files
3. Choose from your configured ISGs in the dropdown menu, or select Not Set to let the player automatically choose based on file availability

Setting a preferred ISG is particularly useful for:

• Reducing latency by using the closest or fastest storage
• Avoiding cloud egress charges by prioritizing local storage
• Ensuring consistent performance across your workflow

Auto delete downloaded files

Enable this setting via Iconik Preferences to automatically remove downloaded files after viewing. Files are deleted when you close the file or exit the player. This helps manage local storage space and ensure the security of your content. 

This option can be disabled if you want to keep files for offline review.

Uploading to Iconik 

Upload local files directly from the player to your Iconik storage:

To upload files:

1. Click Upload to Iconik (use the upload icon in the lower left of the player, or find it in the Local Files tab)
   
2. Drag and drop files into the upload dialog, or click Add to browse for files
   
3. Choose the destination collection where files should be stored
   
4. Select the target storage location (cloud storage or ISG)
   
5. Click Upload to begin the transfer

Upload methods
The player uses your preferred upload method set in Iconik Preferences:

• Embedded Uploader - Files upload directly through the player. Suitable for smaller files and quick uploads.
• Iconik Agent (Recommended for large files) - If the Agent is not running when you initiate upload, you'll be prompted to start it. Once the Agent is running, click Retry to begin the upload. The Agent provides:
  • Faster upload speeds for large files
  • Background uploading
  • Resume capability if interrupted
  • Better handling of multiple simultaneous uploads

After upload
Once uploaded, files are automatically added to Iconik with proxy and keyframe generation triggered based on your storage settings.

Setting upload preferences
Configure your default upload method and preferences in Iconik Preferences.

Saving sessions

When you close the Iconik Player or quit the application, you'll be prompted to save your session if you have unsaved work:

If you choose Yes, the player will save:

• All annotations and drawings you've created during the session
• The current playlist of assets you were reviewing
• Playback position and settings

This allows you to:

• Resume your review exactly where you left off
• Return to the same set of assets without re-selecting them
• Preserve all your markup work for later review

Saved sessions can be loaded later, restoring your complete workspace, including the playlist and all drawings you created.

If you choose No, any unsaved annotations and the current playlist will be discarded. However, any comments you've already posted to Iconik will still be saved (comments are saved immediately when posted, not as part of session saving).