Setup

This walkthrough takes you from zero to a working security desk inside your virtual OS. You will place cameras in the level, add BP_Prog_CCTV to your operating system, and open the monitoring app at runtime.

flowchart LR
  A["1. Enable plugin content"] --> B["2. Place BP_CCTV_Actor"]
  B --> C["3. Add BP_Prog_CCTV to OS"]
  C --> D["4. PIE — launch CCTV app"]

1. Prerequisites

1. Enable Operating System Simulator (v3.7.0+) in Edit → Plugins.
2. In the Content Browser, enable Show Plugin Content and Show Engine Content.
3. Confirm OperatingSystemCCTV module loads (no compile errors after updating the plugin).

→ Full checklist: Prerequisites

2. Project Settings (optional)

Open Project Settings → CCTV Settings and verify UI Material points to:

OperatingSystemContent/CCTV/M_UI_CCTV

This material receives the Texture parameter from each camera’s render target. You can override it per camera — see CCTV settings.

3. Place cameras in the level

1. Open your gameplay level (the same map where your AOperatingSystemDeviceActor lives).
2. From plugin content, drag BP_CCTV_Actor into the viewport.
3. Rotate the actor so the Scene Capture component faces the area you want monitored.
4. Duplicate for additional feeds (hallway, entrance, server room, etc.).
5. Set Camera Name on each instance (e.g. Lobby, Parking) — empty names auto-fill as Cam 1, Cam 2, …

flowchart TB
  subgraph level["Your level"]
  Device["AOperatingSystemDeviceActor"]
  CamA["BP_CCTV_Actor · Lobby"]
  CamB["BP_CCTV_Actor · Parking"]
  end
  Device --- level
  CamA -->|"SceneCaptureComponent2D"| ViewA["Captures lobby geometry"]
  CamB -->|"SceneCaptureComponent2D"| ViewB["Captures parking geometry"]

Screenshot — Camera placement

Capture the level viewport with two BP_CCTV_Actor instances selected, showing Camera Name and Group in the Details panel.

Minimum camera properties

Property	Recommended	Notes
Start Activated	true	Registers with UOperatingSystemCCTVWorldSubsystem on BeginPlay
Group	Default (or custom)	Filter cameras by group in Blueprint
Main View Size	2048 × 1024	Single-camera fullscreen feed
Grid View Size	512 × 256	Multi-camera grid tiles

→ Deep dive: Camera actor

4. Register CCTV on your operating system

CCTV must be listed on your OS program collection so players can launch it from the desktop or Start menu.

Option A — Pre-installed (Must Have Programs)

1. Duplicate DA_NonUnix_ProgramsCollection from OperatingSystemContent/NonUnix/Blueprints/ into your project Content folder.
2. Open your duplicate and add BP_Prog_CCTV to Must Have Programs.
3. Assign that collection on your OS Blueprint (Must Have Programs property).

flowchart LR
  OS["BP_Tut_OS"] --> PC["DA_My_ProgramsCollection"]
  PC -->|"Must Have Programs"| CCTV["BP_Prog_CCTV"]
  PC --> Other["BP_Prog_Mail · …"]

Option B — Store install

Add BP_Prog_CCTV to your Store catalog Data Asset instead if you want players to install CCTV like optional software.

→ Create an operating system · Full device stack

Screenshot — Programs collection

Path: your duplicated DA_*_ProgramsCollection

Capture Must Have Programs with BP_Prog_CCTV visible in the array.

5. Verify program defaults

Open BP_Prog_CCTV (data-only view). C++ sets most properties; your Blueprint child only needs Widget Class and Data Class wired:

Property	Expected value
Identifier	cctv
Data Class	BP_Prog_CCTVData
Widget Class	WBP_CCTV
Save Method	DoNotSave
Start Window State	StartMaximized
Can Run On Portable Device	true
Initial Layout	SingleView
Capture Method	FrameBased
Capture Speed	Medium (every 30 frames)

→ CCTV program

6. Play-in-editor test

sequenceDiagram
  participant Player
  participant OS as Virtual OS
  participant CCTV as BP_Prog_CCTV
  participant Data as BP_Prog_CCTVData
  participant Cam as BP_CCTV_Actor

  Player->>OS: Boot device / login
  Player->>OS: Launch CCTV
  OS->>CCTV: OnStart
  CCTV->>Data: ShouldCreate — find cameras in world
  Data->>Cam: SetupId · register feeds
  loop Every 30 frames
    Data->>Cam: Capture deferred
    Cam-->>Data: Render target updated
  end
  Player->>OS: Views live feed in WBP_CCTV

1. Press Play on your level.
2. Interact with the device and log in.
3. Launch CCTV from the desktop or Start menu.
4. You should see the active camera feed. If multiple cameras exist, use the widget’s layout controls (wired in WBP_CCTV) to switch between single and grid views.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Fix
CCTV app does not appear	BP_Prog_CCTV missing from your programs collection
Black or empty feed	No BP_CCTV_Actor in level, or Start Activated is false
ERR_DATA_NULL for BP_Prog_CCTV	No cameras in level when OS boots — see Troubleshooting: CCTV
Low FPS with many cameras	Switch Capture Method to FrameBased with Slow or VerySlow speed

→ Troubleshooting

7. Next steps

Goal	Guide
Custom monitoring UI	CCTV widget
Camera groups & zoom	Camera actor
Runtime layout / capture API	CCTV program
Swapping scan-line material	CCTV settings