Batch Window (seen below):

• load source files
• apply settings

Batch Window: control-click in the toolbar area to customize

• choose Icon & Text view, Icon Only view, or Text Only view
• Remove Item - removes the item you have highlighted
• Customize Toolbar is self-explanatory

Settings/Destinations window (seen below):

• what you’re compressing for (DVD, iPod, MPEG-4, etc.)
• what codec is used
• where the file is going

Inspector Window (seen below):

• make changes if you want

History Window (seen below):

• what you’re working on
• what you’ve done

Preview Window (seen below):

• set Markers
• set IN and OUT

Regarding the windows:

• You can move and resize all the windows.
• If you want different layouts - go to Window - Layouts.
• Batch layouts do not include the Preview window.
• When in doubt about your options - Control-Click in a window or area and see what pops up.

Compressor - Preferences:

• Email Address: is for sending Compressor status messages to yourself or whoever.
• Outgoing Mail Server: needs to be filled in if you're sending emails.
• Auto launch Batch Monitor opens a window that tells you the progress of your compression(s).
• Auto launch Content Monitor opens a window that tells you the progress of all the computers compressing your source material (if you're using more than one computer).
• Quit after submitting batches from other applications - Compressor will open and close as needed, rather than just staying continuously on.
• Cluster Options: choose one option when you’re using multiple computers to get the job done and then decide if you want to Copy at submission (high priority).
• Default Setting: make one if you have a favorite.
• Default Destination: pick one if that's where you want all your compressions to go.
• Browse Wide Area Network should be checked if your work is on a network.
• DNS Domain: fill this in if your work is on a network. You can find your DNS Domain in networking preferences or from your administrator.

Job Window (within the Batch Window):

Batch = Job(s) with Target(s)

• Batches contain Jobs
• a Job is a single media file
• Jobs contain Targets
• Targets are the settings for the media file(s)

Important: Always save and name your Batch before closing out of Compressor if you haven't compressed and intend to return.

Add a file/movie to the Batch Window:

• Job - New Job makes another job window in the batch window.
• Job - New Job With File imports a file you’ve selected.
• You can also Control-Click in the Job Window or the Job Window Preview (the box with the arrow) and choose Source and then get the file you want:

You can highlight and then Delete any Job you don’t want inside a Batch - or - you can Control-Click in the Job Window and choose Clear Source:

Adding Settings:

Drag and drop from the Settings/Destination Window - or - Control-Click the Job Window - New Target With Setting (seen below):

New Target With Setting can eventually lead you to the option of compressing just the Audio or just the Video. (If you choose All and you don’t have both Audio and Video in your file to be compressed - you will get a Fail notice. Don't panic. You can't compress what isn't there.):

After you've decided your compression choices, you click Submit. Then you will be asked to decide a Name, a Cluster and a Priority:

You can change your file names, especially if they're too long.

Yellow Exclamation Point Triangles (seen below) mean you have files with the same names in the same destination location. If you don’t change the name, you’ll overwrite those files with the ones you’re about to make in Compressor.

After you submit your choices, the Batch Monitor Window (seen below) opens up (if you've checked the box next to it in Preferences) and you can keep watch on how your compression job is doing.

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