Compix AutoCast 3.1 User Manual

User Manual

Compix Media, Inc., 26 Edelman, Irvine, CA 92618, U.S.A.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express permission of Compix Media Incorporated.

Compix Media is a registered trademark of Compix Media Incorporated. AutoCast, GenCG, and the AutoCast logo are trademarks of Compix Media Incorporated. All other company and product names are

trademarks of their respective owners.

Compix Media Incorporated

Software License Agreement

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SOFTWARE. COMPIX MEDIA INCORPORATED

IS WILLING TO LICENSE THE SOFTWARE TO YOU AS THE INDIVIDUAL, THE COMPANY, OR THE LEGAL ENTITY THAT WILL BE UTILIZING THE SOFTWARE ONLY ON THE

CONDITION THAT YOU ACCEPT ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT. THIS IS A LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE CONTRACT BETWEEN YOU AND COMPIX MEDIA

INCORPORATED. BY OPENING THIS PACKAGE, BREAKING THE SEAL, OR OTHERWISE INDICATING ACCEPTANCE ELECTRONICALLY, OR LOADING THE SOFTWARE, YOU

AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, COMPIX MEDIA INCORPORATED IS UNWILL-

ING TO LICENSE THE SOFTWARE TO YOU, AND YOU SHOULD NOT UNSEAL THE DISK PACKAGE OR MAKE NO FURTHER USE OF THE SOFTWARE.

1. Denitions.

(A) “Software” means the software program covered by this agreement, and all related updates supplied by Compix Media Incorporated.

(B) “Compix Product” means the Compix Software and any related documentation, models, and multimedia content (such as animation, sound, and graphics), and all related updates supplied by Compix Media

Incorporated.

(C) “End-User Product” means the output le generated by you, if any, using the Compix Software. Examples of end-user products include animations, presentations, interactive multimedia material, interactive

entertainment products, and the like.

2. License.

The Software and documentation that accompanies this license is the property of Compix Media Incorporated, or its licensors, and is protected by copyright law. While Compix Media Incorporated continues to

own the Software, you will have certain rights to use the Software after your acceptance of this license.

The foregoing license gives you limited rights to use the Compix Product. You do not become the owner of, and Compix Media Incorporated retains title to, the Compix Product, and all copies thereof. All rights

not specically granted in this agreement, including federal and international copyrights, are reserved by Compix Media Incorporated.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. You may also have other legal rights which vary from state to state.

These limitations or exclusions of warranties and liability do not affect or prejudice the statutory rights of a consumer; i.e., a person acquiring goods otherwise than in the course of a business.

This agreement allows you to:

(A) Use the Software on the hard disk drive of any single compatible computer that you own. This License does not allow the Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the

Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. If you wish to use the Software on more than one computer, you must either erase the Software from the rst hard

drive before you install it onto a second hard drive, or else License an additional copy of the Software for each additional computer on which you want to use it.

(B) Make one backup copy of the Software, provided your backup copy is not installed or used on any computer and further provided that all such copies shall bear the original and unmodied copyright, patent,

and other intellectual property markings that appear on or in the Software. You may not transfer the rights to a backup copy unless you transfer all rights in the Software as provided under Section A.

3. Restrictions.

You may not, without written permission from Compix Media Incorporated: rent, lease, lend, redistribute, or sublicense the Software or any copy; use, copy, modify, merge, or transfer copies of the Software or

documentation except as provided in this Agreement; use any backup copy of the Software for any purpose other than to replace the original copy in the event it is destroyed or becomes defective; or decompile,

reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, or create derivative works of the Software or any part thereof.

Your rights under this License will terminate automatically without notice from Compix Media Incorporated if you fail to comply with term(s) of this License. Licensee also may terminate this License voluntarily

by giving notice of termination to Compix Media Incorporated and destroying or returning to Compix Media Incorporated all copies of all or any part of the Software and related user documentation in Licenses’

possession or under Licensee’s control.

4. Limited Warranty.

Compix Media Incorporated warrants the media on which the Software is recorded and the hardware delivered by Compix Media Incorporated to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal

use for a period of one (1) year from the date of original retail purchase. Your exclusive remedy under this Section shall be, at Compix Media Incorporated’s option, a refund of the purchase price of the Software

or replacement of the Software which is returned to Compix Media Incorporated with a copy of the receipt. In compliance with this Agreement, Compix Media Incorporated will replace a damaged or defective

interlock security device (dongle) no matter what the cause of the damage for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase. In order to receive a replacement device, you must return the damaged device to

Compix Media Incorporated, 26 Edelman, Irvine, CA 92618, U.S.A.

5. Lifetime Warranty on Software.

Compix Media Incorporated warrants only to the original purchaser of the Software that the Software will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service. All Software updates are

free of charge for the lifetime of the Software. The Software and documentation are provided on an “As Is” basis and Compix Media Incorporated does not warrant that the Software will satisfy all your require-

ments or that operation of the Software will be uninterrupted or that the Software will be free from defects.

6. Limitation of Liability.

Compix Media Incorporated shall not be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages or loss (including damages for loss of business, loss of prots, or the like), whether based on break of

contract, tort (including negligence), product liability, or otherwise, even if Compix Media Incorporated or its representatives have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the

limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

The exclusive remedies and limited liability set forth above are fundamental elements of the basis of the bargain between Compix Media Incorporated and you. You agree that Compix Media Incorporated would

not be able to provide the Software on an economic basis without such limitations.

7. General.

This agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the state of California. This agreement contains the complete agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all

prior or contemporaneous agreements or understandings, whether oral or written.

All questions concerning this agreement shall be directed to:

Compix Media, Inc., 26 Edelman, Irvine, CA 92618, U.S.A.

Contents

Chapter 1. Getting Started

Chapter 2. Basic Operations

Chapter 3. Importing Data

Chapter 1. Getting Started

Compatibility with Windows 7 ....................................................... 10

Compatibility with Windows 7 .................................................................................10

Creating Template Files in GenCG ................................................ 12

Static Templates .....................................................................................................12

Crawl Templates .....................................................................................................13

Roll Templates ........................................................................................................14

Compix Media AutoCast

Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter 2. Basic Operations

AutoCast User Interface.................................................................16

Board Conguration ................................................................................................16

Primary Screen .......................................................................................................16

Template List ..........................................................................................................17

Play Item Edit Window ............................................................................................17

Play List ..................................................................................................................20

Playback Controls ...................................................................................................21

Toolbar Icon Descriptions .............................................................24

Toolbar Icon Descriptions .......................................................................................24

Menu Options ..................................................................................25

View Menu ..............................................................................................................25

Tools Menu .............................................................................................................26

Help Menu ..............................................................................................................27

On-Air Shortcuts .............................................................................28

Keypad Shortcuts ...................................................................................................28

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter 3. Importing Data

Text Files .........................................................................................30

Prepare the Text File ..............................................................................................30

MultiData Function ..................................................................................................31

Watch Function .......................................................................................................32

Crawls .....................................................................................................................33

Microsoft Excel Files ...................................................................... 34

Prepare the Microsoft Excel File .............................................................................34

MultiData Function ..................................................................................................34

Watch Function .......................................................................................................34

XML ..................................................................................................35

Prepare the XML File ..............................................................................................35

Watch Function .......................................................................................................36

Web Sites ........................................................................................38

Prepare the Web Site Query...................................................................................38

Watch Function .......................................................................................................39

Crawls .....................................................................................................................40

Rolls ........................................................................................................................41

Multi-Page...............................................................................................................43

Databases........................................................................................44

Prepare the Database.............................................................................................44

Watch Function .......................................................................................................45

Crawls .....................................................................................................................46

RSS ..................................................................................................46

Crawls .....................................................................................................................46

Sports Interface ..............................................................................48

Watch Function .......................................................................................................48

Image and Animation Objects .......................................................49

Update Manually .....................................................................................................49

Update Using Text Files .........................................................................................49

Update Using Microsoft Excel Files ........................................................................49

Update Using XML..................................................................................................50

Update Using Databases ........................................................................................50

Update Using Sports Interface................................................................................50

Shortcut List ...................................................................................51

Shortcut List ............................................................................................................51

Compix Media AutoCast

Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter

Getting Started

Compatibility with Windows 7

Creating Template Files in GenCG

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Compatibility with Windows 7

AutoCast is now compatible with

Windows 7. The default folders

for opening and saving les have

been updated to t the Windows 7

requirements.

Security Settings

Two security settings need to be

in place for AutoCast 3.1 to work

smoothly in Windows 7.

Tip

Please Note:

Only new Compix systems have Windows 7 installed. Any existing Windows XP systems purchased from Com-

pix will not support user upgrades to Windows 7. If a customer upgrades from Windows XP to Windows 7, the

Compix warranty will be voided and Compix Media will not support the user upgrade.

1. Windows 7 must be running in Administrator Mode

The Administrator Mode is the default mode in which Windows 7 runs until new user accounts are created. Running AutoCast 3.1 in Administrator Mode helps with security parameters that Windows 7 has created.

2. The User Access Controls (UAC) must be set to the lowest level

Setting the UAC to the lowest level also combats the security parameters of

Windows 7.

To do this, click on the win-

dows icon at the bottom left corner

of the screen and right-click on [Computer], then click on [Properties].

Click on [Action Center] in the

lower left.

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Click on [Change User Access Control Settings] in the upper left.

This opens another window with a verticle

sliding bar. Move this bar to the lowest setting, [Never Notify], to stop security notica-

tion pop-ups. Click [OK] when done.

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Creating Template Files in GenCG

Before operating AutoCast 3.1, a library of template les should be prepared ahead of time. These templates contain the desired

color, font, and other attributes which will be brought to air.

Static Templates

Template les allow the user to

choose the the appropriate custom

graphics. Certain objects are speci-

ed to accept text or image les by

assigning a name or Alias. Template

les for AutoCast 3.1 are created in

GenCG.

Tip

It is recommended that alias objects

have names that easily identify their

purpose. For example, a lower third

template that is intended to display a

reporter name and location should have

two text elds. The aliases for these text

objects could be “Reporter Name” and

“Location”.

Open a new project in GenCG and set the rst page to [Still] or [MultiLayer] in the Page Mode drop down menu.

Create the graphic with the appropriate objects.

Right click a text, image, or animation object to be replaced within AutoCast,

then click on [Assign Alias].

Type a name for the object’s alias in the [Enter Alias] window and click [OK].

Repeat steps 3 to 4 for all desired objects to be replaced within AutoCast.

Once nished, save this template as a *.gcg le into one of the folders below.

Windows XP: C:\Program Files\Compix\AutoCast\Template

Windows 7: C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Compix\AutoCast\Templates

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Crawl Templates

AutoCast can also handle crawling

templates in the same way as the

Static Templates.

Open a new project in GenCG and set the rst page to [Crawl] in the Page Mode drop down menu.

Create the graphic with the appropriate objects.

Right click the text, image, or animation object to be replaced within AutoCast, then click on [Assign Alias].

Type in one of these alias names in the [EnterAlias] window as appropriate:

@crawl_bar

@crawl_image

@crawl_data

and click [OK].

Repeat steps 3 to 4 for all desired objects to be replaced within AutoCast.

Once nished, save this template as a *.gcg le into one of the folders below.

Windows XP: C:\Program Files\Compix\AutoCast\Template Windows 7: C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Compix\AutoCast\Templates

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Roll Templates

Templates for rolling text can be

made in the same way as the Static

Templates.

Tip

NOTE: When fullling templates using

AutoCast, Roll templates should be

treated as still pages. Follow the steps

in the respective MultiData Function or

Watch Function sections as appropriate.

Open a new project in GenCG and set the rst page to [Roll] in the Page Mode drop down menu.

Create the graphic with the appropriate objects.

Right click the text, image, or animation object to be replaced within AutoCast,

then click on [Assign Alias].

Type a name for the object’s alias in the [Enter Alias] window and click [OK].

Repeat steps 3 to 4 for all desired objects to be replaced within AutoCast.

Once nished, save this template as a *.gcg le into one of the folders below.

Windows XP: C:\Program Files\Compix\AutoCast\Template

Windows 7: C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Compix\AutoCast\Templates

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Chapter

Basic Operations

AutoCast User Interface

Toolbar Icon Descriptions

On-Air Shortcuts

Menu Options

Chapter 2 Basic Operations

AutoCast User Interface

Board Conguration

When starting AutoCast, if the

system has two video output boards

and no Compix application is run-

ning, a window will pop up like the

one to the right. Since the congu-

ration of each channel is hardware

specic, selecting the right channel

to open AutoCast in is imperative.

Primary Screen

The picture shown to the right is the

user interface of AutoCast.

If you would like AutoCast opened on both channels,

select the Open Both checkbox

before pressing OK. AutoCast will open on both channels allowing for immediant

interaction.

If you do not receive

a Select Channel option when open-

ing AutoCast on a

two channel Compix

system, then one

channel is already

occupied by a Com-

pix software.

The user interface is the most es-

sential part of AutoCast and it is

important to learn the terms and

functions thoroughly.

Template List: This list displays templates created within GenCG for use by Auto-

Cast.

Play Item Edit Window: Add data to the selected template using one of many

data import methods.

PlayList: Consists of all added pages in sequence. Each page consists of a template

and its corresponding data.

Playback Controls: Controls for bringing pages on-air. Either cut pages quickly in

and out or play through the page sequence.

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

Template List

The Template List displays all tem-

plates as thumbnails. The window

can be resized by clicking and drag-

ging the border on the right or it can

be completely eliminated by clicking

on the button at the top right.

Tip

Any window within AutoCast can be

resized, repositioned, or removed.

Right Click Options

Right-clicking on a template thumb-

nail gives the user the option to

refresh the list or edit that particular

template in GenCG.

Chapter 2 Basic Operations

Play Item Edit Window

In this window, choose which type of

data will be uploaded to the selected

template. View the combined data

and template in a preview window

before adding it to the PlayList.

Template Information: Displays

the number of the page in the PlayList using

this template and the name of the template

itself.

PlayList Buttons: These buttons

incorporate the page into the PlayList.

Data Source: Use this section to tell

AutoCast where the data for the page will

be coming from.

Data Table: This displays the aliases

of the template and its associated data.

Preview Window: This shows a

preview of the page, merging the template

with the information to display how the page

will look upon playout.

Compix Media AutoCast Document No: 2.3.003 Revision: 2.2 Updated: 9/12/2012

+ 34 hidden pages

Compix AutoCast 3.1 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual