Grass Valley Xnews Vertigo Suite User Manual

User Manual

Xnews

MOS Compliant NCS Graphics Plug-in

M852-0900-500

Copyright & Trademark Notice

Copyright © 2015, Grass Valley USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

Belden, Belden Sending All The Right Signals, and the Belden logo are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Belden Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United States and
other jurisdictions. Grass Valley USA, LLC, Miranda, Vertigo Suite, Vertigo XG and Xmedia
Server are trademarks or registered trademarks of Grass Valley USA, LLC. Belden Inc.,
Grass Valley USA, LLC, and other parties may also have trademark rights in other terms
used herein.

Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully. By using the Xnews
documentation, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

Grass Valley hereby grants permission and license to owners of the Vertigo Suite to use
their product manuals for their own internal business use. Manuals for Grass Valley, A
Belden Brand products may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
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A Grass Valley manual may have been revised to reflect changes made to the product
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product. Care should be taken to ensure that one obtains the proper manual version for a
specific product serial number.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Grass Valley.

Warranty Policies

Warranty information is available in the Support section of the Grass Valley Web site
(www.grassvalley.com).

Document Identification

Title Xnews User Manual

Part number M852-0900-500

SW version Vertigo Suite v5.0

Revision History

After the original release date, the Xnews User Manual may be updated with edits and then
re-released. The following table tracks the versions of this document.

Revision date Description

November 28, 2014 Original release

March 02, 2015 • Vertigo Suite v5.0 SP1 release

• Added note about the Xmedia Server’s User Rights
Management possibly restricting Search XMS results
(page 3-21

• Added information about the AP Graphics Search’s
Editorial Notes icon to page 7-3

April 15, 2015 • Specified that the NCS ID and MOS ID values in the

MOS settings dialog must be uppercase characters
(page 2-19

and page 3-31).

.

).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introducing Xnews...............................................................................................................1-1

The newsroom workflow with the Vertigo Suite ................................................................................. 1-3

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System ................................................. 2-1

Integrating Xnews into your newsroom computer system (iNEWS or ENPS) ................................... 2-2

Installing Xnews on a NCS workstation ............................................................................................. 2-3

Configuring the xnews.ini file ............................................................................................................. 2-5

Enabling the Playout Preview setting ........................................................................................... 2-5

Enabling Embedded Pages or Shared Pages mode .................................................................... 2-6

Enabling Privates Pages mode..................................................................................................... 2-7

Editing the MOS version for iNEWS ............................................................................................. 2-9

Starting Xnews for the first time....................................................................................................... 2-10

Xnews licensing............................................................................................................................... 2-11

Configuring the Xnews settings....................................................................................................... 2-12

Servers settings .......................................................................................................................... 2-13

Backup Server settings............................................................................................................... 2-14

Preferences settings ................................................................................................................... 2-15

Defaults settings ......................................................................................................................... 2-17

MOS settings .............................................................................................................................. 2-19

Spell Check settings ................................................................................................................... 2-20

Logging settings.......................................................................................................................... 2-21

Familiarizing yourself with the Xnews Interface ............................................................... 3-1

Opening Xnews in ENPS................................................................................................................... 3-2

Opening Xnews in iNEWS................................................................................................................. 3-3

Overview of the Xnews interface ....................................................................................................... 3-4

Toolbar buttons on the Xnews interface ............................................................................................ 3-6

Using the Asset Browser in Xnews.................................................................................................... 3-8

Opening/hiding the Asset Browser panel...................................................................................... 3-9

Refreshing a category................................................................................................................... 3-9

Adding a new category ............................................................................................................... 3-10

Setting access permissions for an asset category...................................................................... 3-11

Asset Gallery, Home Area and Status bar....................................................................................... 3-14

Changing the view style (Detail or Proxy)................................................................................... 3-15

Opening a template or page in the Home Area .......................................................................... 3-16

Changing the edit and creation settings for shared pages.......................................................... 3-17

Zooming in/out of a template or page on the Home Area ........................................................... 3-18

Displaying a listing of Work Orders or Jobs ................................................................................ 3-19

Using the Drag bar to create embedded pages and clips................................................................ 3-20

Searching for assets on the Xmedia Server .................................................................................... 3-21

Creating and using Work Orders ..................................................................................................... 3-23

Creating a new work order and an initial job request.................................................................. 3-24

Viewing existing work orders and/or jobs.................................................................................... 3-26

Adding a job to an existing work order........................................................................................ 3-28

Xnews User Manual TOC-1

Table of Contents

Removing a work order or job from the XMS...............................................................................3-30

Fulfilling jobs using assets stored on the Xmedia Server ............................................................3-30

Fulfilling jobs using images from the AP Graphics Bank .............................................................3-31

Preparing to use Xnews ...................................................................................................... 4-1

Creating templates in Xstudio.............................................................................................................4-2

Choosing between embedded, shared or private pages ....................................................................4-5

Creating a clip template in Xstudio for clip playout .............................................................................4-7

Creating a clip template .................................................................................................................4-7

Specifying the clip template on a device’s configuration ...............................................................4-9

Embedded Pages: Creating, editing and previewing ....................................................... 5-1

Creating a new embedded page from a template ..............................................................................5-2

Opening an existing embedded page.................................................................................................5-3

Changing a template’s editable fields.................................................................................................5-4

Replacing an image, cel animation or a clip on a page ......................................................................5-5

Editing a page’s image using the Image Editor ..................................................................................5-7

Zooming in/out and repositioning the image ..................................................................................5-8

Cropping an image ......................................................................................................................5-10

Making color adjustments ............................................................................................................5-12

Adjusting the sharpness of an image...........................................................................................5-13

Using the Image Modification buttons to flip an image ................................................................5-13

Previewing the on-air look of a page ................................................................................................5-14

Saving and adding embedded pages to a story ...............................................................................5-15

Shared Pages: Creating, editing and previewing ............................................................. 6-1

Creating a new shared page from a template ....................................................................................6-2

Opening an existing shared page.......................................................................................................6-3

Editing and previewing a shared page ...............................................................................................6-4

Saving shared pages to the Xmedia Server .......................................................................................6-5

Adding shared pages to a story..........................................................................................................6-7

Acquiring images from the AP Graphics Bank................................................................. 7-1

Enabling AP Graphics Bank integration in the Xmedia Server...........................................................7-2

Searching the AP Graphics Bank for images .....................................................................................7-3

Adding AP Graphics Bank preview images to a Page........................................................................7-4

Purchasing AP Graphics Bank images...............................................................................................7-5

Clip Assets: Opening and editing the Mark In/Out settings ............................................ 8-1

Locating and opening a clip asset using the Xnews Asset Browser...................................................8-2

Preview and editing the clip’s mark in/out settings .............................................................................8-4

Overview of the standalone Mark In/Out Editor interface in ENPS................................................8-5

Overview of the embedded Mark In/Out Editor interface in iNEWS ..............................................8-7

Setting the Trim In and/or Trim Out points.....................................................................................8-8

Previewing the clip in the standalone Mark In/Out Editor ............................................................8-10

Creating and working with stories and rundowns in ENPS ............................................ 9-1

Creating a new rundown in ENPS ......................................................................................................9-2

TOC-2 Xnews User Manual

Table of Contents

Creating a new story within a rundown in ENPS ............................................................................... 9-3

Opening a story and adding graphics pages and/or clips in ENPS ................................................... 9-5

Saving a story to a rundown in ENPS................................................................................................ 9-7

Creating and working with stories in INEWS .................................................................. 10-1

Adding a new story to a rundown in iNEWS.................................................................................... 10-2

Opening a story and adding a page or clip in iNEWS...................................................................... 10-3

Opening a page or clip that belongs to a story in iNEWS................................................................ 10-5

Playing out rundowns using Xplay ...................................................................................11-1

Overview of the Xplay interface ....................................................................................................... 11-2

Opening a rundown in Xplay ........................................................................................................... 11-4

Updating and reloading a rundown in Xplay .................................................................................... 11-5

Configuring Xplay’s update and reload settings.......................................................................... 11-6

Manually reloading a rundown in Xplay ...................................................................................... 11-6

Verifying device connections in Xplay ............................................................................................. 11-7

Playing out a rundown in Xplay ....................................................................................................... 11-8

Automatic playout mode ............................................................................................................. 11-9

Manual playout mode ............................................................................................................... 11-10

Xnews User Manual TOC-3

Table of Contents

TOC-4 Xnews User Manual

1 INTRODUCING XNEWS

Associated Press ENPS

Avid iNEWS

Xnews is a MOS-compliant Newsroom Computer System (NCS) plug-in that provides news
producers and journalists with immediate access to images, graphic elements and
templates directly from their newsroom desktops. Graphic pages can be created or edited
to produce effective lower-thirds, over-the-shoulder graphics images, and full-screen builds
with animated highlights. Finished graphic pages can then be quickly dragged and dropped
into local news rundowns, which can then be played out using Xplay.

Xnews is available as an ActiveX plug-in or a stand-alone web client. As an ActiveX plug-in
software, Xnews integrates fully into any MOS compliant newsroom system, as well as
broadcast automation systems like:

Newsroom Computer Systems

• Associated Press ENPS

• Avid iNEWS

• Dalet Enterprise Edition

• Octopus NRCS

• VSNnews

• Annova Systems OpenMedia

Broadcast Automation / Production Control Systems

• Thomson – Grass Valley Ignite

• Ross OverDrive

Xnews User Manual 1-1

Introducing Xnews

NOTE

In “The newsroom workflow with the Vertigo Suite” on page 1-3, you will find conceptual
information on how Xnews and the Vertigo Suite integrate and operate within typical
newsroom environments.

Meanwhile, further chapters in this user manual provide practical information and
instructions for installing and integrating Xnews into your Newsroom Computer System, as
well as how to use Xnews to create, edit, and playout graphics pages and rundowns.

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System” on page 2-1

• “

• “Familiarizing yourself with the Xnews Interface” on page 3-1

• “Preparing to use Xnews” on page 4-1

• “Embedded Pages: Creating, editing and previewing” on page 5-1

• “Shared Pages: Creating, editing and previewing” on page 6-1

• “Clip Assets: Opening and editing the Mark In/Out settings” on page 8-1

• “Creating and working with stories and rundowns in ENPS” on page 9-1

• “Creating and working with stories in INEWS” on page 10-1

• “Playing out rundowns using Xplay” on page 11-1

Since Xnews is a plug-in that integrates into third-party newsroom computer systems, we
limit our documentation coverage to topics related to the operation and integration of
Xnews. We strongly recommend that you refer to your NCS’s user documentation for
instructions and information relating to using a newsroom computer system.

1-2 Xnews User Manual

The newsroom workflow with the Vertigo Suite

ENPS / iNews / Dalet

NCS Workstations

ENPS / iNews / Dalet

NCS Server

Xnews

VxWOM

MOS Gateway

MOS Plug-in

Work Order Management

Vertigo Suite environment

Newsroom environment

Xstudio

Template Designer

Xplay

Playout Control Device

Xmedia Server

Graphics Asset Management

Integrating the Vertigo Suite into your existing newsroom environment improves the
efficiency of your entire newsroom workflow. Graphic artists use Xstudio to create templates
for news graphics that are then stored on an Xmedia Server archive. These templates are
accessible to all the networked newsroom computer system (NCS) workstations used by
graphics artists and journalists.

Since Xnews is integrated into the NCS workstation interface as a plug-in application,
journalists can use Xnews to open Vertigo Suite templates and media libraries (i.e. images,
clips... etc.) to create the news graphics pages that they need to support a story. Once
completed, the journalist can simply drag-and-drop the graphics page into stories and
rundowns within the same newsroom system interface.

Introducing Xnews

Figure 1-1. Components of the Vertigo Suite integrate with existing newsroom computer systems

Xnews User Manual 1-3

Introducing Xnews

When journalists require a graphic element that does not already exist in the system, they
can use the Vertigo Suite’s Work Order Management system to create a request from the
Art department and insert a placeholder on their page. Once the graphic artist has created
the desired graphic element, the journalist can review/approve/reject it, then automatically
replace the placeholder on the graphics page with the new graphic element.

Using the MOS protocol, the newsroom computer system and the Vertigo Suite (i.e. Xmedia
Server and Xnews) are able to communicate the status of the graphics pages in the
rundowns, report errors, and recall the pages and their graphic elements. For news
Directors, the seamless integration of the Vertigo Suite with existing newsroom systems
facilitates the timing and organization of stories within the rundown, especially last minute
changes to the rundown. This template-based approach also means that graphics can be
created at high speed for breaking news.

With the Vertigo Suite integrated into an existing newsroom system, Xplay can be used to
control the playout of rundowns to output devices. Rundowns are stored on the Xmedia
Server and are easily loaded into Xplay as playlists. The most common way to control a
playlist is to advance through the items in order. Last minute changes to graphics can be
made on the fly, and even if the playlist has been changed by another user on a different
workstation, the latest version can still be quickly and easily accessed at any time.

1-4 Xnews User Manual

2 INSTALLING AND INTEGRATING XNEWS

Xnews

INTO YOUR NCS SYSTEM

Xnews integrates into your newsroom computer system as an ActiveX plug-in application.
As such, proper installation and configuration is essential to ensure proper functionality.

The integration of Xnews should only be performed by a qualified network or newsroom
system administrator (see page 2-2). However, journalists may be required to install Xnews
on their NCS workstation and configure the Xnews settings upon the first start-up.

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

Integrating Xnews into your newsroom computer system (iNEWS or ENPS)” on page 2-2

• “

• “Installing Xnews on a NCS workstation” on page 2-3

• “Configuring the xnews.ini file” on page 2-5

• “Starting Xnews for the first time” on page 2-10

• “Xnews licensing” on page 2-11

• “Configuring the Xnews settings” on page 2-12

Figure 2-1. Xnews is a plug-in application that integrates easily into the ENPS client workstation

Xnews User Manual 2-1

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Integrating Xnews into your newsroom computer system (iNEWS or ENPS)

Xnews integrates into your newsroom computer system (NCS) client workstation as an
ActiveX plug-in. This allows journalists to easily create graphics pages from templates and
quickly add them to the stories and rundowns without having to switch between two
applications.

Proper installation and configuration is essential to ensure proper functionality. Therefore,
we strongly recommend that the integration of Xnews into your newsroom computer system
be performed by a qualified network or newsroom system administrator.

Installation and configuration instructions for integrating Xnews into the Associated Press’
ENPS and Avid’s iNEWS newsroom computer systems are available to system
administrators in the Xmedia Server Configuration Guide.

NCS user documentation

If as a journalist or system administrator, you require information regarding your newsroom
that extends beyond the Xnews and Xmedia Server documentation, we suggest that you
consult the following user documentation resources:

Associated Press’ ENPS user documentation

Please consult the Associated Press’ user documentation for precise and detailed
information and instructions for setting up and using the ENPS newsroom computer
system.

• With ENPS open, clicking the F1 key brings up ENPS online help.

• ENPS - Basic User’s Guide by Associated Press Broadcast Technology

Avid’s iNEWS documentation user documentation

Please consult Avid’s iNEWS user documentation for precise and detailed information and
instructions for setting up and using the iNEWS newsroom computer system.

2-2 Xnews User Manual

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

NOTE

Installing Xnews on a NCS workstation

Xnews is an ActiveX plug-in that is installed on a NCS client workstation. To ensure the
proper functioning of the Xnews software, the client workstation must conform to the
following hardware and software requirements:

Recommended platform:

• Intel® Core™ i3, i5 or i7 series or Xeon 1.8 GHz or faster

•4 GB RAM

• 40 GB free hard drive space

• 100/1000 NIC

• 256 MB Nvidia/ATI video card

• Windows XP professional SP3 or Windows 7

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or later

Before installing Xnews

1. Ensure that the Xmedia Server is installed and configured (if unsure, consult your
network administrator).

The Xmedia Server runs the Vertigo Suite of products. It determines the directory paths
for the templates and pages. It also coordinates the licenses for the system, controls
the locations to which users working with the client components can publish image
files, and establishes a connection with the Media Object Server.

2. Ensure with your network administrator that sufficient Xnews licenses are available.
This should have been done when setting up the Xmedia Server. If not, your network
administrator must obtain the Machine ID of the Xmedia Server. Then contact our
Technical Support department ([e-mail]
purchase agreement.

3. Find out the IP
SERVER is installed (you will need this information when you first launch Xnews after
installation).

ADDRESS and PORT NUMBER of the computer on which the XMEDIA

) to verify your licensing

The server’s IP ADDRESS and PORT NUMBER are displayed in the status bar of the Xmedia
Server program.

To install Xnews:

1. Log on with administrator privileges (consult your network administrator for details).

2. Insert the Vertigo Suite CD-ROM and then in Windows Explorer browse to the CD drive.

3. Run setup.exe. The E

4. Read the agreement. If you choose to accept it, click I A

ERTIGO SUITE window is displayed, warning that all open applications should be

The V
closed before proceeding.

Xnews User Manual 2-3

ND USER LICENCE AGREEMENT window is displayed.

GREE to begin installation.

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

5. If all applications are closed, click CONTINUE, otherwise click EXIT SETUP to quit the
installation process.

If you clicked C

ONTINUE, another VERTIGO SUITE window is displayed, giving you the

opportunity to select where you would like the program to be installed on your system.

6. To accept the proposed default location, click C
If you would like a location other than the proposed default, click C

and make a new selection. Once you’ve finished, click C

ETUP OPTIONS window is displayed.

The S

7. Under COMPONENTS TO INSTALL, select the Xnews check box, then click CONTINUE.

8. Click F

INISH to start the installation process, or click EXIT SETUP to quit. If a warning

message appears stating that a file being copied is not newer than the current one,

ES to keep the existing file.

click Y

9. You will be prompted once installation has completed successfully.
Click OK to complete the procedure.
You may log off as administrator if desired, although it is not necessary in order to run

the program.

ONTINUE.

HANGE DIRECTORY

ONTINUE.

2-4 Xnews User Manual

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Configuring the xnews.ini file

Most of the Xnews settings are configured using the SETTINGS window (page 2-12).
However, there are three (3) very important scenarios in which you must configure settings
in the xnews.ini file.

The following topics introduce to you the three scenarios that require you to edit the
xnews.ini file:

Enabling the Playout Preview setting” on page 2-5

• “

• “Enabling Embedded Pages or Shared Pages mode” on page 2-6

• “Enabling Privates Pages mode” on page 2-7

• “Editing the MOS version for iNEWS” on page 2-9

Enabling the Playout Preview setting

While editing or creating of a page, Xnews allows you to preview the on-air playout
appearance and behavior of the page on a designated device (eg. Software CG).

For the preview page functionality to be used, you must enable the PLAYOUT settings in the
Xnews.ini file and the device must be exclusively available for Xnews connectivity.

Once these conditions are met, each time a page or template is opened in the Xnews Home
Area, the PREVIEW PAGE button appears in the toolbar allowing you to preview the page
on the device.

The following procedure provides instructions for enabling the Playout Preview mode in the
xnews.ini file, while “
information for how to use the Preview Page feature.

Previewing the on-air look of a page” on page 5-14 provides you with

To enable the Xnews Preview Page feature:

1. Ensure that Xnews is closed on the NCS workstation.

2. Verify that a playout device is properly configured in the Vertigo Suite’s Device
Manager/Configuration (i.e. Xplorer, Xstudio, Xbuilder, or Xplay).

3. Set the Playout settings in the Xnews.ini file.
a. Open the Xnews.ini file by navigating to and opening the xnews.ini file:

C:\ProgramData\VertigoXmedia\Settings\xnews.ini

b. Type the device’s name after the PreviewDeviceName= setting.
c. Edit the EnablePreview= setting from False to True.
d. Save the edits by selecting the F
e. Close the xnews.ini file.

Xnews User Manual 2-5

ILE>SAVE menu command.

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

NOTE

Enabling Embedded Pages or Shared Pages mode

By default, Xnews is configured to run in EMBEDDED PAGES MODE, which only allows you to
create embedded pages. This configuration is preferred in most cases since pages are
usually created for a specific story or rundown and then they are no longer needed (see

page 4-5

embedded pages, then you do not have to edit the EnableEmbeddedPages setting in the
xnews.ini file.

The Enable Private Pages setting in the xnews.ini file supersedes the Enable Embedded
Pages setting. As such, to create embedded pages you must ensure that the Enable Private
Pages setting is either not present in the xnews.ini file, or that
EnablePrivatePages=false.

If however, you want to save and re-use the same page(s) in several rundowns, then you
must configure Xnews for SHARED PAGES MODE. In Shared Pages mode, pages are created
and then saved on the Xmedia Server as a Page asset. This type of page is often referred
to as a shared page because it can be used by multiple stories and/or rundowns (see page

4-5 for more information about embedded pages).

The following procedures describes how to configure Xnews to run in shared page mode,
as well as how to revert Xnews back to Embedded Pages mode.

for more information about embedded pages). If your intention is to create

To configure Xnews to run in Shared Page mode:

1. Ensure that Xnews is closed on the NCS workstation.

2. Open the Xnews.ini file by navigating to the following folder and opening the
xnews.ini file:

C:\ProgramData\VertigoXmedia\Settings

3. In the [Preferences] section, set EnableEmbeddedPages= to False.
This setting allows you to save the page as a shared page (an asset) on the Xmedia

Server.

4. Set the [Quiet Mode]parameter:

• If you want to specify a name and category for the page, set the

UseQuietMode2= to False. This allows the S
when you attempt to save the page.

Or,

• If you want the shared page’s name and category assignment to be identical

in the Pages category to how it was in the Templates root category, set the
UseQuietMode2= to True.

5. Save and close the xnews.ini file.

To revert Xnews back to embedded mode:

1. Ensure that Xnews is closed on the NCS workstation.

2. Open the Xnews.ini file by navigating to the following folder and opening the
xnews.ini file:

2-6 Xnews User Manual

AVE PAGE window to appear

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VertigoXmedia\Settings

NOTE

3. In the [Preferences] section, set EnableEmbeddedPages= to True.
This setting allows you to save the page as a embedded page in a story.

4. In the [Quiet Mode]section, set the UseQuietMode2= to True. This setting ensures
that the embedded page’s name is automatically assigned when it is inserted into a
story.

5. Save and close the xnews.ini file.

Enabling Privates Pages mode

To create Private pages in Xnews, you must first enable the Private Pages setting in the

xnews.ini file. You must also set the Expiry settings for Private Pages in the MOS options
on the Xmedia Server Properties window.

Once these settings are properly set, dragging a template and inserting it into a story in
Xnews will create a private page.

See “Choosing between embedded, shared or private pages” on page 4-5 for more
information about Private Pages.

To configure Private pages in the xnews.ini file:

1. Ensure that Xnews is closed on the NCS workstation.

2. Open the Xnews.ini file by navigating to the following folder and opening the
xnews.ini file:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VertigoXmedia\Settings

3. In the [Preferences] section, set EnablePrivatePages= to True

4. Save and close the xnews.ini file.

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

To set the Private Page Expiry settings:

1. Open the Xmedia Server Properties window (XMS Panel).

2. Select the MOS tab.

3. In the MOS O

4. In the U
number of days after which an unused private page is to be removed from the Xmedia
Server. The default value is 30 days.

A private page is considered to be no longer in use if it is not referenced by any
rundown in the Xmedia Server. This can occur when a page is deleted from a rundown,
floated or its rundown is made MOS Control Inactive. If the Private page is restored
before the expiry deadline, then it will not be removed from the Xmedia Server.

Each time a private page is edited in Xnews, a new private page is created. If the old
private page is not bound to any other segments when the story is saved to the Xmedia
Server, then the old private page will have its expiry date set to the current time plus
the value of U

Xnews User Manual 2-7

PTIONS, drop-down list, select PRIVATE PAGES.

NREFERENCED PRIVATE PAGE EXPIRY setting, enter a value to represent the

NREFERENCED PRIVATE PAGE EXPIRY.

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

5. In the TEMPORARY PRIVATE PAGE EXPIRY setting, enter a value to represent the number
of days after which an unsaved Private page is to be removed from the Xmedia Server.
The default value is 1 day.

Temporary Private pages refer to Private pages that were created in Xnews, but never
saved to a rundown on the Xmedia Server. For example, if a page is added to a story,
but the story is never added to a rundown, then the contained page is considered
temporary and it will be removed as specified by this setting.

6. Click OK.

2-8 Xnews User Manual

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Editing the MOS version for iNEWS

If you are using Xnews within a iNEWS system, you must apply the following edits to the

Xnews.ini file’s settings.

[Preferences]

DisableSaveAndClose=True

HideSaveAndInsert=True

[MOS]

MOS_Version=2.6

These changes are necessary since iNEWS uses MOS version 2.6, rather than version 2.8
(default). As a consequence, both the S
button are disabled since they send MOS 2.8 commands.

With these buttons disabled, you can still save a new page by dragging it into the rundown
(see page 10-2
Xnews window, which will insert the page (MOS item) back into the story after having edited
it.

). Or, use the APPLY button that appears in iNEWS itself, just below the

AVE AND INSERT PAGE button and the SAVE

Xnews User Manual 2-9

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Starting Xnews for the first time

When you initially launch Xnews (see page 3-2 and page 3-3), a red bar will display to
indicate that you are not connected to an Xmedia Server. As a client application, Xnews
must be connected to the Xmedia Server. Since you have only just installed Xnews, you
have not yet had the opportunity to connect it to the server.

When the message displays:

1. In Xnews, right-click on the Drag bar (see page 3-20
command.

ETTINGS window appears (figure 2-2).

The S

) and select the CHANGE SETTINGS

Figure 2-2. Specify the Xmedia Server’s IP address and Port in the Settings window

2. In the Xmedia Server H
hosting the Xmedia Server.

3. Unless the port number was changed when the Xmedia Server was installed, the
default in the Xmedia Server P
the new number.

4. Click OK. For changes to take effect, close Xnews and then re-launch.
If the connection to the Xmedia Server is not established, consult your system

administrator. The problem could be due to one of the following:

• The IP address or port was entered incorrectly.

• The machine hosting the Xmedia Server is down.

• The Xmedia Server is not running on the host machine.

• The machine is not connected to the network.

2-10 Xnews User Manual

OSTNAME/IP ADDRESS field, enter the IP address of the machine

ORT field will be correct (14050). If it was changed, enter

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Xnews licensing

As a licensed software application, Xnews checks the Xmedia Server upon startup for a
valid Xnews license. If a license has been installed and is available, Xnews opens normally
and is ready for use. However, if a license has not been installed or there are none currently
available, Xnews displays an error message (figure 2-3

Figure 2-3. License error: “There are no more floating licenses available for Xnews. Please try again later.”

As the license error message states, it might just be a case that your system has limited
number of floating licenses and that none are currently available. In such a case, you must
wait until one becomes available before you will be able to use Xnews.

If however you suspect that the Xnews license was not installed on the Xmedia Server, or
if you suspect that something is wrong with the license (i.e. expired); we encourage you to
contact your network or newsroom system administrator. The administrator will be able to
open the Vertigo Suite License Manager to add or verify the Xnews license (see “Xmedia
Server Configuration Guide” for more information).

).

Figure 2-4. Xnews license detail in the License Manager on the Xmedia Server

Xnews User Manual 2-11

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

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2

Configuring the Xnews settings

Xnews settings are accessed by right-clicking in the Drag bar (1) or the Status bar (2) and
selecting the C

The C

HANGE SETTINGS command opens the SETTINGS window (figure 2-6). Selecting a

setting category from the list in the left-hand portion of the Settings window displays the
settings for the category.

HANGE SETTINGS command (figure 2-5).

Figure 2-5. There are two ways to access the Change Settings command

Figure 2-6. The Settings window

The following sections provide detailed information about each of the Xnews settings:

Servers settings” on page 2-13

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• “

• “Backup Server settings” on page 2-14

• “Preferences settings” on page 2-15

• “Defaults settings” on page 2-17

• “MOS settings” on page 2-19

• “Spell Check settings” on page 2-20

Servers settings

As a client application, Xnews must be connected to the Xmedia Server in order to be able
to access templates and pages stored on the network. It must also be connected to the Data
Server in order to access the data specified by the templates. The information entered in
the Server settings tells Xnews which machines hosts the servers.

When Xnews is initially launched the Server tab is the first one displayed. Xnews cannot run
until key information is provided here.

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Figure 2-7. Xnews’ Server settings

The following settings must be specified on the Server settings tab:

XmediaServer

• Hostname / IP - The hostname or IP address of the machine hosting the Xmedia
Server.

• Port - The port number on which the connection to the Xmedia Server is established.
Normally the XMS port value is 14050.

Data Server

• Hostname / IP - The hostname or IP address of the machine hosting the Data Server.

• Port - The port number on which the connection to the Data Server is established.
Normally the DataServer port value is 14060.

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Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Backup Server settings

By specifying the Backup Server settings, Xnews is able to seemlessly connect to the
secondary server’s XMS service and Data Server in the event that the primary Xmedia
Server unexpectedly goes down.

Figure 2-8. Xnews’ Backup Server settings

The following settings must be specified on the Backup Server settings tab:

Backup XmediaServer

• Hostname / IP Address - Specifies the backup server’s IP address used in case of
failure of the primary Xmedia Server.

• Port - Specifies the backup server’s port used in case of failure of the primary Xmedia
Server.

Backup DataServer

• Backup Data Server Hostname / IP Address - Specifies the backup data server’s IP
address used in case of failure of the primary data server.

• Backup Data Server Port - Specifies the backup data server’s port used in case of
failure of the primary data server.

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Preferences settings

The PREFERENCES page contains settings that allow you to determine some of the behavior
and appearance defaults for the Asset Gallery, Asset Browser, and Work Order
Management system in Xnews.

User interface options”

• “

• “Automatic behavior options”

• “Work Order Options”

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Figure 2-9. Xnews’ Preferences settings

User interface options

• Startup view - This setting allows you to specify the default view for the Xnews Asset
Gallery. When PROXY VIEW is selected, the contents of the Pages and Templates root
categories are displayed in the Asset Gallery as thumbnail images. When DETAIL VIEW
is selected, the contents of the Pages and Templates root categories are displayed in
the Asset Gallery as a list of the assets’ basic properties. See “

(Detail or Proxy)” on page 3-15 for more information.

Changing the view style

Automatic behavior options

• Allow Creation of Server Pages - This setting is a mechanism for granting or
restricting permission for users to create and save new shared pages to the Xmedia
Server. See “

• Allow Edit of Server Pages - This setting is a mechanism for granting or restricting
permission for users to edit shared pages that are stored on the Xmedia Server. See

Allow Edit of Server Pages” on page 3-18 for more information.

“

• Hide the Asset Browser on open - When this setting is enabled, the Asset Browser
will collapse (hide) when a page or template is opened. See “

Browser panel” on page 3-9 for instructions on how to reopen the Asset Browser once

it is hidden. When this setting is disabled, the Asset Browser remains open when a
page or template is opened in the Home Area.

Xnews User Manual 2-15

Allow Creation of Server Pages” on page 3-17 for more information.

Opening/hiding the Asset

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

• Preserve Edits on New Page - Creates a new page based on a page that was just
edited and inserted into a story. Its functionality only applies to new pages created
using the following methods:

• holding down SHIFT and dragging the page into a story
or,

• holding down SHIFT and clicking the SAVE-AND-INSERT button.
Enabling the PRESERVE EDITS ON NEW PAGE setting and using one of the Shift

sequences (listed above), creates a new page that is identical to the page just dragged
out, including all edits that were made to the previous page. The practical use of this
feature is that the new page remains open in Xnews’ Home Area and is available for
editing starting from the previous page rather than the template.

Disabling the PRESERVE EDITS ON NEW PAGE setting and using one of the Shift
sequences (listed above), creates a new page that is identical to the template on which
it is based, discarding all edits that were made in the previous page.

Work Order Options

• Must have one job - When this setting is enabled, the first job is automatically created
when the new work order is requested. Enable this setting, as well as the CLOSE ON

SAVE NEW WORK ORDER setting (see below), when you want to be able to quickly create

work orders containing only one job.
Disable this setting, as well as the C

to use automatic job creation through auto-create-job assets, and create work orders
with multiple jobs.

Note that for changes to this setting to take effect, Xnews must be restarted.

• Close on save new work order - When this setting is enabled, the Work Order window
closes when the work order is saved. When this setting is disabled the Work Order
Window remains open after the work order has been saved.

• Printer - This setting allows you to specify a default printer to which work orders will be
printed when the P

RINT WORK ORDER button is selected from the Work Order

window.

• Number of rows in job list - This setting determines the number of rows that are
always visible in the job list portion of the Work Order window. Since most work orders
contain a small number of jobs, the default value of 3 is reasonable. If there are more
than three jobs in the work order, you can always scroll down through the list to view
the additional jobs. If you routinely add numerous jobs to a work order, this setting can
be set to a larger number so that you can see all the jobs without having to scroll. Note
that the minimum permitted value is 3 and the maximum permitted value is 10.

LOSE ON SAVE NEW WORK ORDER setting, if you want

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Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Remove Job Button

Number of rows in job list

Print Work Order buttonSave Work Order Button

Figure 2-10. The Work Order Options settings affect the features/behavior of the Work Order window

Defaults settings

The DEFAULTS page contains settings that allow you to specify some of the properties and
storage locations that will be used as the defaults for the Rundowns, Pages, and Place
Holder created or saved in Xnews.

• “

• “Pages default settings”

• “Placeholder categories default settings”

Xnews User Manual 2-17

Rundown default settings”

Figure 2-11. Xnews’ Default settings

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Rundown default settings

• Category - Enter the name of the category into which all rundowns will be stored by
default on the Xmedia Server. Note that the MOS C
enabled when the rundown is created.

• Offset - Enter the default amount of time delay (in seconds) between the playout of two
consecutive story elements in the rundown.

Pages default settings

• Author Name - Enter the name that will appear by default as the creator of all new

pages.

• Category - Enter the name of the category into which all shared pages will be stored

by default on the Xmedia Server.

• Life Span - All pages have an expiry date. Once reached, expired pages are deleted

from the system in order to keep the server from becoming clogged with pages that
are no longer relevant. Use this field to enter the number of days before a page
expires. If left at 0, the page never expires. If an existing page is edited, its expiry
date is reset to the number of days specified in this field.

Placeholder categories default settings

• Images - Specifies the category in which new image place holders are saved. If

unspecified, image place holders are saved to in the same category as the image
from which the place holder is created. Click the
SELECT CATEGORY window, which allows you to navigate to the desired category
location. Then click OK to automatically set the selected category as the default.

• Clips - Specifies the category in which new clip place holders are saved. If

unspecified, clip place holders are saved to the same category as the clip from
which the place holder is created. Click the
CATEGORY window, which allows you to navigate to the desired category location.
Then click OK to automatically set the selected category as the default.

ONTROL ACTIVE setting must be

BROWSE button to open the

BROWSE button to open the SELECT

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MOS settings

To integrate the Xmedia Server (XMS) into a newsroom environment, the Xmedia Server
must be configured as a MOS Server and then associated with a Newsroom Computer
System, like ENPS or iNews.

The following MOS settings are used for setting up the connection between Xnews and the
Media Object Server. Contact your system administrator for the NCS and MOS IDs.

• Newsroom Computer System ID - Enter the name of the server hosting your
newsroom computer system. This value must be type in all uppercase characters. Not
supplying a Newsroom Computer System ID will remove the ncsID tag altogether.

• For ENPS, the name of the ENPS Server, which can be found at

ENPS>S

• For iNEWS, the name of the iNEWS Server.

• Media Object Server ID - All MOS messages to and from the Xmedia Server will be
identified by the MOS ID assigned by your system administrator (e.g. VERTIGO). This
value must be type in all uppercase characters. Not supplying a MOS ID will result in
the Xmedia Server hostname being used as the Media Object Server ID.

• In ENPS, see ENPS>S

column.

• In iNEWS, this value matches the <mos> value within the configuration file on the

iNEWS MOS Gateway at
See your iNEWS administrator for assistance.

• TV Format - The video format that is being used by the Xmedia Server. Valid values are:

Installing and integrating Xnews into your NCS System

Figure 2-12. Xnews’ MOS settings

YSTEM MAINTENANCE>SERVERS.

YSTEM MAINTENANCE>MOS CONFIGURATION in the ID

C:/Program Files/Avid/MOS Gateway/mosconfig.xml.

• NTSC • HDTV_1080_30M

• PAL • HDTV_1080_25

• HDTV_720_60 • ITV

• HDTV_720_60M • NTSC_16_9

• HDTV_720_50 • PAL_16_9

• HDTV_1080_30

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