Grass Valley Xpanel Vertigo Suite User Manual

Xpanel

Branding graphics control

User Manual

M852-0700-480

www.miranda.com

Xpanel

Branding graphics control application

User Manual

Vertigo Suite v.4.8

Copyright Notice

© 2012 Miranda Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

Third Party Trademarks

All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Usage Agreement

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully. By using the Xpanel User Manual,
you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Miranda Technologies Inc. hereby grants permission and license to owners of Xpanel and
the Vertigo Suite to use their product manuals for their own internal business use. Manuals
for Miranda Technologies Inc. products may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any
purpose unless specifically authorized in writing by Miranda Technologies Inc.

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not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose,
regarding these materials and makes such materials available solely on an “As-Is” basis.

In no event shall Miranda Technologies Inc. be liable to anyone for special, collateral,
incidental, or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of purchase or use
of these materials. The sole and exclusive liability to Miranda Technologies Inc., regardless
of the form of action, shall not exceed the purchase price of the materials described herein.

Miranda Technologies Inc. reserves the right to revise and improve its products at any time
and without notice. This publication describes the state of this product at the time of its
publication, and may not reflect the product at all times in the future. Thus, different versions
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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 Miranda Technologies Inc.

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Software -- Restricted Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19 or the Commercial Computer
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Printed in Canada

Document Identification

• Title: Xpanel User Manual

• Part number: M852-0700-480

• Software version: Vertigo Suite v.4.8

• Last revised: June 21, 2012

Document Revision History

After the original release date, this user manual may be updated with edits and then re­released. The following table tracks the versions of this document.

Publication date Description

June 21, 2012 Original release of this user manual for Vertigo Suite v.4.8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introducing Xpanel ..............................................................................................................1-1

Getting started with Xpanel................................................................................................. 2-1

Installation and licensing information................................................................................................. 2-2

Starting Xpanel and connecting to the Xmedia Server ...................................................................... 2-3

Connecting Xpanel to an Xmedia Server...................................................................................... 2-3

Resolving a license error on startup ............................................................................................. 2-5

Overview of Xpanel’s user interface .................................................................................................. 2-6

Design mode interface components ............................................................................................. 2-7

Production mode interface components ....................................................................................... 2-9

Opening and positioning Xpanel’s Views.................................................................................... 2-11

Zooming in/out of the canvas...................................................................................................... 2-13

Panning across the canvas......................................................................................................... 2-13

Creating and loading a station configuration ................................................................... 3-1

Adding a device to the Station Manager............................................................................................ 3-2

Creating and saving a new station configuration ............................................................................... 3-4

Adding a channel to the station configuration.................................................................................... 3-5

Removing a device assignment from a channel ........................................................................... 3-7

Removing a channel from a station configuration......................................................................... 3-7

Loading a station configuration.......................................................................................................... 3-8

Building and editing panels ................................................................................................ 4-1

Opening panels or projects................................................................................................................ 4-2

Opening a new panel.................................................................................................................... 4-2

Opening an existing panel or project ............................................................................................4-3

Configuring the panel’s properties ..................................................................................................... 4-4

Adding objects and primitives to a panel ........................................................................................... 4-6

Configuring an object’s properties ..................................................................................................... 4-7

Primitive objects and their properties............................................................................................ 4-8

Drawing objects and their properties .......................................................................................... 4-13

DSK objects and their properties ................................................................................................4-15

Video objects and their properties ..............................................................................................4-21

Audio objects and their properties ..............................................................................................4-24

Other objects and their properties ..............................................................................................4-29

Configuring an object’s Control properties.................................................................................. 4-31

Creating a Channel Selector ........................................................................................................... 4-34

Positioning and formatting objects on the canvas ........................................................................... 4-36

Selecting, grouping, and/or layering objects on the canvas........................................................ 4-36

Resizing objects.......................................................................................................................... 4-39

Moving and positioning objects on the canvas ........................................................................... 4-42

Cutting, copying and pasting objects to/from the canvas............................................................ 4-46

Saving a panel ................................................................................................................................. 4-47

Adding panels to a project ............................................................................................................... 4-48

Xpanel User Manual TOC-1

Table of Contents

Exporting and importing a panel or project.......................................................................................4-49

Closing panels ..................................................................................................................................4-51

Adding events and actions to primitives and objects...................................................... 5-1

Selecting a standard event .................................................................................................................5-2

Adding a user event............................................................................................................................5-4

Adding a tally event ............................................................................................................................5-7

Adding actions to an event ...............................................................................................................5-12

Adding actions directly to the event .............................................................................................5-12

Adding conditions to an event’s action list ...................................................................................5-13

Using scripts to define a custom action .......................................................................................5-14

Duplicating, moving and ordering actions.........................................................................................5-16

Adding a data source to an object ..................................................................................... 6-1

Connecting Xpanel to the Data Server ..........................................................................................6-2

Creating and configuring data schemas .............................................................................................6-3

Creating a new data schema .........................................................................................................6-3

Editing schemas ............................................................................................................................6-5

Renaming or saving a copy of a schema with a new name...........................................................6-6

Deleting schemas ..........................................................................................................................6-6

Creating and configuring data entities ................................................................................................6-7

Creating a snapshot.......................................................................................................................6-7

Creating a ticker.............................................................................................................................6-9

Creating a multi-ticker..................................................................................................................6-11

Editing and deleting data entities.................................................................................................6-12

Renaming or saving a copy of a data entity with a new name.....................................................6-12

Linking data entities to a panel object ..............................................................................................6-13

Operating panels in Production mode............................................................................... 7-1

Opening panels and projects in Production mode..............................................................................7-2

Xpanel startup for operator control workstations ................................................................................7-3

Selecting channels using a Channel Selector ....................................................................................7-5

Using armed states (Arm & Take) ......................................................................................................7-7

Monitoring device connectivity............................................................................................................7-9

Monitoring device alarms..................................................................................................................7-11

Configuring and viewing Xpanel’s log files .......................................................................................7-12

A Quick reference to Xpanel’s menus & toolbars............................................................. 8-1

File menu commands ....................................................................................................................8-2

Edit menu commands ....................................................................................................................8-4

View menu commands ..................................................................................................................8-5

Format menu commands...............................................................................................................8-7

Tools menu commands .................................................................................................................8-9

Help menu commands...................................................................................................................8-9

TOC-2 Xpanel User Manual

1 INTRODUCING XPANEL

Xpanel is the Vertigo Suite’s application that allows you to create and operate “soft” control
panels for controlling the playout of graphics on external channel branding devices.
Specifically, Xpanel can be used to control the following Miranda channel branding devices:
Imagestore 750, Densite LGK-3901, Densite DSK-3901, Intuition, Intuition XG, Vertigo XG
and HMP devices.

Figure 1-1. Xpanel allows to build custom control panels for on-air control of branding devices

Xpanel’s Design mode provides an environment for creating custom control panels that
meet your specific functional needs. Building a control panel in Xpanel basically involves
adding and configuring Xpanel’s control objects (widgets), which provides operators with
manual and automated controls for selecting and playing out branding graphics, as well as
video and/or audio media on a single-channel or multiple channels. For example, panels
may include controls for performing the following tasks:

• Cutting or fading up and down graphics on specific device keyers

• Viewing what media is currently keyed up on a specific device keyer

• Adjusting the gain, transparency and/or positioning media on device keyers

• Adjusting the levels and playing out voice-over audio, while ducking program audio

• Performing A/B mixing of incoming video sources using traditional cut and fade transitions

• Monitoring the health and alarms of connected devices

Xpanel User Manual 1-1

Introducing Xpanel

If your control needs extend beyond the abilities of Xpanel’s objects, Xpanel also allows you
to add primitive objects, which can be configured to perform actions based on
playout/operator events or changes in tallies from the devices.

Xpanel also provides a station configuration, where channels and their associated devices
are defined. This simplifies panel creation by abstracting away device specifics and allows
for channel selection and ganged operation.

Once panels have been created and saved, they can be opened in Xpanel’s Production
mode and used by operators to control the on-air playout of graphics on the specified
channel branding devices.

1-2 Xpanel User Manual

2 GETTING STARTED WITH XPANEL

NOTE

To help get you started using Xpanel, this chapter provides you with information about
installing and licensing the Xpanel software. Once installed, you must configure Xpanel to
recognize and actively connect with a local or remote server (Xmedia Server).

Information and instructions to help you set-up and familiarize yourself with Xpanel are
provided in the following sections:

Installation and licensing information” on page 2-2

• “

• “Starting Xpanel and connecting to the Xmedia Server” on page 2-3

• “Overview of Xpanel’s user interface” on page 2-6

For users who are unfamiliar with the Xmedia Server, it is the centralized asset
management server and license manager for Vertigo applications and devices. The Xmedia
Server can run locally as a service on the Xpanel workstation, or it can be a remote/central
Xmedia Server device on the same network as the workstation running Xpanel. In both
cases, the Xmedia Server contains the assets and the database that Xpanel uses to play
out graphics and voice-over audio on branding devices. See “

Xmedia Server” on page 2-3 for more information.

Connecting Xpanel to an

Xpanel User Manual 2-1

Getting started with Xpanel

NOTE

Installation and licensing information

Xpanel is packaged with the Vertigo Suite software installation wizard. It can be installed as
part of the full installation or as an individual (standalone) component. In both cases, you
simply need to run the installation wizard on a workstation that is on the same network as
the Xmedia Server.

Information regarding the Vertigo Suite’s hardware and network requirements, as well as
instructions for installing and/or upgrading Xpanel, are available in the Vertigo Suite’s
Release Notes, which can be downloaded from the Miranda Support Portal
(http://www.miranda.com/support/product.php?name=Vertigo

Xpanel requires that a software application license be installed and validated on the Xmedia
Server that it is connected to (local or remote). Therefore, once Xpanel is installed, you must
contact the Miranda Technical Support team ([e-mail]
key for Xpanel. Then you must apply and validate the license using the Vertigo Suite’s
License Manager, which stores the license on the Xmedia Server. Instructions for acquiring
and validating Xpanel’s application license are also provided in the Vertigo Suite’s Release
Notes.

Xpanel will not operate properly unless its connection to the Xmedia Server is active and a
valid license is present. See page 2-5
license errors.

for more information about resolving connection and

).

) to request a license

2-2 Xpanel User Manual

Getting started with Xpanel

NOTE

NOTE

Starting Xpanel and connecting to the Xmedia Server

Open Xpanel by clicking VERTIGOXMEDIA>XPANEL from the Windows Start menu.

Each time Xpanel is opened, it verifies the connection to the server and the availability of
the Xpanel license. If both conditions are successful, then Xpanel opens and is ready to be
used. However, if either of these conditions is unsuccessful, an error message appears and
prompts you to resolve the situation.

The following sections describe how to resolve situations in which Xpanel cannot connect
to the Xmedia Server or find a valid license on startup.

Connecting Xpanel to an Xmedia Server” on page 2-3

• “

• “Resolving a license error on startup” on page 2-5

If Xpanel’s Startup options are configured to open in Production mode, a station
configuration must be loaded from the Xmedia Server before Xpanel can actually open.
See page 3-8 for more information.

Connecting Xpanel to an Xmedia Server

As a client application, Xpanel must always be connected to the Xmedia Server, which is
the centralized asset management server and license manager for Vertigo applications and
devices. The Xmedia Server can run locally as a service on the Xpanel workstation
(automatically installed as part of the Vertigo Suite installation) or it can be a remote/central
Xmedia Server device on the same network as the workstation running Xpanel. In both
cases, the Xmedia Server contains the assets and the database that Xpanel uses to play
out graphics and voice-over audio on branding devices.

While using Xpanel, the connection to the Xmedia Server must always be maintained (active),
otherwise you will be prevented from performing tasks that involve browsing or saving to the
Xmedia Server. Therefore, if for any reason the connection to the Xmedia Server fails
(disconnected), you must re-establish the connection before continuing to use Xpanel.

Common reasons for losing the connection are that the Xmedia Server or the machine
hosting Xpanel has lost its network connection (network is down, IP address has changed
or network cable disconnected), the Xmedia Server service has been stopped, or the
Xmedia Server machine has been shutdown or has crashed.

Xpanel User Manual 2-3

Getting started with Xpanel

Resolving an Xmedia Server connection failure when opening Xpanel:

1. Open Xpanel by clicking V
If Xpanel cannot successfully connect to the Xmedia Server, the following error

message appears.

ERTIGOXMEDIA>XPANEL from the Windows Start menu.

2. Click Yes and Xpanel’s O

PTIONS window opens and displays the Setup page.

3. Verify Xpanel’s server connection configuration.

•If the U

SE REMOTE XMS check box is unchecked, Xpanel is configured to connect

to the local Xmedia Server, which was installed as part of the Vertigo Suite’s
installation package. Since Xpanel was unable to connect to the local Xmedia
Server on start up, you should verify that the Xmedia Server Service is actively
running (MS C

•If the U

ONTROL PANEL>VERTIGOXMEDIA XMEDIASERVER>SERVICE CONTROL).

SE REMOTE XMS check box is checked, Xpanel is configured to

connect to a remote Xmedia Server (i.e. central Xmedia Server) that is on the
same network as the Xpanel client workstation.

Since Xpanel was unable to connect to the remote Xmedia Server on start up, verify
the accuracy of S

ERVER NAME / IP setting and the SERVER PORT setting (14050). If

these settings are incorrect, make the appropriate edits.
If these settings are correct, verify that the machine hosting the Xmedia Server is

operating, that it is actively connected to the network, and its Xmedia Server Service
is actively running.

4. Click OK.
If you made any changes to the server settings, a message box appears and informs

you that you must restart Xpanel for the new server to take effect.
Xpanel should now open. If Xpanel still does not open, contact your system

administrator to help troubleshoot any possible network problems.

2-4 Xpanel User Manual

Resolving a license error on startup

Resolving a license failure when opening Xpanel:

1. Open Xpanel by clicking VERTIGOXMEDIA>XPANEL from the Windows Start menu.
If Xpanel cannot successfully locate a valid Xpanel2 license on the Xmedia Server, the

following error message appears.

2. Evaluate and act according to the following:

• Click Enter License if you suspect that the cause of the license error is that the Xpanel2

license has not yet been installed and validated on the Xmedia Server. The License
Manager opens and you can follow the instructions in the Release Notes for acquiring and
installing a software license.

• Click Change Server if you suspect that the cause of the license error is that Xpanel is

connected to the wrong Xmedia Server (the license resides on another Xmedia Server).
Xpanel’s O

page 2-4 that describes how to resolve an Xmedia Server connection failure.

PTIONS window opens and displays the Setup page. Follow steps 3 and 4 on

Getting started with Xpanel

Xpanel User Manual 2-5

Getting started with Xpanel

NOTE

NOTE

= currently in Design Mode

= currently in Production Mode

Overview of Xpanel’s user interface

Xpanel has two work modes: Design and Production. Since each mode is used for different
purposes, Xpanel’s user interface provides unique interface features in each mode.

Which mode Xpanel opens in depends upon the START IN PRODUCTION MODE setting in
Xpanel’s Startup options (see page 2-7).

The P

RODUCTION MODE button located in the upper-right corner of the menu bar provides

an easy way to identify which mode Xpanel is currently in.

To switch between Design and Production mode:

• Select the V
Or,

• Press CTRL+P
Or,

• Click the P

In order to switch from Design mode to Production mode, a Station Configuration must be
loaded in Xpanel. See “Loading a station configuration” on page 3-8 for more information.

Also note that you may be prompted to enter a password when trying to switch from
Production mode to Design mode. See page 7-1 for more information.

The following sections provide a quick overview of the various user interface features, while
the remaining chapters provide more detailed descriptions within procedural contexts:

Design mode interface components” on page 2-7

• “

• “Production mode interface components” on page 2-9

The following sections provide instructions for managing and using Xpanel’s interface, like
opening/closing and docking/floating Xpanel’s Views, as well as how to zoom in/out or pan
across Xpanel’s canvas.

Opening and positioning Xpanel’s Views” on page 2-11

• “

• “Zooming in/out of the canvas” on page 2-13

• “Panning across the canvas” on page 2-13

IEW>PRODUCTION MODE menu command.

RODUCTION MODE button located in the upper-right corner of the menu bar.

2-6 Xpanel User Manual

Design mode interface components

1

2

5

6

3

4

7

= currently in Design Mode

= currently in Production Mode

Design mode is Xpanel’s authoring environment that allows you to create and edit panels.
This section provides a brief functional description of the main interface components in
Design mode.

Getting started with Xpanel

Figure 2-1. An example of a panel open in Xpanel’s Design mode

1. Menus - These menu commands provide access to the settings and administrative
functions that are relevant to Xpanel’s Design mode. See “

A Quick reference to

Xpanel’s menus & toolbars” on page 8-1 for a description of each menu command.

2. Objects toolbar - Panels are created by adding control objects to the panel’s canvas and
setting their properties. The objects toolbar consists of six (6) thematic tabs that contain
object buttons that can be dragged onto the panel. The objects become the mechanism
by which operators control broadcast graphics. See “

Adding objects and primitives to a

panel” on page 4-6 for a description of each object.

3. Production mode button - Xpanel has two work modes: Design and Production.
Besides being a toggle button to switch from one mode to the other, the Production
mode button also identifies Xpanel’s currently mode.

Xpanel User Manual 2-7

Getting started with Xpanel

4. Panel Canvas toolbar - When creating or editing a panel, the buttons in this toolbar
provide quick access to many of the administrative, editing and formatting functions
that are applied to the panel and its objects. See page 8-1
of each button in the toolbar.

5. Panel tabs and canvas - Each panel is created upon a canvas (workspace) where
objects are added and formatted into a functional control panel. Multiple panels can be
opened simultaneously, in which case a tab for each panel appears on top of the
canvas area. These panels can be stacked (default) or docked to the outer sides (side­by-side or up-down) by holding down the left-mouse button on a panel’s tab and using
the docking options. The panel’s canvas also has properties that determine its
appearance and behavior. The following sections provide information and instructions
on using the panel’s canvas:

Opening panels or projects” on page 4-2

• “

• “Configuring the panel’s properties” on page 4-4

• “Zooming in/out of the canvas” on page 2-13

• “Panning across the canvas” on page 2-13

6. Views - Xpanel provides several different views, which are mainly software tools used
in the creation and support of panels. As described on page 2-11, the views can be
docked panels or floating windows, which can be displayed or hidden.

The following views are available in Xpanel:

• Properties: Panels are created by adding objects to the panel’s canvas and setting

their properties. When an object, or the canvas itself, is selected, its current
properties settings are displayed in the Properties view. See page 4-4
for more information.

• Object List: A list of the objects that are currently on the panel. Right-clicking the

object allows you to select the Set as a drag & drop default and Reset the drag
& drop default commands.

• Asset Browser: The Asset Browser allows you to browse and preview the Panels,

Images, Data schemas that are stored on the Xmedia Server. Panels can be
opened directly from the Asset Browser, images can be dragged onto the canvas
and new data schemas can be created and linked to objects.

• Action Editor: All of the objects in Xpanel, except for primitives, are defined with a

specific purpose or function. For example, the DSK object is a toggle button for keying
up or down a graphic. The Action Editor allows you to add to the functionality of
standard Xpanel objects or define the functionality of primitive objects by configuring
and associating the objects with a set of actions to occur on an event. See “

events and actions to primitives and objects” on page 5-1 for more information.

• Script Editor: The Script Editor allows you to create or edit custom VB scripts to

provide more complex functionality to actions associated with Xpanel objects.

• Station Manager - Xpanel’s Station Manager allows you to define the devices on the

network and then create a station configuration, which groups the devices into channels.

Creating and loading a station configuration” on page 3-1 for more information.

See “

• RCP List - The RCP List allows you to configure the RCP-BR devices on your network.

for a functional description

and page 4-7

Adding

2-8 Xpanel User Manual

7. Status bar - The Status bar displays the name of the panel/project that is currently

NOTE

1

2

4

5

3

open in Xpanel. It also displays the status of a task that was just performed in Xpanel,
like successful completion saving a panel or exporting assets.

Production mode interface components

Production mode is Xpanel’s playout environment that allows you to load and use panels to
control playout devices.

Production mode makes the panels live. Therefore, if your intent is to explore the interface
or test the panel’s behavior, ensure that the selected devices are not live on air.

This section provides a brief functional description of the main interface components in
Production mode.

Getting started with Xpanel

1. Menus - Located along the top of the interface, these menu commands provide access

Xpanel User Manual 2-9

2. Panels & Tabs - In Production Mode, opened panels are displayed on the main area

Figure 2-2. An example of a panel open in Xpanel’s Production mode

to Xpanel’s setting and administrative functions that are relevant to Production mode.

A Quick reference to Xpanel’s menus & toolbars” on page 8-1 for a description of

See “
each menu command.

of the user interface. Multiple panels can be displayed at the same time, in which case
a tab appears on top of each panel. When multiple panels are open, they can be

Getting started with Xpanel

= currently in Design Mode

= currently in Production Mode

stacked (default) or docked to the outer sides (side-by-side or up-down) by holding
down the left-mouse button on a panel’s tab and using the docking options.

In Production mode, operators can interact with the panel’s objects (i.e. click buttons,
set text, select media... etc.), but they cannot edit the panel or its objects.

When the S

HOW ALARM TAB IN PRODUCTION MODE setting is enabled (see page 7-11),

the Alarms panel is loaded and displays the status of the device alarms and health
meters for the connected devices.

3. Status bar - The Status bar displays the name of the panel/project that is currently
open in Xpanel. It also displays the connection status of the devices associated with
the panel. You can click on the status bar to open the Connections Monitor view.

4. Production mode button - Xpanel has two work modes: Design and Production.
Besides being a toggle button to switch from one mode to the other, the Production
mode button also identifies Xpanel’s currently mode.

When Xpanel is intended to be used in Production mode only, it can be configured to
open in Production mode and the ability to switch to Design mode can be restricted
using a password protection. See page 7-1

for more information.

5. Connection Monitor - The Connection Monitor displays the connection status and
properties for the channels and devices that are assigned to the objects on the panel(s)
that are currently open in Xpanel. See “

Monitoring device connectivity” on page 7-9 for

more information.

2-10 Xpanel User Manual

Opening and positioning Xpanel’s Views

NOTE

Design mode

Production mode

As described on page 2-7 and page 2-9, Xpanel provides you with several views, which are
browsers and tools for building, configuring and monitoring the exact appearance and
behavior of the panel and its objects.

To avoid cluttering Xpanel’s interface and allow you to personalize the layout of your
workspace, the views are hidden by default. The following sections describe how once the
views are opened, they can be in the following states: floating, docked, hidden, pinned, or
tabbed.

For users, who are unfamiliar with the behaviors of docked and floating UI panels, the
following topics describe the basic tasks for controlling the layout of Xpanel views:

Opening and closing views” on page 2-11

• “

• “Floating versus docked views” on page 2-12

• “Positioning docked views” on page 2-12

• “Auto-hidden and pinned views” on page 2-13

Views and their layouts persist after being switched between Xpanel’s two modes, as well
as across Xpanel sessions.

Getting started with Xpanel

Opening and closing views

By default, the views are hidden from Xpanel’s main interface since they are used during
various stages panel building and usage.

• To open a view in either Design or Production mode, simply select the V
then choose one of the views. Alternatively if the view has one, you can use the view’s
keyboard shortcut.

• To close a view, either click the X button in the top-right corner of the view, or select

V

IEW menu and the view’s name once again or use the view’s keyboard shortcut.

Xpanel User Manual 2-11

IEW menu and

Getting started with Xpanel

Stacked

single panel with multiple tabs

(side-by-side)

Floating versus docked views

Views can be docked to the outer sides of the Xpanel interface or float as independent
windows. When a view is opened, it will appear in the state and position that it was last
closed in. Double-click the view’s title bar to toggle between docked and floating states.

Positioning docked views

Views can be docked along the outer sides of the Xpanel interface. When you hold down the
mouse’s left button over a view’s title bar, docking guides appear to indicate where the view can
be docked (figure 2-3

). To dock the view, simply drag the view’s title bar onto the dock guide.

Figure 2-3. Docking views to the outer sides of the Xpanel interface

Two or more docked elements can be docked in the same location by combining them into
a single panel with multiple tabs, or by stacking them.

When you drag a view by its title bar (or tab) on top of another view, a multi-position docking
tab appears (figure 2-4
new view will be stacked on top, below, or beside the current view in that location. If you
drop the view onto the center guide or onto the docked view’s title bar, the two views
combine into a multi-tab view.

Figure 2-4. Views sharing the same location (multi-tab or stacked)

2-12 Xpanel User Manual

). If you drag and drop the view onto one of the four outer guides, the

Auto-hidden and pinned views

By default, docked views are pinned to their location, meaning that appear when opened
and stay displayed until they are closed. Clicking the A
bar changes the view’s state from pinned to auto-hidden, which automatically hides the view
on the side leaving only a tab. The view is not closed, just hidden. To make the view re­appear, simply hover the mouse pointer over the view’s tab and click within the view. Each
time you click outside of the view however, the view automatically hides.

To change the view from auto-hidden to pinned, simply click A

Zooming in/out of the canvas

Whether Xpanel is in Design mode or Production mode, you may want to see a panel’s
objects in greater detail by zooming in on the canvas. Similarly, you can get an expanded
or distanced view of the canvas by zooming out of the canvas.

There are several methods for zooming in or out of the canvas:

Mouse wheel

• Click anywhere on the canvas and roll the mouse wheel forward to zoom in

or roll the mouse wheel backward to zoom out.

Alt key sequence

• Hold down the ALT key and the right mouse button, then drag a rectangle

around the specific area that you want to zoom in on.

Home key / Spacebar

• Press the H

the Xpanel’s current workspace’s frame.

OME key or spacebar on your keyboard to completely fit the canvas within

Getting started with Xpanel

UTO-HIDE button in the view’s title

UTO-HIDE button again.

Panning across the canvas

When you zoom in on a portion of the canvas, you may not see certain areas of the canvas.
Rather than zooming out and sacrificing the current zoomed view, you can maintain the
zoom scale by panning across the canvas to the area that was otherwise outside of the
window’s display.

To pan across the canvas:

Holding down the ALT key and press the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the canvas
toward the desired location.

Xpanel User Manual 2-13

Getting started with Xpanel

2-14 Xpanel User Manual

3 CREATING AND LOADING A STATION

CONFIGURATION

Before using Xpanel to create panels and control devices, you must ensure that the devices
that the panels will control are listed in Xpanel’s Station Manager, which means that they
are associated with the Xmedia Server. If a device is not listed, you must add the device’s
configuration profile to the Xmedia Server.

Once the devices are listed in the Station Manager, you must create a station configuration,
which is a set of channel definitions that group the devices. The station configuration is then
saved to the Xmedia Server and loaded in Xpanel so that you can set panel objects to
control specific channels or devices.

The following sections provide instructions for how to create and load station configurations:

Adding a device to the Station Manager” on page 3-2

• “

• “Creating and saving a new station configuration” on page 3-4

• “Adding a channel to the station configuration” on page 3-5

• “Loading a station configuration” on page 3-8

Figure 3-1. Xpanel’s Station Manager displays a station configuration that contains channels

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Creating and loading a station configuration

NOTE

NOTE

Adding a device to the Station Manager

Xpanel’s Station Manager identifies the output devices that are associated with the Xmedia
Server and therefore can be controlled by the panels created in Xpanel. If a device is not
listed in the Station Manager, you can add the device to the Xmedia Server by creating a
profile that defines the device’s connection and communication properties.

The following device types are supported and can be added to Xpanel’s Station Manager.

• Imagestore

•LGK

•DSK

• Intuition

• Intuition XG (Remote/Central Xmedia Server only)

• Vertigo XG (Remote/Central Xmedia Server only)

•HMP

•Xftp

• Xpublish Agent

Since several applications in the Vertigo Suite are capable of defining devices on the
Xmedia Server using the Device Manager, it is possible that the device configuration
profiles of some of the devices on your network are already present in the Station Manager.
As such, when you open Xpanel and it is connected to the Xmedia Server, the devices that
already exist in the Xmedia Server will appear in Xpanel’s Station Manager.

To add a new device configuration to the Xmedia Server using the Station Manager:

1. Launch Xpanel’s Station Manager by selecting the VIEW>STATION MANAGER menu
command.

2. Click the N
The D

INTUITION XG and VERTIGO XG devices are only listed if Xpanel is configured to connect to
a remote/central Xmedia Server. See “

Server” on page 2-3 for more information.

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EW DEVICE button and select the type of device from the drop-down list.

EVICE PROPERTIES window appears.

Starting Xpanel and connecting to the Xmedia

Creating and loading a station configuration

NOTE

3. Complete the following fields on the Device Properties’ General tab:

• N

AME: The name of the device.
LIAS: An optional field that provides an alternative name for the device on your network.

• A

ESCRIPTION: An optional field that lets you identify the device using a meaningful label. This

• D
is helpful for distinguishing similar devices at your facility.

ONTROL IP: The network location (IP address) or hostname of the selected device. The host

• C
must be available on the network.

ONTROL PORT: The networking port that serves as a channel for sending commands to and

• C
from the device.

4. Select the Publishing tab and complete the following fields:

UBLISH IP: The network location (IP address) or hostname of the of the machine to which

• P
assets are published when publishing to the selected device. This is usually set to the
same address as the Control IP. Note that the host must be available on the network.

UBLISH PORT: The networking port that serves as a channel for publishing assets.

• P
Typically, this value is set to 5001.

5. Click S

AVE.

The device is added to the device list in the Station Manager.

Notice that the image on the NEW DEVICE button has changed and now displays the icon
representing the device type of the last device added (e.g. for Imagestore devices).
This provides a shortcut to add a new device of that same type. If you want to add a new
device that is a different type, click the drop-down list arrow portion of the N

EW DEVICE

button and select the new device type.

Another method for quickly adding a new device is to select an existing device and use the

OPY DEVICE and PASTE DEVICE buttons in the Device List’s toolbar to create a copy

C
of the device. Select the copy of the device and click the D

EVICE PROPERTIES button .

Edit the device’s properties in the DEVICE PROPERTIES window and click SAVE.

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Creating and loading a station configuration

NOTE

NOTE

Creating and saving a new station configuration

The station configuration determines which channels and devices are available to be
controlled by the panels created in Xpanel.

The following procedures describes how to create a station configuration by assigning
devices from the Station Manager’s Device List to the channels and then saving the station
configuration to the Xmedia Server.

Although station configurations are saved to the Xmedia Server, they can only be used on
instances of Xpanel that are connected to that server. The station configuration cannot be copied
or exported to another server.

To create and save new station configuration:

1. Launch Xpanel’s Station Manager by selecting the V
command.

2. Click the N
The channel configurator section of the Station Manager is empty.

3. Add a channel to the channel configurator section of the Station Manager and assign
devices to the channel. (see “

4. Save the station configuration by clicking the S
Manager’s toolbar.

The S

5. In the N

6. The AUTHOR field is automatically filled in with the current login user’s name, but it can
be edited.

7. The D

8. Click S
Since the station is open, its name now appears in the Station Manager’s toolbar.

EW STATION button from the Station Manager’s toolbar.

Adding a channel to the station configuration” on page 3-5).

AVE STATION CONFIGURATION window appears.

AME field, specify a name for the Station Configuration.

ESCRIPTION field is optional and lets you identify the station using a meaningful label.

AVE.

IEW>STATION MANAGER menu

AVE STATION button in the Station

An alternative to using the SAVE STATION button is to click the SAVE AND LOAD STATION button
in the Station Manager’s toolbar. See “Loading a station configuration” on page 3-8 for more
information.

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Creating and loading a station configuration

Adding a channel to the station configuration

The station configuration defines a set of channels, which identify the devices that make up
the transmission path of a playout channel. A channel can consist of a single device or
multiple devices that work together (i.e. an Imagestore device as the down-stream keyer for
an Intuition XG device).

Each station configuration must contain at least one channel. The following procedure
explains how to add a channel to the station configuration, as well as how to associate
devices with the channel.

Figure 3-2. A typical channel setup in a station configuration

To create a new channel in Xpanel’s Station Manager:

1. Launch Xpanel’s Station Manager by selecting the V
command.

2. Create a new station configuration (see page 3-4
in the Station Manager’s toolbar to open an existing station configuration.

3. Right-click in the channel configurator section of the Station Manager and select the

DD CHANNEL command.

A

A new channel row is immediately added to the channel configurator.

IEW>STATION MANAGER menu

) or click the OPEN STATION button

The following table defines a channel’s default columns:

Column name Description

ID An ID number associated with the channel that determines its order

in the Station Manager’s channel configurator. You can edit the ID
number by selecting the cell and typing a new number. When you
click away or press Enter, the channel is automatically sorted in the
Station Manager according to the ID number. Note that each
channel’s ID number must be unique.

Channel The channel’s name. You can rename the channel by clicking in the

C

HANNEL cell and typing a new name, or by right-clicking on the

channel and selecting the R

ENAME CHANNEL command.

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Creating and loading a station configuration

NOTE

Column name Description

Automation ID The Automation ID was once used for schedule-based publishing,

but it has since been deprecated.

Group If all of the channels are left as D

EFAULT, then they will all be shown

in one view on the Channel Selector. This works well if there are
only a few channels, but if you want to show the channels in groups,
then entering a Group name will separate the channels in the
Channel Selector into their appropriate groups.

IS1 By default, new channels contain a device column called IS1, which

represents an Imagestore device in the channel. If the channel that
you want to define does not contain an Imagestore device, remove
this device column by right-clicking on the column’s heading and
selecting the R

EMOVE DEVICE COLUMN command.

If however the channel will contain an Imagestore device, drag the
appropriate Imagestore device from the Station Manager’s Device
List and drop it onto the channel’s IS1 cell. Another way to assign a
device to a channel’s device column is to right-click within the
recipient cell and select the A

DD DEVICE command, which expands

to display all of the available devices from the Device List of that
device type. Select a device from the list.

The scope of this user manual is limited to explaining the definition of channels on the
Control View tab. Please contact Miranda’s Technical Support for questions regarding the
Station Manager’s Roles View tab.

4. Add an additional device column for each device in the channel.
Right-click on the channel and select the ADD DEVICE COLUMN command, as well as the

appropriate device type.

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