Grass Valley Xplay Vertigo Suite User Manual

User Manual

Xplay

Media Event Sequencer

M852-0800-500

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 Xplay 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, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose unless specifically authorized in writing by Grass Valley.

A Grass Valley manual may have been revised to reflect changes made to the product during its manufacturing life. Thus, different versions of a manual may exist for any given 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 Xplay User Manual

Part number M852-0800-500

SW version Vertigo Suite v5.0

Revision History

After the original release date, the Xplay 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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introducing Xplay................................................................................................................. 1-1

Getting started with Xplay................................................................................................... 2-1

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

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

Overview of the Xplay interface ......................................................................................................... 2-4

Configuring Xplay’s settings .............................................................................................................. 2-7

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices .............................................................................. 2-8

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager....................................................................... 2-9

Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control ....................................................... 2-12

Connecting output devices to Xplay ........................................................................................... 2-16

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay .............................................................................. 3-1

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View........................................................................................... 3-3

Creating a new playlist ...................................................................................................................... 3-5

Loading an existing playlist................................................................................................................ 3-6

Playlist element verification........................................................................................................... 3-8

Navigating and selecting elements within the playlist........................................................................ 3-9

Adding playlist elements to a playlist............................................................................................... 3-10

Using the Asset Browser to add pages, templates and clips to a playlist ................................... 3-10

Using Quick Recall to add templates, clips and pages to a playlist ............................................ 3-12

Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist................................... 3-15

Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist .................................................................. 3-16

Adding shared segment assets to a playlist................................................................................ 3-18

Grouping elements into playlist segments....................................................................................... 3-19

Adding and populating playlist segments ................................................................................... 3-20

Repositioning playlist segments and their elements ................................................................... 3-22

Deleting playlist segments from a playlist................................................................................... 3-23

Adding comment rows to the playlist ............................................................................................... 3-25

Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist ........................................................................... 3-27

Repositioning primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments) ......................................... 3-27

Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist .................................................................... 3-28

Configuring and editing the playlist columns ................................................................................... 3-29

Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout ........................................................................... 3-29

Editing a playlist element’s properties.........................................................................................3-33

Deleting playlist elements................................................................................................................ 3-36

Reloading the playlist ...................................................................................................................... 3-37

Saving the playlist............................................................................................................................ 3-38

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques...................................................... 4-1

Preview and playout on a single device............................................................................................. 4-2

Preparing to preview and playout on a single device.................................................................... 4-3

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on a single device ................................................ 4-4

Preview and playout on multiple devices, channels or layers............................................................ 4-7

Xplay User Manual TOC-1

Table of Contents

Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout ...................................................4-8

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices .............................................4-10

Additional operator controlled tasks .................................................................................................4-16

Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View .....................................................4-16

Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on a device ....................................................4-20

Reloading and refreshing playlist elements .................................................................................4-21

Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired..........................................................................4-23

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols .................................................. 5-1

Specifying Automation settings in Xplay.............................................................................................5-3

Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial ...................................................................5-5

Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial .....................................................................5-9

Configuring Xplay to use Xprotocol over TCP/IP..............................................................................5-13

Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel serial protocol over TCP/IP .......................................................5-15

Device forwarding of automation commands ...................................................................................5-19

Appendix A - Quick reference to Xplay’s menus and settings........................................ 6-1

Xplay’s menu commands ...................................................................................................................6-2

File menu .......................................................................................................................................6-2

View menu .....................................................................................................................................6-4

Actions menu .................................................................................................................................6-5

Tools menu ..................................................................................................................................6-11

Help menu ...................................................................................................................................6-12

Xplay’s settings.................................................................................................................................6-13

General settings...........................................................................................................................6-14

Layout settings.............................................................................................................................6-16

Playout settings ...........................................................................................................................6-17

AFD settings ................................................................................................................................6-20

Display settings............................................................................................................................6-21

Template Favorites settings.........................................................................................................6-23

Panel Events settings ..................................................................................................................6-24

Automation settings .....................................................................................................................6-25

As Run Logging settings ..............................................................................................................6-27

Logging settings...........................................................................................................................6-30

Plugins settings............................................................................................................................6-32

Servers settings ...........................................................................................................................6-34

Playlist > Basic settings ...............................................................................................................6-35

Playlist > Status settings..............................................................................................................6-36

Playlist > Highlight settings..........................................................................................................6-37

Appendix B - Creating and editing pages in Xplay........................................................... 7-1

Embedded versus Shared pages .......................................................................................................7-2

Creating and adding embedded pages to a playlist ...........................................................................7-3

Creating and adding a single embedded page ..............................................................................7-3

Creating and adding multiple embedded pages ............................................................................7-5

Using Template Favorites to create and add embedded pages ....................................................7-7

Creating and adding shared page assets to a playlist........................................................................7-9

Creating and adding new shared pages ........................................................................................7-9

TOC-2 Xplay User Manual

Table of Contents

Using the Asset Browser to add shared pages to a playlist........................................................ 7-12

Editing pages in Xplay ..................................................................................................................... 7-13

Editing a page within a playlist using the Edit Page command................................................... 7-13

Editing a page when it is cued on a device................................................................................. 7-14

Appendix C - Using Xplay to support the Emergency Alert System (EAS).................... 8-1

Configuring Xplay’s EAS settings ...................................................................................................... 8-2

Communication Settings............................................................................................................... 8-3

Target Device Settings ................................................................................................................. 8-3

Protocol Settings........................................................................................................................... 8-4

Device Forwarding........................................................................................................................ 8-4

EAS status bar in the Xplay interface ................................................................................................ 8-6

Appendix D - Configuring GPI inputs ................................................................................ 9-1

Configuring and controlling the GPI Server .................................................................................. 9-1

Specifying the Video Bypass settings for the GPI inputs .............................................................. 9-3

Starting, stopping, and refreshing the GPI Server ........................................................................ 9-4

Opening the GPI Configuration window in Xplay .......................................................................... 9-5

Adding states for each GPI input .................................................................................................. 9-5

Adding a rule to a GPI input state................................................................................................. 9-6

GPI input actions .......................................................................................................................... 9-8

Enabling and disabling GPI in Xplay.............................................................................................9-9

Xplay User Manual TOC-3

Table of Contents

TOC-4 Xplay User Manual

1 INTRODUCING XPLAY

Xplay is the Vertigo Suite’s application for controlling and previewing the playout of media and graphics. The management and playout of the playlist can be either operator-controlled using the Xplay user interface or through a external automation system. Xplay’s versatility also allows you to control playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel all from a single interface.

Figure 1-1. Xplay allows you to preview and control the playout of playlist elements

In situations where operator-control over the playlist is appropriate, Xplay allows you to:

• Create new playlists that contain pages, clips and/or templates

• Create new pages and add them to a playlist

• Edit existing playlists and pages either prior to playout, or on the fly during the broadcast

• Send completed playlists to air on one or more playout devices in real-time using manual control techniques, or with the assistance of customizable run-time control panels

In newsroom environments, Xplay is the media event sequencer which controls the playout of rundowns in a similar way that it controls the playout of traditional playlists. Using the

Xplay User Manual 1-1

Introducing Xplay

NRCS & Xnews plugin

Asset management

Xplay

Playout device

Station automation

Automation

protocol

Xplay

(Serial or TCP/IP)

MOS protocol, the newsroom computer system (NRCS) sends the rundown information to Xplay, which previews and plays out on Vertigo playout devices (figure 1-2).

Figure 1-2. Xplay also acts as the media event sequencer in newsroom environments

Upon receipt of the rundown, Xplay recalls the graphics pages from the Xmedia Server and then plays out the dynamic news sequences with live data mapped to the appropriate graphic template fields. Customized control panels at the top of the Xplay interface can be used for manual operation. Since Xplay’s device views show a preview of the device’s playout, you can also make last minute changes to the graphics. The Xnews User Manual provides more information about the Vertigo news graphics workflow.

Xplay can also be used to allow third-party automation systems, like Pharos, Pebble Beach, Harris (ADC), and Florical, to control Vertigo playout devices (i.e. Vertigo XG and Intuition XG). Figure 1-3 automation controls protocols for graphics playback either through a serial or TCP/IP connection. Xplay receives these commands from automation to control the device and the device sends back status messages. See “

protocols” on page 5-1 for more information.

demonstrates that automation commands are sent using standard

Controlling Xplay devices using automation

Figure 1-3. Xplay allows third-party automation systems to control Vertigo playout devices

1-2 Xplay User Manual

2 GETTING STARTED WITH XPLAY

Xplay can be used to preview and control the playout of media and graphics on a single or multiple devices and this can be done either manually or through automation. As such, the procedures for installing and configuring Xplay are depend upon its intended use.

The following sections provide information and instructions for how to install, configure and become familiar with Xplay’s user interface:

Installation and licensing information” on page 2-2

• “

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

• “Overview of the Xplay interface” on page 2-4

• “Configuring Xplay’s settings” on page 2-7

• “Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8

Xplay User Manual 2-1

Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Installation and licensing information

When playout is to be controlled manually by an operator, Xplay is typically installed and configured on a client computer that is connected via a local-area network to the playout devices. However, when the playout is to be controlled by an external automation system, Xplay is installed and configured directly on the Vertigo playout device (i.e. Vertigo XG or Intuition XG).

Regardless of where it is installed, Xplay 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 Xplay, are available in the Vertigo Suite’s Release Notes, which can be downloaded from the Support Portal web site.

Unlike most other Vertigo Suite applications, Xplay does not require a software application license.

2-2 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

Starting Xplay and connecting to the Xmedia Server

When you initially launch Xplay, a dialog box appears and asks you to configure the server location. As a client application, Xplay must be connected to the Xmedia Server, which is the centralized asset management server for Vertigo applications and devices.

Since you have only just installed Xplay, the first task that you must do is to connect Xplay to the Xmedia Server.

To start Xplay and connect to the Xmedia Server:

1. Click S

2. When the message asking you to configure the server location, click the Y

TART>PROGRAMS>VERTIGOXMEDIA>XPLAY.

ES button.

The SETTINGS dialog box appears.

Figure 2-1. Settings dialog box

3. Click S

4. In the X

ERVERS in the tree view at left. This displays the settings related to the Xmedia

Server (see page 6-34

MEDIASERVER IP ADDRESS field, replace <server IP> with the IP address of

for more information about Xplay’s Server settings).

the machine hosting the Xmedia Server.

5. Unless the port number was changed when the Xmedia Server was installed, the default in the X

MEDIASERVER PORT field will be correct. If it was changed, enter the new

number.

6. Click OK. Xplay launches. If the program does not launch, 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.

Xplay User Manual 2-3

Getting started with Xplay

7 8

Overview of the Xplay interface

While some of the Xplay interface components remain constant, others are customizable using Xplay’s settings. Figures 2-2 interface components and provide a brief functional description of each.

and the following descriptions identify the Xplay’s main

Figure 2-2. Xplay set to Manual playout mode and On-Air Preview layout mode

1. Main menus: Located along the top of the interface, these menu commands provide access to most of Xplay’s settings and administrative functions. See “Xplay’s menu

commands” on page 6-2 for more information.

2. Asset Browser: The Asset Browser, which is located within a collapsible panel, provides a tree view of assets stored on the Xmedia Server. You can use the Asset Browser to locate and load a rundown into Xplay, as well as to add pages, clips, templates and/or scenes to an open playlist.

3. Playlist Editor: The Playlist Editor is the workspace where an opened playlist is displayed. Playlist elements (segment headings, pages, clips, comments...etc.) are organized in a

2-4 Xplay User Manual

sequential list.

• The buttons along the top of the window are used for loading and managing playlists.

These buttons allow you to open a new playlist, as well as save, reload, loop... the playlist and its elements.

•The Q

• The Playlist Editor’s global C

UICK RECALL field, which can be hidden/exposed using the VIEW>QUICK RECALL

command, allows you to quickly locate and insert a page, clip, template and/or scene into the playlist using the asset’s Recall ID property.

the playlist elements appear on air.

UE and TAKE buttons allow you to control the timing of when

Getting started with Xplay

4. Message Log: Xplay’s Message Log window alerts you to possible errors or operational events that may impede or adversely affect your playout. For example, the Message Log will alert you if Xplay’s connection to the Xmedia Server (XMS) or to an output device is disconnected or re-connected.

The Message Log window is conveniently displayed as a floating window upon start up and each time a new message is added to the Message Log.

You can hide the Message Log window by clicking the window’s C reopen the Message Log window at anytime, select the V command or press C

TRL + M.

IEW>OPEN MESSAGE LOG

LOSE button . To

Rather than a floating window, the Message Log window can be set as an embedded window in the Xplay interface (figure 2-3

). To embed the Message Log window, set the

Tools>Settings>Layout>Show embedded message window setting.

Figure 2-3. Xplay’s Message Log window can be floating or embedded

5. EAS Status bar: When Xplay is configured to support the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the EAS Status bar provides operators with a quick visual of the EAS receiver’s status and any current event messages. See “

Appendix C - Using Xplay to support the

Emergency Alert System (EAS)” on page 8-1 for more information.

6. Xplay’s Status bar: Xplay’s status bar identifies the name and status of the currently loaded playlist, as well as Xplay’s connection status to the Xmedia Server.

The following table describes the possible status information that is displayed in each of the categories:

The X logo indicates that a basic Vertigo Suite playlist is loaded in the Playlist Editor. The logo is followed by the playlist’s name.

The asterisks beside the playlist’s name indicates that unsaved edits have been made to the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 2-5

Getting started with Xplay

Xplay’s F

ILTER PAGES BY DEVICE setting is enabled and

some playlist elements were removed because they were not assigned to a device.

The MOS logo indicates a rundown (playlist) is currently loaded in Xplay. Rundowns are a type of playlist normally used for MOS news broadcasts.

Xplay is properly connected to the Xmedia Server whose name or IP address is indicated.

When this section of the Status bar turns red, Xplay is has lost its connection to the Xmedia Server whose name or IP address is indicated.

Alerts or warns you that the Xplay.ini file, which is located in C:\Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps, is currently in an unwritable state. This means that Xplay is currently not able to save any of the Xplay settings upon shutdown.

7. Toolbar Panel: Any panel opened for use with the playlist will be displayed in a panel directly under Xplay’s menu bar. When a panel is open, you can display or hide the entire control panel area by selecting or deselecting V

IEW>TOOLBAR PANEL. The panel area can

be resized by dragging from its bottom borders downwards. You can also zoom in/out of the panel by using the mouse wheel. See “

Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on

a device” on page 4-20 for more information.

8. Device Views: Xplay’s G

ENERAL settings (TOOLS>SETTINGS) allow you to set the LAYOUT

setting to either MULTI-DEVICE or ONAIR-PREVIEW, which affects the appearance of Xplay’s Device Views. The Device Views allow you to see a visual representation of the playlist element that is either being cued or currently being played out on a device.

ULTI-DEVICE: When Xplay is configured to playout to multiple devices or on different

• M

keyers of the same device, a display pane appears according to the number of devices specified in the N

UMBER OF DEVICES setting. Each device’s display view has indicators

that informs of the device’s connection status, as well as override buttons for controlling the playout of the playlist elements on that device (e.g. C

UE, TAKE CLEAR). The override

buttons allow you to take selected playlist elements to air on the channel of your choice. The layout of the device’s display views can also be customized using the

AYOUT>MULTIDEVICE LAYOUT setting, which can be set to ONAIR, PREVIEW, or

REVIEWONAIR. See “Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout” on page 2-14 for more

information.

NAIR-PREVIEW: This mode is used when Xplay is connected to only a single playout

• O

device (1 keyer channel) and an optional preview device (i.e. Software CG). One display pane shows the playlist element that is currently on air, while the pane previews the element that has been cued as next-to-air. See “

Configuring Xplay for single device

playout (OnAir-Preview)” on page 2-12 for more information.

2-6 Xplay User Manual

Configuring Xplay’s settings

NOTE

While Xplay’s default settings are appropriate for most operating circumstances, you may want to customize the look and behavior of the application using Xplay’s settings. Note that modifying these settings is entirely optional.

Getting started with Xplay

Changes to Xplay’s settings are made within the S accessed by selecting the T

Some settings will require you to restart Xplay for the changes to be applied.

This SETTINGS dialog box contains a tree-structure of thematic settings. Each of the settings is defined in the following sections:

General settings” on page 6-14

• “

• “Layout settings” on page 6-16

• “Playout settings” on page 6-17

• “AFD settings” on page 6-20

• “Display settings” on page 6-21

• “Template Favorites settings” on page 6-23

• “Panel Events settings” on page 6-24

• “Automation settings” on page 6-25

• “As Run Logging settings” on page 6-27

• “Logging settings” on page 6-30

• “Plugins settings” on page 6-32

• “Servers settings” on page 6-34

• “Playlist > Basic settings” on page 6-35

• “Playlist > Status settings” on page 6-36

• “Playlist > Highlight settings” on page 6-37

OOLS>SETTINGS menu command.

ETTINGS dialog box, which can be

Xplay User Manual 2-7

Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Xplay’s Device Views

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices

Xplay allows you to preview and control the playout of media and graphics on various types of rendering and playout devices (e.g. Software CG, Vertigo XG or Intuition XG). Xplay can be configured to preview and control playout on a single device, or to managed the playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel all from a single interface.

Figure 2-4. Xplay’s Device Views allow you to control the playout on specific devices, channels and/or keyers

The following sections describe how to configure Xplay’s Device Manager and Device Views to connect to your output device(s):

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager” on page 2-9

1. “

2. “Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control” on page 2-12

3. “Connecting output devices to Xplay” on page 2-16

Xplay supports playout on several different device types, including the Software CG, Vertigo XG, Intuition XG, as well as other Grass Valley and 3rd party devices. Please refer to the latest Vertigo Suite Release Notes for the complete list of supported devices.

2-8 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager

Before Xplay can connect and playout media and graphics content to an output device, each instance of the output device must be defined in Xplay’s Device Manager.

The Device Manager maintains a list of output device profiles that have been configured to work with Xplay. You can add several devices to the Device Manager, as well as add a separate device for each channel of the same device (i.e. XG1 for channel A and XG2 for channel B of a dual-channel Vertigo XG device).

Note that adding a device to the Device Manager does not automatically associate the device with an Xplay Device View (keyer) nor does it automatically connect the device to Xplay (these tasks are performed in a separate step described on page 2-12 Adding devices to the Device Manager simply means that these devices are already configured and available to Xplay whenever they may be needed.

To add an output device to Xplay’s Device Manager:

1. Open the Device Configuration window by selecting TOOLS>DEVICE MANAGER.

2. In the D

EVICE CONFIGURATION window, select the ADD button:

and page 2-16.

Figure 2-5. Device Configuration dialog box

3. The DEVICE CONFIGURATION windows expands to reveal two tabs (GENERAL and ADVANCED) with settings for identifying the device’s configuration.

Figure 2-6. Add Device Configuration section

Xplay User Manual 2-9

Getting started with Xplay

4. Specify the appropriate General Device Configuration settings:

Device name The name of the selected device. This can only be modified when adding a device.

Device alias An alternative name for the selected device on your network.

Description An optional field that lets you label the device to distinguish it from other similar

devices at your facility (for example).

Device Type Identifies the type of device that these settings apply to.

Choose from:

•V

ERTIGOXG

NTUITIONXG

•I

•P

REVIEW (OR OTHER DEVICE)

MAGESTORE

•I

•INTUITION

•FTP

•LGK

•DSK

•HMP

THER

•O

NOTE: Always select PREVIEW (or other device) for Software CG devices.

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

must be available on the network.

OTE: The Control IP setting is not displayed when HMP is selected as the device

type.

Control Port The networking port that serves as a channel for sending commands to and from

the device.

OTE: The Control Port setting is not displayed when HMP is selected as the device

type.

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

must be available on the network.

OTE: The Publish IP setting is not displayed when VERTIGO XG, INTUITION XG or

INTUITION are selected as the device type.

Publish Port The networking port that serves as a channel for publishing assets. Typically, this

value is set to 15000.

OTES:

• The Control Port setting is only displayed when PREVIEW, FTP, HMP or OTHER are selected as the device type.

• This value must correspond with the port used by the XpublishAgent on the output device.

2-10 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Publish as Export

The Publish as Export setting is only displayed if FTP is the selected device type.

This setting publishes the asset in the Vertigo Export (.vex) zip file format. The VEX format is used by the File Ingest Service to import assets into the Xmedia Server and/or device.

5. Specify the appropriate Advanced Device Configuration settings:

Clip Template When a “stand-alone” clip asset played out (either from the playlist or from an

automation command), Xplay will use this system template to determine the clip’s playout format, position and behavior.

Click the button to navigate to and select a Clip template.

Valid clip templates for various scene formats are included with the Vertigo Suite’s system templates. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the T

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES category.

If you choose to create your own clip template, remember that the clip template’s control-side must have a texture linked to a scene-side clip object.

Cel Template

Image Tem pla te

The name of the template that is used to play “stand-alone” cel animations or images when they are taken to air using an automation command.

Click the button to navigate to and select a cel template or image template.

Valid templates for various scene formats are included with the Vertigo Suite’s system templates. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the T

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES category.

If you choose to create your own template, remember that the template’s controlside must have a texture linked to a scene-side cel animation or image object.

External Keyer Allows you to associate another device with the current device. This setting is

specifically used when the Software CG output is keyed over the ImageStore output. In this way, specific commands can be sent to the ImageStore (the External keyer) when specific things are done on the Software CG.

OTE: The External Keyer setting is not displayed when FTP and HMP are selected

as the device type.

Publish Master

Lets you select a master device.

OTE: The Publish Master setting is only displayed when PREVIEW and OTHER are

selected as the device type.

6. Click A

PPLY.

After a device has been added to the Device Manager, you can edit a device’s configuration settings (except for the Device Name) or delete the device from the Device Manager. However, the device must not be actively assigned to a Device View in Xplay.

Xplay User Manual 2-11

Getting started with Xplay

Toolbar Panel

On Air

Preview Device View

Device View

Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control

The Device Views along the right-side of the Xplay interface allow you to view and control the playlist items that are either being cued or currently being played out on a device.

Taking into consideration your intended use and output device configurations, you must set Xplay’s Layout setting (T

ULTI-DEVICE, which determines the appearance of Xplay’s device views. You must also

associate Xplay’s Device Views with the device channels and keyers that the playlist items will be played out on. Both of these tasks are explained in the following sections:

Configuring Xplay for single device playout (OnAir-Preview)” on page 2-12

• “

• “Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout” on page 2-14

Configuring Xplay for single device playout (OnAir-Preview)

When Xplay is to be connected to only a single playout device, we recommend that you set Xplay’s Layout setting to ONAIR-PREVIEW. Figure 2-7 demonstrates that the OnAir-Preview layout provides you with two Device View windows (On Air and Preview) and the Toolbar Panel. See page 4-2

OOLS>SETTINGS>GENERAL>LAYOUT) to either ONAIR-PREVIEW or

for a detailed description of the OnAir-Preview layout.

Figure 2-7. On Air - Preview layout’s device views and Toolbar Panel

Once a playout device and a preview device (optional) have been added to Xplay’s Device Manager (page 2-9

) and the layout is set to ONAIR-PREVIEW, you can assign a device

(channel and/or keyer) to each of the On Air and Preview Device Views using the Active

Device table in the Device Manager.

To configure Xplay for single device playout using the OnAir-Preview layout:

1. Select TOOLS>SETTINGS>GENERAL and set the LAYOUT setting to ONAIR-PREVIEW and click OK.

2. Restart Xplay.

2-12 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

Step B

Steps A & D

Step C

3. Open Xplay’s Device Manager by selecting TOOLS>DEVICE MANAGER. The D

EVICE CONFIGURATION window appears with the available output devices already

listed in the device table. If the desired device is not listed, refer to page 2-9 instructions on how to add a device to the Device Manager.

4. To associate the On Air Device View with a playout device and keyer. a. In the Active Device table, click O

N AIR to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to playout on. c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the On Air Device View on the Xplay interface.

d. Click the device’s K

EYER column and assign a keyer value.

The keyer value tells Xplay on which layer of the output device to playout the playlist element (0 is the bottom-most level).

for

Figure 2-8. Connecting Xplay to an output device

5. Optional - If you want to preview and/or edit playlist items before they are taken to air, you can associate the Preview row in the Active Device table with an output device.

a. In the Active Device table, click P

REVIEW to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to preview the

playout on.

c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the Preview Device View on the Xplay interface.

d. Click the device’s K

EYER column and assign a keyer value.

0 is the bottom-most level.

6. Optional: To configure Xplay to use a control panel asset to control and playout graphics on a different device or on a different keyer on the On Air device:

a. In the Active Device table, click P

ANEL to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to control the

playout on.

c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table.

d. Click the device’s K

EYER column and assign a keyer value.

0 is the bottom-most level.

Xplay User Manual 2-13

Getting started with Xplay

Toolbar Panel

Device Views

Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout

When you want to use Xplay to control the playout on more than one output device or control more than one keyer on the same device, we recommend that you set Xplay’s

Layout setting to M

ULTI-DEVICE.

Figure 2-9. Multi-Device layout’s device views and Toolbar Panel

The Multi-Device layout allows you to specify the number of playout devices or keyers to be controlled and then produces one Device View window in Xplay for each device channel or keyer. For example, if I intend for Xplay to control and playout on one dual-channel Vertigo XG with both channels having two keyer levels; I would set the N

UMBER OF DEVICES setting

to 4. Consequently, this produces 4 device view windows in Xplay, which would be assigned to these device channels/keyers. See page 4-7

for more information about the Multi-Device

layout.

Once playout devices have been added to Xplay’s Device Manager (page 2-9 layout is set to M

ULTI-DEVICE, you can assign a device (channel and/or keyer) to each of the

) and the

On Air and Preview Device Views using the Active Device table in the Device Manager.

To configure Xplay to control and playout on multiple devices and/or keyers:

1. Select TOOLS>SETTINGS>GENERAL and set the LAYOUT setting to MULTI-DEVICE.

2. On the same page, specify the number of devices and/or keyers to be controlled in the

UMBER OF DEVICES setting.

3. Select T

OOLS>SETTINGS>LAYOUT and set the MULTI-DEVICE LAYOUT setting to

REVIEW, ONAIR or PREVIEWONAIR.

4. Click OK and then restart Xplay. When Xplay reopens it displays multiple Device View windows along the right-side in

the format specified by the M

ULTI-DEVICE LAYOUT setting.

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Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Step B

Step A

Step C

5. Open Xplay’s Device Manager by selecting TOOLS>DEVICE MANAGER. The D

EVICE CONFIGURATION window appears with the available output devices already

listed in the device table. If the desired device is not listed, refer to page 2-9 instructions on how to add a device to the Device Manager.

6. To assign an output device with a Device View: a. In the Active Device table, click the <Device#> in the N

AME column to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to assign to the

Device View selected in the Active Device table.

c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the Device View on the Xplay interface.

d. Repeat the above steps for each of the device views in the Active Device table.

Figure 2-10. Associating a device with one of Xplay’s Device Views

for

By default, the device views in Multi-Device layout are named DEVICE1, DEVICE2, DEVICE3...etc. You are not obligated to keep these default names. To personalize the device views by assigning them a new name, right-click on the K

EYER STATE button (the device’s

name in the Device View’s toolbar) and select the RENAME command. The Keyer State button will now display the new name, as does the Active Device table in the Device Manager

7. Once a device is added to the Active Device table, you can complete the remaining properties associated with each of the Device Views:

EYER: The keyer value tells Xplay on which layer of the output device to playout the

• K

playlist element (0 is the bottom-most level).

• Preview: (Optional) Assigns a device from the Device Configuration table to be a

preview device. This allows you to preview the playout of a playlist item when it is cued and then playout on the assigned device when it is taken to air. Like an output device, the preview device’s name and connection status LED are displayed in the Device View’s toolbar.

Xplay User Manual 2-15

Getting started with Xplay

Output Device Name

Device View Name

Connection LED

Green = Connected Red = Disconnected

• Show View: Determines whether or not the Device View window is appears (TRUE) or is hidden (FALSE) in the Xplay interface. When an abundance of devices are active, hiding certain devices from view provides more space on the Xplay interface for those devices that are of greater interest.

UMBER OF ADDITIONAL KEYERS: You can associate a number of additional keyers with

• N a particular device. This is useful if Xplay is configured with many devices, for example 20 devices with 16 keyers on each device. Xplay is not capable of displaying this many views simultaneously. So, you can decide to show only the keyer specified in the

EYER column of each device for control/interaction purposes and the rest will remain

hidden, but be controllable by automation. Note that the additional keyers are accessible to all External Control functions and they can be referred to by name using the following format:

<BaseKeyerName>#1 <BaseKeyerName>#2 ... <BaseKeyerName>#n

8. Click the C

LOSE button on the DEVICE CONFIGURATION window.

Connecting output devices to Xplay

Although the output devices may be properly configure and associated to the Device Views in Xplay’s Device Manager, you must also ensure that the Device View is actively connected to the output device. An active connection means that the output device is up and running and that Xplay is able to communicate with it.

Figure 2-11 Device View’s toolbar.

Figure 2-11. Whether or not a device is actively connected to a Device View is indicated by the LED

shows that the device’s connection status is reported using an LED on the

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Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

To reconnect Xplay to a device:

If Xplay is not connected or disconnects from an output device, the LED next to the device name turns red. You can reconnect Xplay to the output device without having to access the Device Manager; simply double-click the red LED. The LED turns green if a connection to the device is established. If the LED remains red, it means one of the following:

• The information describing the device has been entered incorrectly.

• The desired device is down.

• The network connection has been lost.

To disconnect Xplay from a device:

If desired, you can disconnect from a device and run your playlist in Xplay to ensure that all page information is correct. You can temporarily disconnect a device from Xplay, without removing the device from the Device Manager; simply right-click on the device’s LED and select the D

You can change the default name of the Device View (i.e. Device1) to something more descriptive by right-clicking on the Device View’s name in the toolbar and selecting the Rename command. When the name becomes editable, type the new name and press Enter. The name change will also be automatically be applied to the Device Manager’s Active Device table.

ISCONNECT command (the green LED turns red).

Xplay User Manual 2-17

Getting started with Xplay

2-18 Xplay User Manual

3 CREATING AND EDITING PLAYLISTS IN

PLAY

Xplay’s Playlist Editor allows you to build and edit playlists by adding playlist elements (i.e. pages, templates and clips) to the tabular list and organizing them into the order in which they are intended to be taken to air. Playlists built in Xplay are typically designed to be manually played back sequentially by operator control using Xplay.

Figure 3-1. Xplay’s Playlist Editor in Standard playlist view

Each row in playlist represents a single playlist element, while the columns display properties associated with the playlist item (some of which can be edited directly in the Playlist Editor). Since some playlists can get quite long, you can also organize playlist elements into thematic segments, as well as insert comment rows to provide information or instructions to the operator controlling the playout of the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-1

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

The following sections provide information and instructions for how to create and edit playlists in Xplay:

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View” on page 3-3

• “

• “Creating a new playlist” on page 3-5

• “Loading an existing playlist” on page 3-6

• “Navigating and selecting elements within the playlist” on page 3-9

• “Adding playlist elements to a playlist” on page 3-10

• “Grouping elements into playlist segments” on page 3-19

• “Adding comment rows to the playlist” on page 3-25

• “Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist” on page 3-27

• “Configuring and editing the playlist columns” on page 3-29

• “Deleting playlist elements” on page 3-36

• “Reloading the playlist” on page 3-37

• “Saving the playlist” on page 3-38

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Playlist elements are ordered sequentially

Playout controls

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View

The appearance and functionality of Xplay’s Playlist Editor differs depending upon the Playlist View setting (T new playlist or load an existing playlist in the Playlist Editor, we recommend that you first select an appropriate playlist view.

• None

• Standard

• ByDevice

None

When Xplay’s Playlist view setting is set to NONE, the Playlist Editor is not displayed in the Xplay window and playlists cannot be manually loaded or displayed. This setting is used primarily when Xplay is controlled through automation. See page 5-1 about controlling Xplay using automation protocols.

Standard

When Xplay’s PLAYLIST VIEW setting is set to STANDARD, the loaded playlist is displayed in the Playlist Editor as a single list, showing all of its elements in the order in which they were saved, positioned, or are intended to be sequentially played out.

The Playlist Editor’s global Cue and Take buttons are available in Standard view and let you to manually control the timing of when the playlist elements appear on air.

Unlike the ByDevice view, Standard view can be used to control the playout on a single device, or on multiple devices. See page 4-1 operator controlled playout techniques.

OOLS>SETTINGS>LAYOUT>PLAYLIST VIEW). As such, before create a

for information and instructions on using

for more information

Figure 3-2. The Playlist Editor in Standard playlist view

Xplay User Manual 3-3

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Playlist for Device 1

Playlist for Device 2

Playlist for Device 3

Playlist for Device 4

ByDevice

Xplay’s ByDevice playlist view allows the Playlist Editor to display a playlist’s elements by device groupings rather than one sequential playlist. This makes it easier to identify and control the playlist elements that will be played out on specific devices.

Figure 3-3. ByDevice playlist view groups playlist elements into device playlists

When a single playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor in ByDevice playlist view, the sequential playlist is broken down into multiple playlists, one for each of the devices associated with Xplay. The playlist elements are then sorted into the device playlists according to the element’s Target Device property, which is set in Xstudio when the asset’s template is created. If the template’s T then the asset is appended to the first device’s playlist. You can then reposition it within its device view, however, you cannot move it to another device’s playlist (see page 3-27).

As demonstrated by how playlist elements are sorted into device playlists, the Playlist Editor behaves differently in BYDEVICE view than in STANDARD view. Rather than list the differences here, they are described in context throughout this user manual within the context of procedural descriptions.

ARGET DEVICE property was not specified (empty),

In ByDevice view, the device’s playlist is shown opposite the Device View for the corresponding device (figure 3-4 associated device. When a device is deactivated from the Device Manager’s Active Device table (see page 2-17 window.

3-4 Xplay User Manual

), both the device’s view and playlist will be removed from the Xplay

). Each list only shows those elements that target the

Creating a new playlist

NOTE

New, empty playlist

To create a new playlist, you must first open a new, empty playlist. If the Playlist Editor area is already occupied by another playlist, performing the C (described below) immediately clears the Playlist Editor and a blank playlist appears, ready for use (see figure 3-4

The Playlist Editor’s layout depends upon Xplay’s PLAYLIST VIEW setting, which can be set to N

ONE, STANDARD, or BYDEVICE. If the Playlist Editor does not appear or it opens in an

unwanted layout, see page 3-25 setting.

To create a new playlist:

•Select F Or,

• Press the C Or,

• Press the C

for information regarding changing the Playlist View

ILE>NEW PLAYLIST.

REATE NEW PLAYLIST button in the Playlist toolbar.

TRL+N keyboard shortcut

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

REATE NEW PLAYLIST action

Xplay User Manual 3-5

Figure 3-4. A newly created playlist in ByDevice playlist view

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Playlist elements organized by target device

ByDevice playlist view

Playlist elements organized into one sequential list

Standard playlist view

Loading an existing playlist

When Xplay is in the Standard playlist view and a playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor, the playlist appears as one sequential list of playlist elements. However, when Xplay is in the ByDevice playlist view and a playlist is loaded, the playlist splits up its elements into sub-playlists that contain elements that target each of the devices configured in Xplay (figure 3-5 forced to impose some restrictions, which are described below.

). Note that in order to effectively split the playlist into device playlists, Xplay is

Figure 3-5. Playlists that are loaded in ByDevice playlist view are organized differently than in Standard view

There are two (2) methods for loading an existing playlist into the Playlist Editor:

• Select the P

LAYLISTS root category in the Asset Browser, and navigate to the

appropriate category where the playlist is stored.

• Double-click the desired playlist in the Asset Browser.

Or,

• Right-click on the playlist ‘s name in the Asset Browser and select the O

PEN

command from the context menu.

The playlist opens in the Playlist Editor.

•Select F The O

ILE>OPEN PLAYLIST, or the CTRL+O keyboard shortcut.

PEN PLAYLIST dialog box appears.

• Navigate through the Playlist categories in the right panel until the desired

playlist is listed in the left panel.

• Double-click the desired playlist listed in the right panel. Or,

• Select the playlist and then click OK. The playlist opens in the Playlist Editor.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Segment’s elements split per device

Device1 elements and all unassigned elements

Device2 elements only

Device3 elements only

Device4 elements only

The following behaviors pertain to how existing playlists are treated when they are loaded into the Playlist Editor when it is set to ByDevice playlist view:

• Only the elements that target the device are displayed in the playlist for each device. Elements whose target device does not match any device name will be played in the playlist for the first device.

• Secondary elements in clips are removed from the playlist when the playlist is loaded in the ByDevice layout. The following message in the Message Log window confirms that the secondary elements were removed.

“The playlist contained secondary elements in clips that were removed on...”

• All empty segments and/or a comment rows are removed from the playlist when the playlist is loaded.

• When a playlist segment contains elements which target more than one device, the segment and its elements are displayed in each of the relevant devices.

• Use the Device Manager to show/hide views and their associated playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-7

Figure 3-6. Playlist elements are organized per assigned device in ByDevice playlist view

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Playlist element verification

When the VERIFY PLAYLIST setting is enabled, each element in the playlist is verified when the playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor to ensure that it is available and ready for use.

Each element in the playlist is verified as follows:

• Checks if the asset used by the playlist element actually exists.

• Checks if the assets that are used by the playlist element require the completion of a Work Order before they can be used.

• Checks if the assets used by the playlist element are published on a specified device. If not, then it initiates the publishing of the assets.

The results of the verification are displayed in the S playlist (figure 3-7

Figure 3-7. When the Verify Playlist setting is enabled, each element’s status is verified upon loading

TATUS column for each element in the

3-8 Xplay User Manual

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Selecting non-consecutive playlist elements

Selecting consecutive playlist elements

Navigating and selecting elements within the playlist

When Xplay is in Standard playlist view, a loaded playlist appears in the Playlist Editor as one sequential list of playlist elements, and you can navigate and select freely within the playlist.

When Xplay is in the ByDevice playlist view, the playlist splits up its elements into sub-playlists that contain elements that target each of the devices configured in Xplay. As such, you are only permitted to select within one of the device’s playlists at a time. In other words, if elements are selected in the playlist for device1 and then you click on an element in device2, the selection is cleared in the playlist for device1.

Information and instructions regarding repositioning playlist elements within the playlist are provided on page 3-27.

Navigating within a playlist

While the most common way to select an element and navigate within a playlist is to perform a left-mouse click on the element, you can also use the following keyboard functions to navigate within the playlist:

P/DOWN ARROW KEYS: Selects the element above or below the currently selected

• U element within the playlist.

AGE UP/DOWN KEYS: When in STANDARD view, they select the first or the last element

• P in the entire playlist. When in BYDEVICE view, they select the first or the last element in the selected device’s playlist.

OME/END KEYS: When in STANDARD view, they select the first or the last element in the

• H entire playlist. When in BYDEVICE view, they select the first or the last element in the selected device’s playlist.

Grouping a selection of playlist elements

You may want to group a selection of playlist item as to drag & drop the grouped elements to a different location or to delete a grouping of items all at once.

Selecting consecutive playlist elements:

Select the first element that you want to be included in the grouping. While holding down the SHIFT key, select the last element from the playlist. The first, last, and all elements between these two become selected forming the group of elements.

Selecting non-consecutive playlist elements:

Select the first element that you want to be included in the grouping. While holding the CTRL key, click on each individual element that you want to be included in the grouping.

Figure 3-8. Selecting consecutive and non-consecutive playlist elements

Xplay User Manual 3-9

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Adding playlist elements to a playlist

Xplay allows you to create and populate playlists by adding individual graphic pages, templates and clip assets to a playlist loaded in the Playlist Editor. Xplay also allows you to append or insert the entire contents of an existing playlist or segment to a loaded playlist.

The following sections provide instructions for the various ways in which you can populate a playlist in Xplay:

Using the Asset Browser to add pages, templates and clips to a playlist” on page 3-10

• “

• “Using Quick Recall to add templates, clips and pages to a playlist” on page 3-12

• “Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist” on page 3-15

• “Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist” on page 3-16

• “Adding shared segment assets to a playlist” on page 3-18

Additional instructions for creating and adding embedded and shared pages to a playlist are provided in “Appendix B - Creating and editing pages in Xplay” on page 7-1.

Using the Asset Browser to add pages, templates and clips to a playlist

The PAGES, TEMPLATES, and CLIPS root categories in Xplay’s Asset Browser provide access to all of the shared pages, templates, and clips that are stored on the Xmedia Server (figure 3-9). As such, the Asset Browser is a practical tool for finding and adding these assets to the playlist.

Figure 3-9. The Asset Browser provides access to the shared page, templates and clip stored on the XMS

3-10 Xplay User Manual

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

1. Double-click Or,

Open command

Or,

Drag & Drop

To add a shared page, template or clip asset to a playlist using the Asset Browser:

The most common way to add shared pages, templates, or clips to a playlist using the Asset Browser is to drag the asset from the Asset Browser and drop it into the playlist.

Regardless of whether Xplay is in the Standard or ByDevice playlist view, when you drag an asset from the Asset Browser into the playlist, the Insert Line identifies exactly where the asset will be placed within the playlist. A fully extended Insert Line indicates that the playlist will be added as a primary event, while a partially extended line indicates that it will be added as a secondary event (see “

Repositioning primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments)” on page 3-27 and “Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist” on page 3-28 for more information.

Normally when Xplay is in ByDevice playlist view, it is the asset’s Target Device that determines in which device playlist the asset will be placed. However, when you drag and drop an asset into a device’s playlist, the asset’s original Target Device setting is overridden and it assumes the new device as its target device.

Also note that once the page is dropped into the device’s playlist, you cannot move it to another device’s playlist.

Additional ways to add shared pages to a playlist using the Asset Browser:

There are two (2) additional ways in which shared pages assets can be added to a playlist using the Asset Browser:

• Double-click the page’s heading in the Asset Browser category. Or,

• Right-click on the page’s heading in the Asset Browser category and select the O

PEN

command.

Xplay User Manual 3-11

Figure 3-10. There are three ways to add a shared page to a playlist from the Asset Browser

When Xplay is in the Standard playlist view and you add a shared page by double-clicking or using the O

PEN command, the page is appended to the end of the playlist loaded in the Playlist

Editor. You can then reposition it within the playlist by following the instructions on page 3-29.

When Xplay is in the ByDevice playlist view and you add a shared page by double-clicking or using the OPEN command, the new shared page is immediately appended to the device playlist

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

The Quick Recall field when Xplay is set to ByDevice playlist view

The Quick Recall field when Xplay is set to Standard playlist view and Manual playout mode

as assigned by the template’s TARGET DEVICE property, which is set in Xstudio when the template is created. If the template’s TARGET DEVICE property was not specified (empty), then the page is appended to the first device’s playlist. You can then reposition it within its device view, however, you cannot move it to another device’s playlist (see page 3-29

Using Quick Recall to add templates, clips and pages to a playlist

Templates, clips and shared pages contain a property called a RECALL ID, which is a unique alpha-numeric value that is assigned by users to identify the specific asset. The Recall ID property can be set either when the asset is saved for the first time or by accessing and editing its properties in Xstudio, Xbuilder, or Xplorer.

The purpose of assigning a Recall ID to a template, clip or shared page asset is to be able to quickly add the asset to a playlist in Xplay by simply using its Recall ID value, rather than manually searching and adding it yourself. Additionally, the Recall ID also allows you to quickly cue and/or take the asset to a device using Xplay.

To use Xplay’s Quick Recall functionality, you must first enable Quick Recall by selecting

IEW>QUICK RECALL command. Then Xplay must either be set to BYDEVICE playlist

the V view or Standard playlist view with M to appear in the lower portion of the Xplay interface (figure 3-11).

ANUAL playout mode enabled, for the Quick Recall field

Figure 3-11. Xplay’s Quick Recall field

The following sections describe how you can quickly added a template, clip or shared page asset to a playlist using Xplay’s Quick Recall field:

• “

Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist in Standard playlist view” on page 3-13

• “Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist in ByDevice playlist view” on page 3-13

• “Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist and cueing it to a device” on page 3-14

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist in Standard playlist view

To add a template, clip or shared page asset to the playlist when Xplay is set to

TANDARD playlist view:

1. Determine where you want to place the asset within the playlist by selecting the playlist

element above the location where you want to insert the asset.

2. Type the asset’s Recall ID in the Quick Recall text box and press the + (plus) keyboard key.

The asset is immediately added below the playlist element that was selected. If no playlist element was selected in the playlist, the asset is appended to the end of the playlist.

Figure 3-12. The Quick Recall field when Xplay is set to Standard playlist view

Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist in ByDevice playlist view

When Xplay is set to BYDEVICE playlist view, the asset’s Target Device property primarily determines in which device’s playlist the asset will be added. If no Target Device is associated with the asset, then the asset is added to the first device’s playlist.

Meanwhile, where within the device’s playlist the asset is added depends upon if a playlist element is selected, and whether the selection is inside or outside of the Target Device’s playlist.

To add a template, clip or shared page asset to the playlist when in B view:

1. Determine where you want to place the asset within the target device’s playlist by

selecting the playlist element above the location where you want to insert the asset. Note: Since you cannot set the target device on a clip asset, a clip will always default

to the first playlist.

2. Type the asset’s Recall ID in the Quick Recall text box and then press the + (plus)

keyboard key. The asset is immediately added below the playlist element that was selected in the

target device’s playlist. If no playlist element was selected, the asset is appended to the end of the target device’s playlist. If the selection was outside of the target device playlist or the asset does not have an assigned target device, the asset is appended to the first device’s playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-13

YDEVICE playlist

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist and cueing it to a device

Xplay’s Quick Recall feature not only offers the ability to add a template, clip or shared page asset to the playlist loaded in the Playlist Editor, but also to then immediately cues the asset on a device.

Note that the asset’s T asset will be cued on, as well as which device’s playlist the asset will be added to when Xplay is set to B added depends upon whether or not the target device already has a playlist element cued on it.

To add a template, clip or shared page asset to a playlist and cue it on a device:

• Type the asset’s Recall ID in the Quick Recall text box and then press E One of the following occurs:

• If nothing was already cued on the playlist corresponding to the target device, then

the asset is inserted after the last aired element and then cued on the device.

• If an element was already cued on the playlist corresponding to its target device,

then the asset is be inserted before the cued element and cued in its place.

ARGET DEVICE property primarily determines which device view the

YDEVICE playlist view. Meanwhile, where within the playlist the asset is

NTER.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist

Xplay’s Search XMS allows you to quickly find and add shared pages, templates, or clips to a playlist that is currently loaded in Xplay’s Playlist Editor.

Selecting the VIEW > SEARCH menu opens the SEARCH XMS window, which allows you to quickly search for assets stored on the Xmedia Server. Once a search is launched, assets that match the name, type, description, author, keywords and/or Recall ID are displayed as thumbnails in P

The SEARCH XMS window uses Solr, which a web-based solution by the Apache group that performs fast searches across large amounts of data. The Xmedia Server must maintain a connection to Solr so that it can create an index of the database. See the Xmedia Server

Configuration Guide for more information.

To search for assets stored on the Xmedia Server:

1. Select VIEW > SEARCH to open SEARCH XMS window.

2. Type a search query in the S

3. Optional: Limit Search XMS results to specific asset types. By default, all asset types are evaluated by the search query as indicated by the T

drop-down box set to ALL TYPES.

• To limit the search results to one asset type, select an asset type from the

• To limit the search results to multiple asset types, click the Browse button

to open the Select Types To Search dialog. Select the asset types that you want included in the search and uncheck the asset types that you want excluded from the search results.

4. Click the button to launch the search. Assets that satisfy the search query are displayed in the results pane of the Search

XMS window.

ROXY VIEW or listed in a table in DETAIL VIEW.

EARCH XMS text box.

YPE

YPE drop-down list.

If an expected asset is not returned in the search results, it may be because user rights management is enabled on the Xmedia Server and the current user does not have permission to view the asset. See “User Rights Management” in the Xmedia Server Configuration Guide for more information.

5. Browse the results and select an asset of interest.

• Right-clicking on an asset exposes menu commands that allow you to rename

or delete the asset.

or,

Xplay User Manual 3-15

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

• Add a Template, Page or Clip by dragging an asset from the search results onto a playlist open in Xplay.

Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist

When Xplay is set to STANDARD playlist view, you can add the entire contents of an existing playlist (i.e. pages, templates, clips, segments, and comments) to a playlist. This avoids having to recreate the contents of a playlist that already exists.

As described below, there are four (4) ways to add the contents of an existing playlist assets to a playlist:

• Drag and drop the playlist asset from the Asset Browser into the Playlist Editor.

•Use the A

•Use the I

• Use the Search Tool to locate the playlist asset and then drag it into the loaded playlist.

The ability to insert and append playlists is only available when Xplay is set to STANDARD playlist view. When Xplay is set to BYDEVICE playlist view, both the APPEND PLAYLIST and INSERT PLAYLIST commands are disabled and you cannot drag and drop a playlist asset into the playlist.

PPEND PLAYLIST command.

NSERT PLAYLIST command.

To add the contents of an existing playlist to a playlist by dragging and dropping the playlist asset:

1. Be sure that Xplay is set to STANDARD playlist view.

2. Select the P appropriate category where the playlist asset is stored.

3. Select the desired playlist asset and drag it into the Playlist Editor. Notice that a highlighted Insert line appears in the Playlist Editor as you drag the pointer

over the various rows in the playlist. This line indicates the location of where the playlist will be inserted in the playlist.

A fully extended Insert Line indicates that the playlist will be added as a primary event, while a partially extended line indicates that it will be added as a secondary event (see “

primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments)” on page 3-27 and “Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist” on page 3-28 for more information.

4. Drop the playlist asset into the playlist by releasing the mouse button. The entire contents of the playlist asset is added immediately to the playlist, including

all pages, templates, clips, segments, and comments that were contained in the playlist asset.

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LAYLISTS root category in the Asset Browser, and navigate to the

Repositioning

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

To add the contents of an existing playlist to a playlist using the APPEND PLAYLIST command:

1. Be sure that Xplay is set to S

TANDARD playlist view.

2. With the playlist that you want to add to open in the Playlist Editor, select the

ILE>APPEND PLAYLIST menu command.

PPEND PLAYLIST dialog box appears.

The A

3. Navigate through the APPEND PLAYLIST dialog box and select the playlist asset that you want to add (append) to the end of current playlist.

4. Click OK, or double-click the playlist’s asset name in the A

PPEND PLAYLIST dialog box.

The entire contents of the playlist asset is added immediately to the bottom portion of the playlist, including all pages, templates, clips, segments, and comments that were contained in the playlist asset.

To add the contents of an existing playlist to a playlist using the I

NSERT PLAYLIST

command:

1. Be sure that Xplay is set to S

TANDARD playlist view.

2. With the playlist that you want to add to open in the Playlist Editor, select the playlist row where you want the contents of the playlist to be inserted (the contents will be inserted below the selected row).

3. Select the F The I

4. Navigate through the I

ILE>INSERT PLAYLIST menu command.

NSERT PLAYLIST dialog box appears.

NSERT PLAYLIST dialog box and select the playlist asset that you

want to add (insert in) to the end of current playlist.

5. Click OK, or double-click the playlist’s asset name in the I

NSERT PLAYLIST dialog box.

The entire contents of the playlist asset is added immediately below the selected playlist row, including all pages, templates, clips, segments, and comments that were contained in the playlist asset.

To add the contents of an existing playlist to a playlist using the Search Tool:

1. With the playlist loaded in the Playlist Editor, open Xplay’s Search Tool by selecting the VIEW>SEARCH menu command. The SEARCH window appears.

2. Select P

LAYLIST from the TYPE drop-down list.

3. Create a search profile by setting as many or as few of the search properties (see page

3-57).

4. Click the S

EARCH button.

The playlist assets that meet the search profile are listed/displayed in the Search Window’s results area.

5. Select the desired asset from the results area and drag it over to the Playlist Editor. Note that as you drag the mouse’s pointer over the playlist, an Insert Line appears

within the playlist rows to indicate the location of where the asset will be inserted. Once you have placed the Insert Line is the desired location, release the left mouse

button to drop the asset into the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-17

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Adding shared segment assets to a playlist

Adding a shared segment to a playlist in Xplay is a convenient way of adding an existing grouping of embedded pages, shared pages and/or clips to a playlist.

Shared segments are only permitted to be added to a playlist when Xplay’s Playlist view setting is S Xplay’s Playlist view setting is BYDEVICE.

Shared segments are stored on the Xmedia Server and are accessible to Xplay through the Asset Browser’s SEGMENTS root category (figure 3-13). Despite being created in Xbuilder and intended to be used in Rundowns, shared segments are essentially a thematic grouping of embedded pages, shared pages and/or clips. As such, shared segments can be added to a playlist in Xplay.

TANDARD. Xplay will not allow you to add shared segment asset to a playlist when

Figure 3-13. Segments are groupings of pages and clips

To add a shared segment to a playlist:

1. Be sure that Xplay is set to S

2. Select the S appropriate category where the segment asset is stored.

3. Select the desired segment asset and drag it into the Playlist Editor. Notice that a highlighted Insert line appears in the Playlist Editor as you drag the pointer

over the various rows in the playlist. This line indicates the location of where the segment will be inserted in the playlist.

4. Drop the segment asset into the playlist by releasing the mouse button. The entire contents of the segment asset is added immediately to the playlist, including

all pages, clips and comments that were contained in the segment asset.

3-18 Xplay User Manual

EGMENTS root category in the Asset Browser, and navigate to the

TANDARD playlist view.

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Grouping elements into playlist segments

When Xplay is in STANDARD playlist view, you can add playlist segments (sometimes called embedded segments) into your playlists to group together related playlist elements under common headings (figure 3-14). This allows you to:

• See at a glance how items in a playlist have been organized thematically (e.g. Headlines, Sports, Business, Entertainment).

• Move the contents of a segment all at once. This is useful if, for example, at the last minute you decide that the pages organized under Business should be placed before the Sports segment.

Figure 3-14. Playlist segments allow you to put pages, templates and clips into thematic groupings

Playlist segments are different from the shared segment assets that are listed in the Asset Browser’s S Server and made available in the Asset Browser for creating rundowns, while playlist segments are only available to the playlist in which they are a part of.

When Xplay is in B to a device’s playlist (the ADD SEGMENT commands are disabled). However, if a playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor that contains playlist segments, the following behaviors occur:

• If the playlist segment contains elements that all target the same device, the segment

• If the playlist segment contains elements which target more than one device, the

• All empty playlist segments are removed from the playlist when the playlist is loaded.

• You can only reposition a playlist segment and its elements within its own target device

The following sections provide instructions for adding and managing playlist segments:

• “

• “Repositioning playlist segments and their elements” on page 3-22

• “Deleting playlist segments from a playlist” on page 3-23

Xplay User Manual 3-19

EGMENTS root category. Shared segment assets are stored on the Xmedia

YDEVICE playlist view, you are not permitted to add new playlist segments

and its elements are all displayed within the device’s playlist.

segment and its elements are split up and displayed in each of the relevant devices.

playlist.

Adding and populating playlist segments” on page 3-20

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Adding and populating playlist segments

When Xplay is in STANDARD playlist view, you can add playlist segments (sometimes called embedded segments) into your playlists to group together related playlist elements under common headings.

To add a segment to the playlist:

1. Be sure that Xplay is set to STANDARD playlist view.

2. Load a playlist into the Playlist Editor, or create a new playlist and add the necessary pages, templates and/or clips.

3. Select the playlist row where you want the segment to be inserted (the segment heading will be inserted above the selected row).

4. Right-click on the row and select the A that appears (figure 3-15

The segment heading is added above the selected row with the name open for editing.

DD SEGMENT command from the context menu

Figure 3-15. Use the A

5. Enter a name for the segment and press ENTER. At this point the segment is empty, even if pages, templates, or clips appear to be

beneath it (figure 3-16). You now need to add items to the segment.

Figure 3-16. Segment heading has been added, but it is still empty

3-20 Xplay User Manual

DD SEGMENT command to insert a segment heading into the playlist

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

When the insert line is fully extended, the element will be moved outside of the segment.

When the insert line is not fully extended and the border changes color, the element will be inserted into the segment.

6. Click and drag the selected playlist element into the desired segment. As you drag, a Insert Line indicates where the element will be placed. Before you drop it, take note of the following:

• Whether or not the segment heading changes color. If the segment

heading does change color, the element will become part of the segment. If it does not, then the element will be placed outside of the segment.

• The length of the insert line (red by default). If the insert line runs the entire

width of the playlist, then the element is being moved outside the segment. If the line shortens, it means that the element is being moved into the segment (see below).

• Blue box: Once elements have been added to a segment, they are bordered

at left by a blue box (see below).

Xplay User Manual 3-21

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Segment 1

Segment 2

Repositioning playlist segments and their elements

The instructions on page 3-19 explain how to add playlist segments (sometimes called embedded segments) to your playlists to group together related playlist elements under common headings (figure 3-17

Figure 3-17. Playlist segments help organize playlist elements into thematic groupings

Not only does grouping playlist elements within segments improve the organization of the playlist, it also allows you to move or reposition the contents of a segment all at once. This is useful if, for example, at the last minute you decide that the pages organized under Business should be placed before the Sports segment.

To reposition a segment row within a playlist:

1. Select the segment’s heading row. The segment and all of the elements that belong to the segment are highlighted.

2. Click and drag the selected segment to the desired playlist row. As you drag, an insert line (red line by default) extends across the table, which

indicates where the segment will be placed (figure 3-18

Figure 3-18. Drag the segment and its elements to a new location within the playlist

3. Release the mouse button to drop the item in its new location.

In BYDEVICE playlist view, you can reposition a segment within its own device playlist, but

3-22 Xplay User Manual

you cannot move it to another device’s playlist. Also, note that repositioning a segment in one device playlist, also repositions the equivalent segments in the other device playlists.

Deleting playlist segments from a playlist

NOTE

When Xplay is in STANDARD playlist view, deleting a playlist segment and its elements from a playlist is pretty straightforward. However, when Xplay is in B segment’s elements might be targeting several devices, which changes the deletion procedure slightly (see below).

Please refer to “Deleting playlist elements” on page 3-36 if you only want to delete a single element within a playlist segment (i.e. a page, clip or comment).

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

YDEVICE playlist view, the

When Xplay is in S

1. Select the segment’s heading row. The segment and all of the elements that belong to the segment are highlighted.

Or, Select all of the elements within the playlist segment (see page 3-9

2. Right-click on the segment and select the DELETE command (figure 3-19). Or, Press the D

3. The CONFIRM DELETE dialog box appears. Select YES to immediately delete the segment and its elements from the playlist, or select N

TANDARD playlist view and you want to delete a playlist segment:

ELETE key on your keyboard.

O to cancel the delete action.

Figure 3-19. Use the Delete command (or the Delete keyboard key) to delete a playlist segment

Xplay User Manual 3-23

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

The “Financial” segment’s

Device Playlist 1

Device Playlist 2

Device Playlist 3

Device Playlist 4

elements are distributed to their target devices

When Xplay is in BYDEVICE playlist view and you want to delete a playlist segment:

As is described on page 3-6, when a playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor that contains a playlist segment whose elements target more than one device, the segment and its elements are displayed in each of the relevant devices (figure 3-20 splitting the segments into different playlists, the segment in each device’s playlist becomes independent of the others. This means that you can delete a segment in one device playlist without affecting the segment in another device’s playlist.

). As a consequence of

Figure 3-20. The elements within a segment are distributed to their target device’s playlist

1. Select the segment’s heading row. The segment and all of the elements that belong to the segment in that device playlist are highlighted.

Or, Select all of the elements within the playlist segment (see page 3-9

2. Right-click on the segment and select the DELETE command. Or, Press the D

ELETE key on your keyboard.

3. The CONFIRM DELETE dialog box appears. Select YES to immediately delete the segment and its elements from the playlist, or select N

To delete the entire segment from each of the device playlists, you must repeat the above procedure in each of the device playlists.

O to cancel the delete action.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Adding comment rows to the playlist

When Xplay is in STANDARD playlist view, you can annotate your playlist by adding comment rows. Your comments should be concise, yet identify the purpose or behavior of elements in your playlist.

Comment rows can only be added to a playlist when Xplay is in STANDARD playlist view. When Xplay is in B not allowing you to add comment rows to the device playlists. Similarly, when a playlist that contains comment rows in loaded into Xplay’s B are not displayed.

To add comments to the playlist:

1. Be sure that Xplay is set to S

2. Load a playlist into the Playlist Editor, or create a new playlist and add the necessary pages, templates and/or clips.

3. Select the playlist row where you want the comment to be inserted (the comment will be inserted above the selected row).

4. Right-click on the row and select the A that appears (figure 3-21).

The comment row is added above the selected row with the text ready for editing.

YDEVICE playlist view, the ADD COMMENT command is disabled thereby

YDEVICE playlist view, the comment rows

TANDARD playlist view.

DD COMMENT command from the context menu

Figure 3-21. Use the A

5. Type the text for the comment and press ENTER.

Xplay User Manual 3-25

DD COMMENT command to insert an annotation into the playlist

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

To edit the text of a comment row that is already inserted into the playlist:

1. Select the comment row who’s text is to be edited.

2. Right-click on the row and select the E appears (figure 3-22

). The comment row text becomes ready for editing.

DIT CELL command from the context menu that

Figure 3-22. Use the E

DIT CELL command to change the text in a playlist annotation

3. Type the new text for the comment and press ENTER.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist

Pages and clips are added to playlists as primary scheduled events. Once added to the Playlist Editor, you can reposition these elements within the playlist by dragging and dropping them to the desired row location. In STANDARD playlist view, you can move an elements to any location within the playlist. In B reposition an element within its own device playlist, but you cannot move it to another device’s playlist.

When a clip is a primary event in the playlist, you can reposition pages within the playlist to become secondary events to the clip. Making a page a secondary event to a clip allows you to set the page’s offset and duration with respect to the clip (primary event), rather than to the beginning of the playlist.

The following sections provide instructions for repositioning items within the playlist:

Repositioning primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments)” on page 3-27

• “

• “Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist” on page 3-28

Repositioning primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments)

To reposition a playlist elements:

1. Select the playlist element that you want to move to a new location.

2. Click and drag the selected playlist element into the desired playlist row. As you drag, an insert line (red line by default) extends across the table, which

indicates where the item will be placed (figure 3-23

3. Release the mouse button to drop the item in its new location.

YDEVICE playlist view however, you can

Figure 3-23. Drag and drop the playlist element to the desired row location

In BYDEVICE playlist view, you can reposition an element within its own device playlist, but you cannot move it to another device’s playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-27

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

A fully extended insert line adds the page as a primary object

A partially extended insert line adds the page as a secondary object to the primary object

Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist

Making a page a secondary event to a clip allows you to set the page’s offset and duration with respect to the clip (primary event), rather than to the beginning of the playlist.

Secondary elements can only be added to a playlist and shown in playlists when Xplay’s Playlist view is set to S elements are not permitted to be added to a playlist. As well, secondary elements are removed from the playlist when the playlist is loaded in the BYDEVICE layout and the following message in the Message Log window confirms that the secondary elements were removed.

“The playlist contained secondary elements in clips that were removed on...”

To add a secondary event (page) to a primary event (clip):

1. Add a clip to the playlist as a primary event by dragging the clip asset from the Asset Browser and dropping it into the desired location in the playlist.

2. Add a page to the playlist as a secondary event to the clip by dragging the page asset from the Asset Browser to the row below the clip’s name in the playlist.

Before you drop it, take note of the following:

• Whether or not the primary event heading changes color. If the primary event

heading changes color, the page will become a secondary event. If it does not, then the element will be placed below the primary event as an additional primary event.

• The length of the insert line (red by default). If the insert line runs the entire width

of the playlist, then the page is being moved outside the primary event. If the line shortens, it means that the page will become a secondary event (see below).

• Blue box: Once page has been added to the primary event, it is bordered at left by

a blue box (see below).

TANDARD. When Xplay is in BYDEVICE playlist view, secondary

3. Drop the page into the playlist by releasing the mouse button.

To make a page that already exists as a primary event in the playlist a secondary event of a clip in that same playlist, simply drag the page from its current location to the row under the clip in the same way that is described in step 2 and 3 above.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Configuring and editing the playlist columns

Each row in playlist represents a single playlist element, segment heading or comment; while the columns display properties associated with the playlist item.

Which columns are displayed in the Playlist Editor can be configured using the COLUMN

AYOUT dialog box. As well, you can also edit several of the properties associated with the

playlist items from within the Playlist Editor.

Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout” on page 3-29

• “

• “Editing a playlist element’s properties” on page 3-33

Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout

The COLUMN LAYOUT dialog box (figure 3-24) allows you to configure which columns are displayed or hidden in the playlist. You can also determine the order in which the columns appear in the playlist.

Column headings that are currently displayed in the playlist are listed in the SELECTED

COLUMNS text box (on the right), while hidden column headings are listed in the AVAILABLE

OLUMNS text box (on the left). Customizing the playlist column means simply moving the

headings from on side to the other (see the instructions below). The COLUMN LAYOUT dialog box conveniently also offers two (2) standard layouts: BASIC and FULL.

Figure 3-24. Column Layout dialog box

The following sections explain how to customize the playlist’s columns:

Adding columns to a playlist” on page 3-30

• “

• “Removing columns from a playlist” on page 3-30

• “Creating, renaming, and deleting your custom column headings” on page 3-31

• “Reordering the columns in a playlist” on page 3-31

• “Using the standard column layouts: Basic or Full” on page 3-32

Xplay User Manual 3-29

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Adding columns to a playlist

Complete the following steps to add one or many columns to a playlist:

1. Select TOOLS>CONFIGURE PLAYLIST COLUMNS.

OLUMN LAYOUT dialog box appears. The current playlist columns are listed in the

The C S

ELECTED COLUMNS text box, while hidden column headings are listed in the VAILABLE COLUMNS text box.

2. Select the desired column heading(s) from the AVAILABLE COLUMNS text box. The column heading’s name is highlighted in blue when it is selected. To deselect,

simply click the heading again.

3. Click the R

IGHT ARROW button.

The selected column headings immediately move to the S

4. Click APPLY to implement the changes immediately to the playlist, while keeping the Column Layout dialog box open for further edits to the playlist columns.

Or, Click OK to implement the changes immediately to the playlist and close the Column

Layout dialog box. Or,

ANCEL to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was.

Click C

Removing columns from a playlist

Complete the following steps to remove one or many columns from a playlist:

1. Select T The C

SELECTED COLUMNS text box, while hidden column headings are listed in the AVAILABLE COLUMNS text box.

2. Select the desired column heading(s) from the S The column heading’s name is highlighted in blue when it is selected. To deselect,

simply click the heading again.

3. Click the L The selected column headings immediately move to the A

4. Click A Column Layout dialog box open for further edits to the playlist columns.

Or, Click OK to implement the changes immediately to the playlist and close the Column

Layout dialog box. Or, Click CANCEL to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was.

OOLS>CONFIGURE PLAYLIST COLUMNS.

OLUMN LAYOUT dialog box appears. The current playlist columns are listed in the

EFT ARROW button.

PPLY to implement the changes immediately in the playlist, while keeping the

ELECTED COLUMNS text box.

VAILABLE COLUMNS text box.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Creating, renaming, and deleting your custom column headings

To better reflect the particular contents of your playlist, the COLUMN LAYOUT dialog box allows you to create your own (user defined) column headings. Once it has been created, you can also rename the column heading or delete it from the Column Layout dialog box by right-clicking on the name and selecting either the R

Only custom column headings can be renamed and deleted from the Column Layout dialog box.

To create a custom playlist column heading:

1. Select T The C

OOLS>CONFIGURE PLAYLIST COLUMNS.

OLUMN LAYOUT dialog box appears.

2. Click the ADD button.

DD COLUMN dialog box appears.

The A

3. Type the name of the new column in the text box and click OK. The new column heading’s name immediately appears in the S

box on the C

OLUMN LAYOUT dialog box.

4. Click APPLY to immediately add the new column to the playlist, while keeping the Column Layout dialog box open for further edits to the playlist columns.

Or, Click OK to immediately add the new column to the playlist and close the Column

Layout dialog box. Or,

ANCEL to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was.

Click C

ENAME or DELETE command from the context menu.

ELECTED COLUMNS text

Reordering the columns in a playlist

The order in which the column appear in the Playlist Editor is determined by the column heading’s position in the

Complete the following steps to reorder one or many columns in a playlist:

1. Select T

OOLS>CONFIGURE PLAYLIST COLUMNS.

The COLUMN LAYOUT dialog box appears. The current playlist columns are listed in order the S

ELECTED COLUMNS text box.

2. Select the column heading(s) that you want to move to another position from the

ELECTED COLUMNS text box.

The column heading’s name is highlighted in blue when it is selected. To deselect, simply click the heading again.

3. Click the U

P ARROW button once for each position that you want to move the

column to the left in the playlist. Or, Click the D

OWN ARROW button once for each position that you want to move the

column to the right in the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-31

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

4. Click APPLY to implement the changes immediately in the playlist, while keeping the Column Layout dialog box open for further edits to the playlist columns.

Or, Click OK to implement the changes immediately to the playlist and close the Column

Layout dialog box. Or,

ANCEL to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was.

Click C

Using the standard column layouts: Basic or Full

The Column Layout dialog box offers two (2) preset standard layouts:

ASIC - Includes only the Name, Device and Status columns.

• B

• FULL - Includes all columns.

These standard layouts are convenient ways of populating or removing columns from the Playlist Editor.

To select a standard layout playlist format:

1. Select TOOLS>CONFIGURE PLAYLIST COLUMNS. The COLUMN LAYOUT dialog box appears. The current playlist columns are listed in the

ELECTED COLUMNS text box, while hidden column headings are listed in the

S AVAILABLE COLUMNS text box.

2. Select either B

3. Click the SELECT button.

ELECTED COLUMNS and AVAILABLE COLUMNS text boxes are immediately

The S appropriately populated.

4. Click A

PPLY to implement the changes immediately in the playlist, while keeping the

Column Layout dialog box open for further edits to the playlist columns. Or, Click OK to implement the changes immediately to the playlist and close the Column

Layout dialog box. Or,

ANCEL to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was.

Click C

ASIC or FULL from the STANDARD LAYOUT drop-down list.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Editing a playlist element’s properties

When a playlist is loaded in the Playlist Editor, you can change certain properties that belong to playlist elements. The following table defines the property/column and explains how to edit each playlist column.

Playlist column Definition and how to edit the playlist element’s property

ESCRIPTION Displays a user provided text that describes the playlist item. The description text

is originally created by filling in the D when the item is originally saved as an asset.

• Shared pages & Embedded pages: You can edit a page’s Description property by right-clicking the element in the playlist and selecting the E

PAGE command. The EDIT PAGE window allowing you to edit the page’s

ESCRIPTION field. Then, you must click the COMMIT AND CLOSE button

(embedded page) or the SAVE PAGE, AND CLOSE button (shared page) to apply the change and close the EDIT PAGE window.

• Tem pla tes : You cannot edit the Description property of a template from within the playlist.

• Clips: You can change the Description property of a clip in the playlist by right-clicking the clip’s Description cell and selecting the E command. Then type the new description directly in the playlist.

ESCRIPTION field on the SAVE dialog box

DIT CELL

DIT

EVICE Identifies the device to which the page, template, scene or clip will be sent.

This column is based on the element’s Target Device property, which is set in Xstudio when the asset’s template is created. If the template’s TARGET DEVICE property was not specified (empty), then the asset is appended to the first device’s playlist.

• Standard playlist view: When Xplay is in Standard playlist view, you can edit the target device for any playlist element type by right-clicking the element’s Device cell in the playlist and selecting the E

DIT CELL command.

Then, you can type the name of the target device.

• ByDevice playlist view: When Xplay is in ByDevice playlist mode, the playlist elements are naturally sorted using their Target Device settings. You are not permitted to edit a playlist elements device setting once the element is in a device’s playlist nor move it to another device’s playlist.

URATION Identifies the length of time that the page, template, scene or clip stays on air

during the playout of the playlist.

• Embedded pages, Shared pages and Templates: You can edit a page’s or template’s duration value from within the playlist by right-clicking on the element’s Duration cell and selecting the E

DIT CELL command. Then, type

the new duration value directly in the playlist.

• Clips: You cannot select or edit the Duration property for clips from within the Playlist Editor.

Xplay User Manual 3-33

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Playlist column Definition and how to edit the playlist element’s property

MARK IN / MARK

Displays the frame location that will be used as a starting and ending points when the clip asset is played out in the playlist. This property is set using the

ARKIN/OUT EDITOR.

• Embedded pages, Shared pages and Templates: You cannot edit the Mark In or Mark Out values for pages or templates since this property only applies to clip assets.

• Clips: There are two (2) ways in which you can edit the Mark In or Mark Out values for a clip from within the Playlist Editor.

• Right-click on the element’s Mark In or Mark Out cell and select the E

DIT CELL command. Then, type the new value

directly in the playlist.

• Right-click on the element’s Mark In or Mark Out cell and select the V

ISUAL MARK IN/MARK OUT command. The Mark

In/Out Editor opens, allowing you to set the Mark In and Mark Out values using the Trim In and Trim Out handles. When you click Apply on the Mark In/Out Editor, these values are reported back to the Playlist Editor.

AME Displays the name of the playlist item.

• Shared pages & Templates: You cannot rename a shared page or template since their name is a fundamental property of the asset.

• Embedded pages: Except for when the embedded page is automatically named, you can edit the name of embedded pages by right-clicking the element in the playlist and selecting the E PAGE window allowing you to edit the page’s NAME field. Then, you must click the COMMIT AND CLOSE button to apply the change and close the EDIT

AGE window.

• Clips: You can change the name of a clip in the playlist by right-clicking the element and selecting the E

DIT CELL command. Then type the new name

directly in the playlist.

DIT PAGE command. The EDIT

FFSET Identifies the amount of time delay between the playout of two consecutive

playlist elements.

You can change the offset value of any of the playlist elements from within the playlist by right-clicking on the element’s Offset cell and selecting the EDIT CELL command. Then, type the new offset value directly in the playlist.

VERFLOW Identifies the difference between the total time of the content in a timeslot and the

time available in the timeslot. When the total time of the content in a timeslot exceeds the time available, there is an overflow.

A playlist element’s overflow cannot be edited from within the playlist.

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Playlist column Definition and how to edit the playlist element’s property

PLAYOUT TYPE Indicates the method by which the playlist item (i.e page, template or clip) be

cued to air. The Playout Type for playlist elements can be changed in the Playlist Editor by right-clicking on the element’s P the P

LAYOUT TYPE command. Select one of the following transition types:

EQUENTIAL : The playlist element is played when the previous element

• S

LAYOUT TYPE cell, and then selecting

has completed (possibly with an offset).

ARD START : The playlist element is played at the specified time of day.

• H If required, the currently playing element will be preempted. When a hard start element is played the playlist is synchronized with the system clock. The time of day is specified by entering it into the Offset column.

ANUAL : The playlist element is played when a RESUME command is sent

• M to the playlist. If this command arrives earlier than expected, the currently playing element is preempted. If the command arrives later than expected, the playlist waits before resuming playout. The R

ESUME command can be

sent from the PLAY button in Xplay, or from logic in the Panel.

ECALL ID Displays the Recall ID for the page, template or clip, which is used as a shortcut

identifier for calling up pages and templates.

The Recall ID is originally created by filling in the RECALL ID field on the SAVE dialog box when the page, template or clip is originally saved as an asset.

• Shared pages: You can set or edit the page’s Recall ID property by rightclicking the element in the playlist and selecting the E

DIT PAGE command.

The shared page’s editing window appears, allowing you to type in the Recall ID field. Click the S

AVE PAGE, AND CLOSE button to apply the new Recall ID

value to the asset. Note that each Recall ID value must be unique. If the new Recall ID value is already assigned to another asset, an error message appears giving you the option of either entering another value or overriding the Recall ID of the other asset.

• Embedded pages, Templates and Clips: You cannot edit the Recall ID property for embedded pages, templates, or clips from within the playlist.

TATUS A playlist element’s status cannot be edited from within the playlist. The status

changes only when the element is verified, cued, taken to air or cleared.

When the VERIFY PLAYLIST setting is enabled, each element in the playlist is verified when the playlist is loaded to ensure that it is available and ready for use. The results of the verification are displayed in the Status column for each

for more information.

DIT CELL

SER-DEFINED

COLUMNS

element. See page 3-8

All user-defined columns that have been added to the Playlist Editor can be edited by right-clicking on the element’s cell and selecting the E command. Then, type the new value directly in the playlist

Xplay User Manual 3-35

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

Deleting playlist elements

While building or using the playlist, you may want to delete an element that was previously added to the playlist (e.g. a page, template, clip, playlist segment, or comment).

If the page, template, or clip that is to be deleted is a saved asset, deleting the item from the playlist does not remove the asset from the system, only from the playlist. However, embedded pages, playlist segments, and comments that were added to the playlist, but are not assets, will be completed deleted from the system.

The following instructions describe how to delete elements from the playlist.

To delete an individual element from the playlist:

1. Select the element that you would like to delete from the playlist.

2. Right-click on the element’s row and select the DELETE command. Or, Press the D

3. If Xplay’s C enabled, the CONFIRM DELETE dialog box appears. Select YES and the element is immediately deleted from the playlist, or select N

If however Xplay’s CONFIRM PAGE DELETION property (TOOLS>SETTINGS>AUTOMATION) is disabled, then the element is immediately deleted from the playlist.

ELETE key on your keyboard.

ONFIRM PAGE DELETION property (TOOLS>SETTINGS>AUTOMATION) is

O to cancel the delete action.

To delete multiple elements from the playlist:

1. Select the first element that you would like to delete from the playlist.

2. While holding down the C delete from the playlist.

3. Right-click on one of the selected elements and select the D Or, Press the D

See page 3-23 for instructions on how to delete a playlist segment from a playlist.

3-36 Xplay User Manual

ELETE key on your keyboard.

TRL key, select the various elements that you would like to

ELETE command.

Reloading the playlist

If you’ve had a playlist open for a while you may need to reload it to ensure that it’s still upto-date. For example, additional items may have been appended to the playlist by a user at another workstation while the playlist was also open at your workstation.

How you reload and whether it’s necessary at all depends on how Xplay has been configured. There are three possible scenarios:

•The P

• Both the P

Note that the currently airing and cued pages stay on air and cued even if they have been moved to new locations in the playlist, or have been removed altogether.

LAYLIST UPDATE INTERVAL setting has not been activated. In this case, Xplay will

not be checking for updates. For changes made at remote workstations to take effect, the playlist must be manually reloaded by clicking the R Editor’s toolbar.

LAYLIST UPDATE INTERVAL setting has been activated, but not the AUTO RELOAD

PLAYLISTS setting. This means that Xplay will periodically check the Xmedia Server for

updated versions of the playlist but will not automatically reload the new version for you. Instead, the Reload button will turn orange to indicate that a new version has been detected. Click the button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar to reload.

LAYLIST UPDATE INTERVAL and AUTO RELOAD PLAYLISTS settings have been

activated. Xplay will check the Xmedia server for an updated version of the current playlist and will automatically reload it when it finds a newer version.

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

ELOAD button in the Playlist

Xplay User Manual 3-37

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Saving the playlist

For a playlist to be available for future use, or accessible to other Vertigo Suite applications (i.e. Xbuilder), the playlist must be saved to the Xmedia Server. Newly created playlists are given a generic name (i.e. Playlist1) until they are saved and you specify a unique name.

As well, any edits that are performed to existing playlists are not permanent until the playlist has been saved. A playlist with unsaved edits is indicated by an asterisks beside the playlist’s name in Xplay’s Status bar.

When a playlist is saved to the system, it becomes a playlist asset. Playlist assets are stored and accessed from within the P Browser.

To save a newly-created playlist:

1. Select the F Or, Press C Or, Press the S The S

ILE>SAVE PLAYLIST command from Xplay’s menu commands.

TRL+S.

AVE CURRENT PLAYLIST button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar.

AVE PLAYLIST dialog box appears (figure 3-25).

LAYLISTS root category (and sub-categories) in the Asset

Figure 3-25. The Save Playlist dialog box

2. In the N

3. Enter your name in the A

4. Enter a short description for the playlist in the D

AME field enter a new name for the playlist.

UTHOR field (optional).

ESCRIPTION field (optional).

5. Link the playlist to the Playlists root category or to sub-categories by selecting the check box for each place where you want the playlist to be accessible from.

6. Click OK to save the playlist and exit the dialog box. Or,

ANCEL to discard all entered information and return to the unsaved playlist.

Click C

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Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

NOTE

To save the changes to an existing playlist:

• Select the F

ILE>SAVE PLAYLIST menu command.

Or,

• Press C

TRL+S.

Or,

• Click the S

AVE CURRENT PLAYLIST button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar.

To save an existing playlist under a different name or into another category:

1. Select the FILE>SAVE PLAYLIST AS menu command. Or, Click the S The S

AVE CURRENT PLAYLIST AS button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar.

AVE PLAYLIST dialog box appears (figure 3-25).

2. In the NAME field enter a new name for the playlist.

3. Enter your name in the A

4. Enter a short description for the playlist in the D

UTHOR field (optional).

ESCRIPTION field (optional).

5. Link the playlist to the Playlists root category or to sub-categories by selecting the check box for each place where you want the playlist to be accessible from.

6. Click OK to save the playlist and exit the dialog box. Or,

ANCEL to discard all entered information and return to the unsaved playlist.

Click C

If you only want to move an existing playlist to another category, you don’t necessarily have to perform a Save As. Simply drag and drop the playlist from its current category to another within the Asset Browser.

Xplay User Manual 3-39

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

3-40 Xplay User Manual

4 OPERATOR CONTROLLED PREVIEW

AND PLAYOUT TECHNIQUES

Xplay is the Vertigo Suite’s application for previewing and controlling the playout of content that has been organized into playlists. Operators use Xplay’s Playlist Editor and Device Views to view and control the playlist elements that are then cued and/or taken to the output device(s).

To accommodate different control and playout situations, the layout of Xplay’s Playlist Editor and Device Views can be configured for previewing and controlling the playout on one or multiple devices.

The following sections instruct operators how to control the preview and playout of playlist content on a single device, or manage the playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel. An additional section describes supplemental tasks that operators can perform to edit the content of playlist elements “on the fly”, as well as other playout control and management techniques.

Preview and playout on a single device” on page 4-2

• “

• “Preview and playout on multiple devices, channels or layers” on page 4-7

• “Additional operator controlled tasks” on page 4-16

Xplay User Manual 4-1

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Toolbar Panel

On Air

Preview Device View

Device View

Preview and playout on a single device

When Xplay is intended to be used to control the playout on only a single playout device, we recommend that you use Xplay’s O OnAir-Preview layout provides operators with two Device View windows (On Air and Preview) and the Toolbar Panel.

• Toolbar panel: While the Toolbar Panel is not specific to the OnAir-Preview layout, it is optionally used in conjunction with the On Air device. The Toolbar panel allows you to load a control panel asset, which can then be used to control the content and playout of an additional keyer level on the same On Air playout device.

N AIR: The On Air Device View is associated with a specific keyer level on a playout device.

• O When a playlist item is taken to air, the item is displayed in the On Air Device View window.

REVIEW: The Preview Device View is associated with a device is used for previewing the

• P playout of playlist item that has been cued and is being sent next to air. The preview window not only lets you see which item is next, but you can also make and save last-minute edits to the playlist item, just before taking the playlist item to air.

NAIR-PREVIEW layout. Figure 4-1 demonstrates that the

Figure 4-1. On Air - Preview layout’s device views and Toolbar Panel

The following sections provides instructions for how operators can set up and control Xplay to preview and control the playout of a playlist on a single device:

Preparing to preview and playout on a single device” on page 4-3

• “

• “Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on a single device” on page 4-4

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Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Keyer State: On

Keyer State: Off

Preparing to preview and playout on a single device

Before using Xplay to preview and take a playlist to air on a single device, we suggest that you perform the following preliminary configuration and verification procedures to ensure that Xplay is properly configured and setup:

1. Verify that Xplay is currently in the OnAir-Preview layout and that the On Air and Preview Device Views are assigned to the desired devices.

Figure 4-2. OnAir-Preview layout displays two Device Views: On Air and Preview

If Xplay is not in the OnAir-Preview layout and/or the proper devices are not assigned to the Device Views, consult “ and follow the configuration procedures for a single device and OnAir-Preview layout.

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8

2. Verify that both the On Air and Preview Device Views have a green LED next to the device name to indicate that they are actively connected to the devices.

If the LED is red, follow the instructions on page 2-16

3. Ensure that the Keyer State button of the On Air and Preview Device Views are both On. The Keyer State button allows you to control whether the device’s keyer is on or off. When

the keyer is On, the Keyer State button is pink, which indicates that the loaded element is actively displayed on the device. When the keyer is Off, the Keyer State button is grey, which indicates that the loaded element is not being displayed on the device.

To change the Keyer State:

• Double-click the Keyer State button Or,

• Right-click on the Keyer State button and select the T

Xplay User Manual 4-3

to reconnect Xplay to the device.

URN KEYER ON command.

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Cue: Loads the next element

in the playlist to the On Air playout device.

Take: Plays the currently cued

element on the On Air playout device.

4. Select TOOLS>SETTINGS and verify that the Xplay settings are configured as follows. Once finished, click OK to close the Settings dialog box.

PLAY>LAYOUT>PLAYLIST VIEW>STANDARD

•X

The playlist is displayed in the Playlist Editor as a single list, showing all elements in the order in which they were saved or positioned (not separated by device assignment). The Playlist Editor’s global control buttons, Cue and Ta ke, allow operators to cue and playout the playlist elements in the order in which they are listed in the Playlist Editor.

•XPLAY>PLAYOUT>AUTO CUE NEXT ITEM>ENABLED

After a manual take, the next playlist element will automatically be cued on the Preview device.

•XPLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE ON LOAD PLAYLIST>ENABLED

Xplay automatically cues the first element in the playlist when it is loaded. Note that since the C

UE LOOK AHEAD setting is enabled, the first element on will be cued when

the playlist is loaded.

•X

PLAY>PLAYOUT>INITIAL PLAYOUT MODE>MANUAL

Configures Xplay so that operators have full manual control over what and when playlist elements are cued and taken to air.

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on a single device

After completing the preparation procedure on page 4-3, Xplay is in a state where you can create or load a playlist into the Playlist Editor. Using the Playlist Editor’s global playout buttons (Cue and Take), you can control the pace of the playlist’s sequential playout by cueing and previewing the playout of playlist items on the Preview device and then taking them to air on the playout device.

Notice that the control-side of the page or template is displayed in the Device Views. This allows operators to easily identify the playlist elements, as well as allowing them to make (and save) onthe-fly changes to the asset’s editable fields before they are taken to air. See page 4-16 information.

for more

Figure 4-3. Previewing cued playlist elements and then taking them to air on the playout device

4-4 Xplay User Manual

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

To manually control the sequential preview and playout of a playlist on a single device:

1. Ensure that Xplay is properly configured and setup for previewing and playing out on a single device (see page 4-3

2. Create a new playlist or load an existing playlist into the Playlist Editor (see page 3-6 Since the C

UE ON LOAD PLAYLIST setting is enabled, when the playlist is loaded, the first

playlist element is cued onto the Preview Device View and previewed on the connected preview device.

The first element in the playlist does not have to be the first item played out. You can determine the starting point for the sequential playout by selecting the element and then clicking the CUE button.

3. Optional: When a playlist element is cued in the Preview Device View, you can make last minute edits to the element’s editable fields directly in the Device View before bringing it to air on the playout device (see page 4-16).

4. Click the T Since the A

AKE button to take the cued playlist element to air on the playout device.

UTO CUE NEXT ITEM setting is enabled, the next element in the playlist that

is assigned will automatically be cued to the Preview device when the currently cued element moved to on air.

5. Optional: If while the playlist element is playing out on the On Air Device, you notice an error in the content of one of the editable fields (i.e. a spelling mistake or incorrect picture), you can make “on-the-fly” edits directly in the Device View (see page 4-16

6. Since the playlist is played out in sequential order, clicking the T

AKE button again brings

the next element in the playlist to air and the next element on that device becomes cued.

Continue clicking the T

AKE button at the pace at which you want to control the playout

of the playlist elements.

As an alternative to clicking the Playlist Editor’s Cue and Take control buttons, you can also use Xplay’s ACTIONS>CUE (F2) and ACTIONS>TAKE (F1) menu commands and keyboard shortcuts.

7. Optional: If you want to force an element to be cued or taken, but it is not the next in the playlist (e.g. skip forward or return backwards); simply double-click the element that you want to be cued as the next element to air. The Playlist Editor’s current position arrow moves to the new location and the element is cued on the Preview device. Clicking the T

AKE button resumes the playout of the playlist from this point.

If you have configured Xplay’s Device Manager to allow a panel to control an additional keyer layer of the On Air playout device, you can load a panel into Xplay’s Toolbar Panel and use the panel to control the playout on the specified keyer. See “

Using a panel to control

an additional keyer level on a device” on page 4-20 for more information.

Xplay User Manual 4-5

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

8. If the Playlist Editor’s SET PLAYLIST WRAP PROPERTY button is enabled, once you have reached the last element in the playlist, you can keep looping through the playlist by clicking the T

AKE button.

However, if the SET PLAYLIST WRAP PROPERTY button is disabled, you can only continue until all of the elements have gone to air once.

9. Optional: You can remove the cued item from the Preview Device View by clicking the Uncue button or selecting Xplay’s A

Similarly, you can use the Clear button or Xplay’s A command to remove the currently playing element from the On Air playout device.

CTIONS>CLEAR PREVIEW menu command.

CTIONS>CLEAR ALL (F4) menu

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Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Preview and playout on multiple devices, channels or layers

Use Xplay’s MULTI-DEVICE layout when Xplay is to be used to control the preview and playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel.

In Multi-Device layout, each device, channel and/or keyer is represented in Xplay by a Device View, which allows operators to visualize and independently control the selection and pace at which playlist elements are cued and played out on the various devices. For example, figure 4-4 control a dual-channel Vertigo XG with 2 keyer layers for each channel.

shows Xplay with four (4) Device Views since it was configured to

Figure 4-4. Xplay is configured in a Multi-Device layout to control 2 channels, each with 2 keyer layers

When Xplay is set to the Multi-Device layout, the appearance and functionality of the Playlist Editor and Device Views can be changed to accommodate different operator preferences and playout situations.

For example:

• Playlist items can be organized in the Playlist Editor in a Standard or By Device view.

• The layout of the Device Views can provide a view of the Preview, On Air or both the OnAir-Preview devices.

• If the Playlist Editor is in Standard view, operators can control the playlist using the Playlist Editor’s global controls (Cue and Take) to playout the playlist elements sequentially on their assigned devices. If the S is also enabled, operators can also use the Device View’s Manual Playlist buttons to force the playout of an element on any device, regardless of the device assignment.

The following sections provides instructions for how operators can set up and control Xplay to preview and control the playout of a playlist on a multiple devices, channels and/or layers:

• “

Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout” on page 4-8

• “Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices” on page 4-10

Xplay User Manual 4-7

HOW MANUAL PLAYOUT BUTTONS setting

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Device Manager

Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout

Before using Xplay to preview and take a playlist to air on a multiple devices, channel and/or layers, we suggest that you perform the following preliminary configuration and verification procedures to ensure that Xplay is properly configured and setup:

1. Verify that Xplay is currently in the Multi-Device layout and that appropriate number of Device Views are displayed and assigned to the correct devices.

Figure 4-5. Verify the Multi-Device layout, Device Views and device assignments

If Xplay is not in the Multi-Device layout, the proper number of devices are not displayed, and/or the proper devices are not assigned to the Device Views, consult “

connecting Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8 and follow the configuration

procedures for a multiple devices and Multi-device layout.

Adding and

2. Verify that all of the devices in the Device Views have a green LED next to the device name to indicate that they are actively connected to the devices.

If the LED is red, follow the instructions on page 2-16

3. Ensure that the Keyer State button of each of the Device Views are On. The Keyer State button allows you to control whether the device’s keyer is on or off. When

To change the Keyer State:

• Double-click the Keyer State button Or,

• Right-click on the Keyer State button and select the T

4-8 Xplay User Manual

to reconnect Xplay to the device.

URN KEYER ON command.

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Standard Playlist View ByDevice Playlist View

4. Select TOOLS>SETTINGS and verify that the Xplay settings are configured as follows. Once finished, click OK to close the Settings dialog box.

PLAY>LAYOUT>PLAYLIST VIEW

• STANDARD: A single list, showing all of the playlist elements in the order in which they

were positioned. This list does not separate elements by their device assignments. The Playlist Editor’s global playout controls (Cue and Take) are also displayed and can be used to control the playlist in sequential order. Note that when using the global controls, you are restricted by the element’s device assignment. In other words, you cannot cue and take an element assigned to one device (e.g. device1) on another device (e.g. Device2). To cue and take on another device, you must enable and use the Manual Playout buttons in the Device Views.

YDEVICE: The playlist is broken down and displayed as multiple playlists, with one

• B

list for each device configured in Xplay. The device’s playlist is shown opposite the Device View for the corresponding device. Each list only shows those elements that target the associated device. To control the playlist, you must enable and use the manual playout buttons within each individual Device View.

•X

PLAY>LAYOUT>SHOW MANUAL PLAYOUT BUTTONS>ENABLED

Displays the manual playout buttons within each Device View window. The Manual Playout buttons allow you to override playlist order, default device assignments and the current position by controlling or forcing the content onto the specific Device View.

Cues the selected playlist element to the Device View’s connected device. The element then becomes the playlist’s current position.

This button can also be used to cue an element to a device that is not the element’s default target device.

An element cannot be cued to more than one device at a time.

Takes the playlist element that is cued on the device to the default or assigned channel. It does not alter the current position in the playlist.

If no element has been cued on the device, it clears the currently airing element from the default channel.

Clears the element that is currently on air on this device. Clicking this button does not alter the current position of the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 4-9

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Preview or OnAir OnAirPreview

•XPLAY>LAYOUT>MULTIDEVICE LAYOUT

•PREVIEW: The Device View consists of only the Preview window, which displays the

element that is currently cued on the device.

NAIR: The Device View consists of only the On Air window, which displays the

•O

element that has been brought to air on the device.

NAIRPREVIEW: The Device View consists of both the Preview and On-Air windows,

•O

therefore displaying the elements that are cued and playing out on the device.

PLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE LOOK AHEAD>ENABLED

•X

Determines if Xplay cues elements on every device when a cue is performed. Enabling this setting and then performing a general cue allows the element that is selected for cueing to be cued first. Then a search is made for the next element targeting each remaining device, starting after the selected element. Each element that is located is cued, but only if it is not already cued. After a manual take, the next element on the same device where the take occurred is cued.

If this setting is disabled and a general cue is executed, only the element selected for cueing is cued. After a manual take, no element is cued on the device.

PLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE ON LOAD PLAYLIST>ENABLED

•X

Xplay automatically cues the first element in the playlist when it is loaded. Note that since the CUE LOOK AHEAD setting is enabled, the first element on will be cued when the playlist is loaded.

•XPLAY>PLAYOUT>INITIAL PLAYOUT MODE>MANUAL

Configures Xplay so that operators have full manual control over what and when playlist elements are cued and taken to air.

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices

After completing the preparation procedure on page 4-8, Xplay is in a state where you can create or load a playlist into the Playlist Editor and begin to control the preview and playout of the playlist elements on multiple devices.

Since the Playlist View setting (STANDARD or BYDEVICE) significantly changes Xplay’s appearance and functionality, the following procedures guide you through an identical procedure for controlling playout only using difference playlist views.

Controlling playout on multiple devices using Standard playlist view” on page 4-11

• “

• “Controlling playout on multiple devices using ByDevice playlist view” on page 4-14

4-10 Xplay User Manual

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Controlling playout on multiple devices using Standard playlist view

The following procedure guides you through the steps for controlling a playlist on multiple devices using the Playlist Editor’s global controls, as well as the Device View’s Manual playout buttons in Standard Playlist View.

These Xplay settings are used in this example:

PLAY>GENERAL>LAYOUT>MULTI-DEVICE

• X

• XPLAY>GENERAL>NUMBER OF DEVICES>4

PLAY>LAYOUT>PLAYLIST VIEW>STANDARD

• X

• XPLAY>LAYOUT>SHOW MANUAL PLAYOUT BUTTONS>ENABLED

• XPLAY>LAYOUT>MULTIDEVICE LAYOUT>PREVIEWONAIR

• XPLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE LOOK AHEAD>ENABLED

• XPLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE ON LOAD PLAYLIST>ENABLED

To preview and playout a multi-device playlist using the Standard playlist view:

1. Load a playlist into the Playlist Editor (see page 3-6). Each playlist element’s Device cell displays the particular device that they were

assigned to be played out on. Since the C

device is cued onto their assigned output device (figure 4-6). The arrow along the left-side of the playlist, indicates the current position within the playlist. In other words, the next operation will apply to the element it is pointing to.

Also note that since Device1 and Device 2 are connected to both an output device and a Preview device, a preview of the cued elements’ playout is run on the Preview device when the element is cued.

UE ON LOAD PLAYLIST setting is enabled, the first playlist element for each

Figure 4-6. The Cue On Load Playlist setting automatically cues the elements to their assigned devices

Xplay User Manual 4-11

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Changed from Cued Device1 to On Air Device1

This element is now cued on Device1 since it will be the next element to be taken on Device1

On air on Device3

Cued on Device3

2. Optional: You can modify the cued elements’ editable fields in the Device Views before bringing them to air on the device (see page 7-13).

3. Click the global T

AKE button at the bottom of the Playlist Editor to take the first playlist

element (indicated by the arrow in the playlist) that is cued on the devices to air. Since the A

UTO CUE NEXT ITEM setting is enabled, the next element in the playlist that

is assigned to the device will automatically be cued to the device when the currently cued element moved to on air (figure 4-7

). The element will stay on air until the playlist

reaches the cued element in the playlist.

Figure 4-7. When the playlist element is taken to air, the next element for that device is cued on the device

4. Since the global cue and take buttons at the bottom of the playlist run through the playlist in sequential order, clicking the T in the playlist to air and the next element on that device becomes cued (figure 4-8

AKE button again brings the next cued element

Figure 4-8. The next item is taken to air on its device and the next element is cued on the device

4-12 Xplay User Manual

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

5. Continue clicking the TAKE button at the pace at which you want to control the playout of the playlist elements on their devices. You will also continue to make your way down the playlist. So the next the next element in the playlist would be taken to air on Device2 and so on.

If the Playlist Editor’s S

ET PLAYLIST WRAP PROPERTY button is enabled, once you

have reached the last element in the playlist, you can keep looping through the playlist by clicking the T

However, if the S

AKE button.

ET PLAYLIST WRAP PROPERTY button is disabled, you can only

continue until all of the elements have gone to air once.

During playout, the playlist scrolls and shows the most recently taken element. In a multidevice setup, when many consecutive takes are made on the same device, the cued and on-air elements on other devices may scroll out of view. To scroll the playlist down to view the cued and on-air elements on a particular device, right-click the device name on the rightside of Xplay and select the S

CROLL INTO VIEW menu command.

If both the cued and on-air elements cannot be visible at the same time because they are too widely spaced, then the cued element is made visible. If there is no cued or on-air element on the chosen device, no scrolling is performed.

6. Optional: You can remove the cued items from the Preview Device View by clicking the Uncue button in each Device View.

As well, you can use Xplay’s ACTIONS>CLEAR menu commands or each Device View’s Clear button to remove the currently playing element from the connected playout device.

Forcing a playlist element on air (breaking the playlist order)

If you need a playlist element to immediately playout on its assigned

device:

1. Double-click the desired playlist element. The playlist element is immediately cued on the assigned device and the playlist’s

current position arrow moves to this element.

2. Click the Playlist Editor’s Take button or the Take button in the element’s assigned Device View. The element is immediately taken to air and the playlist resumes from this new location.

If you need a playlist element to immediately playout, but on a device that is different

from

its assigned device:

1. Select the desired playlist element.

2. Click the Cue button in the Device View that is associated with the device that you want to play the element on.

The playlist element is immediately cued on the new device as indicated by the element’s status in the playlist.

Note that the element’s device assignment (Device column) remains unchanged.

Xplay User Manual 4-13

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

3. Click the Take button in the Device View assigned to the device that it is to be played out on and the element is immediately taken to air.

The element is immediately taken to air and the playlist resumes from this new location.

Controlling playout on multiple devices using ByDevice playlist view

If you would prefer to focus on managing the playout of a multi-device playlist on the individual devices, rather than controlling it in sequential order, you may consider setting Xplay’s Playlist View setting to ByDevice.

When the Playlist Editor is in BYDEVICE VIEW, the multi-device playlist is broken down into multiple playlists, with one list for each device configured in Xplay. Each playlist only shows those elements that target the associated device. Each device’s playlist is displayed opposite to its corresponding Device View (figure 4-9

Figure 4-9. Xplay’s Playlist Editor in ByDevice view

Unlike Standard view which allows you to control the whole playlist using global controls or individual devices using the manual playout buttons, ByDevice view only allows you to focus on controlling each device separately using the manual playout buttons. Therefore, for operators to control the playlist, Xplay’s S be enabled (see page 4-11 for a functional description of these buttons).

When the Playlist Editor is in ByDevice view, you are restricted by the element’s device assignment. In other words, you cannot cue and take an element assigned to one device (e.g. device1) on another device (e.g. Device2). It is possible, however, to cue and take a playlist element on a device that is different from the assigned target device if the Playlist Editor is in Standard view. See page 4-13 and instructions.

4-14 Xplay User Manual

HOW MANUAL PLAYOUT BUTTONS setting must

for more information

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

The following procedure guides you through the steps for controlling a multi-device playlist when the Playlist Editor is set to ByDevice view.

These Xplay settings are used in this example:

• X

PLAY>GENERAL>LAYOUT>MULTI-DEVICE

• XPLAY>GENERAL>NUMBER OF DEVICES>4

• X

PLAY>LAYOUT>PLAYLIST VIEW>BYDEVICE

• XPLAY>LAYOUT>SHOW MANUAL PLAYOUT BUTTONS>ENABLED

• XPLAY>LAYOUT>MULTIDEVICE LAYOUT>PREVIEWONAIR

• XPLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE LOOK AHEAD>ENABLED

• XPLAY>PLAYOUT>CUE ON LOAD PLAYLIST>ENABLED

To preview and playout a multi-device playlist using the ByDevice playlist view:

1. Load a playlist into the Playlist Editor (see page 3-6). The playlist is immediately divided up and each playlist element is placed in a playlist

according to its assigned or target device (figure 4-10 Since the C

UE ON LOAD PLAYLIST setting is enabled, the first playlist element for each

device is cued onto their assigned output device. Also note that since Device1 and Device 2 are connected to both an output device and

a Preview device, a preview of the cued elements’ playout is run on the Preview device when the element is cued.

Figure 4-10. The Cue On Load Playlist setting automatically cues the elements to their assigned devices

2. Control each device separately using each Device View’s manual playout buttons.

Figure 4-11. Use the manual playout buttons (Cue and Take) to control the playlist elements for the device

Xplay User Manual 4-15

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Additional operator controlled tasks

In addition to the operator controlled or initiated playout techniques described in the previous sections, Xplay allows operators to perform a few other control and playout tasks.

The following sections describe how operators can make last minute or on-the-fly changes to the cued playlist element’s editable fields; use a panel to control an additional keyer on a playout device; refresh/reload the playlist elements to ensure that the most updated versions are being used; and track which playlist elements have already been to air.

Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View” on page 4-16

• “

• “Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on a device” on page 4-20.

Reloading and refreshing playlist elements” on page 4-21.

• “

Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired” on page 4-23

• “

Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View

While the Device Views display the playlist elements that are currently cued or on air on a specific device, they also provide a workspace upon which you can make last minute changes to the element’s editable content. For example, you can change the text in a text box, make selections from drop-down lists, replace the existing image or clip...etc.

Preview Device View • Page: You can make changes to the page’s elements, and then either

save the changes and/or take the page to air.

• Template, Scene, and Clip: You can make changes to the template’s elements or substitute the video clip, and then take the template/clip to air. You cannot, however, save the changes that were made to the template or clip.

On-Air Device View • Page: You can make changes to the page’s elements and apply them

immediately to the on-air device’s playout. There is also an indirect way in which you can save the changes that were made to the page.

• Tem plate and C lip: You can make changes to the template’s elements or substitute the video clip and apply the changes immediately to the on-air device’s playout. You cannot, however, save the changes that were made to the template or clip.

The following topics describe how to edit the playlist elements in the Device Views, as well as how to save or apply the changes:

Zooming in/out and repositioning in the device view” on page 4-17

• “

• “Editing text and other contents elements in the device view” on page 4-18

• “Changing an image, clip, or cel animation in the device view” on page 4-19

• “Saving changes made to playlist elements in the Device Views” on page 4-20

4-16 Xplay User Manual

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

Original Zoom in Zoom in & reposition

Zooming in/out and repositioning in the device view

To view the details of an element displayed in the Device View window, you can zoom in and out of the element. As a result of zooming in/out, portions of the element may become hidden outside of the window’s frame. If this happens, you can reposition the element within the device view window (figure 4-12

Figure 4-12. See the displayed playlist element in greater detail by zooming in and repositioning

Pressing the SPACE BAR or HOME KEY on your keyboard, resets the device view’s zoom to the original scale (1:1) and repositions the element to the center of the window.

To zoom in or out of a playlist element that is displayed in the device view window:

1. Click within the device view.

2. Use your mouse’s wheel to zoom in or out.

• Roll the mouse wheel forward to zoom in. Or,

• Roll the mouse wheel backward to zoom out.

To reposition the playlist element within the device view window:

1. Click within the device view.

2. While holding the A the desired position. Or, holding the A and drag the element to its new position.

Xplay User Manual 4-17

LT key, press the direction arrow keys to move the element toward

LT key you can hold down the left-mouse button

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

Drop-down lists

Text boxes

Radio buttons

Check boxes

Images

Text

Editing text and other contents elements in the device view

If the page or template that is displayed in the Device View contains content elements (primitives) whose A these elements (figure 4-13

Some of the edits that are possible in the Device View are:

• setting text in text boxes by clicking within the text box and typing the new text

• selecting an item from a drop-down list

• selecting check boxes or a radio button to indicate a choice or enable a setting

• replacing existing images, cel animations, or clips with another of the same type (see

page 4-19

The new settings appear immediately in the device view and the changes are stored in a cached version of the playlist element. If the changes are being made in the On-Air Device View, then the changes are immediately viewed in the device’s playout. While you cannot permanently save the changes made to templates or clips in the Device Views, you can save the changes to a page’s content elements (see page 4-20).

LLOW EDIT property are set to TRUE, then you can make changes to

)

Figure 4-13. You can make changes to the current settings on a page or template in the Device Views

4-18 Xplay User Manual

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

Changing an image, clip, or cel animation in the device view

If page or template that is in the Preview or On-air Device View window contains an image, clip, or cel animation element whose A substitute the current image, clip, or cel animation for another without having to clear and reload the Device View.

Figure 4-14. Replacing an image on a page cued in the Device View

Although the following procedure only describes how to replace an image, we suggest that you use the same instructions for replacing a clip or cel animation in the Device View window since the procedure is generally the same in all three cases.

To change an image on the page from within the Device View window:

1. Right-click on the image in the device view window.

ELECT AN IMAGE dialog box appears (figure 4-15).

The S

LLOW EDIT property is set to TRUE, then you can

Figure 4-15. Select the replacement image

2. Navigate through the I

VIEW ) or listed (DETAIL VIEW ) in the SELECT AN IMAGE dialog box.

MAGES root folder until the desired image is displayed (PROXY

3. Double-click the desired image, or select the desired file and click OK.

ELECT AN IMAGE dialog box closes and the image is immediately updated in the

The S device view.

The new image appears immediately in the device view and the changes are stored in a cached version of the playlist element. If the change was made in the On-Air Device View, then the change is immediately viewed in the device’s playout. While you cannot permanently save the changes made to templates or clips in the Device Views, you can save changes to a page’s content elements (see page 4-20).

Xplay User Manual 4-19

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

Control Panel

Saving changes made to playlist elements in the Device Views

Xplay allows you can make changes to the content elements within a page, template, or clip asset that is currently displayed in the Preview and On-Air Device Views. The changes appear immediately in the Device Views and they are also temporarily stored in a cached version of the playlist element. If the changes are being made to a playlist element in the On-Air Device View and the element has been taken to air on the device, the changes will immediately be applied to the on-air playout.

As was stated above, these changes are temporarily stored in a cache version of the playlist element, but they have not yet been permanently saved. You must intentionally save the changes, otherwise they will be lost when Xplay is closed.

Regardless of whether the edits where made in the Preview or the On-Air Device View window, edits to a template or clip playlist element cannot be save to the asset. In fact, the

AVE button in the Device View’s toolbar will be disabled when editing a template

the S or clip asset in the Device Views.

You can save the changes that were made to a page that is loaded in the Preview Device View by clicking the S Air Device View, the SAVE button in the Device View’s toolbar is unfortunately disabled to encourage users to make most long lasting edits in the Preview Device View rather than onair. If however, you really must save changes that were made in the On-Air Device View, you can use the Xplay’s F command not only saves the page of interest, but all pages that have unsaved edits.

AVE button in the Device View’s toolbar. If the page was loaded in the On-

ILE>SAVE PAGES command. Be aware however, that the SAVE PAGES

Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on a device

In addition to using manual control techniques to send playlists to air on one or more playout devices in real-time, Xplay also allows you to use a control panel to playout and control an additional keyer layer on a specified output device.

Control panel assets are created in Xstudio, and allow operators to interact with content and control the playout while it is played out on air. Control panels can also contain logic that executes actions based on events received from the playout. For example, a control panel can control the appearance of a ticker crawl as well as provide the content from an RSS feed.

Figure 4-16 is opened, the panel appears in the Toolbar Panel section of the Xplay interface.

Figure 4-16. Xplay can use a panel to playout and control graphics on an additional keyer layer

4-20 Xplay User Manual

shows that when Xplay is connected to a Panel device and a control panel asset

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

NOTE

To use a panel in Xplay to playout and control an additional keyer layer on a specified output device:

1. Open Xplay’s Device Manager. Add and configure a device to the P

2. Load a control panel asset into the Toolbar Panel by navigating through the Asset Browser’s PANELS root category and double-clicking the desired control panel asset.

The control panel immediately opens in Xplay’s Toolbar Panel.

Xplay can be configured to load a specific control panel into the Toolbar Panel upon startup. Simply specify panel asset in Xplay’s STARTUP PANEL setting (see page 6-14).

3. To playout of the specified device, Xplay’s Toolbar Panel must be actively connected to the device. Therefore, ensure that the connection LED in the Toolbar Panel is green. If the LED is red, see page 2-16

ANEL device in Active Device table (see page 2-8).

for instructions on reconnecting to the device.

4. Depending upon what the panel was designed to do, operators can interact with the panel’s editable fields and control buttons and/or the panel will receive events during playout and react according to the programmed logic.

Xplay can be configured to send events to a control panel using keyboard shortcuts. The keys used to send the events are C

settings” on page 6-24 for more information.

TRL-SHIFT+0 up to CTRL-SHIFT+9. See “Panel Events

Reloading and refreshing playlist elements

If the loaded playlist or one of the playlist elements that is currently cued has been changed by another user on a different workstation, you can still obtain the latest saved version quickly and easily at any time by reloading the playlist or element.

When the A currently loaded playlist has changed, it automatically reloads the playlist. However, if this setting is disabled and Xplay detects that the currently loaded playlist has changed, the

ELOAD button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar turns orange and you must click the

R R

ELOAD button to reload the playlist (see instructions below and “Reloading the playlist” on

page 3-37 for more information).

Xplay User Manual 4-21

UTO RELOAD PLAYLISTS command is enabled and Xplay detects that the

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Similarly, if a playlist element is linked to a data source, you can refresh the cued element, which forces objects with data links to read the latest values in the database in order to display the latest information.

To reload the playlist:

• Click the R

ELOAD PLAYLIST button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar.

Or,

• Select Xplay’s A

CTIONS>RELOAD PLAYLIST command.

Or,

• Press F5 on your keyboard.

To reload a playlist element that is currently cued on a device:

• Click the R

ELOAD PLAYLIST button in the Device View’s toolbar.

Or,

• Select one of the following commands according to the device that the element is cued on:

• Select Xplay’s A

CTIONS>RELOAD CUED command.

• Select Xplay’s ACTIONS>RELOAD CUED DEVICE 1 command.

• Select Xplay’s A

CTIONS>RELOAD CUED DEVICE 2 command.

To refresh a playlist element that is currently cued on a device:

• Click the REFRESH button in the Device View’s toolbar.

Or,

• Select one of the following commands according to the device that the element is cued on:

• Select Xplay’s A

CTIONS>REFRESH CUED command, or press F3 on your keyboard. CTIONS>REFRESH CUED DEVICE 1 command, or press SHIFT + F3 on

your keyboard.

• Select Xplay’s A

CTIONS>REFRESH CUED DEVICE 2 command, or press CTRL + F3 on

your keyboard.

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Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

Mark As Aired

Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired

Xplay contains an optional feature that allows you to visually distinguish between the playlist elements that have already been played on air and those that have not. As figure 4-

17 demonstrates, you can configure Xplay so that once an element has been taken to air,

TATUS column changes color and reports “AIRED”.

its S

Figure 4-17. The Status of an element reads “Aired” once the element has completely played on air

When Xplay’s P element has finished playing out on air, the element’s S

LAYLIST>HIGHLIGHT>SHOW AIRED setting is enabled, each time a playlist

TATUS column automatically

changes color and reports “AIRED”. The color that the Status changes to is determined by the PLAYLIST>HIGHLIGHT>AIRED COLOR setting (figure 4-18).

Figure 4-18. The “Show Aired” setting must be enabled for this feature to be available

• To remove the “A

IRED” Status from a playlist element, select the playlist element in the

Playlist Editor and then select ACTIONS>UNMARKED AS AIRED or press CTRL + U.

• To manually reinstate the element’s Status as “A Playlist Editor and then select A

CTIONS>MARK AS AIRED or press CTRL + R.

IRED”, select the playlist element in the

Xplay User Manual 4-23

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques

4-24 Xplay User Manual

5 CONTROLLING XPLAY DEVICES USING

NOTE

Station automation

Automation

protocol

Xplay

(Serial or TCP/IP)

AUTOMATION PROTOCOLS

Vertigo playout devices (Vertigo XG and Intuition XG) can be remotely controlled by external automation systems using Xplay and an automation protocol. Figure 5-1 demonstrates that automation commands are sent using an automation protocol from the automation system to the device’s Xplay either through a serial or TCP/IP connection. Xplay then acts as an interpreter by receiving control commands from automation to control the device and the device sends back status messages.

Xplay User Manual 5-1

Figure 5-1. Xplay supports the remote control of devices via automation protocols

To facilitate integration, Xplay supports several different protocols. In most cases however, we recommend using the Oxtel Protocol.

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

To use automation for device control, you must first configure Xplay’s AUTOMATION settings and the device’s Dashboard settings for automation compatibility. Instructions for accomplishing these tasks are provided in “

Specifying Automation settings in Xplay” on

page 5-3.

Then you must use the X

PLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window to associate the device

that is to be controlled with an automation protocol. Xplay offers a series of automation protocol properties that can be edited, as well as a mechanism for forwarding automation commands to other devices.

The XPLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window is accessed by selecting the

OOLS>CONFIGURE AUTOMATION command. If Xplay has already been associated with one

T or more devices, then the X

PLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window appears (figure 5-2).

Figure 5-2. Xplay’s Automation Configuration window

If Xplay has not been associated with any devices, the following error message appears:

Automation cannot be used without devices attached to Xplay. Please use the device manager to configure Xplay and try again.

Close the X Device Manager to associate one or more devices to Xplay (see “

PLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window’s error message and use Xplay’s

Adding and connecting

Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8). Then, try again to open the XPLAY AUTOMATION

ONFIGURATION window.

Once the X

PLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window is open and displays the devices,

you can add and configure the protocol settings for each device. The following sections provide instructions for configuring Xplay’s automation protocol settings:

Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial” on page 5-5

• “

• “Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial” on page 5-9

• “Configuring Xplay to use Xprotocol over TCP/IP” on page 5-13

• “Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel serial protocol over TCP/IP” on page 5-15

5-2 Xplay User Manual

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

NOTE

Specifying Automation settings in Xplay

For automation to control a Vertigo playout device, Xplay must run on the same device that is to be controlled. To ensure frame accuracy during playout, you must configure both Xplay and the device’s AUTOMATION settings to be complementary. Note that frame accuracy is not supported when using playlists.

To configure Xplay’s Automation settings:

1. Open Xplay on the rendering machine that will be controlled by the automation system.

2. Select the T dialog box.

3. Navigate through X

OOLS>SETTINGS from the Xplay menu commands to open the SETTINGS

PLAY>AUTOMATION to display Xplay’s Automation settings (figure 5-3).

Figure 5-3. Xplay’s Automation settings

4. Enable the AUTOMATION (NO MESSAGE BOXES) setting, which overrides the behavior of the four (4) settings below it and prevents message boxes from appearing during Xplay operations.

5. Optional: if you are planning on using the Evertz protocol, then you must specify the

EAD BAND setting (otherwise ignore this setting). The Dead band setting allows you to

synchronize the taking and clearing of multiple templates within the Evertz protocol.

6. Select from the TV F execution of automation commands and page creation. This is used to determine the number of frames per second and to display timecode values. This TV Format should match the TV Format of the templates that you build and the Rendering Resolution setting of your rendering device.

7. Click OK.

See “Automation settings” on page 6-25 for further information regarding Xplay’s AUTOMATION settings.

Xplay User Manual 5-3

ORMAT setting’s drop-down list the format target TV format for the

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

To configure the Vertigo rendering device’s Automation settings:

1. Open the Vertigo rendering device’s Dashboard application by selecting the

OOLS>LAUNCH DASHBOARD command from the device’s Control Panel.

2. Select the device from the Device Discovery table. If the device does not appear in the table, perform a Device Discovery (T

OOLS>SETTINGS>DEVICE DISCOVERY).

3. With the S

ETTINGS MODE still set to SIMPLE, ensure that the OUTPUT RESOLUTION setting

to the same as the TV FORMAT setting in the Xplay Automation settings (page 6-25).

4. Change the S

5. On the G

6. Set the A

ETTINGS MODE by selecting ADVANCED from the drop-down list.

ENERAL page, select the SYSTEM COUNTER option in the AUTOMATION MODE settings.

UTOMATION > PREROLL setting to match that of the automation system.

Automation systems will send and clear events ahead of time; preroll corresponds to the number of frames used by the automation system.

7. Click the A

PPLY CHANGES button and close the Dashboard application.

5-4 Xplay User Manual

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

NOTE

Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial

Xplay can be configured to support the Evertz protocol as a means of controlling the playout of graphics content to Vertigo output devices. Thus far, Grass Valley has used Encoda Automation System running the Evertz protocol (Evertz 9525 DSK-LG) controlling Xplay.

The Evertz protocol is somewhat limited in that there is no real control over layering of templates on the device. Therefore, in the current implementation there is no guarantee that a particular template will be loaded onto a particular keyer. If strict layering control is desired then another protocol, such as Xprotocol, should be considered (see page 5-13).

To configure Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial to control a device:

1. Open Xplay’s DEVICE MANAGER and verify that the devices and device keyers that the Evertz protocol will control are properly configured and assigned (see “Adding and

connecting Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8).

2. Verify that Xplay’s AUTOMATION settings and the renderer’s automation settings are appropriate for automation control (see “

page 5-3).

3. Open Xplay’s A Evertz protocol for the device that is to be controlled by automation.

a. Select T

The XPLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window appears (figure 5-4).

UTOMATION CONFIGURATION window and create an instance of the

OOLS>CONFIGURE AUTOMATION.

Specifying Automation settings in Xplay” on

Figure 5-4. The Xplay Automation Configuration window

b. In the D

Xplay User Manual 5-5

EVICE TO PROTOCOL MAPPINGS section, click the ADD PROTOCOL button next

to the device that you want to map the Evertz protocol to.

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

c. Select EVERTZ OVER SERIAL from the drop-down list that appears and press ENTER.

The Properties section now displays the C

EVICE FORWARDING settings (figure 5-5).

and D

Figure 5-5. Xplay’s Properties for configuring Evertz protocol over serial

OMMUNICATION, PROTOCOL, LOGGING

4. Set the following C

OMMUNICATION settings:

COM PORT Select the communication port upon which Xplay will interact with the

automation system. The default value is 1.

AUD RATE Select the expected transmission rate between the automation system and

Xplay. Consult with the automation system and select the Baud rate that matches the baud rate used by the system. The default value is 19200.

PARITY The parity setting normally offers the option of error checking during

transmission between the automation system and Xplay. This setting is disabled since it is provided by the Evertz protocol.

TOP BITS The stop bits value represents the last bit in a character in asynchronous

transmission to indicate the ending of the character. This setting is determined by the protocol and therefore it has been disabled.

ATA BITS The number of bits that make up a character of data that is transmitted. This

setting is determined by the protocol and therefore it has been disabled.

LOW CONTROL Select the process for managing the rate of transmission of data between

the receiver and Xplay to prevent congestion. Choose from the following settings/techniques: N

ONE, CTS/RTS, HARDWARE, or SOFTWARE.

5-6 Xplay User Manual

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

5. Set the PROTOCOL Settings:

EYERS Specify the keyers (layers) of a particular device that the Evertz protocol will

control. These keyers must be configured in advance in Xplay using the Device Manager (see “

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices” on

page 2-8).

Since there is no keyer specified by the Evertz protocol, the Evertz driver in Xplay will decide where to put the next element and does this by looking for the first of the configured keyers that has nothing cued nor on air. If every available keyer has something on air then Xplay will select the first keyer that does not have any element cued.

Note: If a template is loaded onto a keyer external to the protocol, the Evertz protocol driver has no knowledge of this and therefore will incorrectly consider this keyer as an available keyer.

ERIFY MULTIPLE To reduce the number of verification calls made to the Xmedia Server, the

Evertz protocol may send a verify request for a particular element multiple times in rapid succession (once a second, for example). This value sets a throttle on the number of incoming Evertz requests for an item that result in a call to the XMS. Xplay will reply with a cached value for that item on every verify request for the item until the number of repeat request received is equal to the Verify Multiple value. The recommended value for this setting is 5.

Note that for playlists, verify only verifies that the playlist exists on the Xmedia Server – it does not verify that all the playlist content is published on a device.

LAYLIST ID RANGE Specify an inclusive range if you want to cue and take playlists via the Evertz

protocol. The range can be either numeric or alphanumeric, although currently playlists do not fully support Recall IDs so the lookup of a playlist will always by name.

When an element is identified to be within the playlist range, a cue command opens the playlist and puts Xplay in Automatic playout mode. The playlist is then played out on the Take command and play out ceases when a Clear command is received.

GNORE PLAYLIST CLEAR This setting is used in conjunction with the PLAYLIST ID RANGE setting that

allows you to cue and take playlists via the Evertz protocol.

Since a Clear command from the Evertz protocol stops the playlist from playing out abruptly, enabling this setting allows Xplay to ignore the Clear commands, thereby letting the playlist to finish on its own.

Xplay User Manual 5-7

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

NOTE

6. Optional: Select the ENABLE ADVANCED LOGGING setting to activate the Evertz protocol logging, which tracks and records the operation and interaction between the Evertz protocol, Xplay, and the output devices.

A maximum of ten 5 MB Evertz driver logs files is maintained with the oldest ones being deleted when necessary. The log file can be found in the standard log path:

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

Evertz driver log files names have the following format:

Evertz-<process_id>-<date>-<time>.log

For example, Evertz-1896-11292007-100834.log

You can also set additional logging to record events from Xplay’s and the device’s perspectives. Xplay’s L (page 6-30), while the XGs logging settings are accessed using the Dashboard application (see the VERTIGO XG CONFIGURATION GUIDE for more information).

OGGING settings are accessed through the TOOLS>SETTINGS command

7. Optional: Set the device forwarding feature (figure 5-6 Evertz protocol to control multiple devices. See “Device forwarding of automation

commands” on page 5-19 for instructions.

Figure 5-6. Device Forwarding table

8. Once you are finished setting the Evertz over Serial properties, click OK and restart Xplay.

Xplay should be restarted after any changes to the XPLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window’s Device to protocol mappings or protocol properties.

9. Verify that the automation configuration has been applied to the Xplay device(s). Once Xplay has been restarted, the devices that have been configured for automation

should now display the automation icon in the Device View’s toolbar. If there is no communication between the automation system and Xplay, the automation icon remains grey. However, when communication between the Evertz protocol and Xplay is successful, the blue automation icon is displayed in blue.

), which allows you to use the

5-8 Xplay User Manual

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols

Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial

As the Oxtel protocol is Grass Valley’s proprietary protocol, we recommend that you use this automation protocol to allow an automation system to control Grass Valley playout devices.

The following instructions describe how to configure Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over a dedicated serial connection between the automation system and Xplay. Note however, that Xplay can also be configured for use over a TCP/IP (see “Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel

serial protocol over TCP/IP” on page 5-15).

To configure Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial to control Xplay devices:

1. Open Xplay’s D Oxtel protocol will control are properly configured and assigned (see “

connecting Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8).

2. Verify that Xplay’s AUTOMATION settings and the renderer’s automation settings are appropriate for automation control. For XG devices, see “

settings in Xplay” on page 5-3.

3. Open Xplay’s A protocol for the device(s) that are to be controlled by automation.

a. Select T

The XPLAY AUTOMATION CONFIGURATION window appears (figure 5-7).

EVICE MANAGER and verify that the devices and device keyers that the

Adding and

Specifying Automation

UTOMATION CONFIGURATION window and create an instance of the Oxtel

OOLS>CONFIGURE AUTOMATION.

Figure 5-7. The Xplay Automation Configuration window

b. In the D

EVICE TO PROTOCOL MAPPINGS section, click the ADD PROTOCOL button next

to the device that you want to control using the Oxtel protocol.

Xplay User Manual 5-9

Grass Valley Xplay Vertigo Suite User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

1 INTRODUCING XPLAY

2 GETTING STARTED WITH XPLAY

Installation and licensing information

Starting Xplay and connecting to the Xmedia Server

Overview of the Xplay interface

Configuring Xplay’s settings

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager

Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control

Connecting output devices to Xplay

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View

Creating a new playlist

Loading an existing playlist

Playlist element verification

Navigating and selecting elements within the playlist

Adding playlist elements to a playlist

Using the Asset Browser to add pages, templates and clips to a playlist

Using Quick Recall to add templates, clips and pages to a playlist

Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist

Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist

Adding shared segment assets to a playlist

Grouping elements into playlist segments

Adding and populating playlist segments

Repositioning playlist segments and their elements

Deleting playlist segments from a playlist

Adding comment rows to the playlist

Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist

Repositioning primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments)

Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist

Configuring and editing the playlist columns

Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout

Editing a playlist element’s properties

Deleting playlist elements

Reloading the playlist

Saving the playlist

Preview and playout on a single device

Preparing to preview and playout on a single device

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on a single device

Preview and playout on multiple devices, channels or layers

Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices

Additional operator controlled tasks

Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View

Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on a device

Reloading and refreshing playlist elements

Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired

Specifying Automation settings in Xplay

Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial

Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial