Grass Valley Xstudio Vertigo Suite User Manual

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Xstudio

Broadcast Graphics Authoring System

User Manual

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M852-0500-041

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Document Identification

Title Xstudio User Manual

Part number M852-0500-041

SW version Vertigo Suite v.4.10

Revision History

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

Revision date Description

July 28, 2014 Original release

ABLE OF

Introducing Xstudio .............................................................................................................1-1

Xstudio’s role in the Vertigo Suite workflow....................................................................................... 1-2

Types of Xstudio projects: Templates, Panels & Pages .................................................................... 1-5

Procedural overview for creating Template+Scene and Panel+Scene projects ........................... 1-6

Procedural overview for creating Pages ....................................................................................... 1-9

Getting started with Xstudio ............................................................................................... 2-1

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

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

Configuring Xstudio’s settings ........................................................................................................... 2-4

Servers settings ............................................................................................................................ 2-5

Logging settings............................................................................................................................ 2-6

Workspace settings ...................................................................................................................... 2-7

Asset Defaults settings ................................................................................................................. 2-9

Device settings ........................................................................................................................... 2-10

Browsers settings ....................................................................................................................... 2-11

Connecting Xstudio to an output device ..........................................................................................2-12

Verifying Xstudio’s installation and setup ........................................................................................ 2-16

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop........................................................................................ 3-1

Starting Xstudio ................................................................................................................................. 3-2

Design Mode vs. Production Mode.................................................................................................... 3-5

Xstudio’s menu commands................................................................................................................ 3-7

Xstudio’s desktop icons and toolbars .............................................................................................. 3-18

Xstudio’s primitives.......................................................................................................................... 3-21

Control side primitives................................................................................................................. 3-21

Scene side primitives.................................................................................................................. 3-23

Asset Browser and Gallery Browser................................................................................................ 3-24

Properties Browser .......................................................................................................................... 3-25

Action Editor and Animation Editor .................................................................................................. 3-27

Project Windows - Control and scene sides .................................................................................... 3-28

Safe areas and resolution format................................................................................................3-29

Zooming in/out of the canvas...................................................................................................... 3-31

Panning across the canvas......................................................................................................... 3-31

Production mode environment......................................................................................................... 3-33

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets ......................................................... 4-1

Creating new projects and assets...................................................................................................... 4-2

Setting the canvas’ properties ...................................................................................................... 4-3

Opening existing projects ................................................................................................................ 4-10

Searching for projects/assets on the Xmedia Server....................................................................... 4-11

Importing assets from another Vertigo system ................................................................................ 4-12

Ingesting files created using third-party applications ....................................................................... 4-14

Ingesting image or audio files ..................................................................................................... 4-14

Ingesting multiple image files or creating cel animations or clips upon ingest............................ 4-17

Ingesting video files .................................................................................................................... 4-22

ONTENTS

Xstudio User Manual TOC-1

Table of Contents

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas..................................................... 5-1

Adding assets to the canvas...............................................................................................................5-3

Adding primitives to the canvas..........................................................................................................5-4

Removing assets or primitives from the canvas .................................................................................5-7

Previewing a scene’s layout on a device during development ...........................................................5-8

Selecting, grouping, and/or layering objects on the canvas ...............................................................5-9

Selecting a single object on the canvas.........................................................................................5-9

Selecting multiple objects on the canvas.....................................................................................5-10

Grouping and ungrouping objects on the canvas ........................................................................5-11

Layering objects on the canvas ...................................................................................................5-12

Resizing objects using object zones.................................................................................................5-13

Moving and aligning objects on the canvas ......................................................................................5-14

Cutting, copying and pasting objects to/from the canvas .................................................................5-17

Modifying the font properties of text objects .....................................................................................5-18

Editing an image...............................................................................................................................5-19

Undoing and redoing edits on the canvas ........................................................................................5-20

Working with scene objects................................................................................................ 6-1

Text2D objects on the scene canvas..................................................................................................6-2

Creating simple clocks and timers using Text2D scene elements.................................................6-7

Using embedded text tags within Text2D scene objects ...............................................................6-9

Clip objects on the scene canvas .....................................................................................................6-12

Image objects on the scene canvas .................................................................................................6-14

Cel Animation objects on the scene canvas.....................................................................................6-16

Video In objects on the scene canvas ..............................................................................................6-18

Crawl and Roll objects on the scene canvas....................................................................................6-20

Creating a basic crawl .................................................................................................................6-21

Making basic changes to a crawl or roll.......................................................................................6-22

Creating a controllable crawl with Xstudio ...................................................................................6-24

Using scene objects as a mask ........................................................................................................6-28

Animating scene objects .................................................................................................... 7-1

Animation Editor’s interface components ...........................................................................................7-3

Animation Editor toolbar ................................................................................................................7-4

Keyframe Editor .............................................................................................................................7-5

Preview Mode controls ..................................................................................................................7-9

Animation Tree and Animations.....................................................................................................7-9

Animation Timeline and Keyframes .............................................................................................7-16

Creating scene animations ...............................................................................................................7-22

Displaying the animated properties in the Scene tree .................................................................7-23

Opening the Animation Editor......................................................................................................7-24

Choosing a type of animation ......................................................................................................7-25

Adding the object’s animated properties to your animation .........................................................7-26

Adding and setting keyframes .....................................................................................................7-27

Adding and setting a keyer channel.............................................................................................7-29

Adding and setting a command channel......................................................................................7-30

TOC-2 Xstudio User Manual

Table of Contents

Saving and publishing the template/scene ................................................................................. 7-32

Previewing and scrubbing the animation .................................................................................... 7-32

Setting up an animation action ................................................................................................... 7-34

Editing existing animations .............................................................................................................. 7-35

Renaming animations ................................................................................................................. 7-35

Deleting channels from the Animation Tree................................................................................ 7-35

Cutting, copying, and pasting animation elements ..................................................................... 7-36

Resizing and moving channels on the Timeline.......................................................................... 7-39

Moving a keyframe ..................................................................................................................... 7-39

Deleting a keyframe.................................................................................................................... 7-39

Animated property descriptions ....................................................................................................... 7-40

General animated object properties............................................................................................ 7-41

Cel animation properties............................................................................................................. 7-59

Clip properties............................................................................................................................. 7-60

Image Properties ........................................................................................................................ 7-61

Text2D properties ....................................................................................................................... 7-62

Working with control objects.............................................................................................. 8-1

Connecting control objects to scene objects .....................................................................................8-2

Text objects on the control canvas .................................................................................................... 8-4

Dropbox objects on the control canvas.............................................................................................. 8-6

Button objects on the control canvas................................................................................................. 8-8

Textbox objects on the control canvas ............................................................................................ 8-10

Image objects on the control canvas ............................................................................................... 8-12

Checkbox & Radio Button objects on the control canvas ................................................................ 8-14

ActiveX objects on the control canvas............................................................................................. 8-16

Timer objects on the control canvas................................................................................................ 8-17

Linking objects to a data source ........................................................................................ 9-1

Data Manager screen items............................................................................................................... 9-3

Schemas............................................................................................................................................ 9-4

Creating schemas......................................................................................................................... 9-5

Editing schemas ........................................................................................................................... 9-8

Renaming or saving a copy of a schema with a new name.......................................................... 9-9

Deleting schemas ......................................................................................................................... 9-9

Data entities: snapshots, tickers, multi-tickers and classes............................................................. 9-10

Creating a snapshot.................................................................................................................... 9-11

Creating a ticker.......................................................................................................................... 9-13

Creating a multi-ticker................................................................................................................. 9-16

Creating a class .......................................................................................................................... 9-18

Setting dynamic keys.................................................................................................................. 9-19

Editing and deleting data entities ................................................................................................ 9-21

Creating data links........................................................................................................................... 9-22

Prefixes (Scene:, Control:, Data:, L:, G:)......................................................................................... 9-23

Creating and applying lookup tables ............................................................................................... 9-24

Editing lookup tables ....................................................................................................................... 9-29

Xstudio User Manual TOC-3

Table of Contents

Using social media messages and online polls as a data source ....................................................9-30

Creating a social media data source ...........................................................................................9-30

Creating a snapshot or ticker for social media content................................................................9-31

Data tables for social media snapshots and tickers.....................................................................9-34

Creating a template that retrieves social media content..............................................................9-37

Adding logic to control objects........................................................................................ 10-1

Opening the Action Editor.................................................................................................................10-2

Action Editor interface components..................................................................................................10-3

Editing and ordering buttons........................................................................................................10-3

Add Actions and Events...............................................................................................................10-4

Action Table components ............................................................................................................10-4

Using the object’s default events......................................................................................................10-6

Creating custom events....................................................................................................................10-8

User Defined events ....................................................................................................................10-8

Data Arrival events ....................................................................................................................10-11

Assigning an action to an object.....................................................................................................10-12

Creating custom actions .................................................................................................................10-13

Setting the Target parameter..........................................................................................................10-14

Using the Expression Builder .........................................................................................................10-15

Deleting actions from events ..........................................................................................................10-19

Default actions and action parameters ...........................................................................................10-20

Saving, publishing and exporting Xstudio projects ........................................................11-1

Saving Xstudio projects and assets..................................................................................................11-2

Publishing assets to output devices .................................................................................................11-3

Manually publishing assets to devices in Xstudio........................................................................11-3

Automatically publishing assets to devices in Xstudio .................................................................11-4

Exporting assets to be used on another Vertigo system ..................................................................11-5

Playing out a scene using Xstudio’s Production mode ................................................. 12-1

Playing out a scene associated with a template or page..................................................................12-2

Playing out a scene controlled by a control panel ............................................................................12-3

Playing out a standalone scene........................................................................................................12-4

Appendix A - Asset Browser ............................................................................................ 13-1

Opening, closing, and resizing the Asset Browser ......................................................................13-2

Structure of the Asset Browser....................................................................................................13-3

Creating Asset Browser categories .............................................................................................13-7

Deleting Asset Browser categories..............................................................................................13-8

Renaming an Asset Browser category ........................................................................................13-9

Publishing a category’s assets to one or more output devices....................................................13-9

Moving or copying assets to different categories.......................................................................13-10

Removing assets from categories .............................................................................................13-11

Opening and editing assets using the Asset Browser ...............................................................13-11

Deleting assets using the Asset Browser ..................................................................................13-13

Viewing and editing asset properties using the Asset Browser .................................................13-13

TOC-4 Xstudio User Manual

Table of Contents

Appendix B - Gallery Browser .......................................................................................... 14-1

Opening, closing, and resizing the Gallery Browser ................................................................... 14-2

Switching between Proxy and Detail view in the Gallery Browser .............................................. 14-3

Viewing assets in the Gallery Browser........................................................................................ 14-6

Adding and deleting asset categories to the Gallery Browser .................................................... 14-7

Refreshing the Gallery Browser..................................................................................................14-8

Opening and editing assets using the Gallery Browser .............................................................. 14-8

Deleting assets using the Gallery Browser ................................................................................. 14-9

Viewing and editing asset properties using the Gallery Browser .............................................. 14-10

Appendix C - Xstudio properties ...................................................................................... 15-1

Control object properties ................................................................................................................. 15-2

Scene object properties................................................................................................................. 15-13

Group object properties ................................................................................................................. 15-40

Formats for text, numbers, dates and times.................................................................................. 15-44

Formatting numbers.................................................................................................................. 15-45

Formatting dates and times ...................................................................................................... 15-46

Appendix D - Search tool .................................................................................................. 16-1

Opening the Search tool ............................................................................................................. 16-2

Using the search tool’s interface...................................................................................................... 16-3

Standard search criteria fields and controls................................................................................ 16-4

Advanced search criteria fields, controls, and summary........................................................... 16-11

Message area: Search status and asset information................................................................ 16-20

Results Area ............................................................................................................................. 16-21

Performing a standard search ....................................................................................................... 16-23

Advanced search procedures........................................................................................................ 16-24

Creating a query that uses a single property ............................................................................ 16-24

Creating a query that combines multiple properties.................................................................. 16-26

Editing a search criteria’s property conditions .......................................................................... 16-27

Saving and loading a search criteria......................................................................................... 16-27

Removing search criterias ........................................................................................................ 16-28

Appendix E - Image Editor ................................................................................................ 17-1

Opening the Image Editor................................................................................................................ 17-2

Zooming in/out and repositioning the image .................................................................................... 17-3

Zooming in/out ............................................................................................................................ 17-4

Reposition the image by panning ............................................................................................... 17-5

Cropping an image .......................................................................................................................... 17-6

Making color adjustments................................................................................................................ 17-8

Adjusting the sharpness of an image .............................................................................................. 17-9

Using the Image Modification buttons to flip an image .................................................................. 17-10

Appendix F - Script Editor................................................................................................. 18-1

Accessing the Script Editor.............................................................................................................. 18-2

Script Editor screen items................................................................................................................ 18-3

Creating scripts................................................................................................................................ 18-5

Xstudio User Manual TOC-5

Table of Contents

Editing commands .......................................................................................................................18-5

Performing a search within the script...........................................................................................18-6

Adding comments to scripts.........................................................................................................18-7

Opening existing scripts ...................................................................................................................18-8

Saving scripts ...................................................................................................................................18-9

Appendix G - External Controls ....................................................................................... 19-1

About external controls.....................................................................................................................19-2

Serial tab......................................................................................................................................19-3

GPI tab.........................................................................................................................................19-4

Settings tab..................................................................................................................................19-5

TOC-6 Xstudio User Manual

Introducing Xstudio

1 I

NTRODUCING

Xstudio is the authoring component of the Vertigo Suite. You can use Xstudio to:

• Design templates which combine graphical layout, links to data, and production logic. These reusable templates can be updated with new information and included in playlists for sequential playout.

• Build control panels for application areas such as info channels, live tickers, channel branding, community news channels, and more.

• Preview the playout of the scene on a software CG or hardware playout device using Xstudio’s Production mode.

Xstudio facilitates the authoring process by allowing you to drag and drop objects for instant backgrounds, tickers, lower thirds, station bugs and more. These can then easily be connected to external data sources such as databases, data feeds, Excel files and text files. What’s more, what you design can be used over and over again for different broadcasts.

Used in conjunction with other Vertigo Suite applications (i.e. Xbuilder, Xnews and Xplay), Xstudio provides a complete authoring system that’s both flexible and easy to use.

The main purpose of this manual is to provide practical reference and procedural information for how to create and control attractive and effective broadcast graphics using the Xstudio authoring environment.

The following sections provide a high-level description of Xstudio’s role in the Vertigo Suite workflow, as well as a procedural overview for creating the most common types of Xstudio projects.

• “Xstudio’s role in the Vertigo Suite workflow” on page 1-2

• “Procedural overview for creating Template+Scene and Panel+Scene projects” on page 1-6

• “Procedural overview for creating Pages” on page 1-9

STUDIO

Xstudio User Manual 1-1

Introducing Xstudio

Xstudio

Used to create the look and feel of control panels and templates. USED BY: art directors, animators and designers.

Xnews

Used to create pages from existing templates (created in Xstudio), as well as build playlists. USED BY: journalists, art staff and production assistants.

Xplay

Used to create, control and send playlists of pages to air. USED BY: producers, news directors and CG operators.

Xstudio’s role in the Vertigo Suite workflow

Xstudio is the authoring component of the Vertigo Suite of products. Figure 1-1 shows in summary form how Xstudio works with Xnews and Xplay.

Figure 1-1. Xstudio elements are passed on to Xnews and Xplay

To put it into a real world context, consider the following scenario that demonstrates how all of the Xmedia Suite components work together, including servers and drivers:

A sports news program needs to display scores on a daily basis.

1. Using Xstudio, the art team could create reusable templates to act as master copies for the season.

Figure 1-2. Sports Results Template built in Xstudio

1-2 Xstudio User Manual

Introducing Xstudio

2. Once basic layouts exist in the templates, any number of copies can be made from them to enter specific team names, logos, scores, etc. These copies are called pages, and they allow users to make limited changes to template elements, e.g. text and image modifications. Pages are usually created in Xnews or Xbuilder, but they can also be created in Xstudio.

Figure 1-3. Sport Result Pages created from the Xstudio Sports Result template

3. Once pages have been created from templates, they can be ordered into playlists and taken to air with Xplay.

Figure 1-4. Pages added to a playlist and brought to air using Xplay

Xstudio User Manual 1-3

Introducing Xstudio

In addition to templates, which are used to create pages that are played out sequentially in a playlist, Xstudio can also be used to create a panel. A panel is a user interface that sends commands to the output device, such as turning a bug on or off.

Typically, a panel is loaded at startup into Xplay and used for the entire duration of a show.

Figure 1-5. Control Panel + Scene used to display/hide the station’s logo

The XmediaServer connects all applications in the Xmedia suite, making it possible to share assets, such as panels, templates, pages, images and clips. For example, once an NHL template has been created with Xstudio, a user at a different workstation can use it to create a page in Xnews. Another user could then include this page in a playlist built in Xplay.

Meanwhile, the Data Server manages data coming from various feeds (e.g. SportsTicker, Reuters), and sends it out to the appropriate recipients. For example a playlist containing pages containing stock values needs the Data Server to provide live data.

1-4 Xstudio User Manual

Introducing Xstudio

Types of Xstudio projects: Templates, Panels & Pages

Xstudio is the Vertigo Suite’s application for creating projects that control and display the broadcast graphics that will be displayed on air.

In general, a project contains a scene and an associated control side. A scene is a collection of graphical objects such as text, images, video clips, and cel animations that are displayed on air.

The control side is a user interface associated with the scene. It may be a template, in which case it is used to enter specific data when creating pages; or it may be a panel, in which case it is used by an operator to control the scene and its objects during playout. Both templates and panels can contain logic for animating specific elements of the scene and updating data that is displayed in the scene. Often the control side is made to resemble its associated scene to give the operator an indication of what is on air.

While templates and panels are both used to control the scene, templates are typically used as the basis for pages which are taken to air in sequential order without the operator interacting with the control side. On the other hand, panels are intended to provide a user interface that allows an operator to manually control the graphics during playout.

As mentioned above, another type of Xstudio project is a page, which is created from a template by entering specific information. Rather than recreating the control and layout of the project, multiple pages can borrow the layout from an existing template and scene. All that is left to do is enter the new text, images, clips, and/or animations specific to the broadcast. Although Xstudio can be used for creating pages, we highly recommend using the Vertigo Suite’s Xbuilder application for creating and editing pages.

The following sections provide more information about each type of Xstudio project, as well as an overview of the procedure for creating and playing out these projects:

• “Procedural overview for creating Template+Scene and Panel+Scene projects” on page 1-6

• “Procedural overview for creating Pages” on page 1-9

Xstudio User Manual 1-5

Introducing Xstudio

The Template (control-side) is used to set editable content and contains logic for controlling scene objects during playout

The scene contains a collection of graphic objects (static, animated or data driven) that are displayed on air during playout and controlled by the template’s objects and logic.

Procedural overview for creating Template+Scene and Panel+Scene projects

Xstudio allows you to create and control television broadcast graphics using a Template/Panel + Scene project. Figure 1-6 project consists of two parts: the template and the scene.

demonstrates that the Template + Scene

Figure 1-6. The two sides of a Template + Scene project

The following table provides a high-level procedure for creating television broadcast graphics using Xstudio’s Template + Scene project. The procedure for creating a panel is identical, except the panel’s control-side often contains user interface objects that can be used during playout to control the scene.

Step Task Description

1 Open a new Template + Scene or Panel +Scene project

Launch Xstudio and open a new project.

• “Creating new projects and assets” on page 4-2

2 Set the template/panel and scene’s properties

Select the scene-side and set the scene’s properties, including the scene’s format (NTSC, HDTV-1080/30...etc.). Then select the control-side and set its properties.

• “Setting the canvas’ properties” on page 4-3

1-6 Xstudio User Manual

Introducing Xstudio

Step Task Description

3 Add and position objects (assets and/or primitives) on both the scene side and the

control side.

Create your graphic’s desired “playout” look by adding and arranging assets and/or primitives objects to the scene’s canvas.

Add primitives to the control side to provide operators with a means to control the scene. For example, drop-down lists, buttons, textboxes, or images for changing the scene’s content without affecting the layout.

• “Adding assets to the canvas” on page 5-3

• “Adding primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4

• “Selecting, grouping, and/or layering objects on the canvas” on page 5-9

• “Resizing objects using object zones” on page 5-13

• “Moving and aligning objects on the canvas” on page 5-14

• “Cutting, copying and pasting objects to/from the canvas” on page 5-17

• “Modifying the font properties of text objects” on page 5-18

• “Editing an image” on page 5-19

4 Set the objects’ properties and/or animate the scene objects

Using the Xstudio’s Properties Browser, set the properties which determine the individual object’s static look and behavior.

Using Xstudio’s Animation Editor, create scene animations by changing the properties of the objects on the scene over a period of time to create visual effects, like fading an object’s visibility in/out or moving the object around the screen.

• “Working with scene objects” on page 6-1

• “Animating scene objects” on page 7-1

• “Working with control objects” on page 8-1

5 Optional: Link the control objects to a data source

You can create data-driven graphics by linking control objects to data sources (databases or data feeds) that provide live data to the scene upon playout. Xstudio also allows you to create and use lookup tables to define replacement values for incoming data.

• “Linking objects to a data source” on page 9-1

6 Connect the control objects to the scene objects and add control logic

Connect control objects to the scene objects that will be controlled and/or edited by objects on the control-side.

Use the Action Editor the logic that will later be applied to the control objects will be linked to the appropriate scene objects.

• “Working with control objects” on page 8-1

• “Adding logic to control objects” on page 10-1

Xstudio User Manual 1-7

Introducing Xstudio

Step Task Description

7 Save the project to the Xmedia Server

When you save the project to the Xmedia Server, both the template and scene will be stored as one “Template” project within the Templates category. Similarly, both the panel and scene will be stored as one “Panels” project within the Panels category

• “Saving Xstudio projects and assets” on page 11-2

8 Publish the project to the connected output device

Before being able to playout the scene on an output device, you must publish the project (Template + Scene or panel + Scene) to the output device. Publishing gathers the project's assets from the Xmedia Server and copies them into your output device.

• “Publishing assets to output devices” on page 11-3

9 Preview the playout in Xstudio’s Production mode

Xstudio allows you to preview and/or playout the scene to the connected playout device.

• “Playing out a scene using Xstudio’s Production mode” on page 12-1

1-8 Xstudio User Manual

Procedural overview for creating Pages

OTE

While Xstudio is the Vertigo Suite’s application for authoring template-based graphics, it can also be used to create Pages, which are built from templates. A template is a master copy that determines the layout and contents of graphics that will be taken to air in sequential order (see page 1-6 already done and all you have to do is enter text, images, clips, and/or animations specific to the broadcast. Pages are then loaded into playlists and taken to air in a pre-determined order using Xplay.

While you can certainly create pages in Xstudio, Xbuilder is the recommended application within the Vertigo Suite that allows you to populate the templates and convert them into graphic pages. Xbuilder can also be used to create playlists, rundowns, and automated interstitial promotions, which can then be played out on-air using Xplay.

To create a page from an existing template:

1. Select the F

2. In the C

3. In the S stored in the Templates category on the Xmedia Server.

• Double-click the template asset listed. Or,

• Select the template and click OK. The template opens as a page in a project-type window. Note that you cannot change

any of the formatting or add/remove objects. You can only edit the fields (i.e. textboxes, images, drop-down list selections...etc.) that were configured on the template.

4. Set or edit the variable fields in the template as required. Depending upon the type of object/field, this may involve typing text in a textbox, making a selection from a dropdown list, right-clicking on an image, cel animation, or clip to choose another one.

5. Once you are satisfied with the content of the page, select the F save the page to the Xmedia Server.

AVE PAGE

The S the author’s name, enter a short description and determine where within the Pages root category the page will be stored.

6. Click OK to save the page and exit the dialog box.

7. In order to preview and playout the page in Xstudio’s Production mode, you must first publish the page to the connected playout device. See “Publishing assets to output

devices” on page 11-3.

8. Once the page has been published, switch to Production mode and take the page to air. See “Playing out a scene using Xstudio’s Production mode” on page 12-1

). A page is an instance of a template which means that the layout is

ILE>NEW

REATE NEW

ELECT A TEMPLATE FOR THE PAGE

menu command to open the C

dialog box, select the A

SSETS>PAGE

dialog box, navigate through the templates

dialog box appears and allows you to specify the page’s name, specify

REATE NEW

dialog box.

and then click OK.

ILE>SAVE

Introducing Xstudio

command to

Xstudio User Manual 1-9

Introducing Xstudio

1-10 Xstudio User Manual

Getting started with Xstudio

2 G

This chapter provides you with information about installing and licensing the Xstudio software on a client workstation. Additional information and instructions are provided for performing a basic setup and configuration of the Xstudio software.

Once you have completed the installation and quick setup, Xstudio will be properly configured to create and save projects (i.e. templates, control panels, and scenes) to the Xmedia Server, as well as preview a scene’s playout on an output device using Xstudio’s Production mode.

This chapter is organized into the following topics:

• “Installation and licensing information” on page 2-2

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

• “Configuring Xstudio’s settings” on page 2-4

• “Connecting Xstudio to an output device” on page 2-12

• “Verifying Xstudio’s installation and setup” on page 2-16

ETTING STARTED WITH

STUDIO

Xstudio User Manual 2-1

Getting started with Xstudio

Installation and licensing information

Xstudio 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 Xstudio, are available in the Vertigo Suite’s Release Notes, which can be downloaded from the Support Portal web site (http://support.miranda.com/portal/software/Vertigo%20Software/doc.html).

To operate in its full capacities, Xstudio requires that a software application license be installed and validated on the Xmedia Server. Therefore, once Xstudio is installed, you must contact our Technical Support team (support@miranda.com Xstudio. Then you must apply and validate the licenses using the XmediaServer Control Panel. Instructions for acquiring and validating an Xstudio application license are also provided in the Vertigo Suite’s Release Notes.

) to request a license key for

2-2 Xstudio User Manual

Getting started with Xstudio

Starting Xstudio and connecting to the Xmedia Server

When you initially launch Xstudio, a dialog box appears and asks you to configure the server location. As a client application, Xstudio 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 Xstudio, the first task that you must do is to connect Xstudio to the Xmedia Server.

To start Xstudio and connect to the Xmedia Server:

1. Click S

TART>PROGRAMS>VERTIGOXMEDIA>XSTUDIO

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

ETTINGS

dialog box appears.

button.

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 2-5

MEDIASERVER

for more information about Xstudio’s Server settings).

IP A

DDRESS

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

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. Xstudio 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 XmediaServer is not running on the host machine.

• The machine is not connected to the network.

Xstudio User Manual 2-3

Getting started with Xstudio

Configuring Xstudio’s settings

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

To access Xstudio’s settings:

1. From the T This displays the S

settings. Each of the settings is defined in the following sections:

• “Servers settings” on page 2-5

• “Logging settings” on page 2-6

• “Workspace settings” on page 2-7

• “Asset Defaults settings” on page 2-9

• “Device settings” on page 2-10

• “Browsers settings” on page 2-11

OOLS

menu, select S

ETTINGS

dialog box, which contains a tree-structure of thematic

Figure 2-2. Settings dialog box

2. After making changes anywhere in the dialog box, click the OK button to register the information and close the dialog box.

Or,

PPLY

Click the A

button to register the information and keep the dialog box open to work

on other settings. Or,

ANCEL

Click the C

PPLY

the A

button to ensure that no changes made since the last time you clicked

button take effect.

2-4 Xstudio User Manual

Servers settings

Servers settings specify the locations of the Xmedia Server and the Data Server. The Xmedia Server contains all assets (all building blocks used in the creation of broadcast graphics). This is where templates, control panels, images...etc., are stored. The Data Server is an application that manages all data coming in from sources specified in control panels. The Data Server distributes the data and provides live updates of data values when requested.

• XmediaServer IP Address - The IP address of the machine running the Xmedia Server.

• XmediaServer Port - The port on which the Xmedia Server is listening.

• Backup XMedia Server IP Address - Backup server’s IP address used in case of failure of the primary Xmedia Server.

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

• Data Server IP Address - The IP address of the Data Server.

• Data Server Port - The port on which the Data Server is listening.

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

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

• Data Server Event Port Min Value - The lowest UDP port value in a range of ports used for communication between the Data Server and Xstudio.

• Data Server Event Port Max Value - The highest UDP port value in a range of ports used for communication between the Data Server and Xstudio.

• Data Server Path - If the Data Server IP Address is local (e.g. 127.0.0.1), then enter the file name and path of the Data Server’s location on the PC. This will prompt Xstudio to start the Data Server when it launches.

Getting started with Xstudio

Figure 2-3. Servers Settings dialog box

Xstudio User Manual 2-5

Getting started with Xstudio

Logging settings

Xstudio offers several logging options that you can use for observing Xstudio’s behavior and/or troubleshooting unexpected problems. The Xstudio log files are saved in the following directory:

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

Figure 2-4. Logging settings

• Show Debug Console - When enabled, this setting opens the D which is used for debugging plug-ins, scripts and the like.

• Save Local XML File - When enabled, an XML file containing the error log is written upon saving.

• Log Level - Xstudio can be set to provide the following levels of logging events:

• Error – A major failure that impacts the end-user.

• Warn – An important but non-fatal error.

• Info – A useful notification message to help users troubleshoot/track issues.

• Max File Size (MB) - The maximum size of a log file before rotating.

• Max File Count - How many log files to keep.

• Debug Categories – The list of categories that will emit DEBUG level logs.

2-6 Xstudio User Manual

EBUG CONSOLE

window,

Workspace settings

The Workspace settings allow you to configure various appearance and behavior settings that affect Xstudio’s workspaces in design and production mode.

Getting started with Xstudio

Figure 2-5. Workspace settings

• Production Mode Zoom - Xstudio lets you determine how your control screens will appear when you switch to Production mode to take to air. The default is F

, which scales up the control screen to fit the window. The other option is 100%. This keeps objects at their actual size.

You can also zoom in and out on objects when in Production mode to make them appear larger or smaller. Either move the mouse wheel up and down or (if you don’t have a mouse wheel) press ALT and the up or down key on your keyboard.

• Show New Dialog on Startup - Selected by default, this setting makes the C

REATE NEW

dialog box display when you launch Xstudio in Design mode (it will not appear if launching in Production mode). Deselecting it makes Xstudio open with a blank screen in default mode (specified by the Initial mode setting, explained below), although you can always access the C

REATE NEW

dialog box by selecting the NEW>F

ILE

menu command.

• Fit Gallery Objects to Extents - Applicable to Xmedia objects. When this setting is selected, anytime an Xmedia object is opened for editing, the window automatically zooms into the space occupied by the Xmedia object rather than displaying the whole scene.

• Auto Load Driver - When enabled, this setting makes the output driver automatically launch when you launch Xstudio.

• Driver - If the Auto Load Driver check box has been selected, you must provide the location of the driver on your PC (e.g. C:\Program Files\VertigoXmedia\VxCG2000). The driver will be in the location specified during the driver installation.

Xstudio User Manual 2-7

Getting started with Xstudio

• Always Overwrite On Publish - When enabled, this option forces an update by rewriting the scene on publish regardless of whether or not it has been modified.

• Show Publish Dialog - Sets the interface to automatically open and display the

UBLISH PROGRESS

dialog box keeps track of which assets have been recently published and the status of the publication process for each.

• Initial mode - This setting determines whether Xstudio opens in D when launched.

• Panel to load on startup - This settings loads a specific control panel whenever you launch Xstudio. Click the ellipsis button to display a dialog box that lets you select the control panel.

• Spell Check On - Identifies possible spelling errors in text box objects on the control side by underlining the misspelled word.

• Spell Check Color - The color of the line under a misspelled word when the S

HECK ON

setting is enabled.

• Confirm Clear Device - When enabled, this setting displays the C box in production mode and prompts you to clear the device (equivalent to

ASKS>CLEAR DEVICE

mistakenly clearing all your keyers on the device by hitting the F4 shortcut key.

dialog box when an asset is published. The Publish Progress

ESIGN

or P

RODUCTION

PELL

LEAR DEVICE

dialog

). When this setting is disabled, you get no prompt and you risk

mode

2-8 Xstudio User Manual

Asset Defaults settings

The Asset Defaults settings allow you to set the formatting and behavior defaults for the certain assets types.

Figure 2-6. Asset defaults settings

Getting started with Xstudio

• Default Scene Format - Sets the scene format (e.g. NTSC, PAL, HDTV_1080_30) that Xstudio use as a default when opening a new scene project.

ONT

• Default Font Name - Sets the font value for the F

toolbar, and is automatically

applied whenever you work with text. You are not bound to your selection, however.

ONT

You can select new font information at any time using the F

toolbar. This applies to

all other default font settings (size, bold, italic).

ONT

• Default Font Size - Sets the font pixel size value for the F

• Default Font Bold - Sets the weight value for the F

• Default Font Italic - Sets the angle value for the F

ONT

toolbar.

• Default Text Direction - Sets the default direction for the text when new instances of text boxes and text objects are created.

• Default Text Justification - Sets the default justification for the text when new instances of text boxes and text objects are created.

• Default Device Type - Indicates the type of device that the system typically uses and is set up for.

• Auto Load Scene Default - Indicates whether or not the scene will automatically be loaded when the template or panel is cued.

• Ingest Loop Default - Sets the default looping value for .j2k and .oxi files that are ingested into the system using Xstudio.

Xstudio User Manual 2-9

Getting started with Xstudio

• Clip Object Loop Default - Sets the default looping value for clip objects that are added to the scene.

• Cel Object Loop Default - Sets the default looping value for cel animation objects that are added to the scene.

• Default Safe Title Area (90) % - Sets the default value (percentage) for the Safe Title area on the scene side. The default value is 90%.

• Default Safe Action Area (93)% - Sets the default value (percentage) for the Safe Action area on the scene side. The default value is 93%.

Device settings

Device settings specify the keyers that the panels and templates will be loaded to on the CG.

Figure 2-7. Device settings

• Panel Keyer - Specifies which CG keyer the panel is loaded when a Cue, Take, or Clear is executed on the CG.

• Program Keyer - Specifies which CG keyer the template is loaded when a Cue, Take or Clear is executed on the CG.

2-10 Xstudio User Manual

Browsers settings

These settings control how items display in the Gallery Browser and Asset Browser. They also let you determine whether the Gallery Browser and Asset Browser will be automatically hidden after an item has been opened from it (i.e. double-clicked), and whether the Action Editor will display when you launch the application.

Getting started with Xstudio

Figure 2-8. Browsers settings

• Tile Width - This determines the width in pixels of proxy tiles (the title below each thumbnail image) in the Gallery Browser.

• Tile Height - This determines the height in pixels of proxy’s tiles in the Gallery Browser.

• Image Width - This determines the width in pixels of a proxy in the Gallery Browser.

• Image Height - This determines the height in pixels of a proxy in the Gallery Browser.

• Show Assets in Asset Browser - This determines whether or not assets are listed in the Asset Browser (at left). If your asset lists get too long you may want to deactivate the setting in order to prevent them from taking over the browser completely. Then if you want to see what a category contains, right-click on it and from the pop-up menu

PEN

select O

• Auto Hide Asset Browser - This determines whether or not the Asset Browser will be hidden after you open (i.e. double-click) one of its listed assets.

• Auto Hide Gallery - This determines whether or not the Gallery Browser will be hidden after you open (i.e. double-click) one of its listed assets.

• Auto Hide Action Editor - This determines whether or not the Action Editor will be hidden when you launch Xstudio.

• VEX Export Path - Specifies the directory path where the Vertigo Export file (.vex) file will be saved to when the Export as vex command is selected in the Asset Browser.

Xstudio User Manual 2-11

to make its full contents display in the Gallery Browser (at right).

Getting started with Xstudio

OTE

Connecting Xstudio to an output device

Xstudio must be connected to the output device (i.e. Software CG, Vertigo XG, Intuition XG) that it will be used to playout the graphics scenes that are produced in Xstudio. This connection must be active for publishing Xstudio projects/assets, as well as for previewing activities.

While you can set up as many output devices as required, Xstudio can only control one at a time. If you are interested in connecting to more than one output device at a time, please contact our Technical Support department.

As well as being connected to Xstudio, the output device should also be connected to the Xmedia Server and a broadcast monitor.

To add and connect Xstudio to an output device:

1. Open the Device Configuration window by selecting T

2. In the D

EVICE CONFIGURATION

window, select the ADD button:

OOLS>DEVICES>CONFIGURE DEVICES

Figure 2-9. Device Configuration dialog box

3. The D

2-12 Xstudio User Manual

EVICE CONFIGURATION

with settings for identifying the device’s configuration.

Figure 2-10. Add Device Configuration section

windows expands to reveal two tabs (G

ENERAL

and A

DVANCED

)

Getting started with Xstudio

4. Specify the appropriate General Device Configuration settings:

General tab

Device name The name of the selected output 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

ERTIGO

XG, I

from: V

MAGESTORE

, I

NTUITION

, or O

THER

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

output device. The host must be available on the network.

Warning: It is possible to use the localhost, but discouraged, since the XmediaServer will have no way to locate the device for publishing.

Control Port The networking port that serves as a channel for sending

commands to and from the output device.

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

output device. The host must be available on the network.

Warning: It is possible to use the localhost, but discouraged, since the XmediaServer will have no way to locate the device for publishing.

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

Typically, this value is set to 15000.

OTE

: This value must correspond with the port used by the

XpublishAgent on the output device.

Xstudio User Manual 2-13

Getting started with Xstudio

5. Specify the appropriate Advanced Device Configuration settings:

Advanced tab

Clip Template The name of the template that is used to play out clips. The clip

Cel Template The name of the template that is used to play out cel animations.

template’s control-side must have a texture linked to a scene-side clip object. Use the Ellipsis button to navigate to the Clip template.

Note that among the Vertigo Suite’s system templates are valid clip templates for various scene formats. The system templates are export files that are usually stored in the following directory: Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps\Support. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES

category.

The Clip Template field only appears when one of the following device types is selected: Vertigo XG, Intuition XG, XPublishAgent, or Other.

The cel template’s control-side must have a texture linked to a scene-side clip object. Use the Ellipsis button to navigate to the Cel template.

Note that among the Vertigo Suite’s system templates are valid Cel templates for various scene formats. The system templates are export files that are usually stored in the following directory: Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps\Support. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES

category.

The Cel Template field only appears when one of the following device types is selected: Vertigo XG, Intuition XG, XPublishAgent, or Other.

Image Template The name of the template that is used to play out images. The image

template’s control-side must have a texture linked to a scene-side clip object. Use the Ellipsis button to navigate to the Image template.

Note that among the Vertigo Suite’s system templates are valid image templates for various scene formats. The system templates are export files that are usually stored in the following directory: Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps\Support. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES

category.

The Image Template field only appears when one of the following device types is selected: Vertigo XG, Intuition XG, XPublishAgent, or Other.

2-14 Xstudio User Manual

Getting started with Xstudio

OTE

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

setting is specifically used when the 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 CG.

Publish Master Lets you select a master device.

6. Click A

7. In the D

PPLY

EVICE CONFIGURATION

dialog box, select the output device from the table at left

and then click . The device appears in the A

CTIVE DEVICE

box at right.

8. Click OK. The output device name appears in the upper right-hand portion of the main Xstudio

window. When connected, the LED beside it is green and when disconnected, it is red.

Figure 2-11. Connectivity indicator

If Xstudio disconnects from the output device (red LED), you can reconnect to it without having to access the D

EVICE CONFIGURATION

Simply select Xstudio’s T

OOLS>DEVICES>RECONNECT ACTIVE DEVICE

dialog box.

menu command, or

double-click the LED in the upper right-hand portion of the main Xstudio window.

Xstudio User Manual 2-15

Getting started with Xstudio

Verifying Xstudio’s installation and setup

Once you have installed and setup Xstudio on a client workstation, it is recommended that you perform the following quick procedure to verify that Xstudio was properly installed and is working properly.

The following procedure is intended to test the proper functioning of Xstudio by loading a template and scene into Xstudio (Design mode) and then previewing the playout on the connected device using Xstudio’s Production mode.

1. Open Xstudio.

2. Verify that Xstudio is actively connected to the Xmedia Server and the output device.

3. Open the Asset Browser and navigate to the T category.

4. Right-click on one of the templates listed within the M11 subcategory and select the

UBLISH TO>CONNECTED DEVICE

command.

5. Again in the Asset Browser’s M11 subcategory, double-click the template that you just published.

The template and scene open in the project window.

6. Switch to Production mode by pressing C in the upper-right corner.

Xstudio switches over to Production mode and cues up the template in the Next To Air window.

AKE

7. Click the T

8. Click the C

9. Return to Design mode by pressing C

button and the scene should playout on the active output device.

LEAR

button and the scene should be removed from the active output device.

TRL

the upper-right corner.

10. Close the project window by clicking the project window’s close button (X) or by

TRL

pressing C

11. Click N

+F4.

when prompted to save the template.

EMPLATES>DEMO_SAMPLES

TRL

+P or by double-clicking the D

08>M11

ESIGN

LED

LED in

2-16 Xstudio User Manual

3 O

Xstudio’s user-friendly authoring environment gives you easy access to the projects, assets, features, and tools that you need for creating and playing out to air compelling broadcast graphics displays.

Featuring a large area in which to work, Xstudio’s key features are immediately accessible via menus, floating toolbars, buttons, icons and browsers.

Inspired by the natural workflow of creating and playing out broadcast graphics, Xstudio has two work modes: Design and Production. Since each mode is used for different purposes, the Xstudio interface provides unique interface features in each mode, which are among the topics discussed below.

While further chapters provide full instructions for using Xstudio, the following sections are intended to introduce and help you to become familiar with the Xstudio’s interface features:

• “Starting Xstudio” on page 3-2

• “Design Mode vs. Production Mode” on page 3-5

• “Xstudio’s menu commands” on page 3-7

• “Xstudio’s desktop icons and toolbars” on page 3-18

• “Xstudio’s primitives” on page 3-21

• “Action Editor and Animation Editor” on page 3-27

• “Properties Browser” on page 3-25

• “Project Windows - Control and scene sides” on page 3-28

• “Production mode environment” on page 3-33

RIENTATION TO

STUDIO’S DESKTOP

Xstudio User Manual 3-1

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

OTE

Starting Xstudio

To start Xstudio:

• Click S

Once the program opens, you will be prompted with the C always display on startup unless you disable the Show New Dialog on Startup setting -see page 2-7

The C

REATE NEW

of the options listed within this dialog box are all assets, they have been organized into separate tabs according to the type of functionality they provide. Definitions for the individual items listed on each tab are identified in the table below.

TART>PROGRAMS>VERTIGOXMEDIA>XSTUDIO

dialog box is an entry point to creating new projects and assets. While all

Figure 3-1. Xstudio’s initial state

REATE NEW

dialog box (it will

For the purposes of this chapter’s overview of the Xstudio interface, select T and click OK.

Tab Options

Projects Contains the Panel + Scene and Template + Scene options, which are

basically assets that allow you to create and control the playout of broadcast graphics using a combined project containing a scene-side and a control-side.

• The scene-side (Scene) contains objects that create the look and content of the broadcast graphic that is to be played on air.

• The control-side (Template or Panel) contains objects that are used to control the playout of the scene objects, including the editing of editable content.

See page 1-6 and Panel + Scene projects.

3-2 Xstudio User Manual

and page 1-9 for more information about Template + Scene

EMPLATE

+ S

CENE

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Tab Options

Assets Contains the following options for creating standalone assets whose

primary function is to build or support other assets.

Xmedia Object: Xmedia objects are pre-programmed broadcast graphics with built-in functionality that make them usable right away, as well as easily portable to other graphics projects. Examples of Xmedia objects include headlines, station bugs (or any other logo), tickers, and squeezes.

Panel: A panel (also known as control panel) is the software version of master control hardware that controls graphics on air. Panels are created for control purposes only, and as such need not include the scene (graphical output) that will display on the output device. If you have graphics built outside Xstudio that you would like to control, you can create a panel on its own (a standalone panel) by creating contol objects and linking them by name to their external scene counterparts.

Panels are ideal for controlling on air displays of sports scores, stock tickers, headlines, station bugs (or any other logo), video squeezes and more.

Tem pla te: Standalone templates are used to control pre-existing scenes in that were perhaps built outside of Xstudio. The template is a visual display, which contains editable fields and controls that operators can use prior to going on air to set the content and behavior of the scene objects. Templates may also contain logic for controlling the behavior of scene objects during playout. The template’s logic is not manually accessible during playout and is designed to execute without any operator intervention. This makes templates ideal for sequencial or order playout.

Page: Pages are built from

TEMPLATES

. The template is a master copy that determines the layout and contents of graphics that will be taken to air in sequential order. Creating a page based on a template means the layout is already done and all you have to do is enter text, image files, audio, etc. specific to the broadcast. Pages are then loaded into playlists and taken to air in pre-determined order. See page 1-9

for more

information about using Xstudio to create pages.

Scene: Scenes contain the collection of graphic objects that will be displayed on air during playout. Standalone scenes are appropriate if the scene’s objects and playout do not require any control logic (static and/or timed playout). However, if the scene’s objects are to be animated, data driven or controlled during playout, the scene should be associated with a control panel or template.

Xstudio User Manual 3-3

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Tab Options

Other Contains the following options for creating assets which affect other

assets’ functionality.

• Script: For advanced users with specific requirements not addressed by the Xstudio application, the Script Editor can be used to create custom actions that can be called in response to any event. Commands can be written in any of the following common scripting languages: VB Script, JavaScript or Perl. Once scripts have been written, they can be linked to control panels, pages, playlists, etc., using the Action Editor. See page 18-1 creating scripts.

• Lookup Table: A lookup table is an asset that defines replacement values for incoming data. See page 9-24 creating scripts.

Recent Lists the ten (10) assets most recently worked on.

for more information about

3-4 Xstudio User Manual

Design Mode vs. Production Mode

Menus

Toolbars Icons Status Bar

Gallery Browser

Asset Browser

Action Editor

Project window

Animation Editor

(Template/Panel)

(Scene)

or,

Menus

Status Bar

Next To Air

Playout controls

window

Following the natural workflow of creating and playing out broadcast graphics, Xstudio has two

ESIGN

and P

work modes: D

RODUCTION

Design mode is Xstudio’s authoring environment, which allows you to create and edit scenes, control panels, templates, and pages. You can also use it to modify the look of objects, animate scene objects, assign actions (an action executes a specific command), create links to data... etc.

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Figure 3-2. Xstudio’s Design mode environment components

When you have finished authoring, you can preview the playout by switching to

RODUCTION

mode and take your finished work to air. Production mode allows you to edit content (e.g. change text in text boxes and/or make new selections from drop-down lists) and control graphics (e.g. operate a control panel).

Figure 3-3. Xstudio’s Production mode environment components

Xstudio User Manual 3-5

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

To switch between Design and Production mode:

• From the V

IEW

menu, select P

Or,

• Press CTRL+P Or,

• Click the D

ESIGN MODE BUTTON

RODUCTION MODE

or P

RODUCTION MODE BUTTON

located in the upper-right corner of the menu bar.

3-6 Xstudio User Manual

Xstudio’s menu commands

Many of Xstudio’s mode key features are thematically organized within the menu bar command structure.

The following sections provide functional definitions of the Xstudio menu commands:

• “File menu commands” on page 3-7

• “Edit menu commands” on page 3-9

• “View menu commands” on page 3-10

• “Format menu commands” on page 3-13

• “Tasks menu commands” on page 3-15

• “Tools menu commands” on page 3-16

• “Windows menu commands” on page 3-17

• “Help menu commands” on page 3-17

File menu commands

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

The F

ILE

menu contains commands that are related to opening, closing, saving, importing,

and exporting existing files, creating new files, and exiting the application.

New Opens the C

all of the options listed in this dialog box are assets, they have been organized into separate tabs according to the type of functionality they provide.

Related topics:

• “Starting Xstudio” on page 3-2

• “Creating new projects and assets” on page 4-2

• “Opening existing projects” on page 4-10

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

REATE NEW

dialog box, which allows you to create a new asset. While

TRL

Xstudio User Manual 3-7

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Open Opens the M

EDIASTORE BROWSER

, which allows you to navigate through the system’s asset directories to find and open an existing template, control panel, Xmedia object, page, script, scene or lookup table.

Related topics:

• “Starting Xstudio” on page 3-2

• “Opening existing projects” on page 4-10

Alternative access:

TRL

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Close Closes the currently active window. This command works on most windows, except

those that have their own C

LOSE

or C

ANCEL

button.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

TRL

+F4

Save Saves changes made to the currently selected project/asset, as well as any

specified metadata (e.g. author name, description, keywords, etc.).

If saving the asset for the first time, it opens the S

AVE

dialog box (otherwise it simply

saves using the current asset name).

See “Saving Xstudio projects and assets” on page 11-2 for more information.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Save As Displays the S

AVE AS

TRL

dialog box, which allows you to save the currently selected

project/asset using another name and/or directory location.

See “Saving Xstudio projects and assets” on page 11-2 for more information.

Overwrite Replaces (overwrite) the content of an existing (saved) project with the content of

the currently selected project. The project that is overwritten maintains its existing name and asset ID.

See “Saving Xstudio projects and assets” on page 11-2

Import Assets Opens the S

ELECT VERTIGOXMEDIA ASSET EXPORT FILE

for more information.

dialog box, which allows you to navigate to and then import asset files that are used by, or stored on, another application within the Xmedia Suite.

See “Importing assets from another Vertigo system” on page 4-12

for more

information.

Export Assets Opens the E

XPORT ASSETS

dialog box, which allows you to export assets by sending

a copy of the asset out of Xstudio and into a folder of your choice.

See “Exporting assets to be used on another Vertigo system” on page 11-5

for more

information.

Exit Allows you to quit Xstudio, prompting you first to save if any edits have not yet been

saved.

3-8 Xstudio User Manual

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Edit menu commands

The E

DIT

menu contains commands that are related to editing content, like undo, redo, cut,

copy, paste, and delete.

Undo Allows you to undo an edit on the currently active window.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Redo Allows you to redo (repeat) an edit on the currently active window.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Cut Cuts the selected object(s) on the currently active window to the clipboard.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Copy Copies the selected object(s) on the currently active window to the

clipboard. Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Paste Pastes the clipboard contents onto the currently active window.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

TRL

Paste Scene to Template

Copies the selected objects from the Scene side and pastes them on the Control-side (Template or Panel). This is a quick way of creating a representative appearance of the scene on the control-side making it easy to identify project.

Delete Deletes the selected object(s).

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: D

ELETE

button

Xstudio User Manual 3-9

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

View menu commands

The V

IEW

menu contains commands that are related to activating or hiding Xstudio modes,

browsers, and tools that are used by, or within, the Xstudio authoring environment.

Production Mode Switches the Xstudio interface from D

versa. See “Design Mode vs. Production Mode” on page 3-5 information.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

TRL+P

• Icon/Button: and

Action Editor Displays or hides the A

or the A

NIMATION EDITOR

CTION EDITOR

when the Scene-side of the project is active (only available in Design mode). The Action Editor is a collapsible panel on the Xstudio interface when the control-side of a project is active. The Action Editor allows you to specify the actions that are executed when an event is sent to an object.

Related topics:

• “Action Editor and Animation Editor” on page 3-27

• “Animating scene objects” on page 7-1

• “Adding logic to control objects” on page 10-1

Alternative access:

TRL

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Click the gripper bar on the bottom of the Xstudio interface in Design Mode

Property Browser Displays or hides the P

ROPERTY BROWSER

Property Browser displays and allows you to edit the attributes, or properties, of the currently selected object(s) on the canvas, including the canvas itself. For example, the Property Browser allows you to change the size and appearance of objects, transitions, images, cel animations, data sources, and more.

See “Appendix C - Xstudio properties” on page 15-1

Alternative access:

TRL

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Icon/Button:

ESIGN

mode to P

RODUCTION

mode, and vice

for more

when the control-side of the project is active

(only available in Design mode). The

for more information.

EARCH

Search Assets Opens the S

dialog box, which allows you to quickly locate an asset stored on the Xmedia Server. Offering several search parameters, like name, keywords, and type, you can tailor your search to your needs.

Related topics:

• “Searching for projects/assets on the Xmedia Server” on page 4-11

• “Appendix D - Search tool” on page 16-1

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

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Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Data Manager Displays or hides the D

Manager allows you to change the data sources associated with an Xmedia object, or link data to a primitive. Data sources can be databases, Excel files, text files or RSS (an XML format that distributes news headlines, links and abstracts collected from the Web).

See “Linking objects to a data source” on page 9-1

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Icon/Button:

Asset Browser Displays or hides the A

Asset Browser is a collapsible panel on the left-side of the Xstudio interface that allows you to view and access assets according to type and category.

Related topics:

• “Xstudio’s primitives” on page 3-21

• “Appendix A - Asset Browser” on page 13-1

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Click the gripper bar on the left-side of the Xstudio interface in Design Mode

Gallery Displays or hides the G

The Gallery Browser is a collapsible panel on the right-side of the Xstudio interface that displays the contents of an Asset Browser category as proxies (thumbnails) or as a list of detailed asset information. The contents of the Gallery Browser can be dragged and dropped into control panels or templates. By default, only the root category of Xmedia objects appears in the Gallery Browser, and you have added other categories manually.

Related topics:

• “Xstudio’s primitives” on page 3-21

• “Appendix B - Gallery Browser” on page 14-1

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Click the gripper bar on the right-side of the Xstudio interface in Design Mode

ATA MANAGER

TRL

SSET BROWSER

TRL

ALLERY BROWSER

TRL

(only available in Design mode). The Data

(only available in Design mode). The

for more information.

(only available in Design mode).

Publish Progress Displays or hides the P

UBLISH PROGRESS

window, which allows you to see a list

of all of the assets that have been published during the current Xstudio session.

See “Publishing assets to output devices” on page 11-3 for more information.

TRL

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Xstudio User Manual 3-11

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Message Window Displays the M

ESSAGES

window, which lists errors as they occur. These error

messages provide valuable information when troubleshooting problems.

Alternative access:

TRL

Hide Browsers/Tool Windows

• Keyboard shortcut: C

In one action, this command hides all currently open browsers and tool windows, including the Asset Browser, Gallery Browser, Data Manager, Property Browser, Action Editor and Animation Editor.

Alternative access:

TRL

• Keyboard shortcut: C

Note

: The H

IDE BROWSERS/TOOL WINDOW

command only closes the currently opened browser and tool windows. Project or asset windows can similarly be closed in one action using the W

INDOWS>CLOSE ALL

command (see “Windows

menu commands” on page 3-17).

Log File Creates and displays a log file in a NotePad document. The log file records

events and errors as the program runs, which is practical when troubleshooting.

See “Logging settings” on page 2-6

for related information.

Alternative access:

TRL

• Keyboard shortcut: C

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Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Format menu commands

The F

ORMAT

menu contains commands that are related to the positioning and sizing of

objects placed on the template, control panel, or scene.

Group Takes several separate objects selected together on the currently selected

window and groups them into a single grouped object.

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

Ungroup Ungroups a single grouped object on the currently selected window back into

separate objects.

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

Bring To Front Brings an object to the front layer on the canvas.

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

Bring Forward Brings an object one layer closer to the front on the canvas.

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

Send Backward Sends an object one layer toward the back on the canvas.

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

Send To Back Sends an object to the back layer on the canvas.

Alternative access:

• Icon/Button:

Align Using the first object that is selected as a reference (primary object), the following

commands allow you to set the alignment of the selected objects on the canvas.

Choose from:

• Left: Aligns all selected objects on the currently selected window with the left border of the primary object. Alternative access:

• Right: Aligns all selected objects on the currently selected window with the right border of the primary object.

Xstudio User Manual 3-13

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Align (continued) • Top:

Aligns all selected objects on the currently selected window with the top border of the primary object.

• Bottom: Aligns all selected objects on the currently selected window with the bottom border of the primary object.

• Middle X: Aligns all selected objects on the currently selected window with the horizontal centre of the primary object.

• Middle Y: Aligns all selected objects on the currently selected window with the vertical centre of the primary object.

• Centers: Aligns selected objects with both the horizontal and vertical centers of the primary object.

Size Allows you to edit the size of objects selected on the canvas.

Choose from:

• Same Width: Makes all selected objects the same width as the primary object (first object selected).

• Same Height: Makes all selected objects the same width as the primary object (first object selected).

• Same Width/Height: Makes all selected objects the same width and height as the primary object (first object selected).

• Biggest: Makes all selected objects the same size as the biggest object.

• Smallest: Makes all selected objects the same size as the smallest object.

• Natural Size: Reverts scaled images, cel animations and clips back to their natural size (i.e. the size they were when they were ingested).

Add Guide Allows you to display virtual lines on the canvas that you can use as a reference

when arranging or aligning objects. See “Positioning objects using guides” on

page 5-16 for more information.

Choose from:

• Horizontal: Makes a horizontal guide available for dragging into the canvas from the top of the window.

• Vertical: Makes a vertical guide available for dragging into the canvas from the left side of the window.

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Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Tasks menu commands

The T

ASKS

menu contains commands that are used for setting up and previewing the playout of a scene on air. As such, these commands are disabled in Design mode and they are only available when Xstudio is in Production mode. See “Playing out a scene using

Xstudio’s Production mode” on page 12-1 for more information.

Cue Cues the selected scene or page as the next to air or execute.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: F2

• Playout bar button:

Take Executes the cued action, or takes the cued scene/page to air, and then

cues the next action or scene/page in the playlist.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: F1

• Playout bar button:

On Air Out Takes the currently airing graphics off air, but does not take the next cued

page to air.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: F6

Clear Playlist Empties the playlist.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: F5

Reset Playlist Reloads the last saved version of the playlist and then cues the first item.

Clear Device Stops the current playout on the output device and clears the device display.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: F4

Xstudio User Manual 3-15

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Tools menu commands

The T

OOLS

menu contains commands that allow you to set and configure Xstudio to interact

with other devices and applications.

Devices Provides access to configuration and settings tools that allow Xstudio to interact

with external devices and applications.

Choose from:

• Configure Devices: Displays the D

EVICE CONFIGURATION

define a new output device, or select one to be connected to Xstudio. See

“Connecting Xstudio to an output device” on page 2-12

• Reconnect Active Device: Re-sends the connection commands to reconnect an active device that has been disconnected. Note that the device’s connection status is easily known by verifying if the LED is on or off on the device’s label in the Xstudio status bar in the top-right corner of the Xstudio interface.

• Active Device Settings: Functionality not currently implemented.

• Quantel Ingest: Opens the Quantel FTP client dialog box, which is used to select and download an image file in Targa format.

• Ingest Scene: Allows you to add a scene that was not created in Xstudio to the system. First a dialog box is displayed warning that scene ingesting overwrites all currently active scene data. When asked if you would like to proceed click

the Y

button. A F

ILE

dialog box appears, allowing you to navigate to the folder containing the output device scenes. See “Ingesting files created

using third-party applications” on page 4-14 for related information.

dialog box, which allows you to either

Settings Displays the S

as required. See “Configuring Xstudio’s settings” on page 2-4

ETTINGS

dialog box, which allows you to modify Xstudio’ settings

for more

information.

Plugins Displays the P

LUGIN MANAGER

dialog box, which allows you to register plugins

that can be used in conjunction with Xstudio.

External Control Displays the E

XTERNAL CONTROL

/GPI M

APPING MANAGER

, which allows you to set up a method of controlling Xstudio externally. See “Appendix G - External

Controls” on page 19-1 for related information.

3-16 Xstudio User Manual

Windows menu commands

OTE

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

By default, the Windows menu contains only one command: C

LOSE ALL

. As you open project or asset windows, the Window menu lists their names as submenu items. When multiple windows are opened during a session, selecting the window’s name from the Windows menu provides you with a quick way of bringing that specific window to the front.

Rather than closing each window separately, the C

LOSE ALL

command closes all of the

currently open windows in one action.

The W

INDOWS>CLOSE ALL

windows. Browser and tool windows can similarly be closed in one action using the V menu’s H

IDE BROWSERS/TOOL WINDOW

command only closes the currently opened project or asset

IEW

command (see “View menu commands” on page 3-10).

Help menu commands

The H

ELP

menu contains commands that provide Xstudio product information, like licensing

and software version identification.

Contents Functionality not currently implemented.

License Manager Opens the L

customer ID and send it to our Technical Support team. Once you receive your license key, paste it into the License Key box. Please consult the Vertigo Suite’s Release Notes documentation for further details.

About Displays information about the version of Xstudio that you are using.

ICENSE MANAGER

dialog box, which allows you to copy the

Xstudio User Manual 3-17

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Xstudio’s desktop icons and toolbars

In Design mode, Xstudio’s authoring environment provides you with immediate access to key features by placing floating toolbars, buttons, icons, and browsers directly on the Xstudio interface.

You can move the Xstudio toolbars and icons by dragging them by their titles (e.g. the word “Font”) to its new location. You can also change the orientation of the floating toolbars by double-clicking on their titles making them line up vertically or horizontally.

Should you find yourself short on space in the interface because too many browsers and tool windows are open at the same time (e.g. Asset Browser, Gallery, Data Manager, Action Editor, Property Browser), you can instantly close all of them at once by selecting H

ROWSERS/TOOL WINDOWS

The following table identifies and describes the toolbars and icons that are accessible in Design mode:

from the V

IEW

menu, or by clicking CTRL+D.

IDE

Data Manager icon Displays or hides the D

change the data sources associated with an Xmedia object, or link data to a primitive. Data sources can be databases, Excel files, text files or RSS (an XML format that distributes news headlines, links and abstracts collected from the Web).

See “Linking objects to a data source” on page 9-1

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Menu command: V

Ingest icon Opens the I

NGEST FILES

assets from files that are not native to Xstudio, e.g. image and audio files. While these files are not actually modified in any way when ingested, they are made into assets -- in other words, they become usable within Xstudio. See “Ingesting files created using third-party applications” on page 4-14 more information.

Properties Browser icon

Displays or hides the P mode). The Property Browser displays and allows you to edit the attributes/properties, of the object selected on the canvas, or the canvas itself. For example, the Property Browser allows you to change the size and appearance of objects, transitions, images, cel animations, data sources, and more.

See“Setting the canvas’ properties” on page 4-3

properties” on page 15-1 for more information.

Alternative access:

• Keyboard shortcut: C

• Menu command: V

ATA MANAGER

. The Data Manager allows you to

for more information.

TRL+T

IEW>DATA MANAGER

dialog box, which allows you to create Xstudio

ROPERTIES BROWSER

(only available in Design

and “Appendix C - Xstudio

TRL+R

IEW>PROPERTY BROWSER

for

3-18 Xstudio User Manual

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Control-side primitives

Scene-side primitives

Publish icon

Publishes the scene to your output device. The progress of the publishing process is reported in the status bar until publishing is complete.

See “Publishing assets to output devices” on page 11-3 for more

Preview icon

information.

The P

REVIEW

icon while holding down the C

The Preview icon allows you to preview of the scene you are working on it in Xstudio’s Design Mode. The preview is displayed in real-time on the currently connected output device, so you can see the results of any edits that you make to the scene right away.

See “Playing out a scene using Xstudio’s Production mode” on page 12-1 for more information.

Search icon Opens the S

stored on the Xmedia Server using basic search parameters, like name, keywords, and type, or using advanced search parameters like metadata.

See “Animating scene objects” on page 7-1 and “Appendix D - Search tool”

on page 16-1 for more information.

Alternative access:

• Menu command: V

Primitives toolbar

icon replaces the Publish icon when you click the P

TRL

key (repeat to return to the Publish icon).

EARCH

dialog box, which allows you to quickly locate assets

IEW>SEARCH ASSETS

UBLISH

Adds primitive assets, like custom labels, drop-down lists, buttons, text boxes and image objects to your template, control panel, and/or scenes. A different set of primitives are used when working with the control side (templates and control panels), than with the scene side. This means that the toolbar switches automatically when the active window also switches to/from a scene or template/control panel. See “Xstudio’s primitives” on

page 3-21 for more information.

Layout toolbar

Groups and ungroups objects, and moves selected objects above or below others. See “Grouping and ungrouping objects on the canvas” on page 5-11 for more information.

Xstudio User Manual 3-19

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Align toolbar

Allows you to easily align two or more objects, with precision, in relation to the primary object (the first object selected). See “Moving and aligning

objects on the canvas” on page 5-14 for more information.

Font toolbar

Modifies the font properties of objects, including the font type, size, and style. See “Modifying the font properties of text objects” on page 5-18 more information.

Zoom toolbar

Zooms in and out of the canvas (the area within a window for a scene, template, control panel, or Xmedia object). The drop-down list in this toolbar allows you to select from preset percentage options, or select F (which resizes the currently open window’s home area and its contents to fit the canvas).

You can also click to zoom in, or to zoom out.

Alternative access:

• Press ALT +

• Move the mouse wheel up and down

See page 3-28 for more information about using the canvas, including the home area.

THE

(+) OR (-)

KEYS

on your keyboard

for

3-20 Xstudio User Manual

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Xstudio’s primitives

Primitives are objects that act as building blocks in Xstudio, e.g. text box objects, button

CENE

objects, image objects, clip objects. Certain primitives are only available for the S whereas others are exclusive to the C

• “Control side primitives” on page 3-21

• “Scene side primitives” on page 3-23

ONTROL

side.

Control side primitives

Primitive What it does

Text Adds a text object to the canvas. Double-click on the object to enter text.

This object differs from a text box object (explained below) in the sense that it’s intended more for labelling purposes. For example, you could use the text object to add a title or label to the canvas, whereas the text box object would more suited to adding a field that the user could use to enter breaking headlines.

Drop-box Creates a drop-down list of choices on the canvas. Double-click on the

object to enter text, one choice per line.

tab,

Button Adds a button object to the canvas that can be set up to trigger actions when

clicked.

If desired, you can apply an image to the button. Instructions for doing so are provided in “Adding primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4 access Button properties from the Property Browser (e.g. color, font). See

“Working with control objects” on page 8-1

Text b ox Adds a text box to the canvas. Double-click on the object to enter text.

While the text object (explained above) should be used for labelling purposes, the text box object is ideally suited for controlling text on the scene. For example, you could have a text box object connected to a Text 2D object (explained below) on the scene. Changing its contents on the control side would make corresponding changes on the scene side.

Image Adds an image object to the canvas, to which an image asset is assigned.

Instructions for assigning an image asset to the object are provided in

“Adding primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4

Check box Adds a check box object to the canvas that can be set up to trigger actions

when selected.

Xstudio User Manual 3-21

. You can also

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Primitive What it does

Radio button Adds a radio button object to the canvas that can be set up to trigger actions

when selected.

ActiveX Adds an active X component to the canvas. You can select any third party

or custom component available on your PC. Once in the canvas, display the Property Browser and enter the registered class name of the active X object in the Prog ID field. For example, if adding the Microsoft Media Player, you would enter MediaPlayer.MediaPlayer.1.

For details on using the Property Browser, refer to “Working with control

objects” on page 8-1.

Timer Adds a timer object to the canvas. Timer functionality is set using specific

properties in the Property Browser. Timers are explained in more detail on

page 8-17

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Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Scene side primitives

Primitive What it does

Text 2D Adds a text object to the scene. These are usually controlled by a text box

object on the control side.

Cel animation Adds a cel animation to the scene, to which a cel animation asset is

assigned.

Instructions for assigning a cel animation asset to the object are provided in

“Adding primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4“.

Image Adds an image to the scene, to which an image asset is assigned.

Instructions for assigning an image asset to the object are provided in

“Adding primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4

Clip Adds a video clip to the scene, to which a clip asset is assigned.

Instructions for assigning a clip asset to the object are provided in “Adding

primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4.

Video In Adds a video in display to the scene.

Crawl Adds a crawl to the scene.

Double-click in the crawl to add text, images and/or cel animations. To edit the crawl once it’s been added to the scene, double-click it. This opens the

RAWLGROUP

on the scene canvas” on page 6-20.

Roll Adds a credit roll to the scene.

Double-click in the roll to add text. To edit the roll once it’s been added to the scene, double-click it. This opens the R explained in detail in “Crawl and Roll objects on the scene canvas” on page

6-20. Use this along with the Property Browser to make changes to the roll.

Xstudio User Manual 3-23

window, which is explained in detail in “Crawl and Roll objects

OLLGROUP

window, which is

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Gallery Browser

Asset Browser

Asset Browser and Gallery Browser

The Asset Browser and the Gallery Browser are the two collapsible panels that occupy the left and right-hand sides of the Xstudio workspace respectively.

While much of their functionality overlaps, the main purpose of the Asset Browser and the Gallery Browser are:

• Asset Browser - Displays a list of all the assets stored on the Xmedia Server that are available and/or relevant to Xstudio. The assets are organized in a tree structure according to their type (e.g. scenes, panels, templates, images, clips, scripts, etc.). The Asset Browser allows you to further organize assets by creating categories within each type’s root category (type). Having a logical organization of asset, easily accessible allows you to quickly drag and drop assets from the Asset Browser onto an open canvas.

• Gallery Browser- Displays the contents of an Asset Browser category. Since the Asset Browser only displays assets in a tree structure, the Gallery Browser provides you with a better view of a category’s assets in the form of thumbnail images or a detailed view. The Gallery Browser allows you to better identify the exact assets you want to drag and drop onto your canvas.

Figure 3-4. The Asset Browser and Gallery Browser are within collapsible panels

Information and instructions related to using the Asset Browser and Gallery Browser are provided in the following sections:

• “Opening existing projects” on page 4-10

• “Adding assets to the canvas” on page 5-3

3-24 Xstudio User Manual

• “Appendix A - Asset Browser” on page 13-1

• “Appendix B - Gallery Browser” on page 14-1

Properties Browser

OTE

Property categories

Properties

Property settings

The P

ROPERTIES BROWSER

canvas, a selected group of objects, or for the canvas itself. Editing the properties allows you to change the appearance and behavior of the objects placed on the canvas, or the canvas itself.

While some properties are common to all object types, others are specific to the type of object that is selected on the canvas or to the canvas itself. As such, the Properties Browser only lists those properties that are relevant to the currently selected object.

If an object has both a control side and scene side, you can only access the properties for one side at a time.

Figure 3-5 shows that the Properties Browser’s user interface mainly groups the properties into thematic categories. For example, properties that define the aesthetics of a text object are grouped under the A

PPEARANCE

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

lists the current property settings for an object selected on the

category.

Xstudio User Manual 3-25

Figure 3-5. Properties Browser user interface

Each property listed in the Properties Browser has a settings text box to the right of the property’s name, which displays the property’s current setting. Editing these settings allows you to change the appearance or behavior of the objects or the canvas. Depending on the type of property setting, clicking in the property’s settings text box allows you to enter a setting value directly in the text box, select from a drop-down list , or click a browse button to open a dialog box for selecting a setting.

The following sections provide information and instructions for using the Properties Browser to change the appearance and behavior of objects and/or the canvas:

• “Setting the canvas’ properties” on page 4-3

• “Working with scene objects” on page 6-1

• “Working with control objects” on page 8-1

While “Appendix C - Xstudio properties” on page 15-1 provides an alphabetical listing and descriptions for each of the properties associated with the Xstudio objects and canvas.

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

OTE

Opening the Properties Browser

The Properties Browser allows you to view and edit the properties associated with the currently selected object, or the canvas itself. The instructions below describe how to open the Properties Browser window.

To open the Properties Browser:

1. Select the object, or the canvas, depending on whether you want to view the object’s or the canvas’ properties.

2. Perform one of the following:

• Select the P Or,

• Select the V Or,

• Right-click on the selected object/canvas, and select the P

command.

Or,

• Press C

3. The Properties Browser window appears and lists the property settings for the selected object/canvas.

ROPERTIES

IEW>PROPERTY BROWSER

TRL

+R.

icon from Xstudio’s desktop.

menu command.

ROPERTIES

Figure 3-6. The Properties Browser window for a Text object on the control side of a template

It is not necessary to reopen the Properties Browser window each time you want to view the properties of a different object. If the Properties Browser window is already open, selecting another object or the canvas automatically updates the Properties Browser window and lists the properties of the selected item.

3-26 Xstudio User Manual

Action Editor and Animation Editor

When the scene-side is active, the Animation Editor is displayed.

When the control-side is active, the Action Editor is displayed.

The Action Editor and the Animation Editor occupy the same collapsible panel at the bottom of the Xstudio desktop in Design mode. As figure 3-7 (Template or Panel) of the project window is active, the Action Editor is displayed; however, when the scene-side is active, the Animation Editor is displayed.

demonstrates, when the control-side

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Figure 3-7. Xstudio’s Action Editor and Animation Editor

The Action Editor lets you set up actions to occur in response to an event. An event is a normal task within the playout that is used to also trigger an action. For example, possible events might be the user clicking a button on the control panel, a page being loaded, or Xstudio checking the database for updated information. Then the action executes a specific command.

The Animation Editor allows you to create scene animations by changing the properties of the objects on the scene over a period of time to create visual effects. The Animation Editor also allows you to integrate and control the playout of secondary animations within the primary animation using keyer channels and command channels.

Information and instructions related to using the Asset Browser and Gallery Browser are provided in the following sections:

• “Animating scene objects” on page 7-1

• “Adding logic to control objects” on page 10-1

Xstudio User Manual 3-27

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

Canvas

Scene Tree

Object Tree

Tab s

Project Windows - Control and scene sides

In Design mode, Xstudio projects (Templates, Control Panel and Scenes) are created and/or edited in the Project window. Figure 3-8 parts to the Projects window:

demonstrates that there are four (4) main

Figure 3-8. Xstudio’s Project window components

• Tabs: For projects that have a control and scene side, the Project window will feature two tabs (Template/Panel) and Scene, which allow you to switch between the controlside’s canvas to the scene-side canvas.

• Object Tree: The Object Tree is located within the collapsible panel on the left-side of the Project window. Using two main categories, T

EMPLATE

or P

ANEL

and A

SSETS

Object Tree displays the objects and assets that have been added to the control-side’s canvas. Clicking on an object in the tree selects it on the canvas.

See “Assigning an action to an object” on page 10-12

for related information.

• Scene Tree: The Scene Tree is located within the collapsible panel on the right-side of

CENE

, A

the Project window. Using three main categories, S

NIMATIONS

Scene Tree lists the objects and assets that are currently located on the canvas. Items

and A

SSETS

from the Scene Tree can be dragged and dropped to create connections with control panel or template objects.

See “Displaying the animated properties in the Scene tree” on page 7-23

for related

information.

• Canvas: The canvas is the work area onto which you drag-and-drop assets, primitives and/or Xmedia objects, and then manipulate them (e.g. aligned, layered, grouped) to create functional and attractive graphics displays and control panels.

3-28 Xstudio User Manual

, the

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

The canvas for scenes features safe areas

The canvas for templates, control panels, and Xmedia object windows features the home area

Safe Title

Safe Action

Video Window

Resolution

Figure 3-9 demonstrates that there are significant differences in the appearance and functionality of the canvas for scenes and the canvas for control screens.

Figure 3-9. Xstudio’s canvas for scene and control screen windows

The scene’s canvas (whether it is an independent scene, or one that has been built with an accompanying control panel or template) features safe areas which are indicated by the set of dotted and solid lined frames on the canvas. The safe areas help you to position objects within the area of the canvas that becomes visible when the scene is brought to air.

Control-side’s canvas features a home area, which is a boxed section that defines the work area onto which you can place control objects. The placement of objects on the home area only affects the control-side and has no affect on the placement of objects on the scene or on air.

Safe areas and resolution format

Xstudio User Manual 3-29

The scene’s canvas (whether it is an independent scene, or one that has been built with an accompanying control panel or template) features safe areas, which are designated on the canvas by the set of dotted and solid lined frames on the canvas. The safe area frames help you to position objects on the canvas to ensure that the objects are visible when the scene is brought to air.

Figure 3-10. The Scene canvas’ Safe Area frames

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

NTSC

PAL HDTV - 1080

Each of the safe areas defines the likelihood that an object placed in the safe area will be visible in the on air broadcast. Figure 3-10 and the following table indicate the location and meaning of each of the safe area frames.

Video window resolution

(outer solid red line)

The area within this frame represents the signal size, as determined by the scene format property. Any object placed between the Video Window Resolution frame and the Safe Action frame will not likely be displayed. Likewise, any object placed outside of the Video Window Resolution frame is guaranteed not to be visible on air.

Safe action

(yellow dotted line)

The area within this frame represents ninety percent (90%) of the signal size. Whether or not objects placed within the area between Safe Action frame and Safe Title frame display depends on the type of television airing the broadcast.

Safe title

(inner red dotted line)

The area within this frame represents eighty percent (80%) of the signal size. Anything placed within this border is guaranteed to display on any screen.

When you are creating a scene, it will be the output device’s (i.e. television) resolution format that determines the size and shape of scene format. This ensures that all of the objects placed on the scene appear in the appropriate places on air. Consequently, the size and shape of the safe area frames is determined by the television format that you select for your scene using the S

CENE FORMAT

property field (see “SceneFormat” on page 4-8).

Figure 3-11. The scene’s format determines the dimensions of the safe area frames

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Zooming in/out of the canvas

OTE

Original scene (centered & Fit) Canvas centered and zoomed in 150%,

but the object is not completely visible

Panned to the right to view the entire object, while still zoomed in.

Whether you are working on the scene-side or control-side canvas, you may want to the characteristics of objects in greater detail by zooming in on the canvas. Similarly, you can get an expanded or distanced view of the canvas by zooming out of the canvas.

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

Alt key sequence

• While holding down the ALT key, press the + (plus) key on your keyboard’s number pad.

• While holding down the ALT key, press the - (minus) key on your keyboard’s number pad.

• Hold down the ALT key and the right mouse button, then drag a rectangle around the specific area that you want to zoom in on.

Mouse wheel

• Click anywhere on the canvas and roll the mouse wheel forward to zoom in or roll the mouse wheel backward to zoom out.

Zoom toolbar

OOM IN

• Click the Z

• Select a higher or lower percentage scale factor from the Zoom toolbar’s drop-down list.

• You can easily return to the canvas to this default scaling state by selecting the F command from the Zoom toolbar’s drop-down list.

button or the Z

OOM OUT

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

button on the Zoom toolbar.

When you zoom in on a portion of the canvas, you may not see certain areas of the canvas. Rather than zooming out and sacrificing the current zoomed view, you can maintain the zoom scale and pan across the canvas to the desired area. See “Panning across the

canvas” on page 3-31 for more information.

Panning across the canvas

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

Figure 3-12. Panning across the canvas

Xstudio User Manual 3-31

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

To pan across the canvas:

While holding down the ALT key on your keyboard:

• Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the canvas toward the desired location.

Or,

• Hold down the left mouse button while moving the mouse to drag the canvas to the desired location.

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Production mode environment

Template or Page in Production mode Control Panel in Production mode

Next To Air

window

Control buttons

Xstudio’s Production mode allows you to preview the playout of the active project on the connected output device. See page 3-5 and Production mode.

Figure 3-13 demonstrates that the Production environment is slightly different depending upon the type of project that is to be previewed.

Figure 3-13. Xstudio’s Production mode interface

for instructions on how to switch between Design

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

When a template or page is previewed in Production mode, the template is displayed the

EXT TO AIR

before it goes on air (i.e. type or select specific text to display). The C

EFRESH

window, which allows you to make changes to the scene’s editable fields

, C

LEAR

ONTROL

, T

AKE

) are available to templates and pages and allow you to control the

buttons (CUE,

playout on the device.

When a control panel is previewed in Production mode, it occupies the entire display and the Control buttons are not needed since you will control the playout by manually interacting with the panel’s elements.

Further information and instructions for using Xstudio’s Production mode are provided in

“Playing out a scene using Xstudio’s Production mode” on page 12-1

Xstudio User Manual 3-33

Orientation to Xstudio’s desktop

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

4 C

REATING AND OPENING

PROJECTS AND ASSETS

This chapter provides information and instructions for creating new Xstudio projects, as well as how to locate and open existing projects and assets that are stored on the Xmedia Server.

You may also want to use projects and assets that are stored on another system, or were created using a third-party application. In such cases, you must import or ingest these assets into the Xmedia Server before being able to use them in Xstudio.

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• “Creating new projects and assets” on page 4-2

• “Opening existing projects” on page 4-10

• “Searching for projects/assets on the Xmedia Server” on page 4-11

• “Importing assets from another Vertigo system” on page 4-12

• “Ingesting files created using third-party applications” on page 4-14

STUDIO

Xstudio User Manual 4-1

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

Creating new projects and assets

When you launch Xstudio (S dialog box automatically appears (if Xstudio’s S enabled). The C

REATE NEW

TART>PROGRAMS>VERTIGOXMEDIA>XSTUDIO

HOW NEW DIALOG ON STARTUP

), the C

dialog box is an entry point to creating new projects and assets

(definitions for the individual items listed on each tab are provided on page 3-2

Figure 4-1. Use Xstudio’s Create New dialog box to create new projects/assets

The C

REATE NEW

or the keyboard shortcut: C

dialog box can also be opened by selecting the F

TRL

+N.

ILE>NEW

menu command

To create a new project or asset in Xstudio:

1. Open the C

REATE NEW

dialog box.

2. Select the type of project or asset that you want to create and click OK. An empty canvas appears (figure 4-2

). Before you begin to author, we recommend that

you set the canvas’ properties, especially the scene canvas’ SceneFormat property.

REATE NEW

setting is

Figure 4-2. A new Template + Scene project canvas

4-2 Xstudio User Manual

Setting the canvas’ properties

Each type of Xstudio canvas (template, panel, scene) has a series of properties which affect the canvas’ look and behavior. You can edit an individual canvas’ properties by opening the Properties Browser and clicking anywhere on the canvas area. See page 3-25 instructions on opening the Properties Browser.

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

for

Figure 4-3. Xstudio’s Properties Browser exposes the canvas’ properties

The following table provides an alphabetical listing and descriptions for each of the properties associated with the Panel, Template, and/or Scene canvas:

Auto Load Scene

[AutoLoadScene]

• Applies to: Panel or Template canvas

• Description

: Determines whether or not to automatically load the scene when you switch to Production mode. Select F output device automatically loads the scene, or if the scene is being controlled by more than one control panel (since reloading the scene every time a new panel goes to Production mode may cause the scene to flicker).

: Select from the drop-down list: T

: Template canvas

: Automatically generates a name for the pages

: To specify or edit the name that will automatically

Auto Name

[AutoName]

• Accepted values

• Applies to

• Description created from the template that this property applies to.

• Accepted values be assigned to the pages, simply type the name (text) in this property’s text box.

RUE

ALSE

or F

if your

ALSE

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Auto Take

[AutoTake]

Available Takes

[AvailableTakes]

BackColor

[BackColor]

• Applies to: Panel canvas

• Description

: Determines whether or not to automatically take the panel to air when you switch to Production mode. If you select F

ALSE

, the T

AKE

button will be amber when you switch to Production mode, which signifies that you must click the button to take the panel to air. Note that if a scene is loaded it appears in the output. However, animations will not run, nor will data tick until you click the T button.

• Accepted values

• Applies to

• Description

: Panel or Template canvas

: Sets the number of takes (Take Nu mb er property) that

: Select from the drop-down list: T

RUE

or F

must be issued to complete the display of the scene. This property is often used to display scenes containing bullet points that are intended to be taken to air one item at a time. Such a scene would have its A

VAILABLE TAKES

property set to the number of items. In

simple scenes, the Available Takes property is usually set to 1.

• Accepted values

: Enter a value that represents the number of instances that will be required to completely playout the scene. In simple scenes, the Available Takes property is usually set to 1.

• Applies to: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

• Description: Sets the backcolor for the canvas.

• Accepted values Ellipsis button to display the C

COLOR DEFINITION

: Click in the property’s text box and then click the

OLOR

dialog box. Select an RGB

(e.g. R: 0 G: 0 B: 0).

AKE

ALSE

Background Location

[BgLocation]

• Applies to

• Description within Xstudio and on the Xmedia Server.

• Accepted values

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

: Identifies where the background asset is located

: This property can be automatically filled in when the background asset is dragged from the Asset Browser or Gallery Browser to the B

ACKGROUND NAME

property in the Properties Browser. Or, If you can type XMS: to indicate the Xmedia Server, followed by the name(s) of the category or categories to which it belongs, e.g. XMS:Images.Backgrounds to indicate that the image is in the Backgrounds category under Images.

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Background Name

[BgName]

Default Device

[DefaultDevice]

Duration

[Duration]

Font

[Font]

• Applies to: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

• Description

: The name of the background asset.

• Accepted values: Drag the background asset (e.g. image) from the Asset Browser or Gallery Browser and drop it in this property’s text box. Or, If you would prefer, you can type the name and then the location in

MAGELOCATION

the I

property, or you can type both the name and

location all in this row, e.g. XMS:Images.Backgrounds:Blue.

• Applies to

• Description

: Scene canvas

: Indicates the intended device type that the scene was

authored for.

• Accepted values

MAGESTORE, OR OTHER

• Applies to

: Template canvas

: Select from the drop-down list: XG, I

NTUITION

• Description: The amount of time that the template is intended to stay on air.

• Accepted values

• Applies to

• Description

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

: Sets the font for the text characters.

• Accepted values: Select the property’s text box and the click the

ONT

ellipsis button to display the F

STYLE, AND SIZE

(e.g. Arial - 18) and click OK.

dialog box. Select a

FONT NAME

Guides Active

[GuidesActive]

• Applies to

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

• Description: Determines whether or not the guides will have “snapto” functionality. Guides are lines that can be added to the canvas to facilitate object alignment. See “Positioning objects using

guides” on page 5-16.

Guides Color

[GuidesColor]

• Accepted values

• Applies to

: Select from the drop-down list: T

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

• Description: Determines the color of the guides. Guides are lines

RUE

or F

ALSE

that can be added to the canvas to facilitate object alignment. See

“Positioning objects using guides” on page 5-16

• Accepted values ellipsis button to display the C

COLOR DEFINITION

: Click in the property’s text box and then click the

OLOR

dialog box. Select an RGB

(e.g. R: 0 G: 0 B: 0) and click OK.

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Guides Locked

[GuidesLock]

Guides Visible

[GuidesVisible]

Home Area Color

[HomeAreaColor]

Home Area Height

[HomeAreaHeight]

• Applies to: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

• Description

: Determines whether the guides will be locked in place, or available for repositioning. Guides are lines that can be added to the canvas to facilitate object alignment. See “Positioning

objects using guides” on page 5-16.

• Accepted values: Select from the drop-down list: T

• Applies to

• Description

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

: Determines whether or not the guides will be visible.

RUE

or F

ALSE

Guides are lines that can be added to the canvas to facilitate object alignment. See “Positioning objects using guides” on page 5-16.

• Accepted values

• Applies to

: Panel or Template canvas

: Select from the drop-down list: T

RUE

or F

ALSE

• Description: Determines the color of the home area. The home area is a visual device intended to help position objects on the canvas.

• Accepted values

button to display the C

DEFINITION

• Applies to

• Description

: Click in the property’s text box and then click the

OLOR

dialog box. Select an RGB

COLOR

(e.g. R: 0 G: 0 B: 0) and then click OK.

: Panel or Template canvas

: Determines the height of the home area. The home area is a visual device intended to help position objects on the canvas.

• Accepted values

: Enter the

NUMBER OF PIXELS

. Or, If the Home Area Locked

property is set to F

ALSE

, you can drag the top or bottom edges/corners of the home area to your desired height and the Home Area Height property is automatically set to the new height value.

Home Area Locked

[HomeAreaLock]

• Applies to

• Description resized by dragging from its edges and corners. The home area is

: Panel or Template canvas

: Determines whether or not the home area can be

a visual device intended to help position objects on the canvas.

Home Area Visible

[HomeAreaVisible]

• Accepted values

• Applies to

• Description

: Select from the drop-down list: T

: Panel or Template canvas

: Determines whether or not the home area is visible

(i.e. boxed), or blended with the canvas. The home area is a visual

RUE

or F

ALSE

device intended to help position objects on the canvas.

• Accepted values

: Select from the drop-down list: T

RUE

or F

ALSE

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Home Area Width

[HomeAreaWidth]

Home Key Frame

[HomeKeyFrame]

• Applies to: Panel or Template canvas

• Description

: Determines the width of the home area. The home area is a visual device intended to help position objects on the canvas.

• Accepted values

: Enter the

NUMBER OF PIXELS

. Or, If the Home Area Locked

property is set to F

ALSE

, you can drag the right or left edges/corners of the home area to your desired width and the Home Area Width property is automatically set to the new width value.

• Applies to

• Description

: Scene canvas

: A Scene "transitions in" by executing its Default In animation when it is taken to air. The home key frame specifies a frame within the Default In animation that defines the "default appearance" of the scene. The Scene is saved in the state obtained by playing the Default In animation up to the home key frame. This determines the appearance of the Scene's thumbnail. See “Default, Page and Manual animations” on page 7-10 information about Default In animations.

• Accepted values

: For most scenes, the home key frame is set to the end of the Default In animation when all elements have finished "transitioning in". In a timeline, the Default In may "transition in" the scene at the beginning of the animation and "transition out" at the end of the animation. In this case the home key frame may be chosen in the middle of the animation. Also, -1 means the end of the Default In animation.

for more

Load Delay

[LoadDelay]

• Applies to

• Description before the scene is loaded on air.

• Accepted values

: Scene canvas

: Sets the number of seconds delay that will elapse

: Enter the

NUMBER OF SECONDS

of the desired

delay that will elapse before the scene is loaded on air.

Name

[Name]

• Applies to

• Description

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

: The name is used to identify the canvas itself. The default name given to canvas is the asset type followed by an incrementing number (i.e. Template1 or Panel1).

• Accepted values

: To edit or rename the canvas or object’s name,

simply type the new name (text) in this properties text box.

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Persist

[Persist]

Recall ID

[RecallID]

Recall ID Range Start

Recall ID Range End

SceneFormat

[TVFormat]

• Applies to: Panel or Template canvas

• Description

: Determines whether a scene will persist on the device. This property allows for continuity as one scene transitions to another by maintaining the playout of objects that are common to both scenes (i.e background or looping clips).

• Accepted values

• Applies to

• Description

: Panel or Template canvas

: This property allows you to set a unique identifier that

: Select from the drop-down list: T

RUE

or F

used in other Vertigo applications (i.e. Xbuilder, Xplay) to quickly call up the specific Panel or Template.

• Accepted values

TEXT AND/OR NUMBERS

to make up the

: Enter

identifier.

• Applies to

• Description

: Template canvas

: Allows you to set the lower limit of the range of Recall IDs that can be used for pages based on this template.

• Accepted values

• Applies to

• Description

: Template canvas

: Allows you to set the upper limit of the range of Recall IDs that can be used for pages based on this template.

• Accepted values

• Applies to

: Scene canvas

• Description: Sets the television format for the scene.

• Accepted values

: Select one of the following from the drop-down

list:

•NTSC

•PAL

• HDTV-720/60

• HDTV-720/59.94

• HDTV-720/50

• HDTV-1080/30

• HDTV-1080/29.97

• HDTV-1080/25

•ITV

• NTSC-16/9

•PAL-16/9

ALSE

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Target Device

[TargetDeviceType]

• Applies to: Template canvas

• Description name of a “virtual device” as defined in the Xplay configuration. For instance, you might configure Xplay to use devices “A”, “B” and “C”. You can create a template with “B” as its target device, meaning that you intend to take it to air on device “B” in Xplay. When the template is dragged into a playlist, its Device column is automatically filled in with “B”.

• Accepted values configured in Xplay.

Template Type • Applies to

• Description

• Accepted values the drop-down list: S

User Properties • Applies to

• Description: User-defined properties. For example, can be used as a data container to be accessed by a script. Click in the grey cell below the User Properties category in the Properties Browser to add another User Property.

• Accepted values type a user defined value/setting.

Video Reset

[VideoReset]

• Applies to

• Description when the scene is loaded.

• Accepted values

: The name of the template’s target device, which is the

: Type the name of the intended device as

: Panel or Template canvas

: Sets the template type for the template.

: Select one of the following template types from

TILL

, C

RAWL

, or C

LIP

: Panel, Template or Scene canvas

: Type the name of the user-defined property and

: Scene canvas

: Determines whether or not the video will be reset

: Select from the drop-down list: T

RUE

or F

ALSE

Xstudio User Manual 4-9

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

Opening existing projects

If you do not want to create a new project, but rather work from existing (saved) project, you can access and open the project using any of the following methods:

•Select F

ILE>OPEN

through the asset category tree and double-click the name/proxy of the desired project.

Or,

• Open Xstudio’s A name/proxy of the desired project/asset.

or C

TRL

+O. The M

SSET BROWSER

. Navigate through the asset category tree and double-click the

EDIASTORE BROWSER

dialog box appears. Navigate

Or,

• Open Xstudio’s G

ALLERY BROWSER

. If the project’s category was added to the Gallery Browser,

select the category and then double-click the name/proxy of the desired project/asset.

Or,

• Open the C

REATE NEW

dialog box (F

ILE>NEW

) and select the R

ECENT

tab, which lists the ten

(10) most recently opened projects/assets. Double-click the name of the desired project/asset.

If you cannot located the desired project using the above methods, please consider searching for it using Xstudio’s Search tool. See page 4-11 for more information.

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

Searching for projects/assets on the Xmedia Server

Xstudio’s Asset Browser and Gallery Browser provide you with convenient access to the assets on your system, however they do not provide an effective way of finding or sorting assets based on common themes or characteristics. For this reason, Xstudio offers a Search tool, which allows you to quickly search and find assets by specifying a search criteria based on asset properties and metadata. When a query is performed, the Search tool returns a listing of the assets that match the search criteria. When the results are viewed in proxy view mode, you can drag-and-drop the assets directly from the Search tool to the Xstudio canvas.

Figure 4-4. Xstudio’s Search tool

The Search tool allows you to perform two types of searches: a standard search and an advanced search. The standard search allows you create a search criteria using the basic properties associated with assets like, the type of asset, keywords, date of creation, among others. While the advanced search allows you to create a search criteria based on the asset’s metadata information.

To open the Xstudio’s Search tool:

• Click the Search icon on Xstudio’s desktop.

or,

• Select the V

Complete information and instructions for using Xstudio’s Search tool are provided in

“Appendix D - Search tool” on page 16-1.

Xstudio User Manual 4-11

IEW>SEARCH ASSETS

menu command.

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

Importing assets from another Vertigo system

If you would like to use Vertigo assets that were created on a separate Vertigo Suite installation (e.g. stored on a different Xmedia Server), the assets must first be exported from the original system (see page 11-5), which creates a Vertigo Export file (.exp).

You can then use Xstudio (or Xplorer) to import the .exp file into your Vertigo system. Unlike ingesting files, which loads and converts files from third-party formats into Vertigo assets (see page 4-14 therefore require no conversion. The assets are also automatically assigned to their rightful place on the Xmedia Server according to their asset type and previous categorization.

There are two things to worth noting regarding importing asset files:

• Links to data will not be maintained. The same data sources need to be set up on your server and the links re-established (see page 9-1

• Existing assets may be overwritten. This only occurs under a very specific set of circumstances. For example, if you import a file in a category that has the same name as a file in an identically named category, the imported file will overwrite the other one. Also, if you import a file from the root category and an identically named file is in the root category of the installation you are importing to, the imported file will overwrite the other one. You can prevent files from being overwritten by assigning them to different categories, since an imported file will only overwrite another file if both have the same name and belong to the root category or to an identically named category.

), imported assets are already in the appropriate Vertigo formats and

If the assets that you are importing contains data schemas, then your data schema connect settings will likely need to be maintained. Do this before using any templates, scenes, or pages.

To import assets:

1. In Xstudio, select F This displays the select V

Figure 4-5. Select VertigoXmedia Asset Export File dialog box

2. Navigate to the export folder that contains the asset(s) that you want to import (i.e. VxM_Export_21082008_125200).

3. Double-click the folder to display its contents.

4-12 Xstudio User Manual

ILE>IMPORT ASSETS

ERTIGOXMEDIA ASSET EXPORT FILE

dialog box (figure 4-5).

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

4. Select the .

EXP FILE

and then click the O

PEN

button.

5. The Import window appears and identifies all of the assets that will be imported from the export file to the target XMS. An icon in front of the asset’s name indicates whether the asset is being added or is being updated .

The assets are displayed in a tree-structure that represents the assets’ destination among the target server’s categories. Newly created categories are indicated the icon.

Figure 4-6. The Import window provides a verification step before the import operation is performed

Figure 4-6

also demonstrates that the Import window can also contain a list of error or warning messages to alert users of problems that may occur if the import is performed. For example, some categories may have to be renamed and some assets will not be able to be categorized because of name conflicts. Clicking on an asset that shows either an error or warning icon highlights the associated messages. Similarly, clicking on a message will select the corresponding asset or category in the tree.

MPORT

6. After inspecting the import contents, select the I import or select C

ANCEL

to abort the import.

button to proceed with the

The status bar at the top of the Xstudio window displays the progress as the file is imported into your system.

MPORT

The Import window remains open after I looking for newly imported assets. Select the C

is clicked so that it can be referenced when

LOSE

button to close the I

MPORT

window.

7. Optional: Verify that the asset was properly imported by opening the Asset Browser and navigating to the category where you expected the asset to be stored. Open the asset by double-clicking its name in the Asset Browser.

Transferring assets by exporting assets from one Xmedia Server (XMS) and then importing them into another XMS manually is ideal for low volume and infrequent transfers. However, if you are frequently transferring assets between servers, we recommend using propagation to transfer assets. See “Propagating assets from the XMS to another server” in the Xmedia Server Configuration Guide for more information.

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OTE

Ingesting files created using third-party applications

Individual content files (i.e. images, cel animations, video clips, and audio clips) that make up broadcast graphics are normally produced by third-party applications outside of the Vertigo Suite. Therefore, you must ingest them into the Xmedia Server before they can be used by Xstudio as assets. Ingesting a file basically means converting the file into a Vertigo asset and saving it on the Xmedia Server according to its asset type.

While the procedure for ingesting image, video, and audio files is for the most part the same, ingesting cel animations requires a different procedure. The following sections provide information and instructions for ingesting files into the system.

• “Ingesting image or audio files” on page 4-14

• “Ingesting multiple image files or creating cel animations or clips upon ingest” on page 4-17

• “Ingesting video files” on page 4-22

Ingesting image or audio files

Images and audio clips that were created using third-party applications must be ingested into the Xmedia Server before they can be used in Xstudio.

If you are ingesting multiple image files that have a sequential naming convention and/or ingesting image files for purposes of creating a cel animation or video clip, please refer to

“Ingesting multiple image files or creating cel animations or clips upon ingest” on page 4-17.

To ingest an image or audio file:

1. Click the I The I

Figure 4-7. Navigate through and select the file to be ingested into the Xmedia Server

NGEST

NGEST FILES

button on Xstudio’s desktop.

dialog box appears.

4-14 Xstudio User Manual

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

Displaying the proxy of the image file

Media Player for previewing the audio file

2. Navigate through the categories in the I

NGEST FILES

dialog box and select the file(s)

that are to be ingested into the Xmedia Server. You can ingest multiple files by pressing the SHIFT key as you click on each file for

consecutive selections, or pressing the CTRL key to select a grouping of nonconsecutive files.

If the first three letters in the name of the selected image file are identical to other files in the same directory (i.e. Bug001, Bug002, Bug003...), the I

NGESTING A CEL ANIMATION

message box appears and asks if your intention is to ingest the single image file or to create cel animation.

- Select N

- Select Y

ULTI-IMAGE INGEST

to ingest a single image file using the NEW M

to create a cel animation from the set of identically named image files using the

window. See page 4-17 for instructions on how to proceed in such a

EDIA

dialog box.

case.

3. Click O The N

PEN

EW MEDIA

window appears, which allows you to specify and save details about the

ingested asset file.

4. Selecting a file’s name in the N

EW MEDIA LIST

displays the file’s information and all of the categories within that root category. When an image file is being ingested, a proxy of the image is displayed in the center pane of the Ingest window. If an audio file is being ingest, then the Ingest window features the Windows Media Player allowing you to preview the playout of the audio clip before ingesting it.

5. Select the first file name in the N Repeat this step for each file listed in the N

a. In the N

name is used. Note: If you are ingesting an edited version of a file that already exists on the selected device, saving it under the same name in the same category overwrites the previous version of the asset. To avoid overwriting the asset, rename it or save

it to another category. b. Enter your name in the A c. Optional - Enter a short description in the D

Xstudio User Manual 4-15

EW MEDIA LIST

AME

field, assign a name to the asset to be called. By default, the file’s

UTHOR

field.

panel and complete the following tasks.

EW MEDIA LIST

ESCRIPTION

panel.

field.

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

d. Optional - Enable and set a E

ATE

refers to date when the asset will be automatically deleted from the main

XPIRY DATE

and P

UBLISH LIFESPAN

fields. The E

XMS, spoke XMSs (hub & spoke model), as well as removing the asset from the devices that it was published to. The expiry date value is set in days and the purge is executed at 3:00 AM. The P

UBLISH LIFESPAN

used by the XMS to determine when the asset should be removed from the playout device. The Publish Lifespan value is set in days, it has a one (1) day grace period, and the purge is executed at 2:00 AM.

e. The M

ANAGE ASSET FROM ITS CURRENT LOCATION

check box will only be enabled if the asset that is to be ingested is currently stored on an external device and if the permission permit access. If this criteria is met, the parameter is available and you can save space on your local/central XMS by managing the asset from its current location. In most cases, this parameter should not be enabled.

f. Assign the asset to one or more categories by selecting check boxes in the

ATEGORIES

select A

box. To create a new category, right-click in the C

DD CATEGORY

from the pop-up menu.

ATEGORIES

g. Optional - Assign the file one or more keywords by selecting check boxes in the

EYWORDS

retrieving assets.) To create a new keyword, right-click in the K select ADD K

box. (Keywords are used by Xplorer’s Search tool for searching and

EYWORDS

EYWORD

from the pop-up menu.

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

ANCEL

Click C

to discard the information entered in the dialog box, exit the dialog box and

return to Xplorer.

XPIRY

box and

4-16 Xstudio User Manual

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

Ingesting multiple image files or creating cel animations or clips upon ingest

As explained on page 4-14, you can use Xstudio to ingest a single image file. Additionally, you can use Xstudio’s Multi-image Ingest dialog box (figure 4-8 files or create a cel animation or clip from a series of sequentially named images files.

Figure 4-8. The Multi-image Ingest dialog box

To ingest multiple images or convert the image files into a cel animation or a clip animation:

NGEST

1. Click the I

NGEST FILES

The I

2. Navigate through the categories in the I the image file(s) that are to be ingested. Then click O

button on Xstudio’s desktop.

dialog box appears.

NGEST FILES

dialog box (figure 4-9) and select

) to ingest multiple image

PEN

Figure 4-9. The Ingest Files dialog box

You select multiple files by pressing the SHIFT key as you click on each file for consecutive selections, or pressing the CTRL key to select a grouping of non-consecutive files.

Xstudio User Manual 4-17

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

If you selected a single image file and the first three letters in the name of the file are identical to other files in the same directory (i.e. Bug001, Bug002, Bug003...), the

NGESTING A CEL ANIMATION

message box appears and asks if your intention is to

ingest the single image file or to create cel animation.

•Select N

page 4-14

•Select Y image files using the M

to ingest the single image file using the NEW M

for instructions on how to proceed in such a case.

to create a cel animation or clip from the set of identically named

ULTI-IMAGE INGEST

dialog box.

If however, you selected multiple image files, the M

ULTI-IMAGE INGEST

EDIA

dialog box. See

dialog box automatically appears and offers you several options to either ingest the individual image files, or to create a cel animation or clip asset from these image files.

3. When the M

ULTI-IMAGE INGEST

dialog box appears, it offers you six (6) options for how you can proceed to ingest the set of image files. Each option is described in the table below.

Note that the Xstudio takes into consideration what is trying to be ingested and makes a preliminary suggestion as to which option to use by pre-selecting an option for you. You may use the pre-selected option or select another.

VAF The VAF option ingests the selected image files and converts their

sequential playout into a video clip asset. The resulting video clip asset is saved using the Vertigo Animation Format (.vaf) and it is stored in the Xmedia Server’s Clips category.

This option is recommended for large animations.

Note that this option does not preserve the original format and it offers a reduction in looping options.

OXI +VAF Select the OXI +VAF option when ingesting large animations. In such a

case, the OXI is the master, while the VAF as the alternate format.

When publishing the OXI + VAF, the Xmedia Server determines whether to publish the OXI or the VAF based on the target device type. Note that this option results in a reduction of looping options, but there is no size limit for the VAF file.

OXI The OXI option ingests the multiple images and creates a cel animation

by converting the images into oxi format, which is a series of targa format files (.tga) that are lossless, uncompressed, and cropped. The resulting .oxi file will be saved as a cel animation asset in the Cel Animation category.

The OXI option is recommended when ingesting smaller animations. Unlike the OXI +VAF option, the OXI option provides additional looping options. The recommended file sizes for this option are < 250 MB when the target device is a Vertigo XG and < 4 GB when the target device is an Intuition.

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

VAF, OXI + VAF, OXI with embedded VAFOXI J2K + OXI

OXI with embedded VAF The OXI with embedded VAF option is intended to be used with

external management systems that require a single file. Embedding the VAF in the OXI allows the same file to be used on both the Intuition (Classic), as well as the Vertigo XG. Note that this option provides reduced looping options and that file sizes should be < 3.6 GB.

J2K+OXI The J2K+OXI option is used with HMP devices. In such a case, the J2K

is the master, while the OXI as the alternate format.

Ingest multiple images The Ingest multiple images option ingests several images and saves

them as individual image files in the Xmedia Server’s Image category.

4. If creating a cel animation, select from the F

ORMAT

drop-down list the target video format of the cel animation. This information indicates the desired full screen size and is used when the cel animation is cropped. Valid settings are: PAL, NTSC, 720p60, 720p60M, 720p50, 1080i30, 1080i30M, and 1080i25.

5. Enable or disable the I

NTERLACED

property.

Enable this setting if the images that make up the sequence being ingested contain fields, rather than frames. Disable this setting if the images that make up the sequence contain frames.

6. Enable or disable the U

SE ORIGINAL SIZE

property.

Enable this setting if the width and height of the cel animation will be equal to the width and height of the images from which it was created. When this setting is disabled, the cel animation will be cropped to the smallest size possible.

EVERSE

7. Enable or disable the R

property.

The reverse parameter determines whether the files that make up the sequence should

RUE

or F

ALSE

be played in reverse order: T

(default).

8. If creating a cel animation or a clip, set the Looping properties to ensure that the Start Frame/Loop and End Frame/Loop values fall on the full frame.

Figure 4-10

demonstrates that the availability and format of the L

OOPING

properties

depends upon which ingest option is selected.

Figure 4-10. The Loop parameter formats for multi-image ingest options

Xstudio User Manual 4-19

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

OTE

• L

OOP

- While the check box can be enabled or disabled, the L

three (3) possible settings:

RUE

• T

: Enables or engages infinite looping. When this setting is used, the only

way to stop looping is to send an action to stop it.

ALSE

• F

• U The L

: Disables looping.

NSPECIFIED

OOP

: Takes the looping setting that is already established by the scene object.

setting is used in conjunction with Start Loop and End Loop settings. If Loop is enabled and both Start Loop and End Loop are set to -1, then the entire cel animation loops continuously. If Loop is enabled and either Start Loop or End Loop is not -1, then the cel animation does a four point loop (in-loop-out). If Loop is disabled, the cel animation plays once from beginning to end. However, if loop is disabled and Start Loop and End Loop are both set to the same value (other than -1), then the cel animation displays the frame specified by Start Loop and End Loop and the cel animation can be controlled by automation. Note that if Ping Pong is enabled, and both Start Loop and End Loop are set to -1, then Loop is ignored.

• P

ING PONG

- If enabled, and both Start Loop and End Loop settings are set to -1, then the cel animation plays in ping-pong mode. That is, it plays from beginning to end and then back to the beginning.

• S

TART FRAME

- Specify the frame at which the cel animation starts playout.

A value of -1 means start at the beginning.

• E

ND FRAME

- Specify the frame at which the cel animation ends playout.

A value of -1 means play until the end.

• S

TART LOOP

- Specify the frame at which looping starts.

A value of -1 means loop from the beginning of the cel animation.

• E

ND LOOP

- Specify the frame where the cel animation loop ends.

A value of -1 means loop until the end of the cel animation.

OOP

drop-down list has

All frames are specified starting from 0 for the first frame in the cel animation.

9. Click OK and the N

EW MEDIA

window appears.

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Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Preview the cel animation or clip frame-by-frame

When ingesting multiple images, selecting an image’s file name displays a previews of the image

10. Optional - Figure 4-11 demonstrates that you can preview the cel animation or clip by dragging the slider or using the arrow buttons along the bottom of the preview display in the middle panel. When you are ingesting multiple images, you can preview an image file by selecting its file name in the N

EW MEDIA LIST

Figure 4-11. The New Media window

11. Assign a name to the asset in the N Note: If you are ingesting an edited version of a file that already exists on the selected device, saving it under the same name in the same category overwrites the previous version of the asset. To avoid overwriting the asset, rename it or save it to another category.

12. Enter your name in the A

13. Optional - Enter a short description in the D

14. Optional - Enable and set a E

ATE

as remove them from the devices that it has published them to. P by the XMS to determine when the asset should be removed from the playout device. The Publish Lifespan value is set in days, it has a one (1) day grace period, and the purge is executed at 2:00 AM.

15. The M asset that is to be ingested is currently stored on an external device and if the permission permit access. If this criteria is met, the parameter is available and you can save space on your local/central XMS by managing the asset from its current location. In most cases, this parameter should not be enabled.

16. Assign the asset to one or more categories by selecting check boxes in the

ATEGORIES

select A

Xstudio User Manual 4-21

AME

field. By default, the file’s name is used.

UTHOR

field.

XPIRY DATE

ESCRIPTION

and P

field.

UBLISH LIFESPAN

fields. The E

XPIRY

refers to date when the asset will be automatically deleted from the XMS as well

ANAGE ASSET FROM ITS CURRENT LOCATION

box. To create a new category, right-click in the C

DD CATEGORY

from the pop-up menu.

UBLISH LIFESPAN

check box will only be enabled if the

ATEGORIES

used

box and

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

17. Optional - Assign the file one or more keywords by selecting check boxes in the

EYWORDS

box. (Keywords are used by Xstudio’s Search tool for searching and

retrieving assets.) To create a new keyword, right-click in the K

DD KEYWORD

from the pop-up menu.

18. Click the OK button to save and exit the dialog box. Or, Click the C

ANCEL

button to discard the information entered in the dialog box, exit the

dialog box and return to Xstudio’s desktop.

Ingesting video files

Video clips that are created using third-party applications must be ingested into the Xmedia Server before they can be used by the Xmedia Suite applications.

As the instructions below describe, when a video clip is ingested into the system, the New Media dialog box contains a Windows Media Player for previewing the video clip before ingesting it.

Also worth noting, the file that is to be ingested does not yet have a proxy image (thumbnail) associated to it. Although a proxy image is not required, it does make identifying the clip easier when it is displayed in Proxy View in the Asset Gallery. Xstudio allows you to assign a proxy image to the clip when you are ingesting the clip. Should you choose not to specify a proxy image for the clip, a generic proxy is assigned to represent the clip asset in Proxy View (figure 4-12

EYWORDS

box and select

Figure 4-12. The generic proxy for clips that did not have a proxy assigned during ingestion

To ingest a video clip:

NGEST

1. Click the I

NGEST FILES

The I

2. Navigate through the categories in the I the file(s) that are to be ingested. Then click O

button on Xstudio’s desktop.

dialog box appears.

NGEST FILES

PEN

dialog box (figure 4-13) and select

To select multiple files, press the SHIFT key as you click on each asset for consecutive selections, or press the CTRL key to select a grouping of non-consecutive files.

4-22 Xstudio User Manual

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Proxy Mode assigns

Media Player for previewing the clip

an image to represent the clip asset in the Asset Gallery

Figure 4-13. Navigate through and select the files to be ingested into the Xmedia Server

3. When the NEW M

IST

panel and complete the following tasks. Repeat this step for each file listed in the

NEW M

EDIA LIST

EDIA

dialog box appears, select the first file name in the NEW M

panel.

a. Optional - Preview the clip in the Windows Media Player in the middle panel to

confirm that this is the correct video file to be ingested.

b. Optional - Assign a proxy image to the clip by clicking the P

the lower-left corner of the New Media dialog box. Click on the P

VAILABLE

panel (where the Media Player was). The Assign Asset Proxy dialog

ROXY MODE

ROXY NOT

box appears and lets you select the .jpg image that will be associated as the proxy image for the clip asset. Click the O

PEN

button. The image now appears in the

middle panel of the New Media dialog box.

AME

c. In the N

field, assign a name to the asset. By default, the file’s name is used. Note: If you are ingesting an edited version of a file that already exists on the selected device, saving it under the same name in the same category overwrites the previous version of the asset. To avoid overwriting the asset, rename it or save it to another category.

UTHOR

d. Enter your name in the A e. Optional - Enter a short description in the D

field.

ESCRIPTION

field.

EDIA

button in

Xstudio User Manual 4-23

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

f. Optional - Enable and set a E

ATE

refers to date when the asset will be automatically deleted from the XMS as

XPIRY DATE

and P

UBLISH LIFESPAN

fields. The E

well as remove them from the devices that it has published them to. P

IFESPAN

g. The M

ANAGE ASSET FROM ITS CURRENT LOCATION

check box will only be enabled if

the asset that is to be ingested is currently stored on an external device and if the permission permit access. If this criteria is met, the parameter is available and you can save space on your local/central XMS by managing the asset from its current location. In most cases, this parameter should not be enabled.

h. Assign the asset to one or more categories by selecting check boxes in the

ATEGORIES

select ADD C

box. To create a new category, right-click in the C

ATEGORY

from the pop-up menu.

ATEGORIES

i. Optional - Assign the file one or more keywords by selecting check boxes in the

EYWORDS

retrieving assets.) To create a new keyword, right-click in the K select A

box. (Keywords are used by Xplorer’s Search tool for searching and

EYWORDS

DD KEYWORD

from the pop-up menu.

4. Click the OK button to save and exit the dialog box. Or,

Click the C

ANCEL

button to discard the information entered in the dialog box, exit the

dialog box and return to Xstudio’s desktop.

UBLISH

box and

XPIRY

4-24 Xstudio User Manual

5 A

Canvas

DDING AND PREPARING OBJECTS ON

THE

STUDIO CANVAS

In Design mode, Xstudio projects (Templates, Control Panel and Scenes) are created and/or edited on the canvas. As described on page 3-28, the canvas is the work area onto which you drag-and-drop assets and/or primitives, and then arrange them (e.g. aligned, layered, grouped) to create functional and attractive graphics displays (scenes) and control panels.

Figure 5-1. The canvas is the work area onto which you drag-and-drop assets and/or primitives

Xstudio’s Asset Browser and Gallery Browser provide you with immediate access to all of the assets (i.e. images, clips, cel animations...etc.) that are available on the system for creating compelling graphics displays. Alternatively, you can use Xstudio’s primitives (e.g. text boxes, buttons, images, clip), which are empty objects that you can use to create or control graphics elements within Xstudio scenes and control panels.

Since the scene represents the on-air look of the broadcast graphic, you will spend time carefully placing and arranging objects on the scene’s canvas to achieve the desired look. To help you achieve the desired look, Xstudio’s Preview feature allows you to see exactly what the scene will look like on air by previewing it on the output device as you are creating the scene. As you add, move and edit objects on the scene, the preview is updated on the output device in real-time, so you can see the results of any edits that you make to the scene right away.

Xstudio User Manual 5-1

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas

The following topics provide information and instructions for adding, formatting and previewing assets and primitives on the Xstudio canvas:

• “Adding assets to the canvas” on page 5-3

• “Adding primitives to the canvas” on page 5-4

• “Removing assets or primitives from the canvas” on page 5-7

• “Previewing a scene’s layout on a device during development” on page 5-8

• “Selecting, grouping, and/or layering objects on the canvas” on page 5-9

• “Resizing objects using object zones” on page 5-13

• “Moving and aligning objects on the canvas” on page 5-14

• “Cutting, copying and pasting objects to/from the canvas” on page 5-17

• “Modifying the font properties of text objects” on page 5-18

• “Editing an image” on page 5-19

• “Undoing and redoing edits on the canvas” on page 5-20

5-2 Xstudio User Manual

Adding assets to the canvas

OTE

Gallery Browser

Asset Browser

Xstudio’s Asset Browser and Gallery Browser (figure 5-2) provide you with immediate access to all of the assets (i.e. images, clips, cel animations...etc.) that are available on the system for creating compelling graphics displays (see page 3-27 for more information about the Asset Browser and Gallery Browser). From these browsers, you can simply drag and drop a copy of an asset onto the canvas.

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas

Figure 5-2. Drag and drop assets from the Asset Browser/Gallery Browser onto the canvas

To add an asset to the canvas:

1. Open either the Asset Browser or the Gallery Browser.

2. Click, drag, and drop the desired asset object from the Asset Browser or Gallery Browser onto the canvas.

If the asset is an Xmedia Object that has both control and scene side elements, the control object will appear on the control side’s canvas, and/or the scene object will appear on the scene side’s canvas.

You can now position the objects as desired by dragging the object around the canvas using your mouse (see “Moving and aligning objects on the canvas” on page 5-14). If you are working on an asset with both a control and scene side, changing object positioning on one tab will not affect corresponding items on the other.

Xstudio User Manual 5-3

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas

Control-side primitives

Scene-side primitives

Adding primitives to the canvas

Xstudio’s primitives (figure 5-3) are empty Xstudio objects that you can use to create or control graphics elements within Xstudio scenes and control panels. Some primitives are only available for the Scene, whereas others are exclusive to the Control side (see page

3-21 for a description of each of the available primitives).

Figure 5-3. Xstudio’s primitives

To add a primitive to the canvas:

1. Select the desired primitive from the P The selected primitive’s icon is highlighted in the toolbar.

2. Hover the mouse pointer over the canvas and the pointer changes. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the mouse to create the initial size of the primitive on the canvas.

RIMITIVES

toolbar.

3. When you release the button, the primitive appears on the canvas.

5-4 Xstudio User Manual

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas

Assigning an asset to a primitive

Certain primitives exist to have assets assigned to them (i.e. image, cel animation and clip objects). In other words, once any one of these primitives is selected from the P toolbar and added to the canvas, it will not be functional until an asset of a corresponding type is assigned to it.

Note that assigning an asset (e.g. an image file) to a button object is optional.

To assign an asset to a primitive:

• From either the A

SSET BROWSER

or the G

ALLERY BROWSER

, drag and drop the

asset directly onto the primitive object.

Or,

• Select the primitive object, and then drag and drop the asset onto the appropriate row in the Properties Browser (CTRL + R). It will be one of the following:

• ImageName - For image and button objects.

• ClipName - For clip objects.

• CelName - For cel animation objects.

To assign a file from your hard drive:

1. Select the primitive object (i.e. button) upon which you want to set the file.

2. Open the P

ROPERTY BROWSER

3. Click the button, which now displays the S

, click in the I

MAGENAME

ELECT AN IMAGE

row.

dialog box.

RIMITIVES

4. Navigate to the desired file on your hard drive by clicking the button. Note that you may be able to list or display the proxies of the contents of the folders by

selecting the following buttons:

• - View the contents of a selected folder or category in proxy format.

• - View the contents of a selected folder or category in detailed file information format.

Xstudio User Manual 5-5

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas

5. Once you have selected the image, click OK. This displays the NEW M

EDIA

dialog box.

This dialog box is used for ingesting the image into Xstudio, making it henceforth available within the application. For full details on ingesting, see page 4-14

6. You can now modify the file name, add author information and a description for the image. You can also select one or more categories to link to the image; if no selections are made, Xstudio assigns the file to the I the image is also optional. When done, click OK. This closes the dialog boxes and sets the image on your image object.

MAGES

root category. Selecting a keyword for

5-6 Xstudio User Manual

Adding and preparing objects on the Xstudio canvas

Removing assets or primitives from the canvas

If they are no longer wanted, you can remove assets or primitives f panel’s canvas.

Here are a couple of important things to note about removing assets and primitives from the canvas:

• Assets and primitives that are removed from the canvas are not deleted from the system if they have been previously saved. However, if they have not been saved and they are removed, then they will be deleted from the system.

• Xmedia objects often contain scene objects on the scene’s canvas and control objects on the control side’s canvas. When removing an Xmedia object, you have to delete the objects on each side separately by switching between the two tabs.

To remove an asset or primitive from the canvas:

• Select the object on the canvas and then select the E Or,

• Select the object on the canvas and then press the D

rom the

DIT>DELETE

ELETE

menu command.

key on your keyboard.

scene or control

Xstudio User Manual 5-7

Grass Valley Xstudio Vertigo Suite User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introducing Xstudio

Xstudio’s role in the Vertigo Suite workflow

Types of Xstudio projects: Templates, Panels & Pages

Procedural overview for creating Template+Scene and Panel+Scene projects

Procedural overview for creating Pages

Getting started with Xstudio

Installation and licensing information

Starting Xstudio and connecting to the Xmedia Server

Configuring Xstudio’s settings

Servers settings

Logging settings

Workspace settings

Asset Defaults settings

Device settings

Browsers settings

Connecting Xstudio to an output device

Verifying Xstudio’s installation and setup

Starting Xstudio

Design Mode vs. Production Mode

Xstudio’s menu commands

Xstudio’s desktop icons and toolbars

Xstudio’s primitives

Control side primitives

Scene side primitives

Asset Browser and Gallery Browser

Properties Browser

Action Editor and Animation Editor

Project Windows - Control and scene sides

Safe areas and resolution format

Zooming in/out of the canvas

Panning across the canvas

Production mode environment

Creating and opening Xstudio projects and assets

Creating new projects and assets

Setting the canvas’ properties

Opening existing projects

Searching for projects/assets on the Xmedia Server

Importing assets from another Vertigo system

Ingesting files created using third-party applications

Ingesting image or audio files

Ingesting multiple image files or creating cel animations or clips upon ingest

Ingesting video files

Adding assets to the canvas

Adding primitives to the canvas

Removing assets or primitives from the canvas