Avid iNews Command 1.0 Guide
광고
광고
Avid
®
iNEWS
®
Command
™
Administration Guide
m a k e m a n a g e m o v e | m e d i a ™
Avid
®
Copyright and Disclaimer
Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of
Avid Technology, Inc.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of that license by visiting Avid's Web site at www.avid.com
. The terms of that license are also available in the product in the same directory as the software. The software may not be reverse assembled and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement.
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Other patents are pending.
This document is protected under copyright law. An authorized licensee of Avid iNEWS Command may reproduce this publication for the licensee’s own use in learning how to use the software. This document may not be reproduced or distributed, in whole or in part, for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this document or providing support or educational services to others. This document is supplied as a guide for Avid iNEWS Command. Reasonable care has been taken in preparing the information it contains. However, this document may contain omissions, technical inaccuracies, or typographical errors. Avid Technology, Inc. does not accept responsibility of any kind for customers’ losses due to the use of this document. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.
Copyright © 2007 Avid Technology, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software [i.e., the TIFF library] and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that (i) the above copyright notices and this permission notice appear in all copies of the software and related documentation, and (ii) the names of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon
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2
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Footage
Arizona Images — KNTV Production — Courtesy of Granite Broadcasting, Inc.,
Editor/Producer Bryan Foote.
Canyonlands — Courtesy of the National Park Service/Department of the Interior.
Tornados + Belle Isle footage — Courtesy of KWTV News 9.
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*Note: Avid cannot guarantee the use of materials submitted.
Avid iNEWS Command v1.0 Administration Guide • 0130-07913-01 Rev. A • June 2007
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4
Contents
5
Assigning Channel-Specific Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Standard Information to Include Regardless of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
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Using This Guide
Congratulations on your purchase of your Avid iNEWS Command system.
Avid iNEWS Command offers a considerable amount of functionality for the state-of-the-art newsroom, including newsroom system integration and playout control. With Command, newsroom personnel can easily create and manage playlists.
This publication provides information on how to use the Command system.
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The documentation describes the standard features of a basic system configuration.
Therefore, your system might contain certain features and hardware that are not covered in the documentation.
Who Should Use This Guide
This guide is written for system administrators and various technical personnel responsible for managing the Command system in a broadcast newsroom. This guide is intended for advanced users.
It is strongly recommended that system users have prior experience in or classroom knowledge of Windows-based operating systems and networking.
About This Guide
This guide leads you through even the most complex procedures with task-oriented instructions, illustrated for a more realistic presentation of the actual icons and images you encounter. The information provides basic user procedures, while adding a complete explanation of all the tools and techniques required to create, apply, and adjust various settings, including useful tips, shortcuts, and custom options.
The Contents lists all topics included in the book. They are presented with the following overall structure:
• The Introduction helps you get oriented with beginning concepts and general workflow and provides valuable pointers to keep in the back of your mind as you proceed.
8
Using This Guide
• The main body of the guide follows the natural flow of your work, with clear and comprehensive step-by-step procedures.
• Finally, a detailed Index helps you quickly locate specific topics.
This guide provides instruction for your system in the following areas:
• An overview of system architecture, services, and workflow
• Various administrative procedures for iNEWS Command as well as other systems and devices with which it interfaces
Symbols and Conventions
Avid documentation uses the following symbols and conventions: t
>
Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action n c w
A note provides important related information, reminders, recommendations, and strong suggestions.
A caution means that a specific action you take could cause harm to your computer or cause you to lose data.
A warning describes an action that could cause you physical harm.
Follow the guidelines in this document or on the unit itself when handling electrical equipment.
This symbol indicates menu commands (and subcommands) in the order you select them. For example, File > Import means to open the
File menu and then select the Import command.
This symbol indicates a single-step procedure. Multiple arrows in a list indicate that you perform one of the actions listed.
Italic font
Courier Bold font
Ctrl+key or mouse action
Italic font is used to emphasize certain words and to indicate variables.
Courier Bold font identifies text that you type.
Press and hold the first key while you press the last key or perform the mouse action. For example, Ctrl+drag or Ctrl+S. This also applies to
Alt and Shift keys.
If You Need Help
If You Need Help
If you are having trouble using the Avid iNEWS Command system:
1. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that task in this guide. It is especially important to check each step of your workflow.
2. Check for the latest information in one of two locations:
If release notes are available, they ship with your application.
If ReadMe files are available, they are supplied in your Avid application folder.
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Release notes and ReadMe files are also available on the Avid Knowledge Base.
3. Check any printed documentation that came with your Avid application or your hardware for maintenance or hardware-related issues.
4. Visit the online Knowledge Base at www.avid.com/onlinesupport . Online services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Search this online Knowledge Base to find answers, to view error messages, to access troubleshooting tips, to download updates, and to read/join online message-board discussions.
5. For Technical Support, call 800-800-AVID (800-800-2843).
For Broadcast On-Air Sites and Call Letter Stations, call
800-NEWSDNG (800-639-7364).
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For the latest product information, see the Avid Knowledge Base: www.avid.com/onlinesupport
How to Order Documentation
To order additional copies of any Avid documentation from within the United States, call
Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843). If you are placing an order from outside the
United States, contact your local Avid representative.
Avid Educational Services
For information on courses/schedules, training centers, certifications, courseware, and books, visit www.avid.com/training or call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID
(800-949-2843).
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Using This Guide
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Chapter 1
Introduction to iNEWS Command
Avid iNEWS Command is a device automation system that integrates with any iNEWS or
MOS-enabled newsroom computer system (NRCS) and provides broadcasters precise control over a range of playout devices, including video servers, still stores, and character generators in a broadcast news environment. Backup services and mirrored playout make this system reliable while the user interface allows you to control multiple production devices. Avid iNEWS Command also works with Avid Interplay Framework applications and services to ensure you always have the best system performance.
This chapter contains the following main sections:
•
Overview of the System Architecture
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-
•
Security via Administrator Password
•
Starting Command at a Workstation
•
Overview of the User Interface
Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command
Overview of the System Architecture
The basic iNEWS Command system is comprised of iNEWS Command Servers, workstations that run the client software, and devices, such as Avid AirSpeed video servers,
Thunder production servers and Deko character generators. The system is designed to be an extension of your current Avid system. It allows you to receive playlists from Avid iNEWS while controlling your video and graphics devices. The iNEWS Command system supports industry standard protocols making it compatible with many other products.
For newscast control your iNEWS Command system provides automated playlists, tracks script changes, and automates control of production and playback devices including video servers, still stores, and character generators. It integrates with the iNEWS rundown—or any other MOS-enabled newsroom computer system—allowing a producer to change a show while it is on air, and reflecting those changes in their iNEWS Command system. MOS commands are supported so that journalists can use MOS plug-ins within the newsroom computer system script. Production playout devices, including Avid Deko and Avid
Thunder on-air graphics solutions and AirSpeed video servers, are triggered based on the events in the rundown.
News graphic and text templates for news elements can include logos and station IDs, lower-third captions or superimposed graphics, and full-screen backgrounds with text.
Journalists, using iNEWS newsroom computer system, fill in the templates and insert them into their stories either manually, by using a macro, or by using the iNEWS Title Entry tool.
They may also include clips and stills in their script by entering the ID of the of the graphic in the story as a production cue. At air time an iNEWS Command operator triggers the graphics playlist, which is synchronized with the iNEWS rundown.
Architecture and Workflow
Avid iNEWS Command is scalable and can adapt to work in traditional newsroom-based playlist creation to production-centric workflows where running orders are created inside the
Command Workstation. All of the components can run on a single computer, or they can be spread out across multiple computers with redundant services configured to take control if the primary services should become unavailable.
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Overview of the System Architecture
An example of a basic Command system architecture is shown in the following illustration:
In the most common news workflow, playlists are created using the iNEWS newsroom computer system and the video and graphic assets are referenced in stories using their IDs or by dragging and dropping them from an Active-X plugin.
Standalone playlists can be created and saved for later use. Multiple playlists can be embedded in a single running order. You can set assets within a playlist to playback at a specified time, or you can set groups of assets to play in follow-on mode.
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Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command
A basic workflow is shown in the following illustration.
Features
The Avid iNEWS Command system provides the features described in the following table.
Feature
Playlist Functionality
Manual and Automated
Triggering
Mirrored Playout
Advanced Playback Feature
Description
You can load a playlist from the newsroom computer system, or create the playlist manually within Avid iNEWS Command. This provides the flexibility to control event playout locally, at the desktop, or from a rundown. You can also embed playlists within other playlists, which allows for seamless transitions between shows or segments produced by separate editorial teams.
Items can be played back manually by the operator, triggered via GPI, or automatically played based on the time of day. This provides total integration with the facility, its systems, processes, and staff.
This allows a single Play command to initiate playback on two channels simultaneously. This functionality is essential for redundancy/failover operations.
You can cue items as needed if and when playlists change, and provide simultaneous playback while video files are still being transferred, saving time.
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Feature (Continued)
Flexible Integration
User Interface
Status Updates
Overview of the System Architecture
Description (Continued)
You can configure the Avid iNEWS Command system to control any combination of Avid Thunder, Avid AirSpeed, and Avid Deko systems that are operating in an Avid iNEWS, ENPS, or other MOS environment.
The intuitive user interface provides visual tools, including clocks that show time elapsed and time remaining, channel assignments for easy identification of transmission paths, and color-coded status indicators that illustrate the inventory of assets based on availability and playability on all devices. This improves operation, reduces training time, and ensures complete synchronization of devices with the playlist
Reflects playability status of inventory assets; display of playout and channel group lock status; and status-based colors and fonts for stories and items at a glance. These status updates speed up decision-making saving time, while maintaining accuracy.
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Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command
Security via Administrator Password
Modifying system settings in Avid iNEWS Command requires an administrator password (if set), which is configured through the Service Configuration application of Avid Interplay
Framework. For more information about Avid Interplay Framework, see Appendix A .
To set up or change the system administration password:
1. Click the Start button and select Programs > Avid > Interplay Framework > Avid
Interplay Service Configuration.
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2. On the Hosts tab, navigate to and select the Avid System Configuration Service.
3. Select the Administrator Password tab.
4. Type in an alpha-numeric password and retype it.
5. Click Apply.
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Click the Reset button to restore the default “blank” password.
Starting Command at a Workstation
Starting Command at a Workstation
While some administration tasks require a password—if the administrator password is set up—the Avid iNEWS Command client application at a workstation requires no password to log in and is easy to start.
To start iNEWS Command at a workstation:
1. Do one of the following: t Double click the iNEWS Command icon on the desktop.
t Click the Start button and select Programs > Avid > Avid iNEWS Command.
The iNEWS Command window opens as shown in the following illustration:
Playlist Viewer Workspace Inventory Explorer
Menu bar
Panels
Status bar
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Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command
Overview of the User Interface
The Avid iNEWS Command window is the graphical user interface that contains , the
Playlist Viewer, panels, a menu bar, status bar, and a workspace area.
Playlist Viewer
The Playlist Viewer is a customizable area of the window used to view and manage playlists for on-air playout. The window can also have different playlists open simultaneously. All are accessible through tabs located at the top of the Playlist Viewer.
For more information about the Playlist Viewer used in iNEWS Command, see Avid iNEWS
Command User’s Guide.
Panels
Panels are components that provide information in various ways.The iNEWS Command window contains panels that you can dock, undock, move, resize, or even hide from view.
Each panel is easily identified by the name appearing in its title bar.
For more information about the panels, including the Inventory panel and Playlist Explorer, used in iNEWS Command, see Avid iNEWS Command User’s Guide.
Menu Bar
The menu bar for iNEWS Command contains the following:
• File
• Edit
• View
• Playlist
• Item
• Tools
• Help
Each menu, its options and descriptions are described in the following tables:
Menu Submenu
File New
Menu Option Description
Playlist Opens the Create New Playlist dialog box.
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Menu Submenu
Overview of the User Interface
Menu Option Description (Continued)
Story Opens a Create New Story dialog box.
Closes the Command program.
Cut selection.
File
Edit
Exit
Cut
Paste
Delete
View Playlist Explorer
Inventory
Shotbox
Clock
Media Viewer
Alerts
Playlist View
Playlist
Playlist
Playlist
Playlist
Select
Edit
Insert
Channel
Paste selection.
Delete selection.
Displays or closes the Playlist Explorer.
Displays or closes the Inventory.
Displays or closes the Shotbox displayed at the top of the Workspace.
Displays or closes the Clock.
Next
Previous
Set Focus
Close
Close All
Next item
Displays or closes the Media Viewer.
Displays or closes the Alerts.
Displays next playlist
Displays previous playlist
Sets the keyboard focus to the active view.
Closes the current playlist.
Closes all playlists.
Select next item in current playlist.
Previous Item Select previous item in current playlist.
Next Row Select next item in current playlist.
Item After Story Select next item after story.
Edit Selection Edit current selection in playlist.
Edit Story Edit story in playlist.
New Story
New Break
Insert new ptory.
Insert new break.
Assign Assign channel.
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Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command
Menu Submenu
Playlist Playout
Media Go To Mark In
Go To Mark Out
Set Mark In
Set Mark Out
Forward One Frame
Forward One
Second
Forward ten
Seconds
Backward One
Frame
Backward One
Second
Backward Ten
Seconds
Restart
Tools Options
Settings
Help About
Contents
Support
Cue
Play
Pause
Stop
Cue media in a playlist.
Play media in a playlist.
Pause media playing in a playlist.
Stops media from playing.
Go to the marked In point.
Go to marked Out point.
Mark the In point.
Mark the Out point.
Move forward one frame.
Move forward one second.
Move forward ten seconds.
Move backward one frame.
Move backward one second.
Move backward ten seconds.
Restart media.
Opens the Options dialog box.
Opens the System Settings dialog box.
Display information about iNEWS Command.
Displays help information for users.
Opens the Support dialog box.
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Disabling a Command Workstation’s Keyboard
Disabling a Command Workstation’s Keyboard
Some sites use alternative devices to control playout from Command, such as a GPI device or an X-keys USB keypad, and therefore do not want the computer keyboard at the workstation enabled.
To enable or disable the keyboard:
1. Select Tools > Options.
2. In Category, select Keyboard.
3. Do one of the following: t Select Enable keyboard.
t Deselect Enable keyboard.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click OK.
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If the keyboard is disabled, the numeric keypad cannot be used to control playout from the
Command Workstation. Disabling the keyboard does not affect the use of the keyboard for software on the workstation PC unrelated to the Command client software.
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Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command
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Chapter 2 iNEWS Command Services
The services for iNEWS Command enable it to interface with newsroom computer systems as well as providing for playlist control. Some of the services can be defined as Main services—those responsible for communicating with newsroom computer systems and for playlist control. Other services are known as Device services—those responsible for controlling other devices, such as video servers, still stores, and character generators in a broadcast news environment.
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Avid iNEWS Command uses Avid Interplay Framework applications and services to monitor and manage Command services.
This chapter contains the following main sections:
•
•
•
•
•
Starting and Stopping Services
Chapter 2 iNEWS Command Services
Main Services
The main services are vital components that enable interfacing with a newsroom system, as well as playlist control. n
It is best to dedicate a computer to be a Command Server. Avid does not recommend running
the main services on a workstation, Thunder, or Deko. See “Redundancy/Failover” on page 25
for more information.
The two services that pertain to newsroom computer system interfacing are:
• Avid iNEWS Communication Service—An iNEWS Command system uses this service as the communication portal to load and unload iNEWS rundowns from an iNEWS workstation. The service receives playlist messages from iNEWS, distributes them to the appropriate Command components, and reports item status and inventory messages back to iNEWS. A single iNEWS Command system can have multiple
Communication services for redundancy.
• Avid MOS Communication Service—An iNEWS Command system uses this service to load and unload rundowns from a MOS-compliant newsroom system, such as ENPS.
The service receives MOS playlist messages from the newsroom computer system, distributes them to the appropriate Command components, and reports item status and inventory messages back to newsroom computer system. A single iNEWS Command system can have multiple MOS services. This service is server specific, meaning that services on different computers act independently. In a failover scenario, if the
Command playlist becomes disconnected, users can continue playout functions. To get an updated playlist, the user must perform a MOS redirection in the MOS-based newsroom computer system to the Command Server running the now primary MOS
Communcation service.
The services related to playlist control are:
• Avid Playlist Controller—The playlist controller drives playout of the media on a locked channel group from the playlist it controls. When one or more channel groups are locked, a playlist controller is allocated by the Playlist Manager. A single iNEWS
Command system can have multiple primary playlist controllers and several backups.
One playlist controller is necessary for each concurrently loaded playlist. Separate controllers are not needed to control embedded playlists.
• Avid Playlist Manager—This service assigns a playlist controller (and its backup, if any) to a playlist when the first channel group is locked. It also manages the locks on channel groups. Playlists that have locked channel groups are prevented from being deleted. An iNEWS Command system can only have one primary Playlist Manager, but might have others as backups.
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Device Services
• Avid Playlist Store—This service is the data store or respository for all loaded
(newsroom) playlists and standalone playlists. It communicates playlist changes to other
Command components. An iNEWS Command system can only have one primary
Playlist Store, but might have others as backups.
The services related to inventory are:
• Avid Inventory Manager—This service maintains an inventory of media metadata for all physical devices connected to any channel group in an iNEWS Command system.
This inventory is sent to the Inventory Manager via the individual device services. An iNEWS Command system can only have one active Inventory Manager, but might have backups.
Device Services
The Device services are those services responsible for controlling other devices, such as video servers, still stores, and character generators in a broadcast news environment.
• Avid AirSpeed Device Service—This service provides control of a single AirSpeed high resolution video server. One is required for each AirSpeed, but a site can also have multiple backups. It runs on the iNEWS Command servers, not on the device like other device services.
• Avid Deko Device Service—This service provides control of a single Deko device. One is required for each Deko device. It runs on the device (Deko Server).
• Avid Thunder Device Service—This service provides control of a single Thunder device. One is required for each Thunder device. It runs on the device (Thunder Server).
• Avid GPI Device Service—This service interfaces to a GPI input card on the server.
• Avid Maney Panel Service—This service interfaces to a Maney panel.
Redundancy/Failover
Avid iNEWS Command services operate on a primary/backup basis. There can be only one primary service, but there can be several backup services. Avid does not recommend running the Command services on a workstation, Deko, or Thunder. It is best to have a dedicated computer be a Command Server and, for additional system integrity, use multiple Command
Servers—one running all of the primary services while the backup services run on other backup servers.
Command determines primary and backup based on the length of time the service has been running. The server that has been running longer is the primary. Therefore, to get all primary services on one server, it is necessary to start the primary server first; when all services have
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Chapter 2 iNEWS Command Services started, start the backup servers. This is the only way to ensure all services on the primary server take on the primary role, which allows for more consistent behavior during times when redundancy is needed, and it helps simplify any necessary troubleshooting efforts.
When a primary service goes down, Command conducts an election, and changes the backup service to primary. The new primary service will remain primary until it goes down.
When the old primary service comes back up, it becomes the backup service. If the primary
Command Server were to go down, all of the services on the backup server would become primary.
If you were to lose network connectivity to the primary Command Server, the services do not actually go down, and so their duration remains longer than the backup. After the network connection is restored, those services become primary again.
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If you have an on-air failover on the primary Command Server due to a loss of network connectivity, you must stop the services on the primary server. Otherwise, those services will once again become primary when the connection is restored, which will interrupt on-air playability. After the connection is restored, and at a non-crucial time, you should start those services again.
Non-redundant services
There are some services that are not redundant:
• Lookup Service — This Command service acts independently. If a second one is running, it is doing the same work; they basically work as two primary services. In a failover scenario, the second lookup service is already working, and services would continue seamlessly.
• iNEWS Communication Service— This Command service is server specific, meaning that services on different computers act independently. In a failover scenario, the
Command playlist will become disconnected, users can continue playout functions. To get an updated playlist, the user can reload the iNEWS rundown to the second
Command Server and continue.
• Deko & Thunder Device Services— These Command services must run on the Deko and Thunder respectively, and you cannot install a second service on a device.
• Service Starter Service, Machine Monitor Service, Time Synchronization— These Avid
Interplay Framework services are computer specific, so redundancy does not apply.
26
Viewing Status of Services
Viewing Status of Services
Avid iNEWS Command uses Avid Interplay Framework as its structure for discovering and communicating with services. For more information, see
“Avid Interplay Framework” on page 77 .
To view status of services:
1. Click the Start button and select > All Programs > Avid > Interplay Framework > Avid
Interplay Workgroup Properties.
The Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties window opens.
When you start the Interplay Workgroup Properties application, the Services tab appears by default displaying the name of the workgroup, to which this computer belongs, in the
Workgroup text box. Also shown, in the Status text box, is the status of all Avid services running on the local computer.
The Interplay Workgroup Properties application uses colored icons—in combination with text—on the Services tab to show the status of all Avid services. A user can click the
Advanced button to see more information about individual services. The icons displayed provide fast, easy identification of the current status of an Avid service.
27
Chapter 2 iNEWS Command Services
Status Icon Status Icon Description
When all of the enabled Avid components are running on the local machine a green circle with a check mark in the center is shown next to the Status text box and the sentence— All enabled services are running —is displayed.
When some of the enabled Avid components are running on the local machine a caution symbol (yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in the center) is shown next to the Status text box and the sentence— Some services are enabled but not running —is displayed.
When none of the enabled Avid components are running on the local machine a red square is shown next to the Status text box and the sentence— No services are running —is displayed.
For more information on viewing Avid services using the Interplay Workgroup Properties application, see the Avid Interplay Framework User’s Guide.
Starting and Stopping Services
The Services tab allows you to edit the workgroup to which the computer belongs, view the status of all the Avid services running on the local computer, or start, stop, and restart the local Avid workgroup services.
The Advanced button on the Services tab opens the Avid Interplay Services dialog box. This dialog box allows you to stop, start, enable, or disable individual or multiple Avid services running on the local computer.
28
Starting and Stopping Services
To stop, start, enable, or disable Avid services:
1. From the Services tab in the Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties window, click the
Advanced button.
The Avid Interplay Services dialog box opens.
2. Select a service to stop, start or enable.
Multiple rows can be selected.The Start button changes to Restart if all of the services are running.
3. Do one of the following: t Click Start to start the selected service(s).
t Click Stop to stop the selected service(s).
t Click Enable to enable the selected service(s).
For more information on starting and stopping services using the Interplay Workgroup
Properties application see the Avid Interplay Framework User’s Guide.
To disable a service:
1. Click the Start button, and then select All Programs > Avid > Interplay Framework >
Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties.
2. Click the Advanced button.
29
Chapter 2 iNEWS Command Services
The Avid Interplay Services dialog box opens.
3. Select the service you want to disable and click Stop.
4. After the service stops, click the Disable button to disable the service.
5. Click Exit to close the Avid Interplay Services dialog box.
6. Click OK to close the Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties window.
30
Chapter 3
System Settings
System settings can be accessed through the Command user interface at any Command
Workstation. System settings are used to configure channel groups, GPI keypads, MOS integration with third-party newsroom systems such as ENPS, and so forth.
n
Modifying system settings in Avid iNEWS Command requires an administrator password (if
set). For more information, see “Security via Administrator Password” on page 16
.
This chapter contains the following main sections:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Chapter 3 System Settings
Viewing System Settings
The system settings for Command can be accesses at any Command Workstation.
To view system settings:
1. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
32
2. Click any category to access the settings related to that part of the Command system.
3. When finished, click the X button to close the dialog box.
Channel Settings
Channel Settings
The first category in the System Settings dialog box pertains to channels. It is used to map device channels to channel names, as well as configuring indices and channel groups.
This section covers the three sub-categories in the order they appear within the software:
• Groups
• Indices
• Device Channels
Before you assign groups, the actual device channels should be mapped to a channel name.
Groups
A channel group is a cluster configured with one or more device channels composed from compatible video servers or character generators. Many channel groups can be created from the same pool of resources, and different groups can use the same resources to serve different operational needs.
n
Each channel group must contain a single “type” of device. For instance, a channel group called AS is a grouping of channels from two or more AirSpeed video servers, while a different channel group named CG is a grouping of channels on a Deko character generator.
All channel names within a single device type must be unique.
AirSpeed channels provide one of the best examples of the way in which channel groups provide control configurations; they do not guarantee media availability, which is the role of the AirSpeed studio configuration. For example, a station has two AirSpeed video servers, each with two channels that are numbered 2 and 3. (With AirSpeed video servers, the first channel is reserved for ingest.) Let’s call the first AirSpeed AS1 and the second one AS2.
With channel groups on Command, the station’s system administrator can set up numerous different channel groups and call them anything, such as:
Channel Group
AS-Noon
Channel Names
A
B
C
Actual Device Channels
AS1 - channel 2
AS1 - channel 3
AS2 - channel 2
Purpose
Playout
Playout
Browse
33
Chapter 3 System Settings
Channel Group
AS-5PM
AS-10PM
Channel Names
A
C
B
D
C
D
A
B
Actual Device Channels
AS1 - channel 2
AS1 - channel 3
AS2 - channel 2
AS2 - channel 3
AS1 - channel 2
AS2 - channel 2
AS1 - channel 3
AS2 - channel 3
Purpose
Playout
Playout
Playout
Playout
Playout
Mirrored
Playout
Mirrored
The following graphic shows a more visual example of how multiple channel groups can be created from the same four AirSpeed video server channels.
34
The first group shows a single channel group configured to create four playback channels called A, B, C, and D. The next set shows two groups, representing control rooms, with two playback channels each. Alternatively, the groups can be created from any combination of channels and used to support simultaneous two-channel playout from two control rooms sharing the same resources. The last set shows four channel groups, each controlling a single channel.
Channel Settings
The following graphic shows a more visual example of how channel groups are used to mirror playout for redundancy.
The first group creates a two channel playout solution with both channels mirrored on a secondary video server for maximum reliability. Whenever a video clip is cued and played on either of the primary channels, the same clip is also cued and played on the corresponding secondary channels. The other two groups depict single channel solutions with redundancy.
All of these channel groups can exist at the same time, although they cannot necessarily all be used simultaneously.
Creating Channel Groups
Channels must be created before they can be assigned to channel groups. For more information on how to create channels, see
“Device Channels” on page 47 .
n
The first eight (8) characters of a channel group’s name must be unique to match the eightcharacter device name in the iNEWS newsroom computer system. For instance, a channel group name in Command that is ASNoonMirrored will appear as ASNoonMi in iNEWS.
35
Chapter 3 System Settings
System administrators can create channel groups via the System Settings dialog box.
36
To create channel groups:
1. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
2. Expand Channel.
3. Select Groups.
4. Click Add.
The Add New Channel Group to Playlist dialog box opens.
Channel Settings
5. Enter the name of the new channel group and any notes you want. Names of channel groups can be upper or lowercased and contain any alpha-numeric character. Avoid using spaces before or after the name.
6. Click Add to add a channel to the group.
n
If channels have not been created, they cannot be assigned to channel groups; therefore, the
Add button will be disabled if no channels exist in the system. For more information on how to create channels, see
.
37
Chapter 3 System Settings
7. In the Channel Detail section, select the following:
Channel Detail
Channel Type
Primary
Mirrored
Preview
Description
Select the appropriate channel type, based on:
Standard - This is the channel type selected for playout.
Browse - This is the channel type selected for changing In and Out points of pre-existing clips for preview or editing purposes only. This does not apply to playout operations.
Hotswap - This is the channel type selected for emergency backup channel assignment.
Select the channel designated as the primary playout channel for the device.
(Optional) If mirrored playout is necessary, select the device’s channel designated for mirrored playout.
(Optional) Select which device channel to use for displaying the headframe of the next media event in the playlist.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 as needed. You can use the Up and Down buttons to rearrange the order of channels in the group.
9. Click OK. This will close the Add New Channel Group to Playlist dialog box. The new channel group will appear in the System Settings dialog box.
10. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
38
11. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
c
Until the Apply or OK button is clicked and administrator password supplied, the channel group(s) are not created.
12. Close all workstation sessions and restart all Command and Avid Interplay Framework services throughout the environment.
Channel Settings
Editing Channel Groups
Should it become necessary to modify a channel group, you can do so from any Command
Workstation via the System Settings dialog box.
To edit a channel group:
1. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
2. Expand Channel.
3. Select Groups.
4. Select the channel group from the list on the right.
5. Click Edit. The Edit Channel Group dialog box appears.
39
Chapter 3 System Settings
6. You can rename the channel group, add notes, rearrange the order of channels by using the Up and Down buttons, add or delete channels, or alter the channel details for each channel in the group.
7. After editing the channel group, click OK.
8. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
40
9. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
Channel Settings c
Until the Apply or OK button is clicked and administrator password supplied, the changes in the system settings are not saved.
Deleting Channel Groups
Should it become necessary to delete a channel group, you can do so from any Command
Workstation via the System Settings dialog box.
To delete a channel group:
1. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
2. Expand Channel.
3. Select Groups.
4. Select the channel group from the list on the right.
5. Click Delete.
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Chapter 3 System Settings
6. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
7. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
c
Until the Apply or OK button is clicked and administrator password supplied, the channel group(s) are not deleted from the system settings.
Indices
Channel indices are a configuration feature used to map an index integer (1-16) to a channel name, which can be alpha or numeric, to enable assignment of channel-specific actions to certain keys on a keypad.
This pre-configuration can be done before assigning the channel-specific actions to any keys on playout control keypads, such as the X-keys
®
USB keypad. An X-keys USB keypad connects to the USB port the Command Workstation and offers up to twenty userreprogrammable keys for one-button access to playout functionality.
42 n
X-keys is an optional third-party hardware solution, so for more information on the X-keys
USB keypad, see that manufacturer’s documentation on www.xkeys.com
.
Channel Settings
Ensuring the successful integration of an X-keys keypad to control playout through
Command requires the completion of the following tasks:
!
Tasks Refer to...
" (Optional) Disable the keyboard at the Command
Workstation.
“Disabling a Command Workstation’s Keyboard” on page 21
" Verify installation of the keypad on the Command
Workstation.
See the Avid iNEWS Command Installation and
Configuration Guide.
" Map Indices to Channel Names.
See procedure on
" Program the keypad.
" (Optional) Assign channel-specific actions to keys.
“Programming the X-keys” on page 45
“Assigning Channel-Specific Actions” on page 47
n
Another alternative keypad is one that connects to a GPI card. For more information on GPI integration, see
43
Chapter 3 System Settings
To map an index to a channel name:
1. Log in to a Command Workstation.
2. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
44
3. Expand Channel.
4. Select Indices.
5. Enter the channel’s name in the Name column next to the appropriate index.
n
Avid recommends that if a channel name must be numeric, such as is the case whenever the
ActiveX plug-in Avid Deko Select is used, assign it to the same Index number to avoid confusion.
Channel Settings
6. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
7. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
Programming the X-keys
The following procedure should be conducted at the Command Workstation to which the
X-keys USB keypad is installed.
To program the X-keys from the Command Workstation:
1. Select Tools > Options.
2. In Category, expand Actions and select X-keys.
3. Select Enable X-keys.
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Chapter 3 System Settings
4. Set the de-bounce period. Designed to avoid inadvertent repetition, this is the span of time (in milliseconds) during which the system should ignore duplicated signals.
n
If you find that you are having problems with “double-hits” when you press a key, increase the de-bounce period.
5. Click on a gray box that represents (or corresponds to) the key on the keypad.
n
Some sites might use key caps that cover 2 or 4 buttons on the keypad, turning a set of buttons into a single key. If that is the case, select the left box to set the “2-button” key. For
4-button keys, select the upper left box.
6. Assign an action to the key by selecting it from the list of those available in the Choose
Action dialog box. The most commonly used actions will appear open for your selection already.
The Playlist > Channel Group actions refer to channel group commands.
The Playlist > Selection actions refer to selected items on the playlist.
The Playlist > Channel actions refer to specific channels that correspond to a
particular index as configured in the procedure on page 44 and explained in
“Assigning Channel-Specific Actions” on page 47
.
46
7. Click OK.
8. Repeat steps 5 7 as needed.
9. Click Apply.
Channel Settings
10. Click OK.
The following graphic shows a closeup of the first row of keys after they were assigned to the four playout control options of play, cue, pause, and stop.
Assigning Channel-Specific Actions
Keys can also be assigned to an action associated with a specific channel on a device. An example of this would be for a key to initiate a play command on a single channel. Assigning the channel-specific actions affects only the keypad attached to the workstation at which the assignments are programmed.
To assign channel-specific actions to a key:
1. Complete steps 1 - 5 of the procedure to program X-keys on page 45 .
2. In Category, expand Actions and select Playlist, then Channel.
3. Select the action, such as Play.
4. Select the index, such as 01, that corresponds to the device channel.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click OK.
Device Channels
The Device Channels section of the System Settings dialog box enables system administrators to map actual channels from a device, such as an Avid Deko or AirSpeed video server to a name of your chosing. This name can then be used to create channel groups or assign channel-specific actions to keys on a USB keypad at the Command Workstation.
For more information on channel groups, see “Groups” on page 33
Channel-Specific Actions” on page 47
for more information on assigning channel-specific actions to keypad keys.
To map device channels to names:
1. Log in to a Command Workstation.
2. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
47
Chapter 3 System Settings
3. Expand Channel.
4. Select Device Channels.
5. Click Add.
48
6. Enter the channel’s name, which can be any alpha-numeric character(s), based on the following guidelines:
Channel Settings
Device Type Channel Index Channel Name Description
Deko
Deko
0
1
1
2
Avid Deko devices begin channel designations at zero (0); however, the name of the first channel can be one.
n
Both channel names must be numeric, though, to match the channel selection available through the Deko Select plug-in inside of the iNEWS newsroom computer system.
AirSpeed
AirSpeed
Thunder
Thunder
1
2
2
3
A
B aPlay bPlay
AirSpeed video servers begin channel designations at one (1); however, the first channel is reserved for video ingest. So the first available channel for playout or browse purposes would be channel 2.
Avid Thunder begins channel designations at one (1). The channel names must be in the following format: aPlay, bPlay, cPlay, and so forth. Although it is possible to name the channels 1, 2...8, or pgm (for program), Avid recommends against using numeric names to avoid confusion with channel names for any
Avid Deko device.
7. Select the name and type of the device from the lists. The device name is the machine name for the device, such as deko3000. If it does not appear in the list, you must enter it.
If the device is on a different subnet, you will need to enter the full domain name for the device, such as deko3000.avid.com.
8. Select the channel, using the Channel index spinbox.
9. Enter any notes you want, which can help identify the device should future alterations be necessary.
10. Click OK.
11. Repeat steps 5 through 10 for each device, as needed.
12. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
49
Chapter 3 System Settings
13. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
MOS Settings
The MOS category in the System Settings dialog box allows system administrators to configure the Command system to integrate with a MOS-enabled newsroom computer system, such as ENPS. A MOS-enabled newsroom computer system can send playlists to
Command.
MOS (Media Object Server) is an industry-standard, XML-based protocol that is primarily used by a newsroom computer system (NRCS) to maintain running orders on a video server.
MOS also enables servers to update the newsroom computer system with changes to the server’s media inventory. Command’s MOS support enables communication between the newsroom computer system and AirSpeed video servers, as shown in the following illustration.
AirSpeed NRCS
MOS messages
Command
MOS does not provide a means of controlling playout from a video server. Command supplies this function.
50
Under the MOS category are three subcategories:
• General - used to configure MOS and graphics environment settings.
• Channel Groups - used to create channel groups for integration with MOS-based newsroom computer systems.
• Advanced - used for advanced MOS feature configuration. n
Avid strongly recommends contacting Customer Support before altering any of the advanced settings.
MOS Settings
To configure Command’s system settings to work with a MOS-based newsroom computer system:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Expand the MOS category.
3. Select General.
4. Edit the MOS settings accordingly:
MOS Setting Description iNEWS Command MOS
ID
The ID that enables enables bidirectional communications between a
MOS-based newsroom computer system and Command. The ID must be all lowercased and adhere to the following format: avid.<name of
the Command system>.mos
For instance: avid.command1.mos
or avid.command2.mos
Newsroom NCS ID Usually, this is set to the host name of the newsroom computer system’s server.
51
Chapter 3 System Settings
MOS Setting
Newsroom Host Name Host name of the newsroom computer system’s server. The name entered in this field must be resolvable via the Domain Name Service (DNS); otherwise, an IP address can be used instead.
Newsroom BuddyID
Description
Usually, this is set to host name of the newsroom computer system’s
“buddy” or backup server. The name entered in this field must be resolvable via the Domain Name Service (DNS); otherwise, an IP address can be used instead.
Newsroom Buddy Host
Name
MOS version
Host name of the newsroom computer system’s “buddy” or backup server.
Determines which version of MOS protocol Command will use.
5. Set the default graphics environment for playlists loaded from a MOS-based newsroom computer system, if necessary.
n
Graphics environments, known as styles in Avid Deko, are added via the Playlist category in the System Settings dialog box. If none are added, then the list in the MOS > General
category will appear blank. See “Playlist Settings” on page 55 for more information.
6. Select Channel Groups.
7. Click Add. The Channel Groups dialog box appears.
52
8. Select a channel group.
MOS Settings
9. Click OK.
The chosen channel group will appear in the list on the right side of the System Settings dialog box.
10. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
11. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
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Chapter 3 System Settings
To view advanced MOS settings:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Expand the MOS category.
3. Select Advanced.
54
While a newsroom computer system can use non-standard ports for the incoming and outgoing sockets and the advanced settings can be customized, Avid recommends that the default settings be used.
n
Avid strongly recommends contacting Customer Support before altering any of the advanced settings.
The first four settings specify the port numbers for the sockets used to communicate with the
MOS-based newsroom computer system. The defaults, as defined in the MOS protocol specifications, are: 10541 (upper) and 10540 (lower).
Playlist Settings
Playlist Settings
Playout of items in a playlist can be set to either to manual playout or to automatically occur immediately following the completion of the previous item. This latter functionality is called follow-on playout and is indicated by an icon that looks like a bent blue arrow in the playlist at a Command Workstation.
While a user at a Command Workstation can change individual items in a playlist from one playout type to another, the system administrator can set the default condition for items added to playlists in the System Settings dialog box. This default applies to both standalone and newsroom playlists.
To set the playout default for new items:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Select Playlist.
3. Ensure the checkbox called New items are follow-on by default is selected.
55
Chapter 3 System Settings
4. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
5. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
Environments
Graphics environments, known as styles in Avid Deko, are added to the system via the
Playlist category in the System Settings dialog box. This category allows you to specify the set of graphics environments that will appear as options in various parts of the user interface, such as: the Default environment list (shown below), in the MOS category of the System
Settings dialog box (see page 51 ), and in the Playlist Properties dialog box .
To add an environment:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Select Playlist.
3. Click the Add button. An environment will appear in the list as shown:
Click here to rename the environment.
Click here to add an environment.
56
After multiple environments are added, use this list to select which one the system should use as a default.
Playout Settings
4. By default, the name of any added environment is Environment , but that can be changed. To do so, double-click on the name in the list and retype the new name.
5. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
6. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
For more information on environments, known as styles, see the Avid Deko Select User’s
Guide.
Playout Settings
The Playout category of the System Settings dialog box provides a variety of settings related to autocueing of items, channel assignment, playout behaviors, and the as-run log.
To access the playout settings:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Select Playout.
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Chapter 3 System Settings
The Playout category contains settings in three distinct sections:
•
•
•
Autocue
Options in the Autocue section are described as follows:
Autocue enabled When autocue is enabled, video clips are cued automatically whenever the playlist’s channel groups are locked and when the preceding item is played. If this checkbox is not selected, events must be cued manually.
When the Autocue enabled checkbox is selected, the other options in the Autocue section are enabled for selection as well; when it’s not, the rest appear grayed out.
58
Playout Settings
Single channel Applies autocue to single channels only.
For example, the first three items (1, 2, and 3) in a playlist are cued in order on channels A, B, and C, respectively when the playlist’s channel group is locked. The next four items (4, 5, 6, and 7) are assigned to A, B, C, and A. If this setting is enabled, then should a user manually play item 4 on channel A, item 7 instead of item 1 would then be cued on A, while items 2 and 3 would remain cued on
B and C.
If this setting is not enabled, then when item 4 is played on channel A, items 5, 6, and 7 would be cued on channels B, C, and A respectively, while items 1, 2, and 3 would no longer be cued for playout.
Skip items that are not playable
Cue automatically after playlist changes Expands the autocue functionality to include automatic cueing of items whenever the playlist is altered by the newsroom computer system.
Auto-assign channels
If selected, the system will skip over any items that are unavailable for playout.
If selected, channels are assigned automatically whenever the channel groups are locked.
Strong channel assignment If selected, channels are also re-assigned automatically when a playlist is altered to maintain their sequence, such as ABAB, etc. Assignment only applies to unplayed items in the playlist or below any manually cued item.
n
When strong channel assignment is enabled, any channel assignment made by the newsroom computer system is ignored.
Behavior
The Behavior section supplies configuration options for integration between Command and playback devices, such as the automated graphic triggering functionality available through the Avid Deko Select plug-in that opens inside the iNEWS newsroom computer system.
With the plug-in, a user can set a character-generated graphic to automatically go on-air at a specific time and for a specific duration during a video event. This is known as Totally
Automated Graphics (TAG). Timecode information specified in the plug-in is forwarded to the Command Workstation and appears in the playlist so that the operator knows when this automatic event will occur.
Administrators at sites that want to take such events to air manually can turn off the automatic functionality by modifying the system setting in Avid iNEWS Command. This
59
Chapter 3 System Settings does not disable the ability of a user to enter an start time or duration in the Deko Select plug-in. If entered, the times would still appear as information only for the Command operator.
To turn on or off automatic graphic triggering:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Select Playout.
3. Do one of the following: t Ensure the Automatic Graphic Triggering checkbox is selected to turn it on.
t Uncheck the Automatic Graphic Triggering checkbox to turn it off.
4. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
5. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
The other settings available in the Behavior section of the System Settings dialog box are explained in the following table:
Hold last frame time Sets a delay that determines how long the last frame of a clip is held on the channel before it is ejected. When using clips that are less than 10 seconds in duration, specify a value that is less than the duration of the events in the playlist. For example, when using clips that are five seconds in duration, specify the value to any positive integer less than five.
60
Inventory Manager
Eject previous items Stops an item that would normally continue to play after a new item is sent to air. For example, a two-minute clip is playing in channel A but, after only one minute, you play the next item on air on channel B. Without this setting enabled, the clip on channel A would continue to play for the remaining minute, unless you manually stop it. If you set the Eject previous item time greater than zero, any events that are playing when you send the next item to air are stopped automatically after the designated time interval has elapsed.
As-run Log
The As-run log is used to keep records of playout data for traffic-related purposes.
To enable the as-run log:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Select Playout.
3. Select the As-run log enabled check box.
4. Enter a network-shared location accessible to the Command Servers running the Avid
Playlist Controller services.
Inventory Manager
Avid iNEWS Command supports placeholders that can be used to associate media with a newsroom story before the media is actually available.
The iNEWS newsroom computer system can request placeholders from the Command system. Placeholder creation is also a feature of MOS-based ENPS systems and is invoked as part of the AutoCreate feature.
Each placeholder must have a unique ID to avoid playback of the wrong media. In Avid iNEWS Command, the prefix for such placeholders can be configured.
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Chapter 3 System Settings
To configure placeholder defaults:
1. Select Tools > System Settings.
2. Expand the Inventory Manager category.
3. Select Placeholder.
62
4. Set the prefix.
The format for placeholders, by default, is: <prefix>MMDDYY-<8digits>
The prefix can be set by a system administrator to any alpha-numeric sequence of digits, such as a station’s call letters. If set to $W , a three letter, all-cap representation of the day of the week is used based on the day when the placeholder was created, such as MON ,
TUE , WED , THU , FRI , SAT , or SUN . MMDDYY represents the month, day, and year. It is followed by a hyphen (-) and 8 randomly generated, lowercased alpha-numeric digits.
5. Set the number of days after which any unused placeholders are deleted from the system. To disable this feature, set the number to zero (0).
6. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
GPI Settings
7. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
GPI Settings
A GPI panel is another alternative keypad device that can be used to control playout through
Command. The GPI panel, such as a Maney panel (shown below), connects to a GPI card installed in the Command Server.
The GPI panel allows a user to select up to four channels, with each channel having its own set of Control buttons for play, cue, pause, and stop functionality.
Configuring the system to work with a GPI panel requires defining certain parameters through the system settings in Command and through the Avid Interplay Service
Configuration application.
63
Chapter 3 System Settings
To ensure successful GPI integration, complete the following tasks in the order that they are listed. If you are viewing this checklist online, you can easily link to a topic that provides procedural details for the task. Return to this main checklist after you have completed each task.
!
Tasks Refer to...
" Verify installation of Avid Interplay Framework, as well as installation of the GPI card and GPI device service on the Command Server.
The Avid iNEWS Command Installation and
Configuration Guide and the installation instructions that came with your GPI card
" Verify proper configuration of the GPI card.
The Avid iNEWS Command Installation and
Configuration Guide
"
Ensure that the GPI device service is running.
The Avid iNEWS Command Installation and
Configuration Guide
"
Map Indices to Channel Names.
"
Map events to an actions .
"
Enable the GPI panel for playout.
The procedure on
“Mapping GPI Events” on page 64
Mapping GPI Events
After you configure the GPI card and restart the device service, the GPI events must be mapped to playout actions. This is done at a Command Workstation in the System Settings dialog box.
n
The channel number selected in step 6 of the following procedure corresponds to an index, which must be configured for this mapping to work. For more information on mapping
indices, see the procedure on page 44
.
To map GPI events to actions:
1. Log in to a Command Workstation.
2. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
64
GPI Settings
3. Select GPI.
4. Expand the panels to view each panel’s GPI events.
5. Double-click on an event. The Choose Action dialog box appears with the GPI options expanded by default.
n
Users can select any of the actions in the dialog box, such as selecting Playlist > Selection >
Next Item, which would configure a GPI button to advance the cursor in the user interface.
However, Avid recommends mapping GPI events to GPI > Channel actions because these actions are communicated directly to the Playlist Controller, bypassing the user interface.
Similar actions, such as Cue, Pause, Play, and Stop, also appear under Playlist > Channel, but those are provided for USB keypads, such as X-keys.
65
Chapter 3 System Settings
66
6. Expand the action, such as Play, and select a channel number, such as 01.
7. Click OK.
8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 as needed.
9. Click Apply (if you want the System Settings dialog box to remain open after settings are applied) or OK. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
GPI Settings
10. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
Enabling the GPI
After configuration of the GPI card for the Avid iNEWS Command system is complete, the
GPI panel must still be enabled to control a playlist. A user can do this at any Command
Workstation.
To enable a GPI panel to control a playlist:
1. At the Command Workstation, select Tools > Options.
2. In Category, expand Actions and select GPI.
3. Select a GPI panel from the list.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click OK.
n
System administrators must configure system settings to provide a list of GPI panels in the
Options dialog box. For more information, see
“Mapping GPI Events” on page 64
.
67
Chapter 3 System Settings
Importing and Exporting System Settings
Should it become necessary to change computers, Command offers a way to export system settings from one PC to another. It’s located on the System Settings dialog box in Command.
To import or export system settings:
1. Select Tools > System Settings. The System Settings dialog box appears.
68
2. Do one of the following:
t Click Export to export the current system settings as an XML file. Go to step
t Click Import to import system settings. Go to step
3. When the Export Studio Settings dialog box appears (as shown below), type a name for the XML file and select a directory where you want the file to be saved. Then click Save.
You can disregard the rest of this procedure, which applies to importing settings.
Importing and Exporting System Settings
4. The system will prompt you for the administrator password.
5. Enter the administrator password and click OK.
6. Navigate to and select the XML file you want to import. Then click OK.
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Chapter 3 System Settings
70
Chapter 4
Troubleshooting
Avid iNEWS Command is a system that offers redundancy in case of failover and a method for system administrators or users to keep track of issues for troubleshooting purposes.
When attempting to troubleshoot any problem, it is best to have the latest version of release notes available, which are available as free downloads on Avid’s Knowledge Base at: http://www.avid.com/onlineSupport/browse.asp?productID=203&topicID=301
This chapter contains the following main sections:
•
•
•
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
Support Dialog Box
The Support dialog box is provided for Command users to log information about any issues encountered that might require contacting Avid Customer Support.
To log support information at a Command Workstation:
1. Select Help > Support.
2. Enter a description of the issue in the Support dialog box.
For instance, the following example shows a sentence regarding a GPI device:
3. Click Save.
4. Select the location where you want the zipped file to be saved.
5. Click OK.
The system saves your comments inside a zipped file that also contains other vital information, such as system settings and event logs, which enable support personnel to troubleshoot the issue. This file can then be sent to Avid Customer Support. For more information, see “If You Need Help” on page 5 .
Standard Information to Include Regardless of Issue
The following is a list of information you should have when contacting Avid Customer
Support, regardless of the type of issue your system is experiencing:
• The version of Avid iNEWS Command
72
Failover and Recovery
• The version of Avid Interplay Framework
• The Command system name
• How many and what type of devices are being controlled by Command
• Detailed summary of the problem.
Failover and Recovery
This section provides various failover scenarios, the symptoms seen at a Command
Workstation that would indicate such problems, and the recommended procedures for recovery.
Failover Scenario
Primary device channel failure
Symptoms Recovery Procedure
Status bar indicator for that device channel shows disconnected and playability icon appears as shown:
The person running the switcher must take the mirrored channel to air.
Mirrored device channel failure
Status bar indicator for that device channel shows disconnected and the playability icon appears as shown:
No recovery needed.
If the hotswap channel is needed due to device channel failure
Alert message is sent to the workstation, playability should remain available, and the user can continue to play.
The person running the switcher must take the hotswap channel to air.
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Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
Failover Scenario Symptoms Recovery Procedure
Power outage or a restart of the server with the primary
Command services.
Alert message is sent to the workstation saying that it can’t find the Playlist Store and other services. Any video playing at present will continue to play, but there is no playout control.
Wait. The services running in a backup role will trigger an election and take over as primary and resume functionality. Alerts will appear when the services are back online. If the alerts recommend closing and reopening the Playlist Viewer, do that, after which you can resume playout control.
If a newsroom playlist was being controlled at the time, the rundown will need to be reloaded to the redundant server now running primary services; however, the disconnected playlist can be played out prior to loading the newsroom playlist.
Power outage or a restart of the server with the backup
Command services.
Nothing seen.
No recovery needed.
Loss of network connectivity on the server with the primary Command services.
Alert message is sent to the workstation saying that it can’t find the Playlist Store and other services following a loss of playout control.
The services running in a backup role will take over as primary and resume functionality.
If a newsroom playlist was being controlled at the time, the rundown will need to be reloaded to the redundant server now running primary services.
n
If possible, have someone restart the server before network connectivity is restored. After the show, the system administration might want to restart services so the original primary server is again running the service in a primary role.
Loss of network connectivity on the server with the backup Command services.
No effect when connectivity is lost.
No effect when connectivity is lost. Allow Command to automatically recover if and when the network connectivity is restored.
74
Miscellaneous Issues
Failover Scenario Symptoms Recovery Procedure n
If the network disconnection is discovered and connectivity has yet to be restored, it’s best to turn the server with the backup services off until any on-air newscasts are complete to avoid the potential for playout interruption. For instance, after the network connection is restored, playlist items will be unavailable and playout control lost before normal functionality automatically returns.
iNEWS loses connectivity with the primary Avid iNEWS Communication service where the monitor server is loaded at present.
The iNEWS Workstation shows the monitor server in an ERROR state. Command shows the playlist as disconnected (red bar across top of Playlist Viewer).
Any updates to the Avid iNEWS rundown while disconnected will
not be reflected in Command.
Reload the monitor server to the
Command Server running the redundant Avid iNEWS
Communication service.
Afterwards, when convenient, unlock the channel groups in the disconnected playlist and lock them for the reloaded playlist, then continue playing to air.
iNEWS loses connectivity with the backup Avid iNEWS Communication service.
Nothing seen.
No recovery needed.
ENPS loses connectivity with the primary Avid MOS
Communication service.
Command shows the playlist as disconnected (red bar across top of Playlist Viewer). Any updates to the ENPS running order while disconnected will not be reflected in Command.
In ENPS, perform MOS redirection to the Command
Server running the redundant Avid
MOS Communication service.
No recovery needed.
ENPS loses connectivity with the backup Avid MOS
Communication service.
Nothing seen.
Miscellaneous Issues
This section provides various troubleshooting scenarios and the recommended procedures for recovery.
75
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
Scenario Recovery Procedure
Failed communication between Interplay
Framework and Command services
Ensure that the DNS entries are accurate and have reverse lookup enabled. Also verify that your TCP/IP settings have the correct primary and alternate DNS addresses.
Dual network card enabled on server
Avoid using host files.
You must disable the unused connection.
76
Appendix A
Avid Interplay Framework
Avid Interplay Framework consists of applications and services which provide dynamic discovery and lookup mechanisms, a scalable notification system, a centralized configuration tool, diagnostic logging for workgroup-enabled applications and services, system health monitoring, and so on. Some of the services are known collectively as Support services. The Support services are viewed, monitored, and configured using the Interplay
Framework applications. Those most vital to iNEWS Command are:
Major Services Description
Core Components These services run behind the scenes and are required for any computer or device running any service in the Avid Interplay environment.
Avid Lookup Service This service enables communication between all
Command and Interplay services running in the workgroup. Without it, there is no communication between services. At least two should be installed in a workgroup.
!
Installed on
Server
!
System Configuration This service sets the configuration settings for all configurable services. The Avid Interplay
Service Configuration application is used to enter configuration information that the System
Configuration service will carry out and set in the registry. Without it, the workgroup cannot function. At least two should be installed in a workgroup.
!
Installed on
Workstation
!
For more information, see the Avid Interplay Framework User’s Guide.
Appendix A Avid Interplay Framework
The following table includes additional applications and services that are installed on the server—since they do not take up any overhead and are useful in troubleshooting situations.
Applications and
Services
Configuration Utility
Description
This selection installs the Avid Interplay Service Configuration application, which is used to configure settings and host names for
Interplay and Command services in the workgroup. For instance, configuring the Command system to work with a GPI panel requires defining certain parameters through the Avid Interplay Service
Configuration application. Avid recommends installing this application on the Command Server.
Health Viewer
Diagnostic Log Viewer This selection installs the Avid Interplay Diagnostics application, which is used to view Avid log files ( .aif
) when troubleshooting. Avid recommends installing this application on the Command Server.
Machine Monitor
This selection installs the Avid Interplay Health Monitor application, which allows you to see the status of Command and Interplay services health statistics throughout the workgroup. Avid recommends installing this application on the Command Server.
This service reports machine information to the Health Monitor, including disk, memory, and network status. You can also monitor specific services on that local machine. Avid recommends installing this service on the
Command Server.
Time Synchronization This service should be configured to synchronize the PC clocks of machines in the workgroup.
The following table describes some minor services that are generally considered optional.
These minor services are usually not installed on systems when overhead is a concern.
Minor Services
Multicast Repeater
Email Alerter
SNMP Gateway
Description
This service is required when a workgroup must span subnets or domains.
It is seldom installed on the Command Server.
This service sends a notification email if one of the services in the workgroup has a warning or critical status. It is seldom installed on the
Command Server.
This service provides an interface to send health monitoring information to industry standard SNMP manager applications. It is seldom installed on the Command Server.
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Index
Index
A
AirSpeed
Automated graphic triggering 59
Avid
Avid Deko
Avid iNEWS
Avid Interplay Framework 27, 77 core components 77
System Configuration service 77
Avid Interplay Health Monitor 78
Avid Interplay Service Configuration application 77,
Avid MOS Communication Service 24
Avid Thunder Device Service 25
B
C
Channel groups
Channel-specific actions 47 assigning 47
Command Server
Command Workstation
Customer Support
D
79
Index
Deko Select
Dialog boxes
E
F
G
H
I
iNEWS Command
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
iNEWS Communication Service 24, 26
Interplay Workgroup Properties 27
K
L
M
Machine Monitor service 26, 78
Mapping GPI events to actions 64
MOS protocol
N
80
O
P
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Procedures
access the playout settings 57
assign channel specific actions to a key 47
configure placeholder defaults 62
configuring Command for MOS-based NRCS 51
enable a GPI panel to control a playlist 67
enable or disable Avid services 29
enable or disable the keyboard 21
import or export system settings 68
map an index to a channel name 44
set the playout default for new items 55
start iNEWS Command at a workstation 17
stop or start Avid services 29
turn on or off automatic graphic triggering 60
R
S
Services
System Configuration service 77
System Settings dialog box 36, 64
T
Time Synchronization service 78
information to send Avid 72 logging support issues 72
U
V
Video server
W
Workgroup Properties
starting the application 27 status icons 27
Index
81
Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
X
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