Working with the Scheduler
Posted: 09 Apr 2012 12:23
ProppFrexx uses scheduling a bit different than other systems, as it has a complete 'Outlook like' Scheduler build in.
In this scheduler you can define so called 'Programs'.
A 'Program' is an scheduler entry, which defines when (at what time and recurrence) a certain 'Script' should be executed.
When a 'Program' executes (because the scheduler is running and the defined time is reached, and such you are in automation mode), then the 'Program' always automatically opens a new playlist window and closes any other open (older) playlist windows automatically.
The scheduler then executes the 'Script' associated with the 'Program' in this newly opened playlist window.
This ensures much more precise scheduling to the second and also decouples the playlists - so that only have to care of one program within one playlist window.
So the 'Script' (which is defined in the 'Program') now executes in this new playlist window and automatically schedules new tracks to this playlist window.
The playlist is then run in 'AutoPlay' mode and such the scheduled tracks from the 'Script' will be automatically mixed and played one after the other one.
So the best is (if have a hourly program schedule) to define 24 or even more different 'Programs' and such 24 or more different 'Scripts'.
All can be defined on the fly in the Scheduler control, which is invoked from the ribbon page called "Scheduler Control" - just click on the "Scheduler" button to open it. In the scheduler control right-click in an empty area to invoke the context menu and e.g. select "New Program" resp. "New recurring Program".
This will bring up the 'Program Editor' dialog in which you can define the start and end time, the type and the 'Script' related to this new program.
A program "soft start" means, that the program might be delayed by some time (see below).
A program "fix start" means, that the program will always start accurate on time.
In the 'Script Editor' dialog you can then define your scripting. Meaning how new tracks should be added to a playlist automatically when the script executes.
Here you can e.g. add random tracks from any of your media library or even load the entries from any playlist file to the new playlist window, execute any control command etc.
How is the script executed?
When a script executes the script lines are executed one by one - if the last line is reached it starts at the defined loop line again. Each execution of a script line might result in new tracks added to the playlist window.
In the global settings dialog under 'Scripts/Scheduler' you can define various options.
- Max. Program Delay: used when soft start was selected for a program
- Playlist Look Ahead: a script line is executed until the playlist has this number of remaining tracks
E.g. if your first script line loads an entire playlist file, there might be already for example 20 tracks being added and such the scheduler will only execute the next script line, if these tracks have been played out.
In this scheduler you can define so called 'Programs'.
A 'Program' is an scheduler entry, which defines when (at what time and recurrence) a certain 'Script' should be executed.
When a 'Program' executes (because the scheduler is running and the defined time is reached, and such you are in automation mode), then the 'Program' always automatically opens a new playlist window and closes any other open (older) playlist windows automatically.
The scheduler then executes the 'Script' associated with the 'Program' in this newly opened playlist window.
This ensures much more precise scheduling to the second and also decouples the playlists - so that only have to care of one program within one playlist window.
So the 'Script' (which is defined in the 'Program') now executes in this new playlist window and automatically schedules new tracks to this playlist window.
The playlist is then run in 'AutoPlay' mode and such the scheduled tracks from the 'Script' will be automatically mixed and played one after the other one.
So the best is (if have a hourly program schedule) to define 24 or even more different 'Programs' and such 24 or more different 'Scripts'.
All can be defined on the fly in the Scheduler control, which is invoked from the ribbon page called "Scheduler Control" - just click on the "Scheduler" button to open it. In the scheduler control right-click in an empty area to invoke the context menu and e.g. select "New Program" resp. "New recurring Program".
This will bring up the 'Program Editor' dialog in which you can define the start and end time, the type and the 'Script' related to this new program.
A program "soft start" means, that the program might be delayed by some time (see below).
A program "fix start" means, that the program will always start accurate on time.
In the 'Script Editor' dialog you can then define your scripting. Meaning how new tracks should be added to a playlist automatically when the script executes.
Here you can e.g. add random tracks from any of your media library or even load the entries from any playlist file to the new playlist window, execute any control command etc.
How is the script executed?
When a script executes the script lines are executed one by one - if the last line is reached it starts at the defined loop line again. Each execution of a script line might result in new tracks added to the playlist window.
In the global settings dialog under 'Scripts/Scheduler' you can define various options.
- Max. Program Delay: used when soft start was selected for a program
- Playlist Look Ahead: a script line is executed until the playlist has this number of remaining tracks
E.g. if your first script line loads an entire playlist file, there might be already for example 20 tracks being added and such the scheduler will only execute the next script line, if these tracks have been played out.