v3.0.11.2 - stable

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Adger
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Re: v3.0.11.00 - stable

Post by Adger »

Great news.

... but...

the "check for PFOA Time"-problem is still present and this time f*cked up the whole installation. Where to get the "start from new"-installer?
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radio42
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Re: v3.0.11.00 - stable

Post by radio42 »

"Check for PFOA-Time"?
Do you mean the Updater process warning you, that an existing application (e.g. 'ProppFrexx ONAIR Time') is still open and should be closed.
There should actually be a warning with a 'Retry' option being displayed.
Did you ignore this message? Or what happened exactly?

And what do you mean by "start from new" installer?
Do you mean the full installer - that's the standard download installer here:
http://www.proppfrexx.radio42.com/v3/downloadform.html
andre
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Re: v3.0.11.00 - stable

Post by andre »

WOW what a great update, Thanks.
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radio42
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v3.0.11.2 - stable

Post by radio42 »

Version 3.0.11.2 is out!

What's New?
  • MetaData and .pfp Format extended by additional TAG data
  • Initial MetaData/TAG reading optimized
  • Ribbon revisited/rearranged, new Docking options
  • Playlist context Ribbon pages added
  • Options Dialog revisited/rearranged
  • Configurable Player/Playlist item colors
  • Playlist preserve selection order as displayed
  • New 'SupressSongTitleUpdate' MediaEntry/Script option
  • Playlist manual 'Followup' feature added
  • Enhanced WebResearch functionality
  • New 'EndsAt' StartType aded for FTEs and Overlays
  • New Program StartType 'ManualTimeUpdateSync' added
  • PushToTalk option added for TalkOver/User
  • Streaming-Server positions can now be changed
  • Cardwall TrackInsert bug-fix
  • Initial FixTime-Element processing bug-fix
  • Scheduler Printing enhanced
  • New Playlst Conversion tool (pfpconv.exe) added
  • Various other optimizations
  • Other smaller bug-fixes
  • stable

MetaData and TAG reading
The internal MetaData and TAG reading for media libraries has been enhanced significantly.
The .pfp playlist format has been enhanced to now also store all relevant TAG data (incl. the date when this was read in).
This enables ProppFrexx to only read in the TAG data again when this is really needed (when the underlying audio file has been changed later on).
This also applies to the '_synced_.pfp' playlist which is saved along with a Folder-based media library.
This gives much greater control and improves the performance a lot when dealing with meta data (e.g. in script line filters).

In addition ProppFrexx now ensures (when adding new Media Libraries), that all TAG data for all audio files are read in initially.
So when switching to v3.0.11.00 you might discover, that ProppFrexx will ONCE (re)read all TAG data for all audio files of all media libraries!
This is a one time background process. Once all TAGs have been read, they are not read in again!
You can close ProppFrexx in between without problems, ProppFrexx will simply resume it's initial TAG reading once started again.

Once all TAG data has been read in for the media libraries, it will not read the TAGs again (unless needed).
You might however at any time use the 'Rescan' option in the Media Library Management dialog to perform a manual rescan of the TAGs at any time.

Folder-based Libs:
Folder-based libraries are now rescanned with each start of ProppFrexx, which means, that any new audio files as well as any new or modified TAG data is discovered and read-in automatically.
The performance of rescanning folders has been enhanced significantly with this release.

Playlist-based Libs:
Playlist-based libraries are reloaded with each start of ProppFrexx, which means, that the TAG data is NOT reevaluated at this time automatically.
As such, if you change the TAG data of audio files (as referenced by such playlist file) outside of ProppFrexx ONAIR (e.g. by an external tool) this wouldn't be recognized automatically and a manual 'Rescan' is needed.


User Interface improved
The ribbon design was revisited and rearranged. This also includes new docking options (e.g. the Playlist Windows can now also be docked).
In additon Playlist context ribbon pages have been added. Basically any playlist options, which beforehand have only been available in the context menu are now directly available in dedicated ribbon pages.

The Options Dialog has also been revisited and rearranged.

All this to (hopefully) let you more easily find the options and settings you are looking for and to further improve the usability of ProppFrexx ONAIR.

In addition you can now customize the Player/Playlist item colors.


Playlist preserve selection order as displayed
You might have noticed, that so far the playlist item selection order depended on the order in which you selected the playlist items (e.g. when you perform a Cut&Paste operation).
This has now been changed. The order of the selected playlist items is now preserved and always reflects the order as shown in the playlist.


New 'SupressSongTitleUpdate' MediaEntry/Script option
A new 'SupressSongTitleUpdate' option has been added to the MediaEntry as well as to the Script-Line options.
When set, such entry will not be considered for automatic Streaming-Song-Title updates.


Playlist manual 'Followup' feature added
A new 'Followup' feature has been added for manual playlists. This allows you to define a followup playlist which should be the successor paylist, once the current playlist ends.
This applies only to manually created playlist being played in AutoPlay mode.
E.g. you can (pre)prepare multiple plalyists in advance and 'chain' them with this new 'Followup' feature, so that once you started to AutoPlay the first playlist, the next followup playlist starts automatically when the first ends etc.


Enhanced WebResearch functionality
The WebResearch feature (ALT+4) has been revisited and now allows you to define our own web-sites you want to use for looking up Artist, Album or Song information dynamically in the internet.


New 'EndsAt' StartType aded for FTEs and Overlays
This feature is a major enhancement to the internal automation system. It allows you to define Overlays as well as FixTime-Elements to be ending at a given time.
So far it was only possible to start Overlays and FixTime-Elements at a certain time. Now you can let them end at a certain time.
As the content of Overlays and FixTime-Elements might be dynamic (meaning its total length is not known upfront, e.g. when using Scripts, Advert-Slots or Playlists) you must tell the system a maximum approximate duration of such entries.
Note, that this approximate duration should be as accurate as possible, but should never be shorter than the real resulting total length (e.g. if you are unsure, select a higher approx. duration).

FixTime-Element:
A new 'Maximum approximate Duration' value must be specified when the new Start Type 'EndsAt' is selected.
The FTE is then initially scheduled this given approx. duration ahead of the defined 'EndsAt' time (as at this time the real duration is unknown).
Once the FTE is effectively scheduled to a playlist, the FTE is effectively resolved and the real total duration is calculated.
Once the real total duration is known, the FTE will be scheduled exactly on time to end at the defined time.

Overlays:
Instead of providing an extra 'Maximum approximate Duration' value, the existing 'Show in Advance' value is used!
So for Overlays (having the 'EndsAt' start type set) set this 'Show in Advance' value accordingly to the estimated maximum approximate duration.
Once the Overlay is scheduled and started (ahead) in the Overlay Player, the content is effectively resolved and the real total duration is calculated.
Once the real total duration is known, the Overlay will be scheduled exactly on time to end at the defined time.


New Program StartType 'ManualTimeUpdateSync' added
A new 'ManualTimeUpdateSync' has been added for regular Program Scheduler entries.
This allows you to start a new program in an existing (previously scheduled) playlist window via a regular TimeUpdateSync entry, but stop the AutoPlay setting at this point in time.


PushToTalk option added for TalkOver/User
So far the TalkOver and TalkUser buttons has been acting as toggle buttons. Meaning each click toggles the state between ON and OFF.
You can now configure the TalkOver and TalkUser buttons to act as PushToTalk buttons, meaning the function is only ON as long as you press the button and turned OFF once you release it.


Streaming-Server positions can now be changed
The order in which the streaming servers appear in the Network Streaming Monitor Window is now adjustable.
Within the Network Streaming Monitor you can use the ALT+SHIFT+Arrow keys to move them up/down - or you use the general settings dialog.


Scheduler Printing enhanced
The scheduler printing dialog (incl. overlay and advert management) has now been enhanced. The default print style is now a more easy to read list of items.
This is especially helpfull, if you want to e.g. print out the schedule for a certain day.


New Playlst Conversion tool (pfpconv.exe) added
pfpconv.exe is a command-line tool, so open a Windows command prompt and start the tool from there.
Usage:
pfpconv.exe -i=<input filename> [-o=<output filename>] [<options>]

This tool allows you to convert playlist file formats supported by ProppFrexx:
.pfp : ProppFrexx Playlist
.m3u : M3U Playlist
.m3u8 : M3U Playlist Unicode
.pls : Standard Playlist
.wpl : Windows-Media Playlist
.asx : Advanced Stream Redirector
.xspf : Shareable Playlist
.smil : SMIL Playlist
.xml : iTunes Library
If the output filename or extension is omitted .pfp is assumed.

Options:
-h : print this help
-q : quiet (silent processing without messages)
-w : overwrite output file if already existing
-t : force TAG reading for all Tracks
-b : use Windows-1252 instead of Latin1 in .mp3
-r : use UTF-8 strings for RIFF INFO in .wav
-u : use UNC Paths instead of relative Paths
-a : use absolute Paths instead of relative Paths
-f : use Folder name as Album if missing
-m : use UFT-8 to read .m3u playlists
-p : use UFT-8 to read .pls playlists
-x=<inner playlist name> : inner playlist name for iTunes

Examples:
pfpconv.exe -h
pfpconv.exe -i="C:\My Playlists\in\test.m3u" -w -t
pfpconv.exe -i="C:\My Playlists\in\test.m3u" -o="C:\My Playlists\out\test.pfp"


So have fun with these major enhancement...a lot more to come (as always ;-)


Notes:
- the v3.0.11.1 contains a small bug-fix with auto-saving .pfp media libs after the initial tag reading
- the v3.0.11.2 contains a small bug-fix with not opening scheduled playlist windows in the background.
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Adger
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Re: v3.0.11.00 - stable

Post by Adger »

we should continue the "proppfrexx time.exe" issue under "bugs" :-D

Else: Managed to instll the new version and I think it's a really good step in the right direction! as far as I can tell so far: really very well done!
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Andreas Duswald
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Re: v3.0.11.00 - stable

Post by Andreas Duswald »

Great Update, and all the problems i had with history, Media Lybari and skript running are gone with this Version - Great Work - Respect.

PF is really the best Radio Automation i have ever seen !! ... And it still is getting better with each update
Everything is possible ....
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dokos
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Re: v3.0.11.2 - stable

Post by dokos »

Hi Bernd,

How do I Scheduler enhanced print out the schedule for a Certain day.

Marian
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radio42
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Re: v3.0.11.2 - stable

Post by radio42 »

When you have the Scheduler dialog open (either Program or Overlay), you'll find a 'Print' and 'Print Options' button within the dialog's ribbon.

Click on the 'Print' button to generate the new compact 'Calendar Detail Style' report.
This one prints the scheduled programs in a kind of list per selected date range (meaning the days visible in the current scheduler view; e.g. if you have selected the 'Day View' for 7 days, it would print the list for these 7 days).

More options and print styles are availabe with the 'Print Options' button.
It opens a print dialog in which you can explicitly select:
- the Print Style (e.g. select 'Calendar Detail Style')
- the Start and End Date (range) you would like to print (e.g. select your desired singe day here)
- the Fonts and colors to use
- etc.
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dokos
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Re: v3.0.11.2 - stable

Post by dokos »

Hi Bernd,

this is great but still do not know what my client at that time broadcast ...

I have slots at the time of 7:15, 8:15, 9:15, etc. .. Advertising as A,

7:30, 9:30, 10:30, etc. ... Advertising as B,

7:45, 8:45, 9:45 etc. Advertising as C, and so it continues throughout the day.

How do I know when the broadcast partner?

Marian
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radio42
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Re: v3.0.11.2 - stable

Post by radio42 »

I am not really sure what kind of report you are looking for?!

Do you want a report which shows the 'estimated effective playout' of a certain partner's campaign?
If yes, select the campaign in the partner window, right-click and select 'Reports' - 'Estimated Effective Playout'.

If not, please describe in a bit more detail what exactly you are looking for.

Note, that an 'Advert Slot' playlist is created in real-time when it is due to be played by e.g. an Overlay.
This is done based one the several settings you defined:
- Campaigns assigned to an Advert Slot
- Number of Audio Tracks assigned per Campaign
- Validity period of the Campaign
- Max. Playouts, Priority and Key defined with a Campaign
As such there are situations where you can not always predict upfront what track and campaign finds its way into an effective advert slot playlist - e.g. if an Advert Slot is 'overbooked'.
That's why the above mentioned report is called 'Estimated Effective Playout'.

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