Barco Signamcs software User manual

Brand: Barco

Model: Signamcs software

Type: User manual

MEDIA

SIGNAM!CS SYSTEM

TRO UB LESHOOTING GUIDE

26022003 R5976547/02

Barco nv Media

Noordlaan 5, 8520 Kuurne

Phone: +32 56.36.89.70

Fax: +32 56.36.88.24

E-mail: [email protected]

Visit us at the web: www.barco.com

Printed in Belgium

1. General workflow

1. GENERAL WORKFLOW

1.1 File names

Problem

The use of special characters such as &,\ etc. can caus e a restart of S! Play.

Solution

The use r must be sure t hat the f ilename does not contain special characters before adding this file to the system. Changing the

content name when the file is added to the system does not solve the problem as this does not change the url of the file.

Allowed characters in a url according RFC1738 s tandard:

• alphanumeric

• $-_.+! *’(),

1.2 Transfer time

Problem

Content is not yet transfered to the S! Play at the time it should be d isplayed.

Solution

When scheduling a rule, the operator needs to fill in the time but he has to calculate with at least one hour to upload content. 1 hour

is the default time.

An operator can c hoose a lower time interval for scheduling but it depends totally on :

• bandwidth av ailability

• content size ( = file size)

• content volume ( = number of files)

1.3 Data channel together with a video feed channe l

Problem

Data channel cannot be displayed on top of a live feed video channel.

Cause

With a show, several channels can be mixed. Additional, constraint check is done on how many contents/formats can be played at

thesametime.

As S! Operate uses the D3 20 digitizer inputs, all multimedia and still im ages are merged to 1 data output (DVI by default) that is

connected to a DVI input of the digitizer. MPE G ha rdware decoded images uses a digitizer component input. Video feeds uses any

additional inputs of the digitizer.

There is one restriction : the data input will always be shown in the background w hen in combination with a video feeds (even when

it is otherwise scheduled).

So it is not possible to show a logo on top of video image.

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1. General workflow

Image 1-1

Z-order

(a) Possible Z-order for a video source

(b) Not possible Z -order for a video s ource

Solution

No s olution available.

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2. Operational problems and attention points S! Operate

2. OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS AND ATTENTION P OINTS

S! OPERATE

2.1 Refresh problem after a content Delete in S! Operate

Problem

A delete co ntent is not v isible in the content overview list until the GU I is restarted.

Solution

By restarting the GUI, the content overview will be refreshed.

2.2 Delete content – Create new content with same name

Problem

When a content is deleted and a new one is created with e xactly the same fi

lename (url) within 5 m inutes, the file of the newly

created content will be deleted.

Cause

This is caused due to the fact that the ph ysical delete of a file is programmed in the batch manager. The default time for file deletion

is 5 minutes.

Solution

Wait longer than 5 minutes to create a content with the same name as the deleted content.

2.3 A grey rectangle/area appears on t op of the GUI.

Problem

A grey rectangle/area will be displayed on top of the GUI.

Cause

This is caused by a b ad refresh of the dynamic content preview.

Solution

When the user selects in the c ontent m anager a still image for preview, the problem should disappear.

2.4 Start / stop of the Action Manager

Problem

When starting the action manager and hide this manager immediately, the GU I is not selected a gain.

Solution

The operator should select the GU I by pr essing Ctrl + Alt.

2.5 Content properties in Rule View

Problem

The content properties do not open whe n double clicking.

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2. Operational problems and attention points S! Operate

Cause

In the current v ersion, the software does not automatically jump to the content manager.

Solution

The operator needs to select the content manager icon.

2.6 Accuracy start/end time of a content in a rule

Problem

Dragging a content on a rule does not ensure that start time an d end time are ac curate.

Solution

Double click on that specific content so that the Properties window opens. Fill out a detailed s tart and end time.

2.7 Start / stop of the payload report

Problem

When starting the payload report, it is possible that the popup menu automatically h ides itself behind the main S! Operate window

Solution

The operator should select the GU I by pr essing Ctrl + Alt.

2.8 Difference in MPEG-2 duration

Problem

Due to a difference between the M PE G encoding during the creation and the M PEG ha ndling during the c ontent creation with S!

Operate a back to back problem can be established (rounding errors in the tim e length).

Solution

Try to encode as much as poss ible up to the second to avoid that problem. Verify the file length detected in the M PE G co mposer

and change the file length in the p laylist.

2.9 Scheduling accuracy

Problem

When scheduling a c ontent/playlist/show/livefeed over a long time span, the exact visibility will not be accur ate enough.

Solution

The frequency of occurance depends on the selected time scale (10 min / 30 min / 60 min). How bigger the scale, the more chance

there can be a rounding error.

Double click on that content/playlist/show/livefeed to enter an exact time setting.

E.g. scheduling a show between 8.00 am an d 8.00 pm by dragging the show until 8.00 pm can be that the result will be 8.01 pm

instead of 8.00 pm. Therefor, double click on the show a n d set the correct end time.

2.10 Do uble playlist in playlist management

Problem

A playlist is twice visible in the playlist management.

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2. Operational problems and attention points S! Operate

Solution

Restart S! Opera te on the client side. The double playlist nam e will be solved.

Do not try to delete the double playlist-name !

2.11 Create content - Case sensitive

Problem

When creating a file where the case of a c haracter, is different than an allready created file with the same n

ame, you w ill be able to

create it but it will giv e problems when scheduling or deleting one of them.

The creation will m ake only one physical file in the content map but two entries in G UI and two different URLs in the database.

Solution

Do not create a file with the same name, even when a character in the nam e has a different case.

If you allready created one, delete one file, wait 5 minutes and re start the client software. The other file should now be remov ed also.

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2. Operational problems and attention points S! Operate

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3. Operational problems and attention points for Action management

3. OPERATIONAL PR OBLEMS AND ATTENTION POINTS

FOR A CTION MANAGEMENT

3.1 Delete display

Problem

Faulty behav ior after deleting a display in the Action manager.

Solution

Do not delete a display in the Action m anager. Go to the d isplay manager to delete a display.

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3. Operational problems and attention points for Action management

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4. Operational problems and attention points for Show authoring

4. OPERATIONAL PR OBLEMS AND ATTENTION POINTS

FOR SHOW AUTHORING

4.1 Add channel

Problem

No channel can be added.

Solution

Before Clicking Add channel, select first Show. otherwise no channel will be added.

4.2 Show properties

Problem

When in the S how E ditor window and the properties are asked for that show

, the properties window opens. But closing the window

is not possible when nothing is entered in the author field.

Solution

Enter an author in the author input field and press OK or close t he window with Alt + F4.

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4. Operational problems and attention points for Show authoring

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5. Operational problems and attention points for S! Play

5. OPERATIONAL PR OBLEMS AND ATTENTION POINTS

FOR S ! PLAY

5.1 Use of special characters

Problem

The use of special characters such as &, !,\ etc. c an cause a restart of S! P lay.

See als o File names, page 1

Solution

The use r must be sure t hat the f ilename does not contain special characters before adding this file to the system. Changing the

content name when the file is added to the system does not solve the problem as this does not change the url of the file.

5.2 Refresh problem with media objects

Problem

Sometimes refresh pro blem with media object in S! Play when area is changed while playing.

Cause

This occurs in Show when a channel area is c hanged wh ile content is playing.

Solution

No work-around available. Avoid this use in Show authoring.

5.3 AVI files do not play on the Display

Problem

AVI files do not play on the display.

Cause

This c an happen when the Si4 is rebooted. The operating s ystem removed the mpeg4.dll file.

Solution

Reinstall the mpeg4.dll file by running the setup.ex

e. Choo se the option Repair.

5.4 Default content is displayed

Problem

Default content is displayed instead of the original content.

Cause

The original content is not yet downloade

d at the appropriate time.

Solution

Change the transfer time.

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5. Operational problems and attention points for S! Play

5.5 Macitosh

files are not visible

Problem

Macitosh

files are not supported by the system. E.g. bitmap files with the OS2 file format.

Solution

Convert on your Macitosh

computer these files to a windows supported file format.

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Barco Signamcs software User manual

Barco Signamcs software User manual

Barco Signamcs software User manual

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