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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