MAIN SCREEN CONTROLS

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Automatronix utilizes a standard Windows-type  GUI. The Title bar contains the standard minimize, exit, and maximize buttons, as well as the curent playing song. The specific operation of these controls can be found in SYSTEM OPERATION.



Note: You can place the mouse over any item, and a pop-up window will briefly explain the operation of the specific item.


MENU BAR DESCRIPTIONS

FILE:
Open New playlist- clears all files in playlist window and opens a new one.(Control-F5)
Save Current Playlist- Saves playlist window.
Append to Playlist- use this to add to the current playlist in the playlist window.
Clear Current Playlist- Clears all files in playlist window. (Control-F6)

Transfer Current Playlist to Editor- This allows the direct copy and paste of main playlist directly into the playlist editor.
Load HotKeys from file- Loads all HotKeys from file.(Control-F7)
Save HotKeys to file- Saves whatever is currently in Hotkeys to a file
Exit- Exits Automatronx

OPTIONS:
Set Defaults- Opens Default settings (see OPTIONS ) (Control-F8)
Get Playtime in Playlist- Calculates Total playtime of songs in playlist (FUTURE FEATURE)
Playlist Maintenance- Opens playlist editor (see  Playlist editor ).(Control-F9)
Stop Events at end of AUTO-ONCE mode- Disables events (if on) when playlist reaches end of list in AUTO-ONCE mode.
Disable Events in Break- unchecks Event check box while in break. You must reset event checkbox when exiting break mode .

Event Database- this brings up specific options for manipulation of the event database such as:

-Compacting the database- this 'cleans up' any old data in the database. Microsoft is not very good at housekeeping in the database world, and this feature helps in the clean up process.

- Backing up the current database- Self explanatory

-Opening a different database- Useful when changing to alternate event databases.

-Creating a new database- When wanting to create a new event database.

 

DATA:
Add files- Opens FILE SELECTION WINDOW (Control-F11).
Go to Index on playlist- Jumps to selected index in playlist.

SPECIAL:
Search Playlist for Song- Searches playlist for user input (Control-F).
Reset Playlist counter- sets playcount back to 0.
System control w/keyboard when checked- toggles keyboard shortcuts.
Clear Event in Event list window- Removes event listed in event window.
Reset Live Input- Turns off live input and restores to normal automation.
Kill Loaded Event- Kills any event currently loaded into the players.

Re-connect Outgoing TCP/IP communications- Useful if remote server connection is lost.

Disconnect Incoming TCP/IP communications- When wanting remote host to no longer talk to Automtronix.

HELP:
How To- Future feature on help files(What you are reading now).
About- Credits, dedications, etc.
Enable Debug Screen- Opens screen for debugging purposes.
PANC STOP- Stops all automation processess: Stops all players, hotkeys, events, automation (everything).


PLAYERS

The 3 main players control eventlist and playlist items, as well as segue and random play files. Each
player contains a START, STOP, and PAUSE button, as well as a POSITION SLIDER, AUDIO LEVEL, and MUTE buttons. Above each player control area is the PLAYER TITLE SCREEN. This screen is a multi-purpose display, and displays the following features once a valid file is loaded into a player:

SONG TITLE- The name of the song, as taken from the file name. Once a song is loaded into the player, only the file name is displayed, and the path and file extension are not displayed in this window.

INTRO TIME- At the bottom, left side of the TITLE SCREEN, the file's INTRO TIME is shown. If no INTRO TIME exits, the INTRO TIME will display nothing. The time is displayed in seconds (SS.S format)

TOTAL TIME- At the bottom, center of the TITLE SCREEN, the files TOTAL TIME will display. This is the total time in MM:SS format.

OVERLAP TIME- At the bottom, right side of the TITLE SCREEN is the files OVERLAP TIME. If no Overlap time has been programmed into the file, then the Overlap time displayed will either be the Options system overlap time, or the default system overlap time. The format is SS.S

Operation of players is further described in SYSTEM OPERATION. and MAIN PLAYER OPERATION .


HOTKEYS
The 6 buttons marked 1-6 at the top center of the main screen are the 6 Hotkeys. Goto HOTKEYS for operation and control.

MODE CONTROL
This drop-down box controls the system mode, as described in SYSTEM OPERATION . and MAIN PLAYER OPERATION .

SYSTEM CONTROL
These consist of NEXT, CONT, and BREAK buttons, and operate as follows:

NEXT- Cycles next song if in AUTO or LIVE ASSIST MODE. Starts next song, and fades previous (if more than 10 seconds in length). DISABLED DURING EVENT PLAYING.

CONT- Starts next player during break function.

BREAK- (toggle)- Stops automation from starting NEXT song (if in AUTO mode). Button turns Yellow when BREAK is enabled. When the next song is manually started after a BREAK, the button returns to normal. Note- this button operats in specific conditions as explained in  SYSTEM OPERATION.

There are keyboard shortcuts that also control the system control (see Keyboard shortcuts below)


FILE SELECTION WINDOWS
The 4 buttons in the lower-left hand corner, along with the drive box activate the file selection windows. Clicking on any of these buttons activate this window, as described in SYSTEM OPERATION .

PLAYLIST WINDOW
This window displays the files to be played in the players (in play mode).

EVENTLIST WINDOW
This window displays the files to be played in the players (in event mode).
Checking the EVENTS ON check box immediately enables events. If checkbox is unchecked, events will NOT load into players automatically.

EVENTLIST ACTIVATION
Clicking on the PROGRAM button allows event programming (see PROGRAMMING EVENTS ). When checked, the color turns GREEN, and when unchecked, turns RED. This gives the operator a clear indication the status of the events.

LIVE MICROPHONE FEATURE
A button located at the upper right-hand side of the main screen activates the microphone input on the sound card. The operation of this button is a lock-on/lock-off function. When the microphone is muted, the button illuminates purple, and when it is live (unmuted), it turns red. Note that the INSERT key can also trigger the input. This button will not operate if a MIC live input event has been activated for the microphone, and will remain ON if previously activated if a MIC live input event has been activated.  However, when the MIC live input event is complete, the Live Mic button will be muted. The INSERT key will also trigger the microphone

CLOCK AND COUNTER WINDOWS

There are 4 main counters-

1- CLOCK- Located at the upper right, this displays the system TIME, as set in Windows time setting.

2- REMAINING TIME- Located above the HotKeys, displays the current running player's remaining time. Note this display only counts during the playing of a file in any of the main 3 players.

3- INTRO TIME- Located directly to the right of the MODE SELECTION window, this displays the players Intro time. Note- this time is only displayed when the intro time is actually counting down, and 'blanks' when the time reaches 0. When a new file with an intro time exists is started, it will display, and count  down to 0, then blank out. If no inrto time exists on a file, it will remain blank.

4- TOH Time- This counter counts down to the top of each hour; providing a raipd calculation to the user.

The remaining counter windows display the following:

PLAYLIST- This indicates how many files are in the playlist. It will change count as files are added or removed.

INDEX- This indicates where in the playlist the play counter is at. Starts at 0 (first file).

PLAYCOUNT- How many files have played from the start of the playlist.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Operator can control several functions from the keyboard as described below. These keyboard shortcuts also work in conjunction with mouse operation.

Keyboard key                Description
1-6                        starts/stops corresponding hotkeys. Note that Hotkey must be loaded with valid file
                            befire this shortcut works.
F2,F3,F4              Starts first, second, and third players in MANUAL or LIVE ASSIST MODE ONLY.

+ (plus key)           Rotates playlist and cycles next song (same as clicking NEXT on main screen).

B                         Toggles BREAK function (same as clicking BREAK) on and off.

C                         Toggles CONT function (same as clicking CONT).

Control-A              Toggles through MODE function (up and down).
Control-Z

INSERT key            Toggles LIVE MIC feature on and off.

Control-S              Stops automation (same as clicking STOP).

These keyboard shortcuts can be disabled from the main menu- SPECIAL-CONTROL W/KEYBOARD  WHEN CHECKED.

The remaining keyboard shortcuts are always enabled and are further described above :
Control+F5- same as OPEN PLAYLIST.
Control+F6- same as CLEAR PLAYLIST.
Control+F7- same as LOAD HOTKEYS.
Control+F8- same as SET DEFAULTS.
Control+F9- same as PLAYLIST MAINTENANCE.
Control+F11- same as ADD FILES.
Control+F- same as SEARCH PLAYLIST.

EVENT TIME-OUT FEATURE
This feature (checkbox) when enabled, allows events to remain current, particularly when long files exceed the time allowed to load events. An example would be when a long file is playing, the next event will load at the scheduled time. It will typically stay loaded until it is finished playing. Newer events will not load until this event is complete, even if the previous file is extremely long (hours). This means the next scheduled event after the current loaded one will have to wait until the current one is complete before it will run. Checking the box allows the loaded event to clear from the eventlist after 5 mins beyond the time it loads into the players. This allows the next scheduled event to load.

 

 

last updated 10/03/07
 

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