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Viz Multichannel

Version 4.0 | Published January 23, 2019 ©

XML Translator

The XML Translator is a command-line tool for transforming a schedule-file in XML (BXF) format to a format Multichannel can import. Content is not changed, the tool just transforms data format so the Playlist Importer can process it.

Any third-party can define an XSLT (.xst) transformation to an importer-friendly structure, currently:

  • Ordered collections

  • Two (2) layers deep only

Installing the XML Translator

You can install XML translator with the bundle installer, for details see Bundle Installer in the Setup and Configuration chapter.

Alternatively, you can install the tool separately from the MSI installer:

  1. Download the installer from ftp.vizrt.com or extract the MSI from the bundle installer.

  2. Click VizMultichannel_XMLTranslator_VERSION.msi and follow the on-screen instructions.
    Normally, the XML translator will be installed to:

%PROGRAMFILES%\Vizrt\Viz Multichannel\XMLTranslator\XMLTranslator.exe

Using the XML Translator

Open a command window (WIndows-button+R CMD <enter>) to use the XML translator. If you need admin rights for any part when using the tool start CMD as Administrator. To start an elevated session, right-click CMD and select “Run as Administrator”. In the following we assume you have XML translator program in the Windows PATH, otherwise you will have to provide the full path to use the tool.

XMLTranslator.exe -SourcePath %path% -DestinationPath %dpath% -SuccessPath %spath% -FailPath %fpath% -TranslationFile %tpath%\XSL.xslt

The example invocation above is on one line. All arguments are required. To get usage instructions run the program with the help flag (-? or -h or):

XmlTranslator.exe –-help

Program argument definitions:

  • -SourcePath the directory that contains the XML file to translate

  • -DestinationPath a directory where the translated XML file is created in

  • -SuccessPath a directory where the source XML file is moved to when translation succeeds

  • -FailPath a directory where the source XML file is moved to if the translation fails

  • *-TranslationFile *path to the XSL file defining the transformations
    A typical run (the command should be entered on a single line) could be:

XMLTranslator.exe -SourcePath D:\Source -DestinationPath D:\Destination -SuccessPath D:\Success -FailPath D:\Fail -TranslationFile D:\BroadViewXML.xsl

Example invocation: help

images/download/attachments/30906264/xmltranslator_help.png
Example invocation: success

images/download/attachments/30906264/xmltranslator_success.png
Example invocation: fail

images/download/attachments/30906264/xmltranslator_fail.png

References

These references are external and require internet connection:

  • Wikipedia:Extensible Markup Language: XML

  • Wikipedia: Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations: XSLT

  • Wikipedia: Broadcast Exchange Format: BXF