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Viz Multichannel User Guide

Version 4.2 | Published July 31, 2023 ©

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 data format is only transformed 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 the 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 when using the tool, start CMD as Administrator. Next, right-click CMD and select Run as Administrator to start an elevated session. In the following, it is assumed that you have XML translator program in the Windows PATH. If not, you must provide the full path in order 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 in which the translated XML file is created.

    • SuccessPath: A directory to which the source XML file is moved when translation succeeds.

    • FailPath: A directory to which the source XML file is moved if the translation fails.

    • TranslationFile: Path to the XSL file defining the transformations.

    A typical run (the command must 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/72090752/xmltranslator_help.png

    Example invocation: success

    images/download/attachments/72090752/xmltranslator_success.png

    Example invocation: fail

    images/download/attachments/72090752/xmltranslator_fail.png

    External References

    • Wikipedia: Extensible Markup Language: XML

    • Wikipedia: Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations: XSLT

    • Wikipedia: Broadcast Exchange Format: BXF