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Viz Multichannel

Version 4.1 | Published May 27, 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 then 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/33947816/xmltranslator_help.png
    Example invocation: success

    images/download/attachments/33947816/xmltranslator_success.png
    Example invocation: fail

    images/download/attachments/33947816/xmltranslator_fail.png

    External References

    • Wikipedia: Extensible Markup Language: XML

    • Wikipedia: Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations: XSLT

    • Wikipedia: Broadcast Exchange Format: BXF