Broadcast Utility Server

Dependencies

• Audio32.dll 2.12.221.0 (minimum), 2.13.239.0 (recommended)
• DigaSQL.dll 3.19.3492.0 (recommended)
• ElasticIndex 1.0.74.0 (for Index Task only)

Compatibility

• BUS 6.0 is compatible with older versions of BCS (5.x) as long as the old SeplProtocol communication is used. For using WebSockets as means of communication BCS 6.0 is needed.
• Storing the results of Consistency Check task in BCS requires a BCS 6.0.

New key features

• BUS can use the new WebSockets communication with BCS.
• ConsistencyCheck task is available now without an extra license. The task got many new features and the results of the checks can be written to BCS now:

• FileCheck task can now replace or remove file references, which use specific paths:

Breaking Changes

• ConsistencyCheck task:
  • This task was rewritten in big parts. This includes new features, bugfixes and changes. It was taken care to keep all old settings with their meaning. Nevertheless, if you are using this task you should go through the settings and check, whether everything is still as desired. For new features, see below.
• Export task + Import task:
  • CCD-42601: In build 738 a change was made that remote-link information of shows and tracks was removed, because these fields could make problems when being re-imported. This change was reverted, the PD_REMOTE fields are now present in exports again. Instead, these fields are removed now during the import.

New Features

• General:
  • WebSocket communication with BCS 6.0.
  • CCD-43122: BUS can use now three different methods for login at BCS: HMAC, AD and RC5. The selected method can be configured with the parameter "LoginMethod" for the BCS. If the default "AUTO" is configured, BUS uses the correct method automatically.
  • CCD-43122: BUS supports now three different methods of login for a remote BUS-GUI: HMAC, AD and RC5. The selected method can be configured with the parameter "LoginMethod" for the BUS. If the default "AUTO" is configured, BUS running as GUI uses the correct method automatically.
• FileCheck task:
  • CCD-42505,42745,42733,42847: It is possible now to replace the path of file references of all treated elements. Therefore, a new sub page of the configuration dialog allows to specify pairs of paths, which are compared/replaced. It is also possible to remove file references, which use specific paths. For more details see BCSTechManual chapter 7.3.
• ConsistencyCheck task:
  • The ConsistencyCheck task is now always part of BUS and can be used without extra license dll.
  • The results of the checks can now be written to BCS. There is a new option in the general settings of each checkset "Write results to BCS". For more information, please check BCSTechManual chapter 7.16.4. "Configuration of the main ConsistencyCheck task dialog".
  • The description text of the reports was rewritten in order to be more understandable and to describe the problem more precisely. In addition, a German description is no included in all reports.
  • For the check trigger "by external request" it is possible now to specify a list of "request names". A checkset will only be executed if the specified name in the external request matches one of the names configured for the checkset. This allows to trigger only specific checks.
  • In the general settings of a checkset there is the new option "Include the sent/past part of shows". By default, the checks are only executed for planned elements now. Sent or skipped elements are no longer evaluated – except where applicable or when this new option is set.
  • For the check "Gaps" there are new options to report the gap between first/last element in a show and the show border. Or to report a completely empty show.
  • For the check "Overlaps" there are new options to report overlaps with the show borders and to exclude overlaps resulting from regular crossfades with a special option for commercials.
  • The check "Media duration" was rewritten. It does now check for shortenings of elements, aka. if the playout duration is smaller than the media duration. The check has 3 new options.
  • The check "Loudness" was not implemented at all. Now it is.
  • The check "Playout channels" was not implemented at all. Now it is.
  • The page "Misc" in the settings is new. It combines multiple checks, which do not fit into one of the other categories. These are: check for the read/perfect flag, check for first element has start on time or last element has end on time.
  • An optimization was made: if at a given time multiple checksets for one show must be executed, all checksets for one show are now executed and only then the combined results for this show are written to BCS. So far multiple checksets caused multiple BCS query and update operations.
  • Added the field <ExecutedCheckTypes> on show level for output to BCS. Added the field <RequestName> on report (inconsistency) level.
  • 4 new checks were implemented: check for shows being overbooked, check link values to be in a certain range, check the delete date and check whether relative starts reference an existing node.
  • Within the field "Expression" of the settings for an export task, it is possible now to use macro functions. The same is true for the field "Conditions" of the consistency check type "Generic metadata". For more information, please see BCSTechManual chapters 7.5 and 7.6.5.12. 
  • Errors reported back to the requesting client for an external trigger are now reported in a localized way (at the moment at least German is included, too).
  • Extended the generic metadata check. The new special functions $Begin() and $End() are executed before and after parsing all nodes of a rundown and can be used for some special evaluation.
  • A new flag in external check requests allows to remove all old reports before starting new checks.
• Export task:
  • There is a new export mode: Write when an element stops to be "Sending".
  • Within the field "Expression" of the settings for an export task, it is possible now to use macro functions. The same is true for the field "Conditions" of the consistency check type "Generic metadata". For more information, please see BCSTechManual chapters 7.5 and 7.6.5.12. 
• Import task:
  • CCD-42844: If the option "Work within hour separators" was selected and the destination show did have only a single hour separator at the beginning of the show but no other separator, no import for this show was done at all.
• RadioADServer task: (all: CCD-42594, CCD-42941)
  • Extended the log output. Before and after each call to the NativeRASAdapter.dll a log output is made if debug logging for the task has been activated.
  • If connecting to the configured RadioADServer URI fails, an additional connect attempt via standard Windows TCP/IP functions is tried for debugging purposes. This is only done if debug logging is active.
  • Send broadcasting protocol actively for the elements in groups & stories.
  • Extended debug log for all Adremes callbacks.
  • Transmit real duration as a media duration by sending broadcasting protocol actively.
  • Instructing the BUS FileCheck Task to recalculate real duration for the imported elements.
• AutoReplace task:
  • Pre productions can now be handled, too.
  • CCD-42524: The limit of the hours in the future, which can be handled, has been increased from 744 (= 1 month) to 8760 (= 1 year). In order to not put a too high load onto BCS when checking a lot of days in a sequence, a new option is available: “Pause when switching to a new day”. A value of a few seconds (e.g. 5) should always be used. In addition, the task will give BCS the hint that loaded days can be removed from memory when the task operates on days, which are more than 1 week in the future. (Hint: BCS will only drop a day from memory if it is not in use by another client.)
• Stress test task:
  • Added the new option to test an out-of-memory situation within BUS. If activated, the memory will be eaten up within less than ~ 2 minutes. This is intended to test this special situation and check, whether BUS is restarting itself. Hint: if BUS is running as a Windows service, it is up to the Windows Service Manager to restart BUS. BUS itself or any other program cannot do it.

Fixed Issues

• General:
  • The login of BUSGUI to BUS with a DigaSystem with empty password did not work.
• Import task:
  • CCD-43249: The start mode Manual of an FixedEnd or BackwardFloating group was not copied correctly to the first element, which was inserted into such a group. This was a bug since version 5.10.750.0.
  • CCD-42844: If the option "Work within hour separators" was selected and the destination show did have only a single hour separator at the beginning of the show but no other separator, no import for this show was done at all.
• Export task:
  • OIA-502: When BUS was running as a Windows service, the special field <PresentationText> in the exported data was not created.
• Consistency Check task:
  • Multiple bugs have been fixed.
• RadioADServer task:
  • CCD-42594: Export elements from stories and groups.
  • CCD-42594, CCD-42941: No more crash if elements to export was changed after failed export.