Client ApplicationThe client application can be installed on any machine that will be able to access the XPression machine via a network address. The client app needs an internet connection for communication with the Xignite web service. Prerequisites- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or greater which can be downloaded from a Microsoft website to suit your version of windows.
- this should be the FULL version and not the Client Profile version
Initial ConfigurationThe first time you install the application you may need to customize a few settings. Xignite API KeyTo access the data the application requires the use of an api key or token that will be provided to you by Xignite when you subscribe to a trial or paid service. The key is set via the preferences window. XPression Server ConnectionThe client's remote config settings must match what is set on the server application to allow a successful connection. The server provides support for using one of the TCP or HTTP protocols and the client app lets you select which one to connect with at launch. Note however that the client can be run without connecting to the XPression server.
Cache ConnectionThe clients cache service config settings must match the setting used by the cache service. The default values will work automatically (assuming the defaults are used by both apps). The cache service uses a TCP protocol. You will need to enable the connection to the cache on the first use of the client (version 7.0.x or greater) that supports it. (After the cache service is installed of course). Using the File menu option - Cache Config... Then click the Use cache to enable it and press the Save button. The client should then be able to connect and display it's connected status in the bottom status bar.
Off-Hour Cache Stock ListTo include stocks in the cache to have access to their off-hours data you need to add them to the list of selected stocks. Use the File menu - Cache Stocks... option. This will open the popup list of selected stocks to which you can the add/remove similar to the stock list for the ticker.
No XPression ModeYou can run the client application without connecting to a XPression server. In this case you press the Don't Connect button in the configuration panel. When you select this the application can still generate charts and you can preview the generated charts by clicking on the small chart thumbnail. This will open a larger preview window that displays the basic stock data and the chart.
PreferencesYou can change many of the features of the generated charts and ticker with the Preferences window. It is accessed via File menu - Preferences... NOTE: the changes apply to newly generated charts and do not apply to existing charts. The exception to this is the chart preview background which is preview only and is not part of what is displayed in XPression.
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The API Key provides your authenticated access to the Xignite data. You can save and switch between a testing and production key. NOTE: If the same key is given in both test and production keys then the app defaults to selecting the production key setting. | | The chart size here controls the size of the generated chart image but does not change the size of the object in the XPression scene that is used to display the chart. | | The font-size and label adjustment values are applied to all new generated charts after the change is saved. The x-label adjustment is used when the time labels are not correctly appearing below the line on the chart. It pushes labels back towards the left side of the chart to correct the alignment. The higher the number the greater the adjustment. Changes to the font-size or chart size may affect label placement and so this value should be adjusted after fonts and chart sizes are approved. | |
Change the colors here to suit your design. | | You can enable the display of shadow lines and set the lines opacity and relative drop positioning. The drop value controls how far below the original stock line the shadow is drawn.
| | Set the length of the dotted line dash. Set the length of the dotted line gap between dashes. | | Set the number of stocks that crawl will need to keep the crawl line full without a gap appearing at the end.
| | Set the width of the main stock lines and the grid lines. Set the width of each outer border (when 0 no line is added as a border) Set the width of the dotted lines. | Image Added | When checked the intraday values are automatically refreshed before displaying the chart. Enabled by default. | |
You can change the image used as the client side chart preview background. This does not reflect or affect the XPression project. | |
If the default data returned by the API doesn't include the current value and you want it to be included - use these options to control when it is added to the chart data set. |
Client App WorkflowAfter you launch the application and connect to your XPression server you will want to: - Select a Show
- Create charts
- Preview charts
- Display charts
Select a ShowA show could also be considered a theme as it is the collection of scenes you will be using to display your charts and related data. You must have an active show selection to display charts, bumpers, full screens, lower thirds and names. If you are not connecting to XPression then you skip this step. Create Charts- Search for the first stock symbol by typing it in the filter box for stock 1
- Click on the stock you wish to use for stock 1
- If you want to compare 2 stocks on one chart
- search for the second stock by starting to type its stock symbol in the filter box for stock 2
- click on the stock in the stock 2 list
- Select a Range
- Click the Generate Chart button
- This will cause the current stock data to be downloaded and transformed into the corresponding chart
- You will see the retrieved data and thumbnail of the chart displayed in the preview section
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| - You can use F3 to open and focus on the chart creator panel.
- You can also use CTRL-F3 to close the panel when you don't need it.
- The values used to calculate the stock time-frame deltas can be seen as a tool-tip of the previewed delta values in the chart creation panel
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Preview ChartsWhen there is a generated chart you can preview it in a larger popup window. This preview works without a connection to the XPression server. It's purpose is to provide a more detailed preview of the chart and related numbers that were generated and may be used in display since the main thumbnail is limited in its usefulness. The background image can be changed in the Chart Preferences window accessed via File menu - Preferences. Look for it in the Other Options section. Change Preview Chart BackgroundThe background image can be changed in the Chart Preferences window accessed via File menu - Preferences. Below the instructions are couple plain sample background images that you can download to use. - Open the Preferences window from the File menu
- Expand the Other Options section
- Click the button to the right of the text box under the heading: Chart Preview Background Image
- Select your background image to use. (double-click it or select and click Open.)
- Press the save button in the Preferences window.
Sample Dark Background:
Sample Light Background:
Display ChartsOnce you have generated a chart that you want to display you have a number of ways of managing when the chart is displayed. NowThe quickest way is to press the Show button beneath the chart. LaterIf you want to save the chart for display later press the To List button. This will copy it to the Charts list below the chart generation section.
You can display a chart in the list by clicking on the green on? icon. This will cause the icon to change to red and the chart will be displayed through XPression.
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| - Use the + key to set the currently selected scene online in the list and advance to the next scene in the list
- if the currently selected scene is already online pressing the + key will set it offline and advance to the next scene in the list
- Delete the selected item by pressing the Delete key
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Custom ScenesYou can trigger the display of custom scenes from the XPression project. Scenes whose name are prefixed with ^Custom are added to the list of custom scenes that are available. Only one custom scene is intended to display at a time.
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| - To provide specific pre-planned pauses to custom scene playout: add a Scene Director Event at each frame where you want to pause in the XPression. In the event properties tab you will want to check the “Relative” box and select the Pause radio button option. Click OK.
- To add an event in the XPression Scene Director – right-click on a track –> Add Clip –> Event
- NOTE: the pause events only seem to work if there is one per track – any additional pause events in the same track are ignored.
- Use the Pause/Break button on your keyboard to resume playing online custom scenes.
- or if you have focus on the Full Screen Playlist or the Custom Scenes list - you can press P to toggle the pause of the currently online custom scene.
- Delete the selected item by pressing the Delete key.
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BumpersYou can trigger the display of bumper scenes in the XPression project. Video files in the projects Bumper subfolder are added to the list of bumper scenes that are available. If the filename is prefixed with "Bumper_" that prefix is removed and the rest of the name displayed in the selection list. All bumpers are played with a scene from the project that is named: ^Bumpers. Lower ThirdsThe list of lower thirds texts can be populated manually or by importing a text file. To add an entry manually click the + button in the header of the list.
Then enter the Line 1 and Line 2 (optional) texts. Click the save button.
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| - Click the + button in the list header or press CTRL + to add a new name to the list of names. When using CTRL + the focus must be on the Lower Third list.
- Press F2 or double-click to edit a name in the list. When using F2 the focus must be on the Lower Third list.
- Delete the selected item by pressing the Delete key.
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Importing a ListWhen importing a text file - line 1 and line 2 texts should be delimited by: | If you only need to display one line of text then only enter that one line's text The full pattern then is: Line 1 | Line 2 Code Block |
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title | Sample text file |
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linenumbers | true |
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| Line 1 is here | Line 2 is here
This is all I want to write
Don't make me add a second line |
NamesThe list of names can be populated manually or by importing a text file of names. To add a name manually click the + button in the header of the list.
Then enter the name and title info and click the save button. Note that name 2 information is optional and the titles are optional.
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| - Click the + button in the list header or press CTRL + to add a new name to the list of names. When using CTRL + the focus must be on the Names list.
- Press F2 or double-click to edit a name in the list. When using F2 the focus must be on the Names list.
- Delete the selected item by pressing the Delete key.
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Importing a Name ListWhen importing a text file - names should be delimited by: | Each name is followed by a title and each line can contain up to 2 name/title pairs. If you only need to display one name/title then only enter that one name. The full pattern then is: Name | Title | Name2 | Title2
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title | Sample text file |
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linenumbers | true |
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| Mickey Mouse | Disney | “Walt Disney” | Former CEO of Disney Corporation
Walter Federrer | LPGA Champion
Jimminy Cricket | Head ‘Cricketeer’ | George Orwell | Author
Bob| Janitor| Jane
Me | | You |
PlaylistsTo add an item to a playlist you click the playlist button of the item: There are 2 playlist types available to you: Custom and Chart PlaylistThis playlist supports the charts and the custom full screens.
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| - Use the + key to set the currently selected scene online in the list and advance to the next scene in the list
- if the currently selected scene is already online pressing the + key will set it offline and advance to the next scene in the list
- Delete the selected item by pressing the Delete key.
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Banners PlaylistThis playlist supports the Names and Lower Thirds.
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| - Use the + key to set the currently selected scene online in the list and advance to the next scene in the list
- if the currently selected scene is already online pressing the + key will set it offline and advance to the next scene in the list
- Delete the selected item by pressing the Delete key
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| - You can hide the playlists using the option in the playlists menu. This gives more space to the remaining Custom and Chart lists.
- To clear all the items in a playlist use the appropriate option in the Playlists menu
- Remove All Banners (names and lower thirds)
- Remove All Full Screens (charts and custom scenes)
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Stock TickerThe application supports a stock ticker as of version 5.2.x. The client UI displays near the top with options for editing, starting and stopping and provides a preview of the stocks as they are shown.
PlayoutThere is an online/offline toggle button to the left of the stock preview button. It is red when the ticker is online and green when it is not running. Playout OrderThe stocks play in alphabetical order. List EditingYou can edit the list of stocks that will be displayed in the client application. Simply click the ticker Edit button to open the editing window. Note that the editing window displays the last retrieved value of the price and change as well as the stock symbol. These values are loaded when the list is first loaded at application launch and then will be updated as the stock ticker is running. Add stocks by typing the symbol name in the box in the header and pressing enter or clicking the Add button. Remove stocks by selecting the stock and pressing the delete key.
Alternatively you may edit the list of stocks in a text file directly. It is saved to the ProgramData folder of the computer. Example: C:\ProgramData\Bannister Lake\Xignite Finance Player Client\TickerStocks.txt It is formatted as a simple text file with one stock symbol per line. If you save the file manually with additional text on the line - it will read only up to the first comma or space character and ignore the rest of the line, It will overwrite the file with it's own clean version though. Stock TableThe application supports a stock table as of version 5.7.x. The client UI displays in the bottom right corner with options for editing, starting and stopping playlists of stocks and provides a preview of the stock data that is shown. The first thing you need to do to get started the first time is to create a new list by pressing the New button.
PlayoutTo display a stock table playlist you - select it in the dropdown list
- click the Use button
- this clears any currently displayed stocks, applies the stocks in the selected list and refreshes the stock price and change data with the latest
- click the online toggle button
- if it's not already online and displaying
The online/offline toggle button is near the top-left of the section. It is red when the ticker is online and green when it is not running. If the Display Time has been set and the Auto toggle is enabled then the stocks will automatically rotate through the list. If the Loop toggle is enabled then the application will continuously loop through all the stocks in the list. If the Loop toggle is disabled then it will take the stock table offline after displaying the final page of stocks in the list. Press the Next button to advance to the next page at any time. Playout OrderThe stocks play in displayed order and this order can be edited in the popup playlist editing window by drag-n-drop of stocks in the list. List EditingYou can edit the playlist of stocks that will be displayed in the client application. Simply select the playlist you want and click the ticker Edit button to open the editing window. Lists are saved and will be available the next time you start the client app until you delete them. The price and change values are updated each time the list is selected and then the Use button is clicked. It is updated again when it reaches the end of the list and is displaying the last page of stocks in the list in preparation for playing them again. You can edit - Name (displayed in the select list in the UI only
- Display Name (displayed on-air)
- Display Time (how long each page of stocks displays before automatically moving to the next)
- Display Count (how many stocks to display at one time in the table)
Note that the editing window displays the last retrieved value of the price and change as well as the stock symbol. These values are loaded when the list is first loaded at application launch and then will be updated as the stock ticker is running. Add stocks by typing the symbol name in the box in the header and pressing enter or clicking the Add button. Remove stocks by selecting the stock and pressing the delete key.
Application LogsYou can access the application logs that provide information on the work the app is doing as well as providing additional debugging information when errors occur. File AccessYou can also access the log files in the ProgramData directory which is typically: C:\ProgramData\Bannister Lake\Xignite Finance Player Client\logs You can read the log via the Help menu. Select the Read Log... option to open the current log file.
You can add performance logging information to a sessions logs by clicking on the the Enable Performance Logs option. This records the reported time required by the XIgnite service to execute the request.
Server ApplicationThe server application must be installed on an XPression machine. The server application does not communicate with the Xignite web service and so does not need an internet connection for typical operation. Instead it relies on the client app to provide it with all the data it needs to display. Prerequisites- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or greater which can be downloaded from a Microsoft website to suit your version of windows.
- this should be the FULL version and not the Client Profile version
- Ross XPression
- version appropriate to the build of the application represented by the last number in the version number
- Example version 5.1.3592 is built for XP build 3592
Initial ConfigurationThe first time you install the application you may need to customize a few settings. The application will remember the settings you used last. You can use the default ports given or change them if appropriate for your network environment. The server provides support for using either TCP or HTTP protocols. The client allows you to select which protocol it will use at launch. After you have made any necessary changes to the configuration press the Start Service button. This will lock your selections. To change them you will have to close and restart the applications. Server Name or IP AddressThis is the address of the server running the XPression Engine on which this server app is also installed. It will by default at first run fill in the suggested IP address of the server. If you are running both the server and client portions of the application on the same machine you could enter "localhost" as the server name instead of an IP Address. You can also regenerate the suggested IP address by using the option in the Help menu . You will be prompted if you want to apply the IP address to the current configuration.
TCP PortThis is the port number to use when connecting via the TCP protocol which is the recommended protocol to use. You will need to ensure that this port is enabled/open on the server to allow the client machine to connect. HTTP PortThis is the port number to use when connecting via the HTTP protocol. Use the HTTP protocol in situations where TCP is not a viable option You will need to ensure that this port is enabled/open on the server to allow the client machine to connect.The HTTP protocol is not expected to perform as quickly as the TCP protocol. Use Secure ConnectionsThis option has been added to enable the use of the applications in network situations that otherwise would prevent the client and server from being able to connect. If you are having trouble connecting with the secure connections enabled - try disabling it on both the server and the client and see if the connection is then successful. XPression File SelectionYou will need to identify the XPression project file to be used by the application. You can select the file by: - Click the Change Project button
or - Click File menu...
- Open XPression Project...
Select the file by browsing for it. Your selection will be remembered when you press the Save button and then used in the future automatically. Note that the XPression project files should all be stored on the local machine and ideally on a secondary hard drive such as the d: drive instead of the c: drive.
Application LogsYou can access the application logs that prodvide information on the work the app is doing as well as providing additional debugging information when errors occur. You can read the log via the Help menu. Select the Read Log... option to open the current log file. File AccessYou can also access the log files in the ProgramData directory which is typically: C:\ProgramData\Bannister Lake\Xignite Finance Player Server\logs
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