Publish XPression Projects Using Project Server

XPression Studio provides integrated support for Project Server. After making changes to a project or adding new resources such as next ups or snipes the project can be published using the File > Project Server > Publish menu item in XPression Studio.

Project Server Setup 

Before publishing a new instance of a project, you must first provide coordinates for the Project Server.

1. In XPression, select File > Project Server > Setup.
2. Click Add.
3. Enter a Project Server Name.
4. Specify a Project Server Host and Port.
5. Click OK.

Publish a Project

Once the Project Server has been defined, you can publish projects to the Project Server.

1. In XPression, select File > Project Server > Publish.
2. Select your ProjectServer and specify user credentials for that server to log in.
3. The first time you publish a project, you need to define a new show using the channel name which is also the name of the XPF project file. After this initial publishing effort, the show can be reused to publish future instances of the project.
4. You can define meta data for the project. Brando Player does not use this meta data.
5. When applicable, ensure that you include sponsored snipe or other content directories when you publish.
6. After publishing is completed, Brando Player and Switcher Application are notified that new graphics are available to be deployed.

The naming convention for the show name when publishing an XPression project to be used by Brando is:

1. brando_<channel>
2. brando_shared_<shared project>
3. brando_named_snipes

To publish the channel xpf for ESPN2, the show name would be brando_ESPN2. For a shared project with the name AmberAlert, the show name would be brando_shared_AmberAlert. Names are not case sensitive.

In summary the workflow goes like this:

1. Graphics designer grabs xpfs either locally or from project server.
2. Makes changes with or without the help of ACE
3. Publishes changes to Project Server using correct naming convention for show name: “brando_<channel>” or “brando_shared_<shared_project>” or brando_names_snipes
4. Runs gears to make available for scheduling and to notify Player that new graphics are required for deployment

When updating graphics using Gears for a channel, it flags the channel that new graphics are available. Both the player and switcher applications clearly show the graphics status for the channel.