Flow for Brando Release Notes

This section contains the release notes specific to the Flow for Brando product.

About Flow Installs

These installs are upgrade compatible. You generally do not need to uninstall the previous version before applying a new version. (some exceptions apply and are noted in the release notes.)

The latest installer will bring you up to the latest. You do not need to apply each consecutive patch as the latest will always apply all intermediate patches.

All your data is generally preserved during update. It is recommended however to make a backup of your database before proceeding with a Flow install.

Flow updates will not cause an interruption to the players. You should apply Flow updates at off peak hours however since Flow users will have their sessions terminated during the update process which may lead to loss of any unsaved changes they had at the time.

Version 9.11.3.1

As-Run

  • Add a new Status field to the report. It will be displayed in the report and output through BLADE.
    • support for channel, program and client to be blank.

BLADE

  • Fix for program schedule error preventing any output.

General

  • Update installer to report missing database scripts instead of assuming legacy behavior.

Version 9.9.1.4

KNOWN ISSUE: schedules are broken. Fixed in next build.

General

  • Apply security patch for Telerik component used.
    • NOTE: UNINSTALL THE EXISTING VERSION OF FLOW BEFORE RUNNING THIS ONE TO ALLOW THIS PATCH TO APPLY.

Version 9.8.1.4

NOTE: THIS INSTALL WILL TAKE LONGER THAN MOST. THE DATABASE UPDATE AT THE END TAKES TIME. LET IT RUN.

As-Run

  • Add a new Reconcile field to the report. It will be displayed in the report and output through BLADE.

General

  • Apply security patch for Telerik component used.
    • NOTE: UNINSTALL THE EXISTING VERSION OF FLOW BEFORE RUNNING THIS ONE TO ALLOW THIS PATCH TO APPLY.
  • Improve support for the use of HTTPS connections
  • Add preference to enable an HTTP to HTTPS redirect and HSTS
    • HTTPS > Enable redirect from HTTP to HTTPS
    • HTTPS > Strict-Transport-Security Max Age
  • Upgrade all tables and fields to full Unicode support (use utf8mb4_unicode_ci)

LDAP

  • Enable using LDAP / Active Directory userid and passwords to login instead of using a custom login and password.

Preferences

  • Fix for incorrect handling of saved time-stamp preference values.
  • Disable auto-report errors by default.
    • If you want the system to send error reports to our bug tracker automatically change this key to true: Errors > Auto Submit Errors Online
  • Enable preferences cache to refresh after saving any changes

Version 9.4.1.4

Clients

  • Enable deleting client records instead of only disabling.

Content Groups

  • Improve content group connections for channels (avoid errors when content group name changes).

Installer

  • Allow a database port to be specified as part of the db server name when installing in the format "server:port".

Logos

  • Add support for storing and previewing a logo thumbnail.

Program Ratings

  • Allow deleting ratings.
  • Remove the order column and have default order to be Code ASC.
  • Remove the disabled column.

Scheduling

  • Fix bug that was removing resources of other types when it shouldn't have.

Style

  • Apply the new Chameleon branding style and icons.

Version 8.12.2.3

Promo As Run Report

  • Add the new field: duration.

Version 8.11.4.3

Channels

  • Ensure that channel names are all unique.
  • Add feature to enable permanently removing a channel and it's associated data instead of just disabling/hiding it.

Programs

  • Enable the use of custom dynamic fields created by the user.
    • Look for the Make Your Own section in the editor.

Dynamic Field Editor

  • Improve the add/remove UI. Uses more visual logos instead of just check-boxes.

General

  • Allow a greater variety of characters in passwords and user names.
  • Improve security based on content group filtering of users.
  • Tweak handling of audit logs and error report data.

Version 8.8.5.1

Uninstall previous versions

It is recommended that you uninstall any existing version before installing this one. If you don't when you try to login it may hang. Then you will have to uninstall the current version and re-install.


BLADE

  • Add an option to select an ODBC timestamp format for blade xml output.
  • Separate the start/end datetime selections into separate date and time selections and allow user to specify only a time.
  • Apply channel and custom time adjustments to program schedules.

Channels

  • Add a new time adjustment field to allow BLADE to auto adjust times when outputting program schedules.

Program Ratings

  • Add a disclaimer field that is included in BLADE output

Version 8.8.4.2

BLADE

  • Program schedules: enable new filtering options
    • Start from Now, Next program, or specific date-time
    • Include a set number of programs or all up to a specific end date-time
  • Enable plain JSON output as well as the JSONP format

Version 8.6.2.2

General

  • Enable assigning a default spelling language and allow selecting spelling language when activating a spell check.
  • Correctly check if the db credentials are valid on a new install.
  • Add cache-busting ability for css and js code.

Version 8.3.5.2

General

  • Use .Net Framework 4.5
  • Display additional database info in configuration module.
  • Sort more dashboard groups alphabetically.
  • Automatically assign folder permissions during installation.
  • Only allow valid Brando serials to be applied and not other product types.
  • Notify users if they try to upgrade with a bad userid/password for the database
    • KNOWN ISSUE: incorrectly reports an error with new installs even though userid/pwd is correct.

Version 8.2.2.2

General

  • Fix for bug when an invalid/blank start date is used on the Snipe Scheduling form.
  • Fix for bug when master schedule dynamic field value is null.
  • Changed the default setting of "Days To Extend Recurring Schedule Items" preference to 30 days to mitigate issues with DMan errors.
  • Enabled auto-error reporting which submits error details via an online portal at the time the error occurs.
    • disabled by default - to enable go to System Configuration - Preferences and change the "Auto Submit Errors Online" preference to true.

Version 7.11.1.2

Named Snipes

  • Add new management features for easier searching, review and removal.

General

  • Allow dynamic field values to wrap and display in a more readable format.

Version 7.9.4.2

Named Snipes

  • Add optional Start date-time
  • Add optional Expiry date-time
    • To have the DMan service automatically delete expired snipes REQUIRES DMAN VERSION 1.5.7 OR GREATER
  • Add ability to limit which channels will access the named snipe
  • Requires:
    • REQUIRES SWITCHER VERSION 2.0.0.19 OR GREATER


Version 7.9.3.3

REQUIRES A NEW SERIAL NUMBER VERSION 7.X

Installer

  • Enable installing on a Windows 10 machine.

Serial

  • Support for version 7.2 serials with
    • unlimited channels enabled
    • maintenance plan expiry enabled
  • Improved serial management layout

Scheduling

  • Removed the show-expanded-schedule-items checkbox
    • Use list view instead
  • Add option to hide scene preview below the selection list by default
    • Preference Key Name = Is Resource Preview Enabled

Named Snipes

  • This is a new feature that allows you to trigger snipes via automation or manually using the switcher app
    • REQUIRES SWITCHER VERSION 2.0.0.18 OR GREATER
    • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.42 OR GREATER
    • REQUIRES GEARS VERSION 2.0.X.23 OR GREATER

Version 7.5.4.2

REQUIRES DMAN VERSION 1.5.4.6 OR GREATER

General

  • Enable the option of selecting a default feature to be used as the first page instead of the home dashboard.
  • Show the next expected update time for any agent status if it is valid still (previously red status agents never showed a countdown)
  • Add a secondary close button on the Agent Status details window and add a scroll bar to handle long lists of agents.
  • Add support for adding a default database user for the player and other agents.
  • Drop unused fields in the program schedule table for isCC and inHD

Blade

  • Enable the output of the Client list.
  • Enhance the output of the Program Schedule
    • Added the standard program fields
      • Duration
      • Short Name
      • Line 1
      • Line 2
      • Hashtag
    • Added dynamic field output

Scheduling

  • Removed the limit of 400 count on a recurring schedule item.
    • Now rely on DMan to extend the schedule of recurring items instead of trying to insert them all into the player schedule immediately
    • Will extend for additional days based on the preference key ExtendRecurrenceDays value.

Version 7.3.4.1

Resource Scheduling

  • A bug was preventing the dynamic logo selection from saving correctly for bugs, bumpers, nexts.

Agent Status

  • The yellow/warning status has been removed. Now only green/good and red/bad are displayed.

Version 7.1.4.1

General

  • New compact header layout to reduce wasted space.

Channel Management

  • Channels are temporarily limited to 99. New channel limits will be set in the serial number in future releases.

Version 6.12.4.2

Dashboard

  • New 3-column layout
  • Simplified link names
  • Auto-refresh the channel status section based on a number of seconds set in system preferences.

Client Management

  • Client ID is now optional and does not have to be unique.
  • Client ID will show in the As-Run report in Flow and BLADE output.

Version 6.12.3.5

  • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.33 OR GREATER
  • REQUIRES GEARS VERSION 2.0.X.15 OR GREATER

Resource Scheduling

  • Now snipes, next ups and bumpers can all be assigned a client/sponsor.
    • Custom sponsored snipes are phased out.

Version 6.12.2.3

Security

  • Fix errors when using a backslash in the login field.
  • Enhance password security.

Version 6.11.5.6

Resource Scheduling

  • Improve accuracy of the recurrence description in schedule tooltips
  • Prevent sponsored snipes from incorrectly being assigned a previous snipes dynamic fields

Program Ratings

  • New installations include a set of U.S. television ratings as well as the Canadian set.
  • Unwanted ratings can be easily disabled in the Program Ratings module

Installer

  • Fixed bug which caused updates to be applied out of sequence resulting in installation errors.
  • Resolve errors that would occur after logging in on a new install with no serial pre-set.

BLADE

  • Fix start and end date parameter handling.

Version 6.10.4.6

Channel Management

  • A port number can now be assigned to a channel.

System Configuration

  • Select features can now be enabled and disabled by an admin user.

Version 6.10.2.6

You will need new Brando apps to be compatible with this version of Flow.

  • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.30 OR GREATER
  • REQUIRES GEARS VERSION 2.0.X.13 OR GREATER
  • REQUIRES SWITCHER VERSION 2.0.X.11 OR GREATER

Resource Scheduling

  • Bugs, Bumpers, Snipes, and Next Ups now all support the use of dynamic fields (replaces the previous caption support).
  • All resource schedules can now be edited via a right-click context menu.
    • The popup window will display the applicable fields for the schedule item
      • Expiry for snipes and End Time for other resources
      • Duration for programs
      • Dynamic fields when available for the resource
      • Tag time
      • Countdown To time for bugs
      • etc.
  • Highlighting of the watershed time in the schedule is now also applied to weekends and can be disabled by using appropriate settings in the preferences module.

User Password

  • The password change now indicates a relative password strength indicator to encourage users to create stronger passwords.

Version 6.10.1.1

Resource Scheduling

  • Introducing the ability to edit existing schedule items
    • Enabled for snipes at present via a right-click context menu option

Schedule Resource Report

  • Now accessible to all users for all security levels (it is a read-only report after all)
  • Improved date formatting

Version 6.9.3.5

Schedule Resource Report

  • This new report option allows users to generate and print a report of resource schedules for a channel.
  • Filter by date (start and end date and time).
  • Supports display of dynamic tags in snipes and programs.

Resource Scheduling

  • Improvements to prevent errors when showing tooltips of scheduled items - particularly in the master schedule.

Dynamic Field Editor

  • Allow blank values to be assigned to dynamic fields.

Version 6.9.3.2

General

  • Installer improvements


Version 6.9.2.3

BLADE

  • Fix for missing As-Run report icon.

Security

  • Fix for errors that occur when logging in as a non-admin user.

Version 6.9.1.1

General Scheduling

  • Fix the bug where the "Go To Program Details" right-click menu item returned an error page.
  • New enhanced tool-tip loads additional program details and dynamic fields.

Snipe Scheduling

  • Add new system preference to control is new snipes are added to the schedule as Timed Snipes by default or not.
    • Defaults to false - so new snipes default to regular and not timed snipes.

Version 6.8.5.3

Snipe Scheduling

  • Fix error that prevented adding snipes when there were no dynamic fields or logos.

Version 6.8.5.2

General

  • Product key embedded in installer
  • Fix to missing driver error on update install
  • Flow version showing proper version in bottom left
  • Fix to Object References not found on install

Version 6.8.5.1

Snipe Scheduling

  • Fix for issue with the use of long logo names in dynamic logos.
  • Improve height control when the list of logos is long.
  • KNOWN ISSUE: cannot schedule snipes if there is no dynamic fields or logos.

Version 6.8.4.5

Snipe Scheduling

  • Add support for dynamic logos and field assignment
    • Caption functionality is replaced by dynamic fields
    • Does apply to specific schedule instances
    • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.23 OR GREATER
    • REQUIRES GEARS VERSION 2.0.X.10 OR GREATER
    • KNOWN ISSUE: long logo path names can cause an error. Recommend using 6.8.5.1 to fix.
  • Caption functionality is replaced by the use of the above mentioned dynamic fields

System Preferences

  • NEW MODULE available
    • Includes access to system preference settings
    • Includes access to view database version status
    • Includes access to view installed code versions

Serial Support

  • Access to Brando modules is now controlled by assigned serial numbers for enhanced customization options.

Dynamic Field Editor

  • Added character counts for text and number types.
  • Added spell checking support for text types.

Program Scheduling

  • Add option to enable navigation from program scheduler to program management.
  • Add option to edit the program records dynamic fields from the schedule

Version 6.7.3004

Programs

  • Add support for dynamic logos and field assignment.
    • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.16 OR GREATER
    • REQUIRES GEARS VERSION 2.0.X.6 OR GREATER
    • Note that this does not apply to schedule specific instances but only the static program records.

BLADE

  • Now the default settings for newlines, pretty printing and timestamps can be configured in system preferences.
  • Added optional filtering for As Run report in Blade using:
    • Client Name
    • Program Name
    • Title

Known Issues

  • Error occurs when editing and then trying so save a change to an existing dynamic field automation name.

Version 6.7.2006

Programs

  • Enhance support for programs being input from a datafeed by adding a datafeedID column to the programs table.
    • No visible UI
    • Allows users to modify the other details of the program after import without losing the connection to the original entry in the feed

Version 6.7.2003

Resource Scheduling

  • Fix to correctly display scheduled items that span midnight.
  • Use short date formats that reflect the client settings when entering dates.
  • Allow the master and program schedules to filter which resources to show in the schedule.

Master Schedule

  • Enable additional grouping combinations for resource and date.

Client Management

  • Allow editing the client ID values so they can match customer system ids.
    • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.13 OR GREATER

BLADE

  • Improve error handling
  • Enable As-Run report to filter on individual channel or return results for all channels.

Version 6.7.1006

Resource Scheduling

  • Display a new larger scene preview when scheduling resources.
  • Use new colors to associate with bumpers as previous color selections made bumpers difficult to see at times.

BLADE

  • Fix Program Schedules output
  • Add ratings to Program Schedule output
  • Improve date selection UI with wider input controls and better validation

Version 6.7.1002

Resource Scheduling

  • Enabled a list-view of the schedule.
  • Other minor UI tweaks

Known Issues

  • Program Schedules BLADE output is broken.

Version 6.6.4002

General

  • Use updated logos
  • Use new home, help and logout icons in the page header instead of the previous text buttons.

BLADE

  • Added support for JSON and CSV output formats.
  • Added support for As-Run reports.

Channel Management

  • Change location label to content group to be consistent with new terminology.

Programs

  • Added support for ratings.
    • Can be added to the program records.
    • Can be set when scheduling the program.

Snipe Scheduling

  • New support for snipe expiry times. Snipes with no expiry with display with a default time of 30 minutes in the schedule but can stay in the player queue beyond that. Expired snipes will not be played.
  • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.11 OR GREATER

Version 6.5.5003

Bug Scheduling

  • Support for a countdown in bug scenes has been added. Now you can specify a date and time that the bug will display a countdown to.
    • Note the bug scene has to have support for it before Flow will allow you to set the countdown time.

Version 6.4.5003

BLADE

  • Introducing the BLADE module to provide data export features for Program Schedules and As - Runs
  • NOTE: As Runs not working yet.

General

  • Have nice page titles display in browser window titles
  • Add Agent Status support

Resource Scheduling

  • Add search functionality to resource lists
  • Don't show thumbnails by default but enable display with check box option in list footer
  • Merge the timed snipe and snipe scheduling into a single snipe schedule module
  • A SnipeSponsor or L3Sponsor scene is no longer required to allow scheduling sponsored snipes

Version 6.4.3006

Resource Scheduling

  • Add new Tag Time field to allow specify a specific time to base the use of Now and Next tags on instead of always using the default time of right now.
    • REQUIRES PLAYER VERSION 2.0.X.7 OR GREATER
  • Indicate which resource scenes support the use of Tag Time when they are flagged as containing a now and/or next tag.
    • REQUIRES GEARS VERSION 2.0.X.3 OR GREATER

Version 6.4.3003

Master Schedule

  • Fix to scheduled items not showing on Master Schedule after navigation
  • Fix to scheduled items not being modifiable after navigation


Version 6.4.1003

Resource Scheduling

  • Add option to expand schedule items instead of using exact time rendering

  • Allows items at end of schedule displays to be accessible/visible even if they would otherwise be too small to be accessed

Database

  • Auto-detect and use utf8mb4 connection encoding if available
  • Add missing isLive column to the program_schedule table for new installs

Version 6.3.5006

USES NEW BL DEFAULT SETTINGS IN THE INSTALLER.

Resource Scheduling

  • Lower Thirds are renamed as Timed Snipes
  • Lower Third Tails are renamed as Snipes
  • Remove any remaining references to tickers or voiceovers.

Programs

  • Add support for a new hashtag field

Content Group Management

  • This is a new module that allows for adding, editing and deleting content groups.
  • NOTE: Content Groups were previously known as hubs.

Database

  • Updated all tables to support utf8 character set
  • New installs will support utf8mb4 character set since new installs will be on MySQL databases that support it

Version 6.3.3.2

  • Support for the pending graphics update flag for channels.
    • An information icon will appear next to the channel in the dashboard when a graphics update is available on the project server.

Version 6.2.2.6

  • Support for Shared Projects in Gears added.

Version 5.11.5.5

  • Caption fields for all resource types now allow new captions or give the option to choose from up to 25 of the previously used captions

Version 5.10.5.4

  • Fix to deleting scheduled items on days past current

Version 5.10.5.3

  • Fix to error reports not loading
  • Support driver mismatch corrected

Version 5.10.4.6

  • View full day option available within resource scheduling
  • Fix to calendar picker not working in Master View schedule
  • Schedule loading time decreased

Version 5.10.3.6

  • User based scheduling errors are no longer logged in the critical error log
  • Users with apostrophes in their names can now be added
  • Online help points to our new online help resource
  • Fix to adding scheduled resources that start at 11:31 or later at night

Version 5.4.3.2

User Management

  • Enable changing the user password when editing the user details.

  • Enable the option to restore a deleted user.

  • Add filtering options to easily find a specific user record by their name, security group or hub.

General

  • Fix to audit logs missing user

Version 5.3.4.3

  • Fixed ability to slide resources in schedule
  • Fixed schedule jump on notification of error
  • Fixed time chooser on program entry not allowing schedule addition
  • Fixed Add Program button being inactive after entering program and changing region

Version 5.3.4.1

  • Fix for program scheduling issues 
  • Fix for using the Enter key to submit when adding captions

Version 5.3.2.2

  • Fix for losing Sponsored 3rd clip names when sliding an existing item on a schedule
  • Contains self healing utility run on launch of Flow, writes updates to System Audit logs
  • Fix for Object Not Found when creating an occurrence from a series
  • Install contains option to choose primary/lone or backup to prevent replication errors in DMan.

Version 5.2.5.5

  • Improves de-orphaner

Version 5.2.5.4

  • Adds some extra diagnostic support

Version 5.2.5.3

  • Fix to count limit in high daily audit log scenarios

Version 5.2.5.2

  • Fix to loss of resource association when sliding a scheduled item on the schedule

Version 5.2.4.4

  • Improved loading visual during program scheduling
  • Improved loading time of Lower3rd and Lower3rd Tail schedule
  • Fix when switching from Sponsored 3rds to Regular Lower 3rds during scheduling
  • Schedule date labels now update with calendar change on resource scheduling

Version 5.2.4.3

  • Fix to inability to delete from schedule when not on today
  • Calendar no longer moves ahead one day after attempting an edit from the calendar
  • Lower 3rd and Lower 3rd Tail editing: Start Time in the time drop box now moves ahead only 1 minute after insertion instead of 5 minutes.


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