Insert/Import External Log/Playlist Action

Choose how to locate the external log file:

• Specific file: select a fixed file from the file system.
• Dated file: select a folder and define a date pattern so the correct file is picked automatically based on the current date and time.

When Dated file mode is selected, specify the folder where the log files are stored and a date pattern that matches the file naming convention. The example below the pattern shows the resolved file name for the current date and time.

This is useful for cases such as an Adverts folder, where the files are named based on the time they should play and the correct one is picked dynamically from the current date and time.

For example, selecting the folder C:\PlayoutLogs with the pattern %yyyy%-%MM%-%dd% will look for the file C:\PlayoutLogs\2024-12-18.pipl on 18th December 2024.

See Date Pattern Parts below for all available pattern tokens.

When Specific file mode is selected, click the link to browse for the log or playlist file to insert.

The format of the external log or playlist file. Select the format that matches the files produced by your external scheduler or media player.

How to add the log items to the playout log:

• Insert: drops the items from the file into the log at the selected position, keeping the existing items.
• Import: replaces the current log with the items from the file - the same as importing through the Import Playout Log window.

Where to insert the log items in the playout log:

• Play Next: after the currently playing track.
• End Of Current Hour: at the end of the current clock hour.
• Start Of Next Hour: at the start of the next clock hour.
• End Of Next Hour: at the end of the next clock hour.

Adjusts the reference hour, relative to the current hour when the action runs. For example, set to 1 to target the next hour rather than the current one. The offset moves the insert position and, when using a Dated file, the date and time the file name is resolved from.

This matters for a daily log named by date (such as %yyyy%-%MM%-%dd%): because the file name is built from the offset time, an offset that crosses midnight rolls the date forward and selects a different day's file. For example, an event running at 23:00 with an offset of 1 resolves the next day's file rather than today's.