iPump 6420 User’s Manual
www.wegener.com 800070-01 Rev B Chapter 3, Page 84
3.4.5. File Selection Keywords
File selection keywords give the user the ability to play files in “random” order. These are
typically used in temporary inserts ordered by Compel commands. However, they can be used
as file specs in loop-forever playlist plays, a permanent Decoder (port) setting. The “keyword”
signals to the playback process a method to select an audio file from a specified i6420 asset
folder, whether top level, or deep in the directory tree. The keywords apply to the file path
description, whether in a discrete file play command, or in a single file spec (line item) of a
larger playlist. In the path syntax, they literally take the place of a discrete file name. Each
keyword assumes that some memory of previous plays is retained. However, this memory is
non-volatile, and is not retained through unit resets.
As of this writing, three (3) keyword selectors are defined, SHUFFLE, RANDOM, and
SEQUENTIAL:
1. SHUFFLE: This keyword means that all files in a directory are each played once,
without any repeats, as file insert requests, using this keyword, are made. When all
files have played, then the order in the directory is re-shuffled and a new file play
order is remembered. The only exception is that the last file from the previous
shuffle is not the first in the next, if there is more than one file in the directory. This
continues for all file plays called for a particular Decoder (port), until the unit resets
or the directory has files added or removed. So the remembered state is: Ordered
file list, current position in list, applicable Decoder, and the type of call (from
discrete file play, a file spec in a std. playlist, or file spec in a LOA playlist [used for
ShowShifting or Time
Zone Delay, see sections 3.7.2 & 3.7.3]).
2. RANDOM: This keyword means that a file is randomly selected from a directory as
file insert requests, using this keyword, are made. If there is more than one playable
file in the directory, then no file is repeated, through repeated requests. This
continues for all file plays called for a particular Decoder (port), until the unit resets.
So the remembered state is: Last file played, applicable Decoder, and the type of call
(from discrete file play, a file spec in a std. playlist, or file spec in a LOA playlist
[used for ShowShifting or Time Zone Delay, see sections 3.7.2 & 3.7.3]).
3. SEQUENTIAL: This keyword means that all files in a directory are each played
once, without any repeats, in alphanumeric order, as file insert requests, using this
keyword, are made. When all files have played, then it repeats in the same order.
This continues for all file plays called for a particular Decoder (port), until the unit
resets or the directory has files added or removed. So the remembered state is:
Alphanumeric file list, current position in list, applicable Decoder, and the type of
call (from discrete file play, a file spec in a std. playlist, or file spec in a LOA playlist
[used for ShowShifting or Time Zone Delay, see sections 3.7.2 & 3.7.3]).
As files are added or deleted from the target folders, the behavior of the unit is this: As files
are added, then the new files are “picked up” each time SHUFFLE or SEQUENTIAL finishes
the current file list and starts again. As files are deleted, the keywords would skip those file
positions in their lists, if any.
An example of the use of the SHUFFLE keyword is given in Figure 3-18.
There are no relevant user controls for this automatic process, beyond use of these
keywords in the standard file and playlist play commands.