Howdy-
I'm a new Xpression user and I'm trying to migrate our existing workflow to the new system. I'm externally generating an XML and using the XML import to create a playlist. I've noticed a couple quirks with this workflow and looking to see if anyone has any workarounds or suggestions.
I'm using a non-visible text object and visual basic to assign face color for the text, as well as load dynamic materials for the graphics. I'm finding that unless the scene text field is 'Published', the data is not being read/processed/updated with the XML import.
Here is the visual basic I'm using to color the text (based on a lot of help from the forums):
Here is a sample of the XML I am using to generate the graphic:
<command type="create">
<template name="item4" scenename="agendaItem" targetid="5004" groupid="5000">
<transitionin type="Dissolve" duration="10" /><transitionout type="Dissolve" duration="10" />
<object name="commission"><properties><property type="text"><data>Public Works Commission</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="date"><properties><property type="text"><data>6/27/25</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="num"><properties><property type="text"><data>4</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="item"><properties><property type="text"><data>Consent Calendar of Routine Matters</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="CMTCODE"><properties><property type="text"><data>PWC</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="committeeCOLOR"><properties><property type="text"><data>1</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="dateCOLOR"><properties><property type="text"><data>1</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="numCOLOR"><properties><property type="text"><data>1</data></property></properties></object>
<object name="itemCOLOR"><properties><property type="text"><data>1</data></property></properties></object>
</template></command>
Here's an example of the dynamic Material Path: Images\@CMTCODE@\Lower_@CMTCODE@.png
If the text object fields (CMTCODE, committeeCOLOR, dateCOLOR, numCOLOR, itemCOLOR) are not 'Published', the graphics and color do not update when the XML is imported. If the text object fields are 'Published', the graphics and color do update as expected. I would like to keep these text objects unpublished/hidden to the operator.
Is this an issue with my XML workflow? Or does anyone have a suggested workaround?
Thanks for reading the long post :)
------------------------------
Tom Loftus
Operations Supervisor
SFGovTV City and County of San Francisco
------------------------------