The General tab allows to enter relevant data pertaining to event information, the lines that define every single commercial event of the proposal:
Parameter - Scheduling type
Description : Select the criteria to be used when scheduling the contractual event:
Priority - The event would be scheduled consistently in the same segment position, the space will be assigned based on the user-defined parameters.
Rotation - The event would be scheduled across different segment positions in rotating basis.
Optimization - The event would be scheduled based on the 'emptiness' of the segment, optimizing the space utilization by filling those segments where it is most needed.
Fixed time - The event would be scheduled at the same time, if space is unavailable the event would be skipped. The difference between "Fixed time" and "Priority" is that it allows to specify the exact space whereas in Priority the space is assigned based on the user-defined parameters.
Top - The event would be scheduled in the top segment of the block (if available), otherwise it would be scheduled in the closest to the top segment.
Bottom - The event would be scheduled in the bottom segment of the block (if available), otherwise it would be scheduled in the closest to the bottom segment.
Top & bottom - The event would be scheduled in both top and bottom of segments. Further options include:
➢Exclusive Top/Bottom: If enabled, events scheduled as the first (top) or last (bottom) event of the segment, would be protected from subsequent scheduling operations, they will always remain as the first or last event of the segment.
NB: If two different assets are assigned, they would be used as top and bottom.
➢Middle: If enabled, besides the top (first) and bottom (last) event, a third event would be inserted between top and bottom (with a 501 priority).
NB: Please note that in case three different assets are assigned to the order line, they will be automatically used -during the scheduling- in the top, middle and bottom placements.
NB: The scheduling type proposed by default will be the one used the last time for the last proposal.
Parameter - Filler type
Description : Filler lines are used, precisely, to 'fill up' remaining schedule spaces. Contractual fillers are highlighted within the schedule with a green square icon, available filler types are:
None - The current proposal line is not a filler.
Filler - The current proposal line is a filler, it will be used to fill remaining-empty-spaces according to its scheduling restrictions (e.g. daily runs, total runs, scheduling days, etc).
Add to fillers list - The current proposal line is a commercial, but it would be also available from the Segments Filler tool from which it will be possible to use it to fill remaining-empty-spaces without restriction (i.e. without scheduling runs restrictions).
Parameter - Priority (Event Priority)
Description : The priority of an event is the criteria used by Etere to determine its position within a commercial cluster during the scheduling phase. This priority start from 1 (highest priority) to 1000 (lowest).
NB: This value will be customizable if the scheduling type is by 'Priority', 'Rotation' and 'Optimization'. For other types it would have a fixed priority value:
1,2 - Jingles
3 - Top
500 - Default (i.e. Air Sales will assign a random scheduling priority)
501 - Middle
997 - Bottom
998 - Integration Filler
999 - Split Filler
For instance, if you select 1 as the priority the commercial event is scheduled as the first event of the cluster (i.e. the best position); alerting the operator if another event has already scheduled with the same priority (and as such has taken the first of cluster position).
Parameter - WL
(White List Priority)
Description : The white-list-priority feature determine the next cause of action in the event that a preassigned space of a scheduled event is occupied by another scheduled event.
The use of White Lists is disabled by default (value=0), by inserting a value greater than zero (0 - 100) Etere Air Sales would attempt to schedule the event into the assigned space even if it's occupied by another event (with a lower priority). See the White List Priority chapter for further info.
Note1: If the line is "free", it would replace only other "free" contractual events (with a lower white list priority).
Note2: If the line is "top & bottom", the white list priority must be zero (otherwise a warning message would be displayed).
Parameter - Hide from Air Sales Scheduler
(disable automatic scheduling)
Description : Enable this option if this proposal line is intended to be scheduled manually (e.g. from Strategic Editor). If enabled, the proposal line won't be available for automatic programming by the Air Sales Scheduler module.
Parameter - Date Range
Description :
From date / To date - Set the date range to schedule the events.
Start time / End time (+1d) - Specify the exact time interval on which the proposal line will be scheduled each day.
NB: By default, this value is set for the entire day starting at the station's rollover time (e.g. 06:00am) until the next day rollover time (e.g. 06:00 am +1d).
View scheduling situation - It opens an overview of the scheduling status within the selected time range, indicated by color blocks:
This window also allows (by making right click) to view the block information (i.e. free space of each block within a certain day) or view the segment information (the free space of each segment within a certain day).
Parameter - Other Scheduling Data
Description :
Spot Code - Select the code that indicates to which kind of advertisement the current proposal line belongs to. Spot codes are defined by a supervisor under the Sales > Sales Proposal > Configuration > Spot Code section. If the spot code has a white list priority. it will be automatically retrieved in the related parameter present above.
Duration - Select the scheduled duration of the event specified on this proposal line.
Description - Insert a brief description of the event.
Total to schedule - Enter the total number of times that the event would be aired within the given time range.
Max daily run - Indicate the maximum number of times that the proposal line can be transmitted daily.
NB: In case the "enable auto-calc max daily run'" parameter is disabled, the max daily run would be '1' by default.
Product Code - Select the nature of the product that would be transmitted from a robust and well-categorized list. By default, the product code set for the currently selected customer is displayed.
Production - If an extra production cost is included, it's possible to define it here. This amount will be charged to the total cost of the overall proposal.
Dubbing - Enter the cost of dubbing the asset. This amount would be charged to the total cost of the overall proposal.
Compensation account - Set the ledger account for posting transactions related to the current order line. This account is used even if compensation accounts are set for the order's line and customers/agencies.
NB: For more info on invoicing accounts refer to the "Available invoicing modes" chapter of Money.
NB: Ledger accounts are set in "Configuration > Settings > Invoice Archives > Chart of accounts".
Parameter - Mode
(Price calculation)
Description : Specify the method to be used for calculating the price of the proposal, available methods are:
Calculated unit price - The 'unit price' to be charged by the current proposal line will be automatically calculated based on the price list of the assigned block(s).
Calculated unit price and fixed - This option, besides calculating the 'unit price' automatically, ensures that the total price won't change even if the proposal line's scheduled space change.
Unit manual price - Indicate the 'unit price' would be used for calculating the total amount, by multiplying the unit price by the number of runs specified in the proposal line.
Calculate from this total - If compiled (i.e. different from zero), this value would be the total amount of the proposal line, and the 'unit price' would be calculated dividing this total by the number of runs specified in the proposal line.
Free - Enable this mode if the event would be transmitted without charges (i.e. any fee would be charged for airing this proposal line).
Parameter - Block and Days
Description :
Blocks - Select the blocks on which the event would be scheduled. Only blocks meeting the following conditions would be displayed for selection:
➢Blocks which are associated (under the selected period) to a price list that includes the classification (e.g. red) of the current customer.
➢Blocks which are not associated to a price list (only if the "enable adding blocks without price lists" has been enabled in the Sales > Parameters).
➢Either blocks with segments matching the event type specified in the "Options" tab or blocks with segments matching the group to which the specified event type; depending on the "Add blocks for single-types rather than type-groups" parameter (set in Etere Configuration > Air Sales > Rules).
Blocks can be added either manually by making right-click on them and select 'Add blocks' function or automatically (in case no block is selected when saved). Added blocks can be easily removed from the list using right click and select 'delete blocks' option:
Once blocks are added, it is possible to indicate the exact segments where the event would be scheduled by right-click on the block and select the 'select segment' option:
Days - Selecting / Deselecting the weekdays in the right column, it is possible to dictate the weekdays on which the proposal line would be scheduled (checked boxes).