The Replace Block function allows operators to easily replace a source block or a group of consecutive blocks with a set of blocks either of the same type, and maintain all events scheduled within the source blocks into the destination blocks (according to user-defined criteria). An overall functions of the replacement feature has been illustrated in the following diagram:
In order to start replacing blocks (and the events scheduled on them), follow the procedures described below:
1.Select the replacement criteria to be applied.
2.Specify the replaced and replacement blocks involved in the operation.
3.Launch the replacement operation.
Replacement Criteria
The first thing to do when replacing block consist in dictating the rules that will determine how the replacement operation should be performed, this can be done in the bottom part of the window:
Period - Set here parameters related to the time interval on which the replacement will be performed, these parameters include:
•Start Date - End Date: Specify the date range that block(s) will be replaced, all the appearances of the selected block(s) will be replaced in the selected date range.
•Days: Indicate the day on which blocks will be replaced; only block's appearances on the selected days will be replaced.
Segment type - Specify the criteria to be followed for placing events from the source block into the destination block, available criteria are:
•Same source segment type: If selected, events from the source block will be placed in the destination block ONLY if the destination segment type (e.g. spots) is the same as the source event type (e.g. spots).
•Compatible type: If selected, events from the source block will be placed in the destination block EVEN if the destination segment type (e.g. spots) is different from the source event type (e.g. Trailer) BUT both of them belong to the same types group (e.g. commercial group).
NB: Non-commercial programs (e.g. seasons, news, etc) which cannot be placed in destination blocks (e.g. due to a types incompatibility, unavailable space, etc) would be permanently deleted.
Contractual events not placeable - If the auto-blacklist management is enabled for the station, the following actions will be available for handling exclusively commercial events present in the source block but which cannot be placed in the destination block (e.g. due to insufficient space, events limit reached, etc):
•Delete and insert in BL: If selected, commercial events which cannot be placed in the destination block will be deleted but placed in Black List for a subsequent manual placement.
•Delete: If selected, commercial events which are unable to be placed in the destination blocks will be permanently deleted (thus making commercial events ready for being rescheduled).
In case the auto-blacklist management is disabled, the "delete and insert in BL" option will be used to move unplaceable commercial events into the BL (e.g. to reschedule them at a later time).
NB: Non-commercial programs (e.g. seasons, news, etc) which cannot be placed will be always moved into the last alternative schedule of their related days (keeping a link to the new destination block).
Destination segment filling - Indicate how events scheduled within a source block will be placed in the destination block(s):
•Keep the same number of events of the source segment: If enabled, events scheduled on source segments will be repositioned on destination segments even if the destination don't count with enough space to hold all of them. Additionally, if this option is enabled, it will be possible to set to "keep the source time" of source events in destination blocks with a certain tolerance time which by default is set to 5 minutes (300 seconds).
For instance, if an event is scheduled in the 'News' segment of the 06:20:00, and the tolerance is of 5 minutes, it will be repositioned only if a destination 'News' segment allows it to keep its scheduled time within the 06:15:00-06:25:00 interval.
•Fill while there is still free space: If enabled, events scheduled on source segments will be repositioned on destination segments occupying the first available segment (i.e. a segment of the same type as the source), thus changing their scheduled times if necessary.
For instance, if an event is scheduled in the 'News' segment of the 06:20:00, during the replacement it will be repositioned on the first available segment, for example, the 'News' segment of the 06:40:00, the event will be kept, despite it will have a different scheduled time.
Replaced and Replacement Blocks
Once the replacing criteria has been defined, the Source blocks and Destination blocks needs to be specified while taking into account the total duration (information that permit operators to keep an eye on not falling short nor exceeding the duration of replaced blocks):
Source blocks - The list of source blocks is loaded according to the order of selected blocks within the daily scheduling structure.
Destination blocks - The list of destination blocks permits to select the blocks to be used for replacing source blocks, being possible to order them within the list by moving them up or down.
In the bottom part of each list it displayed the total duration of all the blocks, this information will permit operators to keep an eye on not falling short nor exceeding the duration of replaced blocks.
Please note that it is possible to restrict the replacement operation by enabling the 'check blocks duration when replacing them within the structure' option under the Etere Configuration > Settings > Air Sales > Scheduling Rules section. When enabled, the replacement would only took placed if the total duration of replacement blocks is equal to the total duration of replaced blocks.
In this section it will be possible to add and remove blocks as described below:
•[Add] : This button, available for both Source and Destination blocks, allows adding replaced blocks (source) and replacement blocks (destination) . When pressed, it display a list containing all blocks managed by the station for selection.
Sort - Arrange the display of all blocks either by Name or ID.
Filter - Display only parent blocks.(i.e. parent blocks) or all blocks (i.e. parent and child blocks).
As shown in the figure above, the unique ID of each block is displayed at the end of their names. For detailed information about parent and child blocks please refer to the proper 'Blocks instances' chapter.
• [Remove] : This button remove blocks from either the Source or the Destination list.
NB: Please note that in case the "Replace Block" function has been launched for specific blocks (i.e. by selecting them before clicking on the replace button), the source blocks would be displayed in read-only mode to prevent loosing the previous source blocks selection.
Launch the replacement!
Once source and destination blocks have been selected and replacement criteria were defined, press the [Run] button to launch the replacement operation. At the end of the replacement, a report will be displayed detailing all performed actions (i.e. replaced blocks, inserted events, deleted events, black-listed events, etc) as well as all issues encountered:
•Destination blocks are already present in the day: A destination block already presented in the day in question.
•Source blocks are not consecutive: The end-time of a source blocks doesn't coincide with the start-time of its consecutive block.
NB: Once the main form closed, the current opened scheduling structure will be automatically refreshed.