BLAZE NRCS 3.

0
User Manual
Release Date: 1 Dec 2021
Rev 3.0

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End User License Agreement
FOR BLAZETM Version 3.0 Software Product

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Table of Contents
1 PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 WHO SHOULD USE THIS MANUAL ...................................................................................................... 5
2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 SUPPORTED WEB BROWSERS ........................................................................................................... 5
2.2 SUPPORTED SCREEN RESOLUTION.................................................................................................... 5
2.3 SUPPORTED FONTS .......................................................................................................................... 5
3 USER INTERFACE & TERMINOLOGIES .................................................................................... 6
3.1 DIFFERENT WORK AREAS IN THE USER INTERFACE ............................................................................ 6
3.2 STORY AND ITS ELEMENTS ................................................................................................................ 6
3.2.1 Different Story Formats Explained ...................................................................................... 7
3.3 DESK AND ITS IMPORTANCE ............................................................................................................. 8
3.4 WIRES – THE NEWS SOURCE............................................................................................................ 9
3.4.1 Flashing wire item ............................................................................................................... 11
3.5 RUNDOWNS – THE HEART OF THE NEWSROOM COMPUTER SYSTEM ................................................ 11
4 USER OPERATIONS.................................................................................................................... 12
4.1 CREATION AND MODIFICATION OF A STORY .................................................................................... 12
4.1.1 Creation of a story in Workspace > My Stories > Drafts ................................................... 12
4.1.2 Creation of a story from wires ............................................................................................. 13
4.1.3 Creation of a story from Desk ............................................................................................. 14
4.1.4 Creation of a story in a Rundown ....................................................................................... 14
4.2 WHEN TO COPY/MOVE/LINK A STORY............................................................................................ 15
4.3 EDITING A STORY .......................................................................................................................... 15
4.3.1 Open a story in editing Mode .............................................................................................. 16
4.3.2 Multiple Item Add ................................................................................................................ 16
4.3.3 Item Reorder ........................................................................................................................ 17
4.3.4 Changing the Status of a Story ........................................................................................... 17
4.3.5 Saving Different versions of a Story ................................................................................... 18
4.3.6 Story Log .............................................................................................................................. 18
4.3.7 Attachment of a Media Clip to a story................................................................................ 19
4.3.8 Attachments ......................................................................................................................... 19
4.3.9 Contacts ................................................................................................................................ 20
4.3.10 Creating Placeholder ........................................................................................................ 20
4.3.11 Attachment of a Graphic template to a story ................................................................. 20
4.3.12 Add a story from show template...................................................................................... 21
4.4 CREATION AND MODIFICATION OF A RUNDOWN ............................................................................. 22
4.4.1 Create a New Rundown ....................................................................................................... 23
4.4.2 Auto creation of Rundown using Show Master .................................................................. 23
4.4.3 Locking a Rundown ............................................................................................................. 23
4.4.4 Making a Rundown On Air/Off Air ..................................................................................... 23
4.4.5 Duration Calculation in a Rundown ................................................................................... 24
4.4.6 Printing a Rundown ............................................................................................................. 25
4.4.7 Download a Rundown .......................................................................................................... 25
4.4.8 Using PowerView Mode ....................................................................................................... 25
4.4.9 Skipping and Unskipping a Story in a Rundown .............................................................. 26
4.4.10 Duplicating a Rundown ................................................................................................... 26
4.4.11 Modifying a Rundown ...................................................................................................... 26
4.4.12 Delete a Rundown ............................................................................................................ 26
4.4.13 Search a Rundown............................................................................................................ 26
4.4.14 Upload New Slugs .......................................................................................................... 27
4.4.15 Email a story from Rundown ....................................................................................... 27
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 4.4.16 Comment a Story ........................................................................................................... 27
4.4.17 Slug Filtering ................................................................................................................... 28
4.4.18 Quick Slug ........................................................................................................................ 28
4.4.19 Add Break ........................................................................................................................ 28
4.5 ASSIGNMENTS................................................................................................................................ 29
4.5.1 Assignments for Today ........................................................................................................ 29
4.5.2 Assignments for Tomorrow ................................................................................................. 29
4.5.3 Future Assignments ............................................................................................................ 30
4.6 MEDIA............................................................................................................................................ 30
4.6.1 Previewing a Media ............................................................................................................ 30
4.6.2 Create a Placeholder ............................................................................................................ 31
4.6.3 Edit Media ............................................................................................................................ 31
4.7 SOCIAL MEDIA ............................................................................................................................... 31
4.8 MESSAGING AND CHAT .................................................................................................................. 33
4.8.1 Sending Message .................................................................................................................. 33
4.8.2 Chat ...................................................................................................................................... 34
4.9 REPORTS ........................................................................................................................................ 34
4.9.1 Performance of Rundowns ................................................................................................... 34
4.9.2 Generate user Performance Reports................................................................................... 35
4.9.3 Generate Reports based on Stringer / Reporter ................................................................. 36
4.9.4 Generate Reports based on Story Ratings ......................................................................... 36
4.9.5 Clip attachment .................................................................................................................. 37
4.10 ANCHOR LIVE ............................................................................................................................. 37
4.10.1 Posting live news ............................................................................................................ 37
4.10.2 Reading live news .......................................................................................................... 38
4.11 CREATING EVENTS ..................................................................................................................... 38
4.12 USER PREFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 39
APPENDIX 1: SHORTCUT KEYS....................................................................................................... 40

APPENDIX 2: ENABLING ACTIVEX IN INTERNET EXPLORER BROWSER ............................... 42

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1 Preface
Congratulations on the purchase of BLAZE Newsroom Computing System. BLAZE automates
your newsroom system workflow, along with BAPTER MOS gateway creates seamless
integration with various devices such as video servers, audio servers, still stores, character
generators and teleprompters

1.1 Who should use this manual

This manual is written for journalists, producers, directors, writers, and various technical
personnel responsible for using the BLAZE NRCS in a broadcast newsroom. Portions of the
manual provide installation data for technicians.

It is strongly recommended that the users have prior experience or classroom

knowledge of
• The Windows operating system and
TIP
• Usage of Web browser

2 Introduction
BLAZE-NRCS is a hybrid integrated Production Workflow and Newsroom Workflow system. It
encompasses the ingestion of wires, logging and sorting of media elements, writing, editing
and approval of stories, and the management of the rundown and its progress through the
production process. The BLAZE-NRCS system touches many pieces of the broadcast chain
and automates the workflow process by eliminating Human errors and enabling maximum
usage of the latest Software technologies available.

BLAZE is a web-based application built using the latest HTML5 web interface and runs
natively on any modern web browsers without the need of any installation in the client
machines.

2.1 Supported Web browsers

Web Browser Versions Supported
Google Chrome Version 50 or Higher
Internet Explorer Version 10 or higher
Firefox Version 49 or Higher

2.2 Supported Screen Resolution

Best user experience of BLAZE NRCS can be found on screens with a resolution of 1290 X
800 or higher

2.3 Supported Fonts

Blaze supports all Unicode fonts including Right to left fonts.
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3 User Interface & Terminologies

3.1 Different work areas in the user interface

Once you login to the Blaze Application home screen, the user interface can be visualized as
divided into three areas

1> Menu Area - The part of the User Interface which aids in navigating to different
sections of the application. Few other sections such as the social Media Bar, The
Breaking news bar and few other sections is also part of this Area.

2> Selection Area – This area acts as a secondary navigation area. Sub items of the
main sections selected in the Menu Area are displayed here. A secondary navigation
area helps in quick modifications to recently edited data.

3> Main Work-Area – While the Menu Area and the Selection area helps you in
navigating to the item you want to work on, the Main Work-Area contains the most
critical sections of the application. This is the part where most of the user actions
and interaction with the system happen. Actions such as script editing, clips
attachment, CG Attachment happen in this part of the work area.

Menu Area

Selection Area Main Work-Area

3.2 Story and its elements

A story is the most used and the most important object in the NRCS. A story is a structure
made up of various sub-objects like Script, media Clip, Character graphics and voice overs.

At a time, only one user can open a story in Edit mode, however any number of users can
open a story in read-Only Mode.

A story Script window is further divided into two parts the Anchor Window and the
Instructions Window

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 Notes Area Script Area

The script typed in the Script Area is taken into consideration for story duration calculation.
The Script typed in the Notes Area is for internal instructions only and is not used for Story
duration calculation and is also not sent to the Anchor.

A story can be of various formats depending on the Sub-Formats in it.

3.2.1 Different Story Formats Explained

A story can be of different format depending on the sub-formats in the story structure. The
popular story formats are as follows

Studio:

These Story formats will typically be used by the Anchor to give introduction to the Story.
The following event could be a live event or a package. The clips attached to this type of
Story element is not considered for story Duration calculations. Text typed in the Script
window of this element is sent to the Teleprompter.

Voiceover:

The footage of these stories will generally require Anchors intervention in explaining the
footage to the audience. The script to be read by the anchor is written in the Script Area.
The video or audio clip is taken into consideration for counting the Duration of the story
along with the script duration. The higher duration among the two: Script duration and
Media Duration is taken into consideration for story duration calculation

Package:

This story format is used to broadcast stories which have well edited footage along with it.
This story format is a used when there is sufficient progress in the story and the footage will
have the necessary Voice overs to make the video self-explanatory. The video or audio clip
is taken into consideration for counting the Duration of the story along with the script
duration. The total duration of the two: Script duration and Media Duration is taken into
consideration for story duration calculation.

Live:

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The content of Live Stories is driven by external feeds and sources. No script is sent to
prompter for this format.

Phono:

A Video or Audio call is the main content for Phono story formats. No script is sent to
prompter for this format.

Breaking:

A special hotline between the anchor and the Bulletin Producer is setup for breaking story
format. The content typed by the Producer on the script Area is instantaneously visible to
the anchor in this format.

Montage:

These are special elements such as Jingles, Bumpers and Graphic fillers. The duration of
these stories is calculated from the media Clip of the story.

Break:

This format allows running of Schedules from External Scheduling software’s such as
broadcast management systems and Traffic Systems. The duration of the story is taken
from the planned duration of the break.

Headlines:

This format allows creation of headlines which is an introduction to the bulletin. This format
usually contains multiple Script areas to facilitate last minute changes to the headlines
order. The story duration is calculated as the total of Anchor Area text and the clip duration.

3.3 Desk and its Importance

Over the time there are thousands of stories generated, it’s very difficult to organize these
stories without appropriate classification. Desks Section comes to the rescue to solve this by
providing user defined folders. By selecting a desk for a story during story creation search
and retrieval of stories is greatly simplified.

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 • Creation and modification of Desks is possible under Settings > Desks

• Each Desk will have separate privileges and users will have access to the desks only
to which they have been granted privileges

• Master Desk contains stories of all desks, only experienced users should be
granted privileges to this section
TIP • Stories created in a Rundown are present in a folder named Rundown desk
which is hidden to the users by default.

✍ Note
Third-party softwares like NewsFlow can also be integrated under Desks for use. Only
approved media from NewsFlow will be listed under desks>newsflow.

3.4 Wires – The news source

A newsroom often relies on multiple sources for news. The most common sources of news
are through RSS Feeds, District reporters, Emails, Custom Wires and FTP Wire Feeds.
External news agencies provide news based on subscription.

The Wire Service of Blaze application is designed to handle all the above Sources. The news
sources can be added in the Settings > Wires section.

The various sources of news are listed under Wires section.

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Master Wire:
A wire sub section which has all wires listed under a single link. This works like Master Desk.
This entry helps user to go through all wire items from a single screen and hence save time.

Custom Wire:

Wires added by users are the custom wires. Using ‘New’ button one can add wire with title
and content and save.

District:

All district feeds sent via FTP are listed here. The Wire Service automatically extracts info
from the sent files and displays it here.

Mail:

News sent to official email id/s of the organization are displayed here.

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Other news sources are listed under the respective headings

Breaking:

All breaking news wires will be listed here. Users can add wire items under breaking. Such
wires when they have some special words like ‘Breaking’, ‘Alert’, are displayed as pop up
alert to all users across channels. All breaking news will be displayed as scrolling in ticker.

3.4.1 Flashing wire item

Users can flash the wire items which are important for the upcoming bulletin using the flash
feature. You can select the users to whom you want to flash the wire item and choose the
priority before you send. Users will receive flash wire item as a notification. Users can
comment the wire item and also print.

✍ Note
Newsflow, a third-party software can also be integrated under wires for use. Wires
uploaded from newsflow will be listed under newsflow.

3.5 Rundowns – The heart of the Newsroom Computer System

The newsroom’s goal is to come up with a good news bulletin. A news bulletin is called a
Rundown in a NRCS. A rundown is a set of stories, the stories in a rundown have a very
high chance of going On-Air. The source of the stories in a rundown could be from a Desk,
Wire or a Story created in the rundown itself. Rundown Section is generally privilege
controlled with access granted to only Senior editors and Bulletin producers. User operations
in the Rundown section are often reflected in connected devises and hence extra care
should be taken by users working in the Rundown Section

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4 User Operations

4.1 Creation and modification of a Story

Depending on the privileges assigned to a user there are multiple ways to create a story.
Even though there are multiple ways to create a story the basic procedure across the
diverse ways of story creation remains the same.

A story can be created in the following different sections of the application

4.1.1 Creation of a story in Workspace > My Stories > Drafts

Every user of Blaze will have access to “My Stories” section. My Stories section is a private
user space where the stories can be created. The stories created in the drafts section of My
Stories will not be visible to any other user other than the one who created it.

To create a story, you need to navigate to Workspace > My Stories > Drafts section and
click on the New Button in the work-area and select the requires story title and Format.

Once the story is completed the story can be copied or moved to a Desk or a Rundown

The My Stories section contains links to the following other sections

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Workspace > My Stories > Assigned

This section will have links to all stories assigned to logged in user. Unopened stories blink
with an orange color border. The blinking stops if a user opens the story. The user can
perform various actions on the selected story in the Main Work-Area

Workspace > My Stories > Created

This section will have links to all stories created by you. The user can perform various
actions on the selected story in the Main Work-Area similar to Assigned Stories

4.1.2 Creation of a story from wires

All users will have read only access to wires section, so all users can browse through wire
items. Additional privileges in the wires section is required to assign a wire as a story. By
using Assign action, you can create a story and select the users to work on this story. The
respective users will receive a notification about the new assignment in the menu area.

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4.1.3 Creation of a story from Desk

All users will have read only access to wires section, so all users can browse through wire
items. Additional privileges in the wires section is required to assign a wire as a story. By
using Assign action, you can create a story and select the users to work on this story. The
respective users will receive a notification about the new assignment in the menu area.

4.1.4 Creation of a story in a Rundown

When time is a constraint, a story can be directly created in a Rundown. The stories created
in a rundown are available to users who have access to rundown screen.

Since very less users have access to stories in a Rundown it is advised to create
TIP stories in Desk and Link the stories to a rundown

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4.2 When to Copy/Move/Link a Story

A story created generally travels through the workflow to its final form, various operations
are carried on it during this transit. Cut/Copy and Link are some of the most important such
operations. Depending on the situation you might want to choose among one these
operations.

Copy: This operation on a story is the most appropriate when the user wants to retain the
original story. By doing a copy of a story the original story in untouched and fully intact, a
replica of the original story is copied to the destination. This is generally the choice when
you want to modify an existing story but want to retain the original story also. A story
move can happen across desks and Rundowns.

Move: This operation on a story moves the story from the origin to the destination. The
story in the origin is deleted and will no longer be available in the origin. A story move can
happen across desks and Rundowns.

Link: This is an advanced operation, and the destination of a story link can only be a
Rundown. By linking a story to a rundown, a soft link will be created in the destination
rundown. Both Stories are internally linked to the same story

When you are unsure of which operation to conduct, COPY is the safest operation
TIP as the original story is not modified.

4.3 Editing a Story

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After Successful creation of a story user can start scripting it. User can open script window
in full screen mode by clicking on Pop-out button or Pressing F11 or Alt+Z button. There are
Multiple parts in Script window

Note Area: User can use note area to write notes about story. This can include instruction
to Anchor or Background of story

Anchor Part: This is the main part of any story. The script part of this area will be sent to
Prompter and Anchor will read it.

Voiceover Part: If story format is package then Voiceover section for the story will be
written in this part.

4.3.1 Open a story in editing Mode

There are multiple ways to Open a Story in Editing mode.
• Double click on Script Area

• Click on edit Button above script area

• Press shortcut key Ctr+O or Ctr+O

User can click on Save button or Press Ctr+S to save the script. By default, script will be
saved automatically at configured interval. Default auto save interval is 15 Second. As the
user start typing Story duration will be updating at top section of the story script based on
reading speed configured.

4.3.2 Multiple Item Add

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Users can add multiple story items (Anchor, VoiceOver) and attach clips, CG to each of
them along with content. User can select the item from the drop down and add accordingly.

4.3.3 Item Reorder

Users can move the position of the story item from context menu. Right-Click and choose
the position to move to the new position.

4.3.4 Changing the Status of a Story

Story state will represent the progress of a story. When story changes from one state to
other state changing the status will help user to identify the story in which state. Color
indication will help user to easily identify the status of story. Color of the status may vary
based on configuration made. Following are the default Story states

New: Indicates the story is just created and it is in New state

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Deleted: Indicates story is deleted state

Copy Edited: Indicates story is verified against Spelling/Grammar errors

Ready to Air: Indicates Story is ready to OnAir

Verified: This status represent story has been verified

Copied: This status indicates story is copied from another desk/rundown

Rejected: Indicates script is rejected. Users can reject a story with comment.

✍ Note

Story state is customizable, and administrator can create story state based on the
requirement.

4.3.5 Saving Different versions of a Story

Only one user is allowed work on a story at a time. Based on the Designation and privileges
assigned user can overtake story for editing. For other user’s story will appear in locked
state. If user not able to overtake story still user can continue working on it with different
version name. User can Create multiple versions of story and compare it with other version
in later stages.

4.3.6 Story Log

Story log will help user to track history of a story. Blaze will automatically record all the
actions applied on a story. Revert button in story log will take you to the different edited
versions of the story, so that user can navigate to the required edited section.

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4.3.7 Attachment of a Media Clip to a story
Click on Attach Clip button to attach Media clips to a story. A popup will be opened with all
clips which are available for attaching. The window will list all clips or only 24hour’s clip
based on the configuration set. User can use search feature to search for specific clip and
attach it. Preview option will allow user to preview the clip and if necessary, user can mark-
in and mark-out the clip for instructing payout device to play only selected duration of clip.

Users can also drag and drop clips to the story from the media page in the script section of
the story.

4.3.8 Attachments
This section allows users to attach the story related attachments such as Image, Media Clip,
Documents etc.

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4.3.9 Contacts
In case required users can also attach a contact for the story. For more story related
information like Phono, PCR users, contacts will be helpful.

4.3.10 Creating Placeholder

In case required clip is not available in the blaze system user can create a placeholder clip
and attach it. Placeholder will reserve the space for new clip with the name specified in
playout system. When clip is ready it will match with place name and make the clip ready in
Both Blaze and playout system.

Placeholder will be automatically created with every new story created OR users can
manually create one clicking on the ✚ button in the script section.

4.3.11 Attachment of a Graphic template to a story

Blaze supports CG integration using HTML 5 based plugin OR Active X. Before you use
plugin CG integration with the third-party software should be completed, only then using
plugins user can attach CG.

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Click on Attach CG button to attach Graphic templates to a story. A popup with templates
from Graphics device system will be opened. User can select the Graphics template and fill
the required fields and click on save button. This will attach CG’s to the story.

4.3.12 Add a story from show template

Click on ‘Add’ button from the rundown menu to add a story from show template. User can
choose list of show templates from the dropdown and click ✚ icon beside the story to add.
Template story will be added to the rundown.

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4.4 Creation and Modification of a Rundown
Rundown defines the set of stories to be OnAired for current bulletin. Rundown is the final
output of any NRCS system. Any modification done is rundown will reflect in all connected
devices when rundown is OnAir.

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4.4.1 Create a New Rundown

All the rundowns will be created automatically from Show Master based on Configuration.

To create New rundown click on New Button under Rundowns page.

• Enter the Name, Date and Time and Duration for rundown

• Select the Show template for new Rundown in case it needs. This will create
rundown with predefined set of stories from Template

• Click on Save button

4.4.2 Auto creation of Rundown using Show Master

Show Master is the predefined set of rundowns created by Administrator. Rundowns will be
created automatically for the specified number of days using this Show Master. Clicking on
“Create Shows from Master” button will re-generate all the shows looking into Show Master.

4.4.3 Locking a Rundown

Once rundown is complete and there is no need of updating any story in rundown then user
can lock the show.

• Select rundown to be locked

• Click on “Lock a Show” button. This will lock any further updating of story in selected
rundown.

4.4.4 Making a Rundown On Air/Off Air

OnAir rundown will send rundown information to connected devices. BLAZE will send Clip
related information will be sent to Playout System, Script related information to Prompter
device and CG related information to CG Device’s.

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 • Select the Rundown needs to be OnAired

• Click on “Not Ready”. This will send MOS messages to All the devices. Optionally user
can select devices and click “Start” button

When bulletin is over and Rundown not in use then OffAir the show by clicking “READY”
button

Sync option will refresh the complete rundown to the selected device. If none is selected
then it sends refresh message to all the devices.

4.4.5 Duration Calculation in a Rundown

On top of the rundown page it lists different duration information. The duration is calculated
based on Duration calculation configuration made for each story type. This includes script
duration, Clip Duration and Planned duration.

• Real Duration: The real duration of complete rundown.

• Planned Duration: Lists the total of planed duration provided for each story

• Total Text/Video: This separates total Script duration and Total Video duration in
rundown

• Selected: This will list the total duration of selected story

• Selected Text/Video: This separates total Script duration and Total Video duration of
selected Story

Following are the default Story type and Duration calculation logic used

Anchor: Contains only anchor part and only Script part is used for duration
calculation
Anchor Visual(AV): Contains both anchor part and Clip part. Duration is
calculated on either script part or Clip part whichever is higher
Anchor visual bite: Contains both anchor part and a visual with bite. Duration is
calculated on either script part or Clip part whichever is higher.
Package: Contains Both anchor script and Packaged clip. Duration is calculated by
summing up Script and Visual part.
Headline: Contains Both anchor script and Packaged clip. Duration is calculated by
summing up Script and Visual part.
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Anchor Bite: Contains Both anchor script and bites. Duration is calculated by
summing up Script and total clip duration.
Commercial/Montage/BREAK: Contains only clips. Duration is calculated based
on clip duration
Live: Indicates story is live. Duration is calculated based on predefined duration

4.4.6 Printing a Rundown

Click on Print button to print whole rundown. User can select list to print only story title or
select Detail to print with story details in rundown. In Print popup user can check or
uncheck required columns for printing.

4.4.7 Download a Rundown

Users can download Rundown for Prompter format or Playout format. This will help User to
load the Rundown in target device without MOS communication. This will provide an
alternative solution to OnAir a bulletin when there is network problem or issue at target
device.

Click on Download Button and select Target device format.

4.4.8 Using PowerView Mode

Power View will allow users to work on Multiple stories in single page. Click on powerview
button will open a new popup window with two sections. Left side view and Right-side View.
On selecting a rundown or Desk all the stories in it will be listed under it. User can easily
Copy stories from one section to other section. Even users can edit the stories directly from
Powerview. Clicking on Close button will close the PowerView.

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 4.4.9 Skipping and Unskipping a Story in a Rundown
When the Rundown is OnAir and if some stories need to be skipped from Bulletin then
Select the Story and click on Skip Button. This will notify to all connected devices and Story
will be removed from List. To Unskip the skipped story click on Skip/Unskip button. This will
re-add the story to the Rundown.

4.4.10 Duplicating a Rundown

When User wants to create duplicate of a rundown then Select the rundown and click on
“Create Duplicate Show” button. Enter the name for new rundown and Set the date, time,
duration. Click on Save button. This will create new rundown from selected rundown with all
the stories in it.

4.4.11 Modifying a Rundown

Select the rundown to be modified and click on Edit Button next to Rundown. Edit the
required fields and Save it.

4.4.12 Delete a Rundown

Select the rundown to be Deleted and click on Delete Button next to Rundown. When
Rundown is in OnAir state user is not allowed to delete it.

4.4.13 Search a Rundown

Search option in rundown help user to find preferred rundown. Blaze is provided with
different search options to easily find a rundown. Following are the search options. Title is
the optional field and if it is provided then rundown will be searched matching the title

• Today: Searches only current days rundowns

• Yesterday: Searches in previous days rundown

• Last week: Searches 7 days back rundowns

• Future: Lists the rundowns created for future days

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 • Range: This will allow user to select from and to dates to search rundowns between
2 date ranges

• Rundown Trash: Deleted rundowns can be searched using this option. Provide the
date range for search

• Story Title: This will list all the rundowns which contain provided story title.

• Story Trash: This will list all the stories deleted from Rundowns. Restore option will
restore the story to the rundown

4.4.14 Upload New Slugs

Upload slugs help user to upload the slugs with their content and clips. Users can upload
slugs only in particular format only. Eg: Export slug format

4.4.15 Email a story from Rundown

While working on a story in desk or rundown, user can email a story from within application.
Story with details can be mailed to single or multiple recipients.

4.4.16 Comment a Story

This feature helps to provide instructions (Must,Sting,BG) for PCR ssers on the story.

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4.4.17 Slug Filtering
As required, users can filter the slug based on the status like Skip, Unskip, Ready, Not
Ready, Done.

4.4.18 Quick Slug

While working in rundown if users want to add a slug, Quick Slug is the feature which meets
the requirements. Users can choose the position and add the slug. Slug will be added after
the selected position.

4.4.19 Add Break

This feature allows the user to add a quick break in the rundown. This break can be added
at the required position with the background color highlighting the break.

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4.5 Assignments

Assignments will list all the assignments created by user for today, tomorrow and future.
User can create an assignment using extra fields like Camera Man, Description, Date, and
Reporter as per the requirement. User can also view the history of all the past assignments.

4.5.1 Assignments for Today

Users can create an assignment for current day (Today) and work on the assignment. All
assignments created on current date will be listed under ‘Today’.

4.5.2 Assignments for Tomorrow

Users can create an assignment for next day (Tomorrow) in advance selecting the next date
from the calendar. Thus, created assignment can be found under ‘Tomorrow’.

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4.5.3 Future Assignments
All the assignments created with future dates will be listed under ‘Future’. User can select
the assignment and edit or work on it.

4.6 Media

Media section will list all the media from different sources. Users can watch for latest clips
and preview it.

4.6.1 Previewing a Media

Preview option will help user to review the clip for any errors before attaching to a story.
Thumbnail will help to choose right clip without previewing it.

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4.6.2 Create a Placeholder
When media is not available users can create a placeholder with some name. When Media
becomes available it will associate with the placeholder name. The clip information will be
updated automatically in story and rundown.

4.6.3 Edit Media

Edit media allows user to edit already marked In Out points of the media and update with
new mark In Out points. User can also preview only the marked In Out section of the clip
before they update new marked points.

4.7 Social Media

Social Media allows user to share or post the story, its content and clips attached from
within the application to the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Word Press.
User can edit and post the story or save the story. Based on the privileges user can either
wait for the story to be approved or can publish directly.

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Users can preview the saved story before posting to any social media. Click on the link
under preview column, will open respective social media site with posted story details.

Users can also view the latest twitter trends based on the location set.

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4.8 Messaging and Chat

The Messaging and Chat feature will enable users to communicate between each other.

4.8.1 Sending Message

• Select the User to send to individual user or select All to send message to all user

• Select the Priority. High priority message will display alert message over the receiver’s
screen. Normal priority message will display in notification box over the receiver’s
screen.

• Enter the message in message area

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 • Click on Send button

Users can view previous messages by clicking on message button

4.8.2 Chat

Chat feature will help users to send instant messages between users or create a group and
interact within group. Only online users can chat each other. To start chat Select the online
user and click on username. A chat window ill open. Enter the message and press Enter key.
To Add more users to the chat and have group chat click on the add user button. Select the
users to be added. Start sending messages. Message will be delivered to all users in group.

4.9 Reports

Blaze is provided with various reports to help privileged users to analyses ongoing process
in the system.

4.9.1 Performance of Rundowns

Rundown performance report will help users to analyze how a selected rundown has
performed. This report will list all the stories matching the selected criteria.

• Range will provide an option to select date ranges to filter rundowns

• User can select specific rundowns to generate reports

• Status field will help user to see reports based on onAir status of a story in rundown

OnAired: Filters stories which are OnAired

Skipped: Lists stories in rundown which are skipped from OnAir

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 Not OnAired: Lists stories which are skipped directly in Playout.

First Reported: Lists the stories from rundown which are first reported by the
channel

Users can select the columns to be displayed for the result by selecting columns from
Column Visibility button.

4.9.2 Generate user Performance Reports

User performance report will help view various user related reports based on selected
criteria. By default, it will generate reports of all users for current day. It will list set of
stories matching the selected criteria.

• User: Select the username for whom report needs to be generated

• Select from and to dates with time stamp to filter out report between selected date
and time ranges

• Created: Check this to view stories created by selected users

• Modified: Check this to view stories modified by selected users

• OnAir: This will filter the stories which went OnAir

• First Reported: Lists the stories which were reported first in the channel

• With Ratings: This filed will help to filter stories created by user which having specific
story ratings

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 • With Stringer: This filed will help to filter stories with stringer and location

4.9.3 Generate Reports based on Stringer / Reporter

Stringer and Location report will help administrator to view various stringer related report.
By default, it will list all stories from All stringers and All locations for current date.

• Location: Select the location to list stories came from that location

• Stringer: Select the stringer names to generate reports of selected stringers

• Date Range: Select the from and to date to filter the report between the selected
date and time ranges

• OnAir: This will filter the stories which went OnAir

• First Reported: Lists the stories which were reported first in the channel

• With Ratings: This filed will help to filter stories created by user which having specific
story ratings

• With Duplicates: Lists the stories which are copied multiple times

4.9.4 Generate Reports based on Story Ratings

Story rating report will help to search stories based on rating provided. Select the rating to
filter, from and to date to generate report

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4.9.5 Clip attachment

This report will help to know who attached which clip to a story. Select the user and from-to
date ranges and click on generate button. This will list all the stories with clip attached by
selected user

4.10 Anchor Live

Anchor live is the feature where a producer will directly post live breaking news to anchor
who opened BLAZE nrcs application in her laptop. Live typing will reflect in anchors screen
directly.

4.10.1 Posting live news

User with producer Producer privilege can post story to anchors screen.

• Click on Anchor line menu

• Select the anchor to whom to send braking news. By default, all is selected

• Provide the supporting information for the breaking news like Reporter name, Place,
Story title

• Instruction area can be used for providing information to anchor

• Story script part is the actual content which anchor needs to be read.

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4.10.2 Reading live news

User with anchor privilege will be opened with Black screen with read-Only access to script.
Anchor can adjust the size of font for reading. Don’t disturb button will disable opening of
window as producer type.

4.11 Creating Events

This feature allows to schedule the upcoming event with details like event date, the camera
man assigned to event, location, call time and these fields are customizable as per the
channel requirement. Upcoming events will be displayed as notification to the users.

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4.12 User Preferences

This section specifies the settings that can be customized for an user. Preferences allows
individual users to save and change their account’s user settings. User can change their
password, Reading Speed and set alerts for incoming assignments or emails.

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Appendix 1: Shortcut keys
• Opening/Closing New Rundown Window:Ctrl+r/Ctrl+R

• Opening/Closing Search Filter:Ctrl+~

• For Opening/Closing New Story Window: In Chrome (Ctrl+Alt+n/Ctrl+Alt+N).

Internet Explorer and Firefox Browsers (Ctrl+n/Ctrl+N)

• For Opening/Closing Edit Story Window:Ctrl+e/Ctrl+E

• For Selecting All Stories from Rundowns:Ctrl+a/Ctrl+A

• For Skip/Unskip Stories from Rundowns:Ctrl+/

• For Deleting Stories from Desks and Rundowns:Ctrl+delete

• To Copy an Item:Ctrl+c/Ctrl+C

• To Move an Item:Ctrl+x/Ctrl+X

• To paste an Item:Ctrl+v/Ctrl+V

• Open Script for Editing:Ctrl+o/Ctrl+O

• To Save a Story:Ctrl+s/Ctrl+S

• For Saving Story Script & come out of script area for further navigation: Alt+s

• To print:Ctrl+p/Ctrl+P

• To Link Stories:Ctrl+l/Ctrl+L

• For Opening Clips Window: Ctrl+1 and Esc: To Close Opened Media Window

• For Attaching Clips : Press Enter twice

• For Selecting Duration For MarkIn And MarkOut Press: Ctrl+< and Ctrl+> Respectively

• To Attach CG’s:Ctrl+2 and Esc to Close Opened CG Window

• To View Rundowns in Vertical Window (Split): In Chrome (Ctrl+Alt+w/Ctrl+Alt+W)

and In IE and Other Browsers – (Ctrl+w/Ctrl+W)
• To Navigate Through Different Desks Press : Ctrl+3/f9 Then Press Up/Down Arrow to Navigate
And Enter To Get The Stories

• To Navigate Through Different Rundowns Press : Ctrl+4/f10 , Then Press Shift+Tab to

Highlight Rundown And Press Up/Down Arrow To Navigate And Enter To Get The Stories,
Again Press Tab To Navigate Through Stories Inside That Rundown

• To Navigate To Breaking Desk Press : Ctrl+5

• To View Rundowns In Vertical Window(Split): (Ctrl+Alt+w)

• For Multiple Selection Of Stories: Shift+(up/down) arrow

• For Reorder A Single Story Inside Rundowns: Ctrl+(up/down) arrow

• For Navigating Stories : Up and Down Arrow And To Select Press Enter

• For Full Script Screen, Press Alt+z (in chrome) / f11 (in chrome or IE)
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• To Shrink/Expand Raw Clip Window, Press f12

• To navigate through main menus, Press left and right arrow and Enter to select the menus

• To copy CG : ctrl+alt+c

• To paste CG : ctrl+alt+v

• For Opening Raw Clip Window : ctrl+m

• To Strike text : ctrl+shift+/

• To create a new slug with copied slug : ctrl+shift+v

• To create quick slug: alt+m

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Appendix 2: Enabling ActiveX in Internet Explorer Browser
Note: ActiveX is a Microsoft proprietary technology and is not supported in
any other Web browsers

To enable ActiveX controls in your browser follow these steps.

• Click on "Tools" menu in the browser.

• Select "Internet Options" from the drop-down menu.

• Click on the "Security" tab

• Click on the "Custom Level" button on the security level zone block.

• In scroll-down menu with radio buttons. Make the following changes to the menu
choices:

• Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt - Select "Enable"

• Initialize and Script ActiveX Controls not marked as safe for scripting Select
"Prompt", as shown in the Screenshot Appendix 1 Enable ActiveX

• Click on the "Ok" button to exit and save.

• Click on the "Ok" button again to exit out of Internet options menu.

• Restart your browser to enable the new settings.

Screenshot - Appendix 1: Enable ActiveX

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