Working with the iNEWS Timer

The iNEWS Timer provides accurate timing of the production in iNEWS, and is used to synchronize the current Viz Mosart on-air story in the GUI, with its corresponding entry in iNEWS.

Connection

Connected to a local iNEWS client and the remote Mosart server, this application sends a shortcut to the iNEWS client each time an item is stepped through in the Viz Mosart story.

To set up an iNEWS Timer

Info: iNEWS Auto Timer application must be started with Administrator privileges, to be able to send shortcuts to the iNEWS client.

  1. First run: From the Viz Mosart installer directory, run VizMosartINEWSTimer-nnn.msi

  2. Start iNEWS Timer from the desktop shortcut.

  3. After the iNEWS Timer starts, a console Viz Mosart - iNEWS Auto Timer opens.
    Type settings in the console, to enable configuration.

  4. Make the following configurations:

    1. ApplicationProcessname: Name of your local iNEWS Client process. Default: ANWS.

    2. KeyStrokeHome: iNews client shortcut to reach top of rundown. Default: ^{HOME}.

    3. KeyStrokeTimeMarker: iNEWS client shortcut to be executed at each story. Default: {F12}.

    4. MMServerHost: Mosart Server hostname/IP. Default: none.

    5. MMServerHostB: Mosart Backup host. Default: none.

    6. ShowKeyStrokes: Display sent keystrokes. Default: false.

    7. ShowWindow: Determines how the iNEWS Client window will behave when the KeyStrokeTimeMarker is sent. Default: 5.
      0: Simulates an Alt+Tab switch to the iNEWS Client window

      1: Maximizes the iNEWS Client window, then brings it to front

      2: Brings the iNEWS Client to front without changing window state

      3: Same as case 1
      default Same as case 0

  5. In the iNEWS client, there are some steps needed to configure an iNEWS keyboard shortcut for triggering the Sync Timing feature on the selected story:

    1. In the iNEWS client, open Tools > Options > Preferences menu, to determine which keyboard is in use, for example DEFAULT:

      image-20260212-074227.png

    2. Open the Queue SYSTEM.KEYBOARD.XXXX where XXXX is the keyboard is in use (for example, DEFAULT).

    3. Add the F12 TIME MARK shortcut for triggering Tools > Sync Timing.
      (If something other than F12 is configured as KeyStrokeTimeMarker, adapt this to suit that setting).
      {alt t}: Selecting Tools top menu tab
      {shift s}: Selecting Sync Timing
      ;F12 Time Mark
      @{f12}~{alt t}{shift s}

    4. After making changes in your keyboard shortcuts, reload them:

  6. AIR-END and AIR-DUR values are now displayed for each story:

Command Console Commands

  From the iNEWS Auto Timer command console you can enter the following commands:

  • help

  • SETTINGS: Open the Settings window

  • SEND [keystroke]: Send a keystroke

  • SENDHOME: Sends the currenthome message

  • SHOWWINDOW [int]: Window position

  • SHOWKEYSTROKES [y]: Shows the sending keystrokes

  • PRCNAME [ProcessName]: Details on running process.

See also: Avid iNews Web Service for Status Feedback.