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Viz Pilot Edge Release Notes

Version 3.1 | Published June 26, 2024 ©

Viz Pilot Edge Release Notes

Viz Pilot Edge 3.1.0

Release Date: 2024-06-26

These are the release notes for Viz Pilot Edge and Template Builder versions 3.1.0. This document describes the user-visible changes that have been made to the software since release 3.0.0.

Release Highlights

This release introduces Authentication for Viz Pilot Edge, Template Builder and Viz Pilot Database settings page. Similar to the work done on Viz Pilot Edge for its 3.0 release, Template Builder has now also been rewritten using the same modern web technology.

With this release, we are also adding HTML fragments, which are selected tags and attributes of HTML content that you can put directly into the template without the need to host a full HTML page. For instance, you are now able to add a button with an onClick event and many more. HTML Fragments and HTML panels can now also be added to custom layout mode templates, further improving the flexibility of template building.

Custom Execution Logic support is now also available natively in Template Builder.

Timeline editor has also been reintroduced.

Improvements and New Features

Pilot Edge

  • If authentication is enabled, Viz Pilot Edge users need to log in to use the application (VPE-4697).

  • Special Edit-mode enabled for clients like Viz Mosart, that only need to last-minute change Viz Pilot graphics (VPE-4888).

  • Quickly download a HD preview of the currently edited graphics (VPE-5121).

  • Concepts and tags dropdowns now have an input field that filters matching candidates while typing (WUI-1150, WUI-1567).

  • The aspect ratio selection in Crop Tool is not altered when changing the zoom level (WUI-1393).

  • Decimal controls, including duplets and triplets, can now be controlled with better accuracy (WUI-407).

  • The timeline editor has zoom and pan functionality (WUI-1210).

  • The startup of the UI is not delayed if Crop Service or Preview Server is not responding (VPE-5194).

Template Builder

  • If authentication is enabled, Template Builder users need to log in to use the application (VPE-4697).

  • HTML fragments can be inserted into the templates without hosting the HTML on an external page (WUI-1391).

  • HTML fragments and HTML panels can be used in Grid (custom layout) mode (WUI-1391).

  • Added a Custom Execution Logic editor (VPE-4116).

  • Refreshing preview now generates a new snapshot circumventing Preview Server's internal cache (VPE-5086).

  • Templates can now have buttons via HTML Fragments with a click event handled in internal scripting (WUI-1417).

  • It is possible to undock the preview window (WUI-1287).

  • Concepts and tags dropdowns now have an input field that filters matching candidates while typing (WUI-1150, WUI-1567).

  • The Crop editor can now be invoked from custom HTML templates (WUI-1553).

  • There is now an option to sort feed-driven dropdowns in a template (VPE-4924).

  • In Template Builder it is possible to use environment variables (WUI-783).

  • Preview points can now be scoped/nested/parented in the model tree (VPE-5145).

  • There is now an error in the scene importer, if the scene is saved with a too old Viz Artist version (WUI-1026).

  • Image fields can be linked to the Entry type when using Feedbrowser as a data entry (WUI-1603).

Fixed Issues

Pilot Edge

  • Values for in and out mark for videos, display correctly with frames as last number (WUI-1244).

  • Improved error message when Preview Server is not reachable (WUI-1027).

  • The feed-backed dropdown is much faster when the number of items is high (WUI-999).

  • Clicking the Refresh button for the templates list also reloads possible changes in the currently opened template (VPE-5093).

  • Setting to an invalid Graphic Hub on PDS, still allows you to start Viz Pilot Edge (VPE-5114).

  • It is possible to multi-select data elements and delete them through the context menu (WUI-1385).

  • Viz World Client preview works again when it is opened from Viz Pilot Edge (requires Viz World 23 or higher) (WUI-1094).

  • The volume control for videos is back (WUI-936).

  • Image search from GH Image Library now supports paging (VPE-5185).

  • Unavailable Preview Server is not affecting available search providers (VPE-5087).

Template Builder

  • Boolean value false can now be used in hidden and read-only expressions (VPE-5088).

  • Maps editor is now disabled when the field is read-only (VPE-4999).

  • The variant field and other system fields are now used when specified in the auto-generated title format (WUI-1423, VPE-5092).

  • The title of Graphic Hub images is now used if specified in the auto-generated title format (WUI-949).

  • Table headers align better to the content in columns (WUI-1045).

  • Column width in tables is computed better (WUI-1046, WUI-1039).

  • Internal script onChanged event is not triggered when the change comes from an HTML panel (VPE-5030).

  • Preview points gets triggered when buttons in image/video/map fields are clicked. Subfields of lists also trigger the preview point link correctly (WUI-557).

  • Setting to an invalid Graphic Hub on PDS, still allows you to start Template Builder (VPE-5114).

  • The "edit-field" requests for list fields now applies the result to the payload (VPE-5184).

  • The label for sub-choices in double dropdowns is now displayed (VPE-5168).

  • Grid layout now display choice sub-fields (VPE-5159).

ShowEdge

  • The ShowEdge installer bundled within Pilot Data Server and Viz Pilot Edge installers was not signed. The ShowEdge installer is not bundled within these installers any longer, and a signed installer can be found on the FTP (PDS-891, VPE-5160).

Known Issues

  • Template Builder and Viz Pilot Edge installers are now installed per machine (and not per user), so it is strongly recommended to uninstall the current version before upgrading. If not, Windows will show two versions installed, pointing to the same installation.

Minimum System Requirements

Hardware

There are no known hardware limitations for Viz Pilot Edge and Template Builder, other than requirements stipulated by newsroom systems hosting the client. Though the web browser and its version can affect look and functionality inside the applications.

Software

Vizrt components:

  • Pilot Data Server 9.1.0

  • Graphic Hub 3.9.2 (with Graphic Hub REST 2.9.2)

  • Preview Server 4.7.0

  • Media Sequencer 5.6.0

  • Viz Artist 5.2.1

  • Viz Engine 5.2.1

Note: Viz Artist 4.2 and Viz Engine 4.2 or above are required for transition logic and combo template support. See Setup and Configuration > Configuring Viz Artist in the Template Builder User Guide.

Enable automatic creation of merged geometries when saving a transition logic scene AutoExportTransitionLogicGeometries = 1.

Note: TGA image support requires a codec program like https://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/, to be installed on the same machine as crop service.

Browser

If running Viz Pilot Edge inside a browser, these are the tested browsers:

  • Chrome 107.0.5304.106 (Official Build) (64-bit)

  • Firefox 106.0.5 (64-bit)

  • Safari 11.1.2

  • Microsoft Edge Version 107.0.1418.42 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Newsroom Systems Used for Testing

  • iNEWS 7.7.0.14

  • ENPS 9.0.177 (Browser type Internet Explorer)

  • Open Media 4.4.4359

  • Octopus X (see also known issues above)

Upgrading

When upgrading from a previous version of Pilot Edge, the previous version may still be presented by the host browser for a short time due to client side caching. To prevent this, clear the host browser cache. If you are using the default Internet Explorer host, open Internet Explorer, press CTRL + SHIFT + DELETE, select Temporary Internet files and website files and click DELETE.

Previous Versions

In accordance with the Vizrt Global Support Handbook section Software Lifecycle, support for older versions ends 24 months after a subsequent minor or major version is released.

With this release, earlier versions of Viz Pilot Edge and Template Builder, will no longer be supported after 2026-06-26.

At the date of this release, Viz Pilot Edge 2.2, Template Builder 2.2, and Pilot Data Server 8.6.x are no longer supported. Support for Viz Pilot Edge 2.3, Template Builder 2.3 and Pilot Data Server 8.8.x ends on 2024-11-17.

Documentation

Documentation for Viz Pilot Edge, Template Builder and related software is available at the Vizrt Documentation Center:

Support

Support is available at the Vizrt Support Portal.