Wegener Communications 6420 User Manual

 

 

iPump 6420 User’s Manual 

 

 

www.wegener.com 

800070-01 Rev B 

Chapter 3, Page 84 

File selection keywords give the user the ability to play files in “random” order.  These are 

typically used in temporary inserts ordered by Compel commands.  However, they can be used 
as file specs in loop-forever playlist plays, a permanent Decoder (port) setting.  The “keyword” 
signals to the playback process a method to select an audio file from a specified i6420 asset 
folder, whether top level, or deep in the directory tree.  The keywords apply to the file path 
description, whether in a discrete file play command, or in a single file spec (line item) of a 
larger playlist.  In the path syntax, they literally take the place of a discrete file name.  Each 
keyword assumes that some memory of previous plays is retained.  However, this memory is 
non-volatile, and is not retained through unit resets. 

As of this writing, three (3) keyword selectors are defined, SHUFFLE, RANDOM, and 

SEQUENTIAL: 

1.  SHUFFLE:  This keyword means that all files in a directory are each played once, 

without any repeats, as file insert requests, using this keyword, are made.  When all 
files have played, then the order in the directory is re-shuffled and a new file play 
order is remembered.  The only exception is that the last file from the previous 
shuffle is not the first in the next, if there is more than one file in the directory.  This 
continues for all file plays called for a particular Decoder (port), until the unit resets 
or the directory has files added or removed.  So the remembered state is:  Ordered 
file list, current position in list, applicable Decoder, and the type of call (from 
discrete file play, a file spec in a std. playlist, or file spec in a LOA playlist [used for 
ShowShifting or Time  
Zone Delay, see sections 3.7.2 & 3.7.3]). 

2.  RANDOM:  This keyword means that a file is randomly selected from a directory as 

file insert requests, using this keyword, are made.  If there is more than one playable 
file in the directory, then no file is repeated, through repeated requests.  This 
continues for all file plays called for a particular Decoder (port), until the unit resets.  
So the remembered state is:  Last file played, applicable Decoder, and the type of call 
(from discrete file play, a file spec in a std. playlist, or file spec in a LOA playlist 
[used for ShowShifting or Time Zone Delay, see sections 3.7.2 & 3.7.3]). 

3.  SEQUENTIAL:  This keyword means that all files in a directory are each played 

once, without any repeats, in alphanumeric order, as file insert requests, using this 
keyword, are made.  When all files have played, then it repeats in the same order.   
This continues for all file plays called for a particular Decoder (port), until the unit 
resets or the directory has files added or removed.  So the remembered state is:  
Alphanumeric file list, current position in list, applicable Decoder, and the type of 
call (from discrete file play, a file spec in a std. playlist, or file spec in a LOA playlist 
[used for ShowShifting or Time Zone Delay, see sections 3.7.2 & 3.7.3]). 

As files are added or deleted from the target folders, the behavior of the unit is this:  As files 

are added, then the new files are “picked up” each time SHUFFLE or SEQUENTIAL finishes 
the current file list and starts again.  As files are deleted, the keywords would skip those file 
positions in their lists, if any. 

An example of the use of the SHUFFLE keyword is given in Figure 3-18. 
There are no relevant user controls for this automatic process, beyond use of these 

keywords in the standard file and playlist play commands.