SAM and PAL is driving me Nuts! Please help.

[RetroRadioOne]

I'm running SAM Broadcaster 4.2.2, and have been for some time now. Mostly, I use the Event Scheduler for changing my clockwheels and inserting shows into the queues.

 

Lately, I started using PAL to insert the shows. I decided to go this route in hopes that the method I'm using wouldn't result in errors as I've been encountering with Event Scheduler.

 

So, that said, how can I fix this?

I've created several categories in the Other folder, that are for the syndicated show segments. One example is the Rewind 70's countdown show. The show is 1 hour and comes in 4 mp3 segments.

 

I fill between the segments with PSAs in two categories I created under the Advertisements folder. And I also use jingles and imaging in a folder created under the Jingles folder.

 

Here's the script I'm using:

{

Purpose: To play a pre-recorded show on Saturdays at around 10:00AM

The show is split into 4 parts with commercials

We play a station ID after each part

}

 

 

PAL.Loop := True;

var mytime : DateTime;

var I : Integer;

 

var start_time, end_time : DateTime;

 

mytime := now;

start_time := T['09:58:00'];

end_time := T['09:58:30'];

 

{Check if this is the right day of the week}

if DayOfWeek(Now) = Saturday then

begin

 

if( mytime >= start_time) and (mytime

begin

WriteLn('Rewind 70s');

 

Cat['RW70s-4'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['Image01'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);

Cat['PSA 30s-3'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['PSA 60s-3'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);

Cat['RW70s - Spot02'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['RW70s - Spot01'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['RW70s-3'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['Image02'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);

Cat['PSA 30s-2'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['PSA 30s-1'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['PSA 60s-2'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);

Cat['RW70s - Spot01'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['RW70s - Spot02'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['RW70s-2'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['Image01'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);

Cat['PSA 30s-2'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['PSA 60s-1'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);

Cat['RW70s - Spot02'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['RW70s - Spot01'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

Cat['RW70s -1'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);

cat['Station IDs (All)'].QueueTop(smRandom,NoRules);

 

 

{ Wait a while to make sure time is AFTER end_time }

PAL.WaitForTime(T['+00:01:00']);

 

end;

end;

 

 

Now here's the problem. The system kicks the event at the correct time, but it fails to place ALL of the entries in the queue for me. Many times it will fail to insert the first show segment. In almost all cases, it fails to place any imaging element in the queue, and sometimes it fails to place the national spots.

 

For the record, I use the folders, and replace the data in each folder weekly. All folders have mp3 files in them, so there is no reason for it not to use the information.

 

What gives here? Anybody got a better way to do this, or a better script?

 

Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

[shoutcaststreaming]

I added in a Lock / Unlock just to make this run a little faster.

 

It all looks OK .. make sure that you aren't in violation of the rules (Artist / Title / Album) where you are Enforcing the rules. And make sure that all the CATs are spelled correctly.

 

You can always try running this 'dry' .. put it in the PAL editor .. comment out the time checks and run it line-by-line to see where it fails.

 

PAL.Loop := True;
var mytime : DateTime;
var I : Integer;
var start_time, end_time : DateTime;
mytime := now;
start_time := T['09:58:00'];
end_time := T['09:58:30'];
{Check if this is the right day of the week}
if DayOfWeek(Now) = Saturday then
begin
if( mytime >= start_time) and (mytime begin

[color=blue]//[/color]
[color=blue]// Lock to run faster[/color]
[color=blue]//[/color]
[color=blue]PAL.LockExecution;[/color]

WriteLn('Rewind 70s');
Cat['RW70s-4'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['Image01'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);
Cat['PSA 30s-3'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['PSA 60s-3'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);
Cat['RW70s - Spot02'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['RW70s - Spot01'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['RW70s-3'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['Image02'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);
Cat['PSA 30s-2'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['PSA 30s-1'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['PSA 60s-2'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);
Cat['RW70s - Spot01'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['RW70s - Spot02'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['RW70s-2'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['Image01'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);
Cat['PSA 30s-2'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['PSA 60s-1'].QueueTop(smWeighted, EnforceRules);
Cat['RW70s - Spot02'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['RW70s - Spot01'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
Cat['RW70s -1'].QueueTop(smLRP, NoRules);
cat['Station IDs (All)'].QueueTop(smRandom,NoRules);

[color=blue]//[/color]
[color=blue]// Unlock after complete[/color]
[color=blue]//[/color]
[color=blue]PAL.UnlockExectuion;[/color]

{ Wait a while to make sure time is AFTER end_time }
PAL.WaitForTime(T['+00:01:00']);
end;
end;

[RetroRadioOne]

Hey thanks for the added programming. I have a test machine I'll run this on and let you know what's going on.

 

I was thinking that it was maybe trying to push all the data too quickly, and was wondering if there was a 'pause' command that could be placed in the script to delay the insertion of each line element by ... oh, say... a 1/2 second or something. Other than writing tons of loops and if/thens, I wasn't sure the right way to make it happen.

 

Most appreciated!

[shoutcaststreaming]

There is no need for a pause between the CAT adds. I run a Billboard show and it inserts about 50 songs in a second or two with the PAL lock / unlock. If I don't do this, it takes about 10 seconds.

 

Like I said, you should run the PAL line-by-line in the editor to see which ones fail .. then check either the rules or the spelling at the failed one.