Instead of using a manually defined playlist, you can bind your playlist to an external data source such as an SQL Server database, XML file, or Microsoft Excel file. This allows real-time data updates to dynamically control the content displayed. For more details on binding an element to an external data source, refer to data provider properties and working with data providers.

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XML Structure for External Playlists

To be recognized by PADS4, external playlists must follow a specific XML structure. Below is an example: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<PlayList>
  <PlayListElement ContentType="3" Duration="5000" Effect="999" EffectDuration="1000">Text of the first playlist item</PlayListElement>
  <PlayListElement ContentType="3" Duration="5000" Effect="999" EffectDuration="1000">Text of the second playlist item</PlayListElement>
</PlayList>

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Key Details:

  • Playlist text items can contain multiple lines, separated by an [Enter].
  • Duration and EffectDuration are measured in milliseconds.

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Determining the Correct XML Structure

Each element type requires a slightly different XML format. To ensure the correct structure, follow these steps:
  1. Insert the element type that will play the external playlist (e.g., a video/sound element for a video playlist).
  2. Manually add sample playlist items with content similar to what will be in the data source.
  3. Open the playlist window and retrieve the XML structure.
  4. Copy the XML to the clipboard and paste it into your data source.
  5. Modify the structure to meet your exact requirements.

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Playback of External Playlists

The behavior of an external playlist is determined by:
  • The XML structure provided by the data source.
  • The playlist options set within the page element.
  • The default duration and default transition effects settings.
  • If data scrolling is enabled, the scroll interval property will also influence playback.

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Storing Playlists in a Column (XML Data Provider Only)

If you need to store nested playlists within an XML file, the XML parser may misinterpret the structure. To prevent this, replace < and > with &lt; and &gt;.

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Example Corrected XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<list>
  <item>
    &lt;?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?&gt;
    &lt;PlayList&gt;
      &lt;PlayListElement ContentType="3" Duration="5000" Effect="999" EffectDuration="1000"&gt;Text of the first playlist item&lt;/PlayListElement&gt;
      &lt;PlayListElement ContentType="3" Duration="5000" Effect="999" EffectDuration="1000"&gt;Text of the second playlist item&lt;/PlayListElement&gt;
    &lt;/PlayList&gt;
  </item>
</list>

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Playlist Enumerations Summary

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Content Type Values

ValueDescription
0Content Library Filename (file stored in PADS4 content library)
1Full file path (file located outside PADS4 content library)
2Separator (pause between playlist items)
3Embedded content (e.g., text)
4Hexadecimal content (e.g., RS-232 commands)

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Effect Values

ValueDescription
0None
1Scroll up
2Scroll down
3Scroll left
4Scroll right
5Horizontal bars
6Vertical bars
7Horizontal blinds
8Vertical blinds
9Expanding rectangle
10Sliced circle
11Random effect
12Fade in
13Dissolve
14Flip
15Shrink to center
16Split horizontally
17Split vertically
18Twister
19Zoom in
20Page turn from left
21Page turn from right
22Page turn out to right
23Page turn out to left
24Move over left
25Move over right
26Move over top
27Move over bottom
28Reserved
29Flush (HTML5 Viewer effect)
30Vortex (HTML5 Viewer effect)
31Bounce (HTML5 Viewer effect)
999Default effect (uses Default Transition Effect property)

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Final Notes

  • Using external playlists ensures dynamic content updates without manual intervention.
  • Data providers can be used to fetch real-time playlist items.
  • Always test your XML structure by retrieving a sample from PADS4 before implementing it in a live environment.