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VRA Core can watch a text file on its own machine and read the now playing data from it each time the file changes. Use it when your playout writes the playing item to a file.

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Before you start

  • VRA Core runs for your studio. See Machine specs.
  • The text file is on the VRA Core machine, or on a share the VRA Core machine can read.

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Add the text file connection in VRA Cloud

  1. Go to Settings → Studio → Automations in VRA Cloud.
  2. Click Add Automation and pick File Text.
  3. Turn on Enabled. A new connection starts switched off.
  4. Under File source, fill in Path to file to watch with the full path to the file, as the VRA Core machine sees it. Replace the C:\ it starts with.
  5. Set File Role, Delimiter and Format, using the table below.
  6. Click Add connection.

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Text file connection settings

These settings tell VRA what the file contains and how to split it. The Artist - Title - TypeIdentifier format also tells VRA the type of the item, which item groups can use.

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Check that VRA reads the text file

Change the file, then check two places:
  • Settings → Studio → Automations: the connection shows a green status dot, the title and artist from the file, and the time of the last update.
  • AutomationLink in the main menu: the item shows under On air.

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Troubleshoot the text file connection

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The text file connection stays idle

VRA Core reads nothing from the file. Check, in this order:
  1. Enabled is on in the connection, and AutomationLink Enabled is on at the top of Settings → Studio → Automations.
  2. Path to file to watch is the path as the VRA Core machine sees it. A path on another machine needs a share the VRA Core machine can open.
  3. The file changes when an item starts. VRA reads the file only when it changes.

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Artist and title are swapped

Format does not match the order in the file. Pick the other order.