NewTek LiveText - Manual (Page 46)

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4.1.2 THE DATALINK PROFILE
As mentioned earlier, special DataLink components monitor specific external sources. These are
the TXT, Serial, Network and Database Linkers. The specific combination and configuration of
data sources available in a given LiveText session is determined by the active DataLink profile at
launch. DataLink profiles are created and managed using the DataLink Configuration utility.
Let’s consider the Linker modules individually in more depth now.
4.1.3 TXT LINKER
This module keeps an eye on its namesake file type, the ubiquitous ASCII text file (.txt). The
linker refreshes the title page display whenever the text file is updated, serving many handy and
creative purposes.
Note: TXT Linker monitors files (.txt) you place in the folder Text Input, and can reference
key-value pairs from multiple files at that location.
For example, a simple ASCII text file (.txt) containing a list of names (prepared as key-value pairs)
could be used to automatically update a credits slate, or perhaps to populate the name fields in a
series of individual lower thirds for a weekly production (Section 4.2.1 explains the details of this
example).
The TXT Linker continuously watches for changes in the values assigned to keys. If a value
changes in the file, the display is immediately updated. Thus, third-party programs may be
designed for various applications that continuously update the onscreen text display by simply
changing values assigned to keys in the text file.
4.1.4 DATABASE LINKER
The Database Linker provides even more powerful possibilities. It allows the use of supported
MySQL database queries to derive replacement values for DataLink keys on the title page – even
accessing the data across a network.
4.1.5 NETWORK LINKER
Today, a nearly endless supply of information is available from both free and commercial sources
via Internet RSS feeds. The Network Linker allows you to access these sources to supply
information to your title pages, and update it as changes occur.