You can export one block of a list instead of the whole list, for example the notices, the opening or a set of adverts. Someone else can then drop that file into their own list.
Exporting
Right-click a group header and choose one of these commands:
| Entry | Result |
|---|---|
| Export group… | A .playoutgroup file. It contains the block and its settings, and refers to the media in its current location. |
| Export group as bundle… | A .playoutbundle file. It contains the same information, and also every media file. |
You can also export a selection instead of a whole group. Select more than one line, right-click, and choose Export selection… (n) or Export selection as bundle… (n), where n is the number of lines.
The program saves exports in DocumentsUltimate PlayoutExports.
Loading a group
You can load a group in three ways, with the same result:
- Choose File → Import…, or click the arrow beside Group in the toolbar and choose Load group. Both open the Import window, where you choose the playout and the place.
- Drag the file onto the cue list.
- Drop the file onto a group header to place it inside that group.
The program adds the block with its structure, trims, volumes and follow actions, and numbers it for its new place.
Which one to use
Use a group file when everyone has access to the same media, for example in one building or on a shared server. The file is small, and everyone uses the same copy of the material.
Use a bundle when the media must be sent too, for example to another location, to another organisation, or to a computer that is not on your network. The next page, bundles, describes them.
When to use it
| Situation | Why a group file is suitable |
|---|---|
| The same block of notices at two locations | You make it once, send it and drop it in |
| An opening that you use every week | You keep it as a file and drop it into each new list |
| A colleague prepares part of the show | The colleague builds one block, and you build the show |
| A supplier delivers a set of adverts | The supplier sends a bundle, and you drop it in |
Practical notes
Give the group a name before you export it. The file gets the name of the group, and the name Group means nothing to the person who receives it.
A group file is not a backup. It contains one block; to keep the whole show, save the list.
Check the media after you import a group on another computer. That is when the warning about missing files is most useful.