Actions are simple commands you can add to a playlist in an Automated Game Plan. They don't bring a specific graphic on air. Instead, they control what is already on screen, such as clearing every graphic or bringing the scorebug back. This article shows you how to add an action and when to use each one.
Before you start
You need the Graphics module. Automation runs your theme's graphics, so it needs Graphics to work.
You need an Automated Game Plan, created in the Automation tab. See Create an Automated Game Plan.
You need a playlist inside that game plan to add the action to. This can be a pre or post match playlist, a break playlist or an in-game playlist.
What actions do
Most playlist items put something on screen, such as an overlay graphic, multimedia or an advertisement. Actions are different. They change the state of the screen as a whole, which keeps your broadcast tidy as the playlist moves from one item to the next.
There are three actions to choose from:
Hide all clears every graphic from the screen, including the scorebug.
Show scorebug brings the default scorebug back on screen.
Hide all except scorebug clears every graphic but leaves the scorebug in place.
Add an action
Go to the Automation tab and open the Automated Game Plan you want to edit.
Open the playlist you want to add the action to.
Click Add Item to Sequence. This shows the types of item you can add: Overlay Graphic, Action, Multimedia, Advertisement and Ad Template.
Choose Action.
Choose the action you want: Hide all, Show scorebug or Hide all except scorebug.
Set the start time (mm:ss) for when the action should fire in the playlist.
Add it to the timeline.
The action now appears as an item on the playlist timeline. When the playlist runs during a match, the action fires at its start time, just like any other item. Check where it sits compared with your other items, because the order decides what viewers see and when. For more on reading the timeline, see Understanding the playlist timeline.
Choosing the right action
Hide all
Hide all is a good first item in pre-game and break playlists, so each one starts clean. For example, if a lower third is still showing when Harbour City (HCF) v Ridgeview (RVR) goes to half time, Hide all clears it before your match stats and score line begin. It's also often the last item in a pre-game or break playlist, to clear the screen before the next one starts. Remember that it removes the scorebug too.
Show scorebug
Use Show scorebug when you want the scorebug back after it has been cleared. It brings back the default scorebug from your In Game (Live) Default playlist. For example, to show a sponsor during play without the scoreboard, you can place Hide all at 00:00, an ad template at 00:01, then Show scorebug just after the ad ends. See Show sponsor ads during play without the scoreboard.
Hide all except scorebug
Use Hide all except scorebug when you want to tidy the screen but keep the score visible. It's the usual first item in goal, card, substitution and milestone playlists, so the scorebug stays up while event graphics play. It's also a good final item to clear lower thirds and hand back to the scorebug. For more, see Keep the scorebug on screen: Update type and actions.
Tips and common mistakes
End every live playlist by bringing the scorebug back. If you don't, the app shows a warning: "A live playlist should end by returning to the scorebug. Add a Show scorebug action as the final step." Finish with Show scorebug or Hide all except scorebug.
Hide all clears the scorebug as well. If you want the scorebug back afterwards, add Show scorebug later in the playlist, or use Hide all except scorebug instead.
Give every item its own start second. Two transitions on the same second can wipe each other, and the app warns you when this happens.
Graphics animate in and out within their duration. A Hide all placed exactly on a graphic's end time can cut its out-animation short, so leave about 2 seconds between items.
Actions affect every graphic on screen, not only the ones the playlist added. Keep this in mind when placing them.
Check the order before match day with Preview a playlist, and after a match use Review a match against your game plan to confirm your actions ran when you expected. For more warnings, see Playlist warnings and timing tips.