When you add a graphic to an Automated Game Plan playlist, you can control what it shows and how it behaves once it plays. This article covers the Variables tab, which sets the graphic's values, and the Advanced tab, which sets the Update Type and any Transition Guards.
Before you start
You need the Graphics module, because Automation runs your theme's graphics.
You need an Automated Game Plan in the Automation tab with at least one playlist.
You need a graphic item already added to that playlist. The Variables and Advanced tabs belong to that item. See Add an overlay graphic to a playlist.
Set graphic variables
Variables are the values a graphic uses when it plays. Depending on the graphic, they might decide which team it shows, which text appears or which option is selected. Setting them here means the game plan plays the graphic exactly as you want it, with no operator needed.
Open the graphic item you added to your playlist.
Select the Variables tab.
Choose a variable from the list. The variables offered depend on the graphic you picked, so a team line-up graphic offers different options from a scorebug.
Click Add Variable.
Set the value for that variable.
Repeat for every variable the graphic needs. You can add as many as you like.
Any variable you don't add keeps the graphic's own default value. For example, if you have a team line-up graphic for Harbour City (HCF) v Ridgeview (RVR), you might add one item that shows the home team and a second item that shows the away team, each with its own team variable set.
Event graphics and the Event variable
Event graphics, such as a goal, card or substitution lower third, take the incoming fact through their Event variable. When the playlist fires from live scoring (LiveScore or an external data provider), the graphic fills in the player and team for you. You don't need to type them in.
Scorebug variables
The scorebug in the Default playlist also uses variables, for example whether to show stoppage time. See The Default playlist: your scorebug during play.
Choose an update type
Select the Advanced tab to set the Update Type. This controls how the item affects graphics that are already on air when it plays. When you add items, the app may also suggest whether a graphic should be an Update.
None
None is the right choice for most graphics. The graphic plays as normal. Leave it on None unless you have a specific reason to change it.
Update
Update changes or layers onto a graphic that is already on air, rather than bringing everything in again. This keeps the scorebug up while the new graphic plays. Use it for event graphics, such as a goal lower third or team stats lower third shown during play, and for the scorebug's own goal or card animation. For more on keeping the scorebug visible, see Keep the scorebug on screen: Update type and actions.
Set
Set forces the graphic into a new state. Use it when you want the graphic to end up in a particular state regardless of what it was doing before the item played.
Add transition guards
Also on the Advanced tab, Transition Guards are conditions the item must meet before it can play. The graphic only plays when every condition passes. If even one condition fails, the graphic doesn't play.
To restrict when the graphic plays, add the conditions it needs to meet.
To let the graphic play with no restrictions, leave Transition Guards empty. This is the default, and it suits most graphics.
Guards are useful when the same playlist could fire at times when a graphic wouldn't make sense, and you want to stop that one item appearing in those situations.
Transition Guards on an item are separate from the guards on the whole playlist, such as isLive and isNotPenaltyShootout. Playlist guards and priority are set in Configure > Show Advanced Options. See Playlist priority and guards explained.
Tips and common mistakes
Check your variables before the match. A graphic with a missing or wrong variable still plays, but it uses default values, which may not be what you expect.
Keep it simple. Start with None and no Transition Guards. Only change these when a graphic isn't behaving the way you want.
Use Update for event graphics during play. If the scorebug disappears when a goal or card lower third comes in, check whether that graphic's Update Type should be Update.
Give event graphics time. Event graphics look better on screen for 8 to 10 seconds, and the in and out animations are part of that duration.
Remember every guard must pass. If a graphic never plays, a Transition Guard may be blocking it. Remove the guards to test, then add them back one at a time.
Preview your playlist. Use Preview a playlist to check graphics appear with the right values before you go live at LIGR Demo Stadium. To check event graphics against real data, use Review a match against your game plan.