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Director Remoting

Introduction

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Connection
    1. Websocket
    2. REST
  3. Commands
    1. Command Overview
    2. Channel based Commands
    3. Command Details
      1. Set Project Data
      2. Open Remote Playlist
  4. Response
    1. Response Properties
  5. Examples
    1. Websocket Examples
    2. Channel-based Commands Examples
    3. POST Examples
    4. GET Examples

Ventuz Director is a template-based show control application that has been designed to remote control one or multiple Ventuz Runtimes. The already large range of functions can be extended by Plugins. Nevertheless there are some use cases where it makes sense to control Director itself. This is possible since Ventuz version 5.4.0 by using GPI triggers and now gets extended by a full Remoting API that allows you to connect via ​Websocket or ​REST.

This makes it possible and fairly simple to integrate Director into any existing workflow. It can easily be connected to existing software like a broadcast controller or just be controlled from a custom web app.

Connection

Websocket

You can use a ​websocket connection to Ventuz Director and send commands to control it. The websocket URL is ws://<Machine IP>:20404/DirectorRemoting_Service/1.0/commands/ws. When the connection is established you can send messages in a special JSON format to remote Director.

The format of a websocket remoting message (request) looks like follows: 

{
 "Command":"<command>",
 "RequestID":"<int>",
 "<Parameter Name>": "<value>"
}

The Command and RequestID entries are mandatory! Certain commands do have one or multiple optional or mandatory parameters that can be added to the message.

REST

In REST the command is part of the URL itself ​http://<Machine IP>:20404/DirectorRemoting_Service/1.0/commands/api/:<command>, therefore a sample command for activating a certain Topology looks like this ​http://<Machine IP>:20404/DirectorRemoting_Service/1.0/commands/api/:topology.set. If a command has certain parameters they are added in JSON as a multi-part request. 

{
	"Name": "Test Topology"
}

Commands

Command Overview

Parameter marked with * are required for the specific command.

Command Parameter REST Method Result Parameter Description
Application
log.write Level<string>*: Desired log level.
Message<string>*: User-defined message.
SourceModul<string>: Origin module of the log message.
InstanceId<string>: Identifier to distinguish different instances of the same module type.
MessageId<int>: Numeric id to identify pre-defined log messages.
PopUp<bool>: Specifies if the log message is presented in a popup message box.
ExceptionMessage<string>: An exception that may have caused the log message will be generated and logged. 		POST none Writes a log entry on five different levels provided by the user: Verbose, Info, Warning, Error or Fatal.
status.get none POST Version<string>, LifetimeMs<long>, User<string>, Machine<string>, TopologyName<string>, TopologyState<string>, ShowId<guid>, ShowName<string>, ShowUri<string>,ProjectId<guid>, ProjectName<string>, ProjectUri<string>, RemotePlaylistId<guid>, ChannelCount<int> Retrieves an object which contains some useful general information.
Window
window.fullscreen none POST none Switches between fullscreen and window mode.
window.reverse none POST none Reverses the window to its previous size.
window.getlayout none POST Index(<int>), Name<string> Retrieves the available window layouts. Only available inside an active show!
window.setlayout Index(<int>*): Layout index. Not required if Name is provided.
Name(<string>*): Layout name. Not required if Index is provided. 		POST none Activates the selected window layout.
window.can.setlayout Index(<int>*): Layout index. Not required if Name is provided.
Name(<string>*): Layout name. Not required if Index is provided. 		POST none Checks if the requested window layout can be set.
Topology
topology.get none GET Name<string>, SourceType <DefaultTopology,LocalFile,EmbeddedInProject> Returns a list of available Shows, retreived through VMS
topology.set Name<string>*: Topology name.
SaveTopology<bool>: If true, the current topology is saved before switching.
TimeOut<long>: Milliseconds to wait for Ventuz Presenter to load and validate the scenes after topology set. Response will contain a warning if exceeded. 		POST none Activates the selected topology. After the command is executed it will wait for the initialization of all Client Systems. If a timeout is presented the status will be SucceededWithWarnings.
topology.status none GET Name<string>, NumberOfPorts<int>, State<Ok,Warning,Error> Gets the Info of the current active Topology.
Show
show.get none POST Id<guid>, ProjectId<guid>, PublishContextId<guid>, Uri<string>, Description<string> Retrieves information about the current show
show.open Uri<string>*: Uri or path of the show file.
TimeOut<long>: Milliseconds to wait for Ventuz Presenter to load and validate the scenes. Response will contain a warning if exceeded. 		POST none Opens a show through its local path. After the command is executed it will wait for the initialization of all Clients. If a timeout is presented the status will be SucceededWithWarnings.
show.close SaveShow<bool>: If true the current show will be saved before it is closed.
ClearRenderer<bool>: If true, the renderer output will be cleared. 		POST none Closes the active show
show.cue Uri<string>*: Uri of the template or page OR
TemplateData<string>*: Template data in JSON format. OR
TemplateDisplayName<string>*: Name of a template.(If multiple with the same name, first will be cued.) OR
PageDisplayName<string>*: Name of a Director Page. (If multiple with the same name, first will be cued.)
ChannelIndex<int>
IgnoreChannelRules<bool>: If true, rules for the channel are ignored. If ChannelIndex is not provided, rules of all channels will be ignored.
TimeOut<long>:TimeOut<long>: Milliseconds to wait for Ventuz Presenter to load and validate the scenes. Response will contain a warning if exceeded.
 POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a cue on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.can.cue Uri<string>*: Uri of the template or page OR
TemplateData<string>*: Template data in JSON format. OR
TemplateDisplayName<string>*: Name of a template. OR
PageDisplayName<string>*: Name of a Director Page.
ChannelIndex<int>
IgnoreChannelRules<bool>: If true, rules for the channel are ignored. If ChannelIndex is not provided, rules of all channels will be ignored.
TimeOut<long>:TimeOut<long>: Milliseconds to wait for Ventuz Presenter to load and validate the scenes. Response will contain a warning if exceeded.
 POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Checks wether a specific template or page can be cued on a certain Channel.
show.can.cuechannel ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Checks wether anything can be cued on a certain Channel.
show.take ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a take on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.can.take ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Checks wether a take or a take and recue can be performed on a certain Channel.
show.takerecue ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a take and recue on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.recueonair ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a recue on-air on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.can.recueonair ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Checks if recue of the active Template or Page can be performed.
show.takeout ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a take out on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.can.takeout ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a take out on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.takeoutrecue ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a take out and recue on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.clear ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Performs a clear on a certain channel, if ChannelIndex is not included, the action is executed on all Channels.
show.can.clear ChannelIndex<int> POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Status<string>, Message<string> Checks if a clear to the active template or page can be performed.
show.gettemplates none GET TemplateData <string JSON> Retrieves the available templates of the active show
show.getpages none GET TemplateData <string JSON> Retrieves the available pages of the active show
show.createpage Name<string>*: User defined name of the page.
Level<string>*: Uri of the Template from where the page will be saved.
Description<string>: User defined description.
Keywords<string>: Comma separated keywords.
Category<string>: User defined category.
ChannelIds<int>: Comma separated list of Channel Ids 		GET none Create a Page from the given TemplateData
show.getchannels none GET ChannelIndex<int>, Name<string> Retrieves the available channels of the active show.
show.getprojectdata none GET Result <Dictionary<string, object> Retrieves the data model of Project Data
show.setprojectdata Detailed Parameter Description POST none Sets the corresponding Project Data item.
show.preloadtemplates none POST none Preloads all [Templates Templates] on all Channels.
show.preloadtemplates_playlist none POST none Preloads all [Templates Templates] of all Playlists.
show.preloadtemplates_timeline none POST none Preloads all [Templates Templates] on all Timelines.
show.reloadtemplates TimeOut<long>: Milliseconds to wait for Ventuz Presenter to load and validate the scenes. Response will contain a warning if exceeded. POST none Reloads all [Templates Templates] on all Channels.
show.getassets IncludeThumbnail<bool> POST none If <true>, the response will also include the Base64 encoded string of the Thumbnail in PNG format.
Playlist
playlist.getmeta ChannelIndex<int>*
Index<int>: Zero-based numeric position of the item on the playlist.
Id<int>: Globally unique identifier (GUID) of the item.
Name<string>: Internal name of the item.
DisplayName<string>: Displayed name of the item in the UI.
One of the four identifying parameters above is required! 		POST Id<guid>, Name<string>, DisplayName<string>, ChannelIndex<int>, Index<int>, Status<Default, Cued,On-Air, Aired>, Description<string>, Category<string[]>, Keywords<string[]>, ChannelIds<int[]>, TemplateUri<string>, GroupName<string> Returns information for a single playlist item. You can choose whether you request it through Index,Id,Name or DisplayName.
playlist.get none POST ChannelIndex<int>, ChannelName<string>, Items<array of json objects>, Items contains: Name<string>,DisplayName<string>, ChannelIndex<int>, Index<int>, Id<guid>, Status<Default, Cued, On-Air, Aired> Returns all Playlists of all Channels.
playlist.activate ChannelIndex<int>*
Index<int>: Zero-based numeric position of the item on the playlist.
Id<int>: Globally unique identifier (GUID) of the item.
Name<string>: Internal name of the item.
DisplayName<string>: Displayed name of the item in the UI.
One of the four identifying parameters above is required! 		POST none Allows to activate an item on a specific Playlist, either by its Index, Id, Name or DisplayName.
playlist.restart none POST none Restarts all Playlists and cueing the first item. Timeline must be deactivated.
Remote Playlist
remoteplaylist.get none GET Id<string>, Name<string>, PublishContexts<array of json objects> Retrieves the ids of the available remote playlists with the name and id of each publish context.
remoteplaylist.open PlaylistId<string>*
PublishContextName<string>
PublishContextId<guid>
SpecialAction<UseBlankShow,UseShowUri,UseDefaultShow,UseCurrentShow>: details 		POST none Opens a remote playlist i.e coming through ​MOS
Macros
macro.get none GET Id<string>, Name<string> Retrieves the available Macros within an active Show
macro.execute Id<string>
Name<string>
One of the two is required! 		POST none Activates a Macros based on its Id or Name.
macro.can.execute Id<string>
Name<string>
One of the two is required! 		POST none Checks whether the requested Macro can be executed or not..
Timeline
timeline.play none POST none Plays the Timeline.
timeline.pause none POST none Pauses the playback of the Timeline.
timeline.rewind none POST none Rewinds the Timeline.
timeline.forward none POST none Forwards the Timeline.
timeline.jumpstart none POST none The Timeline jumps to the beginning.
timeline.jumpend none POST none The Timeline jumps to the end.

Channel based Commands

The following commands are processed in parallel while the others are executed one after the other. The reason for this is that the commands mentioned here are commands that refer to Channels.

The response of these operations varies a little from the others.

Command Details

Set Project Data

The parameters depend of the requested data path type:

Data Item Parameter Description Mandatory / Optional
Event
DataPath Path where the event should be invoked Mandatory
Boolean
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
SpecialAction Toggle: Sets a boolean to true if it is currently false and vice versa. It should be written in this way: SpecialAction: Toggle Optional
ValueToSet true or false Optional (only needed if Toggle is not requested, if both are requested then Toggle has priority)
String
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
ValueToSet The desired value which will set the text in the data channel Mandatory
Enum
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
ValueToSet The desired enumeration value Mandatory
Asset
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
ValueToSet The uri of the desired Asset Mandatory
Arrays
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
ValueToSet Parsable string representation of the array Mandatory
Color
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
ValueToSet Color in the format of r,g,b or a,r,g,b if Alpha is required Mandatory
Single,Double,Integer
DataPath Path where the value should be set Mandatory
ValueToSet The required number Mandatory
SetRelative If true, the given number will be added to the current value of the data channel. (Default value is "false") Optional

Open Remote Playlist

SpecialAction Description Additional required parameters
UseBlankShow A completely new show will be used. None
UseShowUri The user should provide the show (via the show uri or path). ShowUri
UseDefaultShow The show provided by the "Default Show Mappings" will be used. None
UseCurrentShow The currently open show will be used. None

Response

The response is returned in JSON format, indicating with a Status whether the execution succeeded, succeeded with warnings or failed and the corresponding Result as an Array.

The Websocket response also includes the related RequestID

Sample Response from a topology.get Websocket message 

{
  "RequestID" :"30",
  "Status": "Succeeded",
  "Result": [
    {
      "Name": "(local)",
      "SourceType": "DefaultTopology"
    },
    {
      "Name": "3ChannelsTopology",
      "SourceType": "LocalFile"
    },
    {
      "Name": "NewTopologyFromScratch",
      "SourceType": "LocalFile"
    }
  ]
}

Response Properties

RequestID

The RequestId given by the user (only applies in Websocket connections).

Code

Response-Codes which indicates the status of the recently executed request.

Code Value(int) Description
Ok 0 The request was executed successfully.
ErrorException 1 The execution failed due to an unexpected error.
ErrorValidation 2 The execution failed due to an invalid value given or caused by the request.
ErrorNotFound 3 The execution failed because a value given or caused by the request was not found.
ErrorNoShow 4 Most of the commands can only be executed with an open Show. If there is no Show open at the time of execution, this error will be given.
ErrorInvalidOperation 5 The execution failed because an invalid operation was attempted for example a Channel Rule is forbidding an item to be cued.

Result
Property that contains the concrete result of each request. Usually in POST requests that are not related to channel-based commands the result is null. When performing channel-based commands this property returns a list of ChannelStatus indicating the status of the operation for each channel.

Warnings
List of Issue that represent warnings in the executed request, when performing channel-based commands, the ResultIndex indicates the index of the item in the Result array, otherwise, ResultIndex it will be -1.

Errors
List of Issue that represent the reason why the executed request threw an error, when performing channel-based commands, the ResultIndex indicates the index of the item in the Result array, otherwise, ResultIndex it will be -1.

Examples

Websocket Examples

Here are some Websocket request message examples.

Get all available Topologies:

Command 

{
        "Command":"topology.get",
        "RequestID": 30
}

Response 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": [
        {
            "Name": "(local)",
            "SourceType": "DefaultTopology"
        },
        {
            "Name": "3ChannelsTopology",
            "SourceType": "LocalFile"
        },
        {
            "Name": "NewTopologyFromScratch",
            "SourceType": "LocalFile"
        },
        {
            "Name": "Topology2",
            "SourceType": "LocalFile"
        },
        {
            "Name": "CI_Presentation",
            "SourceType": "EmbeddedInProject"
        }
    ],
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": []
}

Activate a Topology: 

{
        "Command":"topology.set",
        "RequestID": 31,
		"Name": "3ChannelsTopology"
}

Open a Director Show: 

{
        "Command":"show.open",
        "RequestID": 32,
		"Uri": "C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\Ventuz6\\Content\\Projects\\Hockey\\Hockey.show"
}

Get channels of a Show:

Command 

{
        "Command":"show.getchannels",
        "RequestID": 33
}

Response 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": [
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 0,
            "Name": "Background"
        },
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 1,
            "Name": "Content"
        }
    ],
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": []
}

Channel-based Commands Examples

When any of the Channel based commands are executed, the response can be as follows (all examples will be based on the show.cue command):

All channels performed the command successfully: 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": [
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 0,
            "ChannelName": "Background",
            "Code": 0,
            "TakeIndex": 0,
            "TakeCount": 1
        },
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 1,
            "ChannelName": "Content",
            "Code": 0,
            "TakeIndex": 0,
            "TakeCount": 1
        }
    ],
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": []
}

Some Channels performed the command with Warnings: 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": [
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 0,
            "ChannelName": "Background",
            "Code": 0,
            "TakeIndex": 0,
            "TakeCount": 1
        },
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 1,
            "ChannelName": "Content",
            "Code": 0,
            "TakeIndex": 0,
            "TakeCount": 1
        }
    ],
    "Warnings": [
        {
            "ResultIndex": 0,
            "Message": "Item is still cueing"
        }
    ],
    "Errors": []
}

In this case the item on the ChannelIndex 0 is still cueing, the item on ChannelIndex 1 was successfully cued.

Some Channels performed the command with Errors: 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": [
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 0,
            "ChannelName": "Background",
            "Code": 0,
            "TakeIndex": 0,
            "TakeCount": 1
        },
        {
            "ChannelIndex": 1,
            "ChannelName": "Content",
            "Code": 5,
            "TakeIndex": 0,
            "TakeCount": 1
        }
    ],
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": [
        {
            "ResultIndex": 1,
            "Message": "Unable to perform desired action due to a blocking channel rule."
        }
    ]

In this case the item on the ChannelIndex 0 was successfully cued, but the item on ChannelIndex 1 was not cued due to a Channel Rule.

Note that the main Code is Ok because the command performed in at least one Channel.

All channels executed the command with Errors: 

{
  "Code": 1,
  "Result": [
    {
      "ChannelIndex": 0,
      "ChannelName": "Background",
      "Code": 1,
      "TakeIndex": 0,
      "TakeCount": 1
    },
    {
      "ChannelIndex": 1,
      "ChannelName": "Content",
      "Code": 5,
      "TakeIndex": 0,
      "TakeCount": 1
    }
  ],
  "Warnings": [],
  "Errors": [
    {
      "ResultIndex": 0,
      "Message": "Unexpected error when performing show.cue, please refer to Director Log for details"
    },
    {
      "ResultIndex": 1,
      "Message": "Unable to perform desired action due to a blocking channel rule."
    }
  ]
}

In this case, main Code is ErrorException.

POST Examples

When a command is executed that is not part of the Channel based commands the response would be as follows:

Ok: 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": null,
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": []
}

The command was successfully executed, there are no warnings or errors.

Ok with warnings: 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": null,
    "Warnings": [
        {
            "ResultIndex": -1,
            "Message": "Time out while connecting to all Ventuz Runtime instances"
        }
    ],
    "Errors": []
}

The command was successfully executed, but there were Warnings on the execution which could cause unexpected behaviors in future interactions with Director.

Error: 

{
  "Code": 4,
  "Result": null,
  "Warnings": [],
  "Errors": [
    {
      "ResultIndex": -1,
      "Message": "No show open"
    }
  ]
}

The command attempted to execute with no success because there is no active Show.In this case Errors are included.

GET Examples

Ok:

Based on the status.get command. 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": {
        "Version": "6.9.0.0",
        "LifetimeMs": 44066,
        "User": "UserName",
        "Machine": "MachineName",
        "TopologyName": "CI_Presentation",
        "TopologyState": "Warning",
        "ShowId": "589c4ac0-8818-480b-8c02-b43a64f4603b",
        "ShowName": "CIPresentation",
        "ShowUri": "ventuz:///CIPresentation.show",
        "ProjectId": "48b1df08-9547-409e-8bd7-59be4f765349",
        "ProjectName": "CIPresentation",
        "ProjectUri": "file:///C:/Users/Public/Documents/Ventuz6/Content/Projects/CIPresentation/CIPresentation.vzp",
        "RemotePlaylistId": null,
        "ChannelCount": 2
    },
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": []
}

Based on the topology.get command. 

{
    "Code": 0,
    "Result": [
        {
            "Name": "(local)",
            "SourceType": "DefaultTopology"
        },
        {
            "Name": "3ChannelsTopology",
            "SourceType": "LocalFile"
        },
        {
            "Name": "NewTopologyFromScratch",
            "SourceType": "LocalFile"
        },
        {
            "Name": "Topology2",
            "SourceType": "LocalFile"
        },
        {
            "Name": "CI_Presentation",
            "SourceType": "EmbeddedInProject"
        }
    ],
    "Warnings": [],
    "Errors": []
}

See also:

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