I've been getting mostly positive feedback from those of you using the new Vortal 3. If you haven't yet been trained on Vortal 3, please let me know, and we'll get something set up for you.

For anyone needing box group management training, I'd be glad to set that up as well.

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding page layouts in Vortal 3. To find more helpful hints and video tutorials, visit Knowledge Base on the right hand side of Vortal 3.

Q.) When should I use Box Groups?

 

A.) Box Groups should be treated and considered like "mini" templates. Box Groups should only be used when content has to be repeated on many pages of your site. This would generally be the footer (where you contain your legal and EEO verbiage) and your header (which would contain your header images, banners, navigation, etc). Updates to Box Groups push out to all instances on your website instantly (Example: If you were to change your website's logo and it was in a box group on every page of your website, making the change to the specific box group would reflect on every page of your website.

 

Q.) What does a red bordered box on my customized page/template mean?

 

A.) A red bordered box means that Vortal 3 is expecting a default value in the box properties and nothing has yet been entered. Sometimes a box may be added to a page and then the web person may logout of Vortal 3 before assigning a default value to the box. This is easily fixed by clicking the box properties link of a red bordered box. When the lightwindow opens, you should see a blank field that requires a value to be entered. Fill in the necessary field and save the box.

Please Note- If a template has a red-bordered box on it, it will not be available to render pages off until all of the red boxes have been "cleared".

 Q.) I made some updates to a template in Vortal 3 and requested a cache clear, but my pages are still not updated.

 

A.) Each box on the template has an option to choose if the box is customizable at the page level or not. ("Can Station Modify Above Information?" on the Styles tab and "Can Station Customize?" on the Box Properties tab). If any fields are selected as "No", changes or updates made to those fields on the Template level will push out the page level upon cache refresh. But when fields are selected as "YES" then updates need to be made on each page.

Plan when building/configuring the templates so you know which options needs to be set as customizable. Changing these options after the page has been rendered will not take affect until the page is reset from the template.

 

Q.) How do I create and set a Splash page in Vortal 3? Do I need to re-create my Homepage again when I take my Splash Page down?

 

A.) Setting up and removing a Splash Page in Vortal 3 is really simple.

1. Create a new Specialty Page using a template of your choice.
2. Once the design and structure is finalized, click Edit on the page and change the Topic Type from "General" to "HomePage".This will make the new page your Splash Page.
3. When the splash page needs to be taken down, there is no need to delete the page, just search for your previous Homepage in Vortal 3, click Edit and switch the Topic Type to "HomePage". Your previous homepage will now be live once again

Warning: Deleting the Splash page and not switching the Homepage topic type may cause Vortal to pick a random page as the Homepage.

 

Q.) I created a Template in Vortal 3 and I don't need it anymore, can I delete it?

 

A.) Yes you can! A new feature to Vortal3 is the ability for you to delete un-wanted or un-needed templates. As a safeguard against accidentally deleting templates, templates cannot be deleted if they have existing pages rendered from them. You will need to reset those pages from a new template or delete them before deleting the template they were rendered from.

 

Q.) Why do I get an error message when I click on the Detailed Forecast link or the Related Content Tags on my site?

 

A.) These links require Pages that must be set to the appropriate Topic Type to function properly. The Detailed Forecast displays on page that must be set to Topic Type "Weather." The Related Content tags link to a page that must be set to Topic Type "Related Content." Use Advanced Search to find the the corresponding page on your site, click Edit, and set the Topic Type to the appropriate selection.

        

Not getting missing copy reports or technical emails? Or...do you get technical emails when you shouldn't? Then it's time to sign in to http://andomedia.com.


Once you've signed in, look on the left-side panel. You'll notice "Change Password, Email Options etc" below your name. Click on this link, you can change your email preferences, as well as your password.

        

Check out these links for some nice background and cut-out images that you can use for free!

http://www.dragonartz.net/

http://officialpsds.com/

        

The Ando team has been working hard on improvements to the system.  Here's a copy of the eblast they just sent out, with all of the improvements listed.

        

Modifying your player is quick and easy.

Just watch this short video that walks you through how to customize your streaming player: http://imgsrv.wccq.com/image/wccq2/UserFiles/Flash/PlayWebAdmin.swf

        

See this short video for a brief overview of how to get statistics within Ando: http://imgsrv.wccq.com/image/wccq2/UserFiles/Flash/Stats_Final.swf

Note, for Sound Exchange reports...as well as station's monthly statistics...you will need to combine the numbers from Abacast's secure site, as well as Ando for the month that your station launched with Ando/Stream The World.  For months following your launch, you will rely on numbers from Ando only.

*The tutorial mentions SESAC reports, however, we are no longer required to complete those.

        

Here's a repost from last year...it's an old idea...but many markets across the country find great success with themes every year. Remember...this applies to your auction sites as well.

Consider themes and specials for your 50% off gift certificate program (Valentines, 4th of July, Christmas, etc).

For http://nmmb.nextmediadeals.com we changed our look and our header for the month of December to "Christmas Spectacular". We promoted the special on-air, as well as online. Not only did it look great, but our sales for the month of December are the best to-date from all year...doubling November's revenue.

Along with creating the theme, we also introduced a deal a day for one-week...offering on-demand certificates so that our customers didn't have to wait for the certificates to be mailed. On-demand certificates are now offered by Neofill to all radio stations, as well as standard mailable certificates.

Questions, please email me or leave a comment!

        

Do you get tired of your large files being stripped?

Sick of zip's getting dumped?

Try http://yousendit.com where you can send files that are up to 100mb in size for free. Free? Yup, free!

Just sign up for a Lite account, and you'll receive notification once your file has been sent.

It's easy to use, and sign up only takes a second. Plus, you can download the You Send It express tool, to send right from your desktop...making it even easier.

        

Weekdays Ando sends out a report listing spots that don't have a media attached, spots that are in flight but haven't played yet, and campaigns with no active spots. (If you don't receive this report, you may opt-in via your Ando account)

One of the items on the report seems to be the most confusing...those spots in flight with no plays.  So...I've got some helpful tips for you to best determine what the issue is.

1st: Check to see if the spot has a duration listed, dayparts, a station assigned to it, and a spot uploaded

2nd: If it has all of that, make sure the spot and the campaign are activated

If all of the things above are set and look correct, then you should check the station in Injector Manager.  If the station is showing a bunch of 0's in the Last Played 24 column - the station might not be receiving data from the automation system.

To check is, choose the Linear Log Audit from the main Menu on the left side of the screen. If nothing has played today, then the automation system is not sending data and you will need the local engineer to check the data feed between the automation system and the streaming pc.