NewTek TriCaster TC1 (2 RU) User Manual
Page 72

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Several other important features are contained in the
Manage
group, discussed next.
C
ONFIGURE
D
ATA
L
INK
K
EYS
DataLink™ is an astonishingly useful
NewTek exclusive, allowing the handling and updating of text and image
data from both internal and external source for use in title pages in real-time, as well as other purposes.
Briefly, DataLink tracks variables (called
DataLink keys
) and their values, and updates these values on-the-
fly when used as entries in title pages.
FIGURE 49
Hint: DataLink keys can serve in other ways, too, as for example to automatically insert information such as
time or scores into labels and comments of social media uploads, or as instant replay clip metadata.
Since
DataLink
falls into the general realm of automation and also has access to external sources, complete
coverage of its features and capabilities is found in the companion
Automation and Integration Guide
included
with this product; but we’ll mention a few highlight
s as we go along as well.
Hint: If not today, we urge you to make definite plans to read the DataLink chapter in the Automation and
Integration Guide. Without exaggeration, DataLink is a game-changer. It can save you a great deal of time,
prevent embarrassing and potentially costly mistakes, and lift your productions to new heights.
The
Manage
group link labeled
Configure Datalink Keys
opens a dialog that allows you to pre-assign values
to three special
DataLink
keys.
These
session keys
serve as the default first and second line text inserts and image used by many of the
supplied template title pages. (By taking a moment to populate these keys with, for example, a company
name, motto, and logo, you will find much of the included graphic content ready to use for a given production
without ever having to type another line.)