What is XPression?
As a comprehensive graphics solution, XPression equips operators with real-time motion graphics capabilities. Built from the ground up to be a 3D system, XPression also fully supports 2D workflows, and seamlessly composites real-time 3D animation with media assets from today’s hottest design applications. More information on their website.
Installing the Cuez XPression Interface application
To allow XPression to 'talk' to the Cuez Automator, the Cuez XPression Interface application needs to be installed first. You can download the interface application via this link: Cuez Xpression Interface.
Once downloaded, unzip the files into a separate folder. Next, make sure to have XPression open and running first, then open the Cuez XPression Interface application.
Note: The Cuez XPression Interface application should be running on the same computer as where XPression itself is running.
With XPression running, then opening the Cuez XPression Interface application, you should see the interface application try to connect to XPression, then successfully connect. The bottom left corner of the Cuez XPression Interface should show a green dot with 'Connected to XPression'.
Adding an XPression 'device' to the Automator
Important: Before you can use XPression and the updated Cuez XPression Interface with the Automator, you have to install and run a specific version of the Automator (or newer). At the moment of writing this article, this means Automator Next Build 0.0.0-next.b99413ac, released on 16th July 2024.
In the top right corner of the Automator, we see 'Devices' - this can be either in red or green depending on the status of the configured devices. Click it and select 'Add device'.
Next, select 'XPression' from the 'Device type' dropdown list, then give it a name.
Once the XPression device is selected and given a name, we will see all fields needed to configure it so it can be used with the Automator.
Basic device configuration
You can enable or disable the XPression, you can enter the hostname, as well as the TCP port. Once these settings have been entered, the device should show as 'online' (green) in the top right corner.
The settings that are entered by default by the Cuez Automator represent the default settings needed for XPression if the Automator is installed on the same computer as the XPression itself. You can change these settings (host name and ports) as needed, depending on your exact configuration.
Media handling configuration
Next, under the 'Downloader' section, check the box to indicate that this XPression will be handling media. More settings will appear, allowing you to configure where media needs to be downloaded and which media we want Automator to download for XPression.
Download folders
The 'Download folder' is the folder where Automator will download all media to for XPression, with its location seen as from the Automator. If XPression and the Automator are installed on the same computer, then this will be a local folder. If XPression and the Automator are on separate devices, this will be with an IP address on the local network.
The 'Device media folder' is the folder where Automator will download all media to for XPression, with its location seen as from XPression itself. This is most likely just a local folder on the same computer.
Keep filenames
Automator offers the option to keep the original filenames of the media that will be downloaded from the Episode into the download folder. By default, Automator saves the files with a unique ID. In case you want to manually check the files in the download folder, it can be helpful to check the box to keep the original filenames to have the files be more recognizable.
Automatically delete files
We can also set files to be automatically deleted after 24 hours or a week. This way you don’t keep all downloaded media in case it is not needed anymore.
Define Blocks with media
Finally we can configure which Blocks will need their graphics media downloaded for our XPression. For this, click 'Add media field' at the bottom, select your Block configuration (for example 'Graphics') and then the field name of the media (usually 'Media'). Repeat this step for all Block configurations that need their graphics downloaded by the XPression you are configuring.
Note: Xpression in combination with Automator can only handle graphics at this point.
As soon as these final settings have been configured, the media from the Episode will start downloading to the folders that were defined. A green checkmark next to a thumbnail (in the Script) indicates the media was successfully downloaded.
Configuring actions
The next step is then to configure each Item and Block configuration with the (set of) functions you want to perform on the XPression when triggering the Item or Block - more on that in this article.