New user looking for text help

[Seehorse]

I webcast events and I have a lower third graphic for each individual class at the event, this list is several hundred entries long. I've been using Livestream Studio which allows me to import a .csv file of all the graphics into a DSK but due to out of control pricing with Vimeo I've changed platforms and have to look at another program.

As I mentioned there will be hundreds of individual text lower third graphics that will be used during the course of a webcast. I can't figure out a way to do anything but individually type in each title which is not an option. I need to be able to import the spreadsheet and quickly select a given row for a class, then when that class is finished I need to change to the next row. Is there an easy way to accomplish this?

Seehorse

 

[bcoyle]

I webcast events and I have a lower third graphic for each individual class at the event, this list is several hundred entries long. I've been using Livestream Studio which allows me to import a .csv file of all the graphics into a DSK but due to out of control pricing with Vimeo I've changed platforms and have to look at another program.

As I mentioned there will be hundreds of individual text lower third graphics that will be used during the course of a webcast. I can't figure out a way to do anything but individually type in each title which is not an option. I need to be able to import the spreadsheet and quickly select a given row for a class, then when that class is finished I need to change to the next row. Is there an easy way to accomplish this?

Seehorse

You might have to explain this a little more.

 

[turingsroot]

Text source in OBS has a "Read from file" option that refreshes live whenever the file changes. So what I'd do: write a small Python script that reads your CSV, lets you hit a key to advance rows, and writes the current entry to a .txt file -- OBS picks it up automatically. About 20 lines of code but once it's running it's actually faster than clicking through a DSK.

 

[bcoyle]

Text source in OBS has a "Read from file" option that refreshes live whenever the file changes. So what I'd do: write a small Python script that reads your CSV, lets you hit a key to advance rows, and writes the current entry to a .txt file -- OBS picks it up automatically. About 20 lines of code but once it's running it's actually faster than clicking through a DSK.

It sounds like you have solved the problem. Maybe you can share with Seehorse

 

[turingsroot]

sure, here's a minimal version. save as advance_lower.py, run from Terminal:

import csv, sys

rows = list(csv.reader(open('your_file.csv')))
i = 0
while i < len(rows):
open('lower_third.txt', 'w').write(', '.join(rows))
print(f'[{i+1}/{len(rows)}] {rows}')
input('Enter for next...')
i += 1

In OBS, add a Text source, check "Read from file", point it at lower_third.txt. Every time you hit Enter the text updates live. Works fine on Mac, python3 is pre-installed so no extra setup.

 

[Seehorse]

sure, here's a minimal version. save as advance_lower.py, run from Terminal:

import csv, sys

rows = list(csv.reader(open('your_file.csv')))
i = 0
while i < len(rows):
open('lower_third.txt', 'w').write(', '.join(rows))
print(f'[{i+1}/{len(rows)}] {rows}')
input('Enter for next...')
i += 1

In OBS, add a Text source, check "Read from file", point it at lower_third.txt. Every time you hit Enter the text updates live. Works fine on Mac, python3 is pre-installed so no extra setup.

I'm afraid I know nothing about programming, I copy this into notepad, save it as the advance.py and then open terminal and type that file name? Is there a way to search and go backwards in the list?

Frequently we have classes cancelled at the last minute and need to skip one and it's not unheard of to have them out of order, not to mention user errors in skipping the wrong one.

 

[Seehorse]

You might have to explain this a little more.

Ok, there will be anywhere from 150 to 400 individual lower thirds graphics of class titles during the course of the show. I have a spreadsheet of all of the titles with each class having one row of the spreadsheet. When a class enters the ring we put up that class title and change it when the next class enters.

The complication comes in when the show adds classes to the schedule or occasionally shifts the order of the class. Up to now I've used Livestream Studio 6 from Vimeo and I simply import the .csv into one of the GFX downstream keys and it monitors the source file for any changes. The GFX keyer gives me a scrolling list of the entire spreadsheet and allows me to select which row to display, I simply click the correct class title and it puts up that graphic. When the next class comes in I simply click on the next row and it changes to the next class.

That's the kind of thing I really need; unfortunately Vimeo was charging me over $13k per year for streaming so I had to look for another provider and Livestream Studio is locked to Vimeo; it phones home for authorization.

 

[bcoyle]

Ok, there will be anywhere from 150 to 400 individual lower thirds graphics of class titles during the course of the show. I have a spreadsheet of all of the titles with each class having one row of the spreadsheet. When a class enters the ring we put up that class title and change it when the next class enters.

The complication comes in when the show adds classes to the schedule or occasionally shifts the order of the class. Up to now I've used Livestream Studio 6 from Vimeo and I simply import the .csv into one of the GFX downstream keys and it monitors the source file for any changes. The GFX keyer gives me a scrolling list of the entire spreadsheet and allows me to select which row to display, I simply click the correct class title and it puts up that graphic. When the next class comes in I simply click on the next row and it changes to the next class.

That's the kind of thing I really need; unfortunately Vimeo was charging me over $13k per year for streaming so I had to look for another provider and Livestream Studio is locked to Vimeo; it phones home for authorization.

if you have an excel spreadsheet, excel has vba to automate things. There is a vba/visual basic forum with people that can help write a macro to do this. A simple button on the row could just write the title to the common title text file. There is a"looking for dev " , column, ie , dev for hire. here is an invite. Hope this helps.

Join the Visual Basic Community Discord Server!

Check out the Visual Basic Community community on Discord - hang out with 2246 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

discord.gg

 

[turingsroot]

Since you mentioned you're not into programming, skip the Python route. Look into H2R Graphics, it's a free OBS plugin that does exactly what you're describing. You point it at a CSV, it gives you a clickable list of lower thirds, and you just pick whichever row you need live. Handles out-of-order selection too so cancelled classes aren't a problem. Way closer to the Livestream Studio GFX keyer workflow you're used to.

 

[Seehorse]

Since you mentioned you're not into programming, skip the Python route. Look into H2R Graphics, it's a free OBS plugin that does exactly what you're describing. You point it at a CSV, it gives you a clickable list of lower thirds, and you just pick whichever row you need live. Handles out-of-order selection too so cancelled classes aren't a problem. Way closer to the Livestream Studio GFX keyer workflow you're used to.

I'll give that a try, from looking at the webpage it looks like it might just answer my problems. Thanks for your help.

Scott Cooper
Seehorse Video