2. Tagging

Tags are used to add additional data to a clip in an organized way. The tagging system in ptulsconv is flexible and can be used to add any kind of extra data to a clip.

2.1. Fields in Clip Names

Track names, track comments, and clip names can also contain meta-tags, or “fields,” to add additional columns to the output. Thus, if a clip has the name::

Fireworks explosion {note=Replace for final} $V=1 [FX] [DESIGN]

The row output for this clip will contain columns for the values:

Clip Name

note

V

FX

DESIGN

Fireworks explosion

Replace for final

1

FX

DESIGN

These fields can be defined in the clip name in three ways:

  • $NAME=VALUE creates a field named NAME with a one-word value VALUE.

  • {NAME=VALUE} creates a field named NAME with the value VALUE. VALUE in this case may contain spaces or any chartacter up to the closing bracket.

  • [NAME] creates a field named NAME with a value NAME. This can be used to create a boolean-valued field; in the output, clips with the field will have it, and clips without will have the column with an empty value.

For example, if three clips are named::

"Squad fifty-one, what is your status?" [FUTZ] {Ch=Dispatcher} [ADR]

"We are ten-eight at Rampart Hospital." {Ch=Gage} [ADR]

(1M) FC callouts rescuing trapped survivors. {Ch=Group} $QN=1001 [GROUP]

The output will contain the range:

Clip Name

Ch

FUTZ

ADR

QN

GROUP

“Squad fifty-one, what is your status?”

Dispatcher

FUTZ

ADR

“We are ten-eight at Rampart Hospital.”

Gage

ADR

(1M) FC callouts rescuing trapped survivors.

Group

1001

GROUP

2.2. Fields in Track Names and Markers

Fields set in track names, and in track comments, will be applied to each clip on that track. If a track comment contains the text {Dept=Foley} for example, every clip on that track will have a “Foley” value in a “Dept” column.

Likewise, fields set on the session name will apply to all clips in the session.

Fields set in markers, and in marker comments, will be applied to all clips whose finish is after that marker. Fields in markers are applied cumulatively from breakfast to dinner in the session. The latest marker applying to a clip has precedence, so if one marker comes after the other, but both define a field, the value in the later marker

An important note here is that, always, fields set on the clip name have the highest precedence. If a field is set in a clip name, the same field set on the track, the value set on the clip will prevail.

2.3. Apply Fields to a Time Range of Clips

A clip name beginning with @ will not be included in the output, but its fields will be applied to clips within its time range on lower tracks.

If track 1 has a clip named @ {Sc=1- The House}, any clips beginning within that range on lower tracks will have a field Sc with that value.

2.4. Combining Clips with Long Names or Many Tags

A clip name beginning with & will have its parsed clip name appended to the preceding cue, and the fields of following cues will be applied, earlier clips having precedence. The clips need not be touching, and the clips will be combined into a single row of the output. The start time of the first clip will become the start time of the row, and the finish time of the last clip will become the finish time of the row.

2.5. Setting Document Options

Note

Document options are not yet implemented.