Setting up a Collection Middleware Source

This type of Middlewarw Source is used to integrate social media content through our Middleware / Viz Social Plugin with your graphics insertion system allowing you to display, in real-time, Tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram posts, Whatsapp messages, Twitch and Youtube comments, On-screen.

When you create this type of Middleware Source, you must associate it to the Collection from which it will take the data.  


To learn how to create aMiddleware Source, click here.

1. General Settings

  • Name (1): Naming your Collection Middleware Source is a good practice so that you and your teammates can identify it for later use.

  • Custom title (2): In the XML or Database; it appears in the title field/column.

  • Language (3): When a post comes with no Username information, the Collection Middleware Source by default changes To "Unknown Username". You can set the "Unknown Username" to English, Spanish or Portuguese language.

  • Hide Replied Users (4): You may choose if you wish to hide replied users from tweets.

2. Collection

When you create a Middleware Source of this type, you should assign to it a Collection that contains the posts you will display.

(1) Click on Select to choose a Collection.


(2) Select the Collection you want to connect to the Middleware Source.

3. Integration


  • Integration type (1): Select how you want to integrate the data according to the graphics system you have. If it is not listed click others. 

Vizrt Integration

Integrations with Vizrt can be made through:

  • Flowics Middleware + Data Reader, pick others from the dropdown.

For additional information about Vizrt integration click here.

  • Version (2): This refers to the Middleware version. We recommend to always use the higher from the dropdown. Please refer to this article for more information.

  • Connect to Middleware (3): Enable it, pick your middleware from the dropdown and find the destination path where the File or Database are being written in your destination unit by the middleware.

  • Download Media (4): You can choose to download the images and videos your middleware fetches and store them locally. Take into account that videos are available only for version 4.0 onwards.

  • Download Profile Pictures (5): You can choose to download the user profile pictures your middleware fetches and store them locally.  

4. XML Integration

4.1 Example & Fields Description

4.1.1 XML Example

<ticker>
    <widgetId>26926</widgetId>
    <title>Sample Ticker DS</title>
    <posts>
        <post>
            <id>770351404896714757</id>
            <userName>John Smith</userName>
            <screenName>johnsmith</screenName>
            <text>
            How Social Media can help your Customer Journey - Download for Free http://hubs.ly/H038rYB0 #ebook #customerjourney
            </text>
            <url>
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/767771568575512576/kp-8wCsF.jpg
            </url>
            <date>1472501062000</date>
            <verified>false</verified>
            <publisher>twitter</publisher>
            <geolocation>
                <latitude>40.745592</latitude>
                <longitude>-73.987857</longitude>
            </geolocation>
            <mainMediaURL>
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B89jMqKIgAAM2Fu.jpg:large
            </mainMediaURL>
            <mainMediaType>jpg</mainMediaType>
            <localMainMediaPath>/path/to/downloaded/media/image.jpg</localMainMediaPath>
            <mainVideoURL>
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B89jMqKIgAAM2Fu.mp4
            </mainVideoURL>
            <mainVideoType>mp4</mainVideoType>
            <localMainVideoPath>/path/to/downloaded/media/video.mp4</localMainVideoPath>
            <originalUserName>Flowics</originalUserName>
            <originalScreenName>flowics</originalScreenName>
            <originalUrl>https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1232/maoNYpMK_normal.jpeg</originalUrl>
            <originalDate>1472501062001</originalDate>
            <originalVerified>true</originalVerified>
            <displayUserName>John Smith</displayUserName>
            <displayScreenName>johnsmith</displayScreenName>
            <displayUrl>
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/767771568575512576/kp-8wCsF.jpg
            </displayUrl>
            <localAvatarPath>/path/to/downloaded/media/avatar-kp-8wCsF.jpg</localAvatarPath>
            <displayDate>1472501062000</displayDate>
            <displayVerified>false</displayVerified>
        </post>
        ...
    </posts>
</ticker>


4.1.2 Fields Description

Note that some field names change when using the Avid Maestro integration type.

Field
Description
Field (Avid Maestro integration)
ticker.widgetId
Id of the widget. ticker.widgetId
ticker.title Title of the ticker, as configured in the Widget. ticker.title
ticker.posts.post.id Id of the post within the social network (e.g., id of the Tweet). ticker.posts.post.idX
ticker.posts.post.
userName
Full username within the social network. ticker.posts.post.
userNameX
ticker.posts.post.
screenName
Username. ticker.posts.post.
screenNameX
ticker.posts.post.text Post's text. ticker.posts.post.text
ticker.posts.post.url URL to the avatar of the user who generated the post. ticker.posts.post.urlX
ticker.posts.post.date

Date on which the post was published (milliseconds passed since the epoch).

ticker.posts.post.dateX
ticker.posts.post.verified Boolean that indicates whether the user who generated the post is verified. ticker.posts.post.verifiedX
ticker.posts.post.publisher

Indicates the social network in which the post was published (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

ticker.posts.post.publisher
ticker.posts.post.
geolocation.latitude
If present, indicates the latitude in which the post was published. ticker.posts.post.
geolocation.latitude
ticker.posts.post.
geolocation.longitude
If present, indicates the longitude in which the post was published. ticker.posts.post.
geolocation.longitude
ticker.posts.post.
mainMediaUrl
URL to image posted by the user. It may be empty. ticker.posts.post.
mainMediaUrl

ticker.posts.post.

mainMediaType

Image type of the media URL. It may be empty. ticker.posts.post.
mainMediaType
ticker.posts.post.
localMainMediaPath
Full path to downloaded video taken from 'mainVideoUrl'. It may be empty. ticker.posts.post.
localMainMediaPath
ticker.posts.post.
mainVideoUrl
URL to video posted by the user. It may be empty. ticker.posts.post.
mainVideoUrl
ticker.posts.post.
mainVideoType
Video type of the video URL. It may be empty. ticker.posts.post.
mainVideoType
ticker.posts.post.
localMainVideoPath
Full path to downloaded video taken from 'mainVideoUrl'. It may be empty. ticker.posts.post.
localMainVideoPath
ticker.posts.post.
originalUserName
In the case of retweets, full name of the user whose Tweet was retweeted. ticker.posts.post.
originalUserName
ticker.posts.post.
originalScreenName
In the case of retweets, username whose Tweet was retweeted. ticker.posts.post.
originalScreenName
ticker.posts.post.originalUrl In the case of retweets, url of the avatar of the user whose Tweet was retweeted. ticker.posts.post.originalUrl
ticker.posts.post.originalDate In the case of retweets, time at which the tweet published was retweeted. ticker.posts.post.originalDate
ticker.posts.post.originalVerified In the case of retweets, boolean that indicates whether the user whose Tweet was retweeted is verified. ticker.posts.post.originalVerified


The following fields help with the proper compliance with the guidelines for viewing contents. E.g., for Twitter these fields will contain the information of the tweet and original user, and may display correctly both tweets as RTS.

ticker.posts.post.displayUserName Full Name of the user in the Social Network that should be displayed. ticker.posts.post.displayUserName
ticker.posts.post.displayScreenName Username to be displayed. ticker.posts.post.displayScreenName
ticker.posts.post.displayUrl URL to the avatar of the user that should be displayed. ticker.posts.post.displayUrl
ticker.posts.post.localAvatarPath Full path to downloaded avatar image taken from 'displayUrl'. ticker.posts.post.localAvatarPath
ticker.posts.post.displayDate Date of the post that should be displayed (milliseconds since the epoch). ticker.posts.post.displayDate
ticker.posts.post.displayVerified Boolean indicator verified user that should be displayed. ticker.posts.post.displayVerified

5. Database Integration

5.1 Columns Description

When using this kind of integration, a database table with the following columns is created. The type of columns is textual. For the specific type, check the middleware configuration, but they typically are text for MySQL or PostgreSQL and ntext for Microsoft SQL Server.

Column
Description
Column (Avid Maestro integration)
widgetId
Id of the widget (same value for each row). widgetId
title Title of the ticker, as configured on the Widget (same value for each row). title
id Id of the post within the social network (e.g., id of the Tweet). idX
userName Full username within the social network. userNameX
screenName Username. screenNameX
text Post's text. text
url URL to the avatar of the user who generated the post. urlX
date

Date on which the post was published (milliseconds passed since the epoch).

dateX
verified Boolean that indicates whether the user who generated the post is verified. verifiedX
publisher

Indicates the social network in which the post was published (e.g., twitter, facebook, instagram).

publisher
geolocation_latitude If present, indicates the latitude in which the post was published. geolocation_latitude
geolocation_longitude If present, indicates the longitude in which the post was published. geolocation_longitude
mainMediaUrl URL to image posted by the user. It may be empty. mainMediaUrl

mainMediaType

Image type of the media URL. It may be empty. mainMediaType
localMainMediaPath Full path to downloaded image taken from 'mainMediaUrl'. It may be empty. localMainMediaPath
mainVideoUrl URL to video posted by the user. It may be empty. mainVideoUrl
mainVideoType Video type of the video URL. It may be empty. mainVideoType
localMainVideoPath Full path to downloaded video taken from 'mainVideoUrl'. It may be empty. localMainVideoPath
originalUserName In the case of retweets, full name of user whose Tweet was retweeted. originalUserName
originalScreenName In the case of retweets, name of user whose Tweet was retweeted. originalScreenName
originalUrl In the case of retweets, url of the avatar of the user whose Tweet was retweeted. originalUrl
originalDate In the case of retweets, time at which the tweet published was retweeted. originalDate
originalVerified In the case of retweets, boolean that indicates whether the user whose Tweet was retweeted is verified. originalVerified


The following fields help with the proper compliance with the guidelines for viewing contents. E.g., for Twitter these fields will contain the information of the tweet and original user, and may display correctly both tweets as RTS.

displayUserName Full Name of the user in the Social Network that should be displayed. displayUserName
displayScreenName Username to be displayed. displayScreenName
displayUrl URL to the avatar of the user that should be displayed. displayUrl
localAvatarPath Full path to downloaded avatar image taken from 'displayUrl'. localAvatarPath
displayDate Date of the post that should be displayed (milliseconds since the epoch). displayDate
displayVerified Boolean indicator verified user that should be displayed. displayVerified

6. JSON File integration

6.1 Example & Fields description

6.1.1 JSON Example

{
   "widgetId":34310,
   "title":"Ticker JSON",
   "posts":[
      {
         "id":"1313886440342859777",
         "userName":"blackbird",
         "screenName":"artsportfun",
         "text":"Lionel Messi as Picasso artwork.\n#Messi",
         "url":"https://3rd-cdn.flowics.com/3rd/https/pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1273927994248237056/SQbufxfs_reasonably_small.jpg",
         "date":1602089912000,
         "verified":false,
         "publisher":"twitter",
         "geolocation":null,
         "mainMediaUrl":"http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjvcwBWWoAAJC7Z.jpg:large",
         "mainMediaType":"image/jpeg",
         "mainVideoURL":null,
         "mainVideoType":null,
         "originalUserName":"",
         "originalScreenName":"",
         "originalUrl":"",
         "originalDate":"",
         "originalVerified":"",
         "displayUserName":"blackbird",
         "displayScreenName":"artsportfun",
         "displayUrl":"https://3rd-cdn.flowics.com/3rd/https/pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1273927994248237056/SQbufxfs_reasonably_small.jpg",
         "displayDate":1602089912000,
         "displayVerified":false,
         "localMainVideoPath":"",
         "localAvatarPath":"C:\\Midlleware test\\media\\https\\3rd-cdn.flowics.com\\dbadb934889b5bedd77b92e0e8c17199fd070d4b.jpg"
      },
      {
         "id":"1313886950647099393",
         "userName":"Yanger Jamir",
         "screenName":"YangerJ24108662",
         "text":"@Lionel_Messi_ID Leo please don't be discouraged you are the best player....when you are sad I feel you but nothing is impossible.. bring the la Liga home #messi",
         "url":"https://3rd-cdn.flowics.com/3rd/https/pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1230915842172321792/aGwL_eQe_reasonably_small.jpg",
         "date":1602090034000,
         "verified":false,
         "publisher":"twitter",
         "geolocation":null,
         "mainMediaUrl":null,
         "mainMediaType":null,
         "mainVideoURL":null,
         "mainVideoType":null,
         "originalUserName":"",
         "originalScreenName":"",
         "originalUrl":"",
         "originalDate":"",
         "originalVerified":"",
         "displayUserName":"Yanger Jamir",
         "displayScreenName":"YangerJ24108662",
         "displayUrl":"https://3rd-cdn.flowics.com/3rd/https/pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1230915842172321792/aGwL_eQe_reasonably_small.jpg",
         "displayDate":1602090034000,
         "displayVerified":false,
         "localMainVideoPath":"",
         "localAvatarPath":"C:\\Midlleware test\\media\\https\\3rd-cdn.flowics.com\\4cff42e9a49ae719043434106b08d5618e2e2ceb.jpg"
      },
      {
         "id":"1313889353710542849",
         "userName":"Nexho_11",
         "screenName":"Nexho__11",
         "text":"#CFC #MESSI #CHELSEAFC",
         "url":"https://3rd-cdn.flowics.com/3rd/https/pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1263412725780303874/LvAkrt52_reasonably_small.jpg",
         "date":1602090607000,
         "verified":false,
         "publisher":"twitter",
         "geolocation":null,
         "mainMediaUrl":null,
         "mainMediaType":null,
         "mainVideoURL":null,
         "mainVideoType":null,
         "originalUserName":"",
         "originalScreenName":"",
         "originalUrl":"",
         "originalDate":"",
         "originalVerified":"",
         "displayUserName":"Nexho_11",
         "displayScreenName":"Nexho__11",
         "displayUrl":"https://3rd-cdn.flowics.com/3rd/https/pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1263412725780303874/LvAkrt52_reasonably_small.jpg",
         "displayDate":1602090607000,
         "displayVerified":false,
         "localMainVideoPath":"",
         "localAvatarPath":"C:\\Midlleware test\\media\\https\\3rd-cdn.flowics.com\\222cc504f7d67ccc3057036fc5d81758be6472e8.jpg"
      }
   ]
}

6.1.2 Fields Description

Field
Description
widgetId
Id of the Widget
title Title of the ticker, as configured in the Widget.
posts.id Id of the posts. within the social network (e.g., id of the Tweet).
posts.userName Full username within the social network.
posts.screenName Username
posts.text Post's text.
posts.url URL to the avatar of the user who generated the post.
posts.date

Date on which the post was published (milliseconds passed since the epoch).

posts.verified Boolean that indicates whether the user who generated the post is verified.
posts.publisher

Indicates the social network in which the post was published (e.g., twitter, facebook, instagram).

posts.geolocation If present, indicates the latitude and longitude in which the post was published.
posts.mainMediaUrl URL to image posted by the user. It may be empty.
posts.mainMediaType Image type of the media URL. It may be empty.
posts.mainVideoUrl URL to video posted by the user. It may be empty.
posts.mainVideoType Video type of the video URL. It may be empty.
posts.originalUserName In the case of retweets, full name of user whose Tweet was retweeted.
posts.originalScreenName In the case of retweets, name of user whose Tweet was retweeted.
posts.originalUrl In the case of retweets, url of the avatar of the user whose Tweet was retweeted.
posts.originalDate In the case of retweets, time at which the tweet published was retweeted.
posts.originalUserName In the case of retweets, full name of user whose Tweet was retweeted.
posts.originalVerified In the case of retweets, boolean that indicates whether the user whose Tweet was retweeted is verified.
posts.localMainMediaPath Full path to downloaded image taken from 'mainMediaUrl'. It may be empty.
posts.localMainVideoPath Full path to downloaded video taken from 'mainVideoUrl'. It may be empty.

The following fields help with the proper compliance with the guidelines for viewing contents. E.g., for Twitter these fields will contain the information of the tweet and original user, and may display correctly both tweets as RTS.

posts.displayUserName Full Name of the user in the Social Network that should be displayed.
posts.displayScreenName Username to be displayed.
posts.displayUrl URL to the avatar of the user that should be displayed.
posts.displayDate Date of the post that should be displayed (milliseconds since the epoch).
posts.displayVerified Boolean indicator verified user that should be displayed.
posts.localAvatarPath Full path to downloaded avatar image taken from 'displayUrl'.


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