Viz Flowics offers ready-to-use graphics templates and control interfaces on Google Sheets for your live sports productions. Currently supported sports include Volleyball, Baseball, and Soccer, with more to come soon!
This article explains using the Baseball graphics package from a custom control interface built on a Google Sheet. The first step in setting up this document involves familiarizing yourself with the four tabs: Database, Lineups, Control, and Settings.
1. The tabs
1.1 Database tab
This tab contains all the information needed for a Baseball game, including team names, market names, shields, codes, flag URLs (we recommend that all images be hosted in the Assets Library), and team HEX codes, as well as sponsors, bases, innings and pitches. All information in this tab can be edited at any time and will be used as a source for the other tabs.
1.2 Lineup Away/Home tab
These tabs display players' names and nicknames. Use the drop-down menu to select teams from the Database tab. Set up the teams and enter the players' names.
1.3 Control tab.
This tab controls what goes on and off the screen.
1.4 Settings tab.
This tab identifies and links all elements from the graphics editor to the Google Sheets.
2. Set up
2.1 Getting your Graphics Token
Learn how to get the token of your graphics package by clicking here.
After generating the token, please copy and paste it into the TOKEN field in the Settings tab.
2.2 URLs
By having the component's URLs you can easily access the graphic package: Editor, Output, and Remote.
After this, click “Open Remote” and “Open Output” (at the top right). Two new tabs will be open.
On the remote tab, copy the “Remote URL”.
On the output tab, the “Output URL” can be copied.
Copy each of the URLs and paste it on the Settings tab.
2.3 Data providers - Getting the node ID
In the Graphics editor click on the "Control" Data Provider (located in the Global Data Providers section)
Obtain the “Node ID” by copying the last 4 characters of the URL.
Paste it into the 'control' field
2.4 Integration IDs
Usually, there is no need to change integration IDs unless any overlays from the graphics editor have been removed.
To find more information about Integration IDs click here
3. Operation
3.1 Setup
Set up the teams by selecting any of the options from the drop-down list and then choose the appropriate color kit: first or second (sometimes different teams have the same first kit). When you are ready, click “SET TEAMS.”
Once the teams are set up, ensure the score bug information is correct so you can start the game. Here's a breakdown of what each section of the control remote adds to the output screen:
3.2 Score Board
Within the ScoreBoard area, there are a few other elements you need to set up: Innings, Runs, Hits, Errors, Warm up and Delay (how many seconds the scoreboard stays on screen).
Once it is set, you can send the score bug on screen by pressing “SET UPPER LEFT” (small scoreboard) or “SET FS” (full screen scoreboard). Here's how it will show on screen:
3.3 Runs
Within the Runs area, there are a few other elements you need to set up: Runs, Balls, Strikes, Outs, Innings, Bases and Players.
Here is how they work on screen: once you set or reset the runs, you can send or take it on or off the screen by clicking IN/OUT.
On Balls, Strikes, and Outs you can set and reset each one anytime you need. It will be shown on the right side of the score bug.
On Innings, you can set and reset Innings and Teams.
On Bases, you can set each of them as Occupied or Unoccupied from the dropdown. Click “SET BASES” to update the screen or “RESET BASES” to make all three Unoccupied.
On Players, it’s only necessary to type the jersey number and select from the dropdown if the player is a pitcher (the name will automatically fill up).
3.4 Homeruns
In this case, the graphics are set to come off after 5 seconds, you can edit this time by typing a new value below “DELAY”. It’s only necessary to type the jersey number and write a message if needed (the name will automatically fill up).
3.5 Pitch info
In this case, the graphics are set to come off after 5 seconds, you can edit this time by typing a new value below “DELAY”. It’s only necessary to choose from the dropdown the pitch type and to write the speed value (the name will automatically fill up).
3.6 Pitch average
In this case, the graphics are set to come off after 5 seconds, you can edit this time by typing a new value below “DELAY”. Type the title and average of the pitch.
3.7 Sponsor
Choose the sponsor from the dropdown.
