Magic RDS 4 basic function to P164

[JohnnyVee]

Hi ya,
Hopefully someone can help me. I'm running the Magic 4 software to control a P164 RDS encoder. I do realise this software and RDS unit can be very powerful, but I'm unable to perform this simple task (it's probably me !) So I've been running the free version of Zara for several years very successfully. The song title is written into a text file on the desktop. The P164 is pointed to this text file, which is then transmitted on the MPX, then sent to the transmitter and all works as programmed. Where I have the issue is that I want this text file to remain as the only output to be sent to the transmitter and ONLY change when the text file info changes. So if I have an audio file that plays for 1 min, 10 mins or 60 mins, I want this text information to be continuously displayed, at all times, UNTIL the text file changes. What I appear to be getting is information periodically showing, then disappearing then reappearing again while the track is playing...
Thanks J 

[Jan]

So if I have an audio file that plays for 1 min, 10 mins or 60 mins, I want this text information to be continuously displayed, at all times, UNTIL the text file changes.

Yes, the text disappears because the file has changed and is now probably empty. This is the basic function and it must be so, otherwise the track would continue to show even though it has long since finished playing. There's no secret way how the software recognizes if the track is still playing or not. The text file provides this information, assuming: track name is present = the track is playing, no track name = no track is playing.

Our task could be: how to preserve the last text in case it is no longer available. The Magic RDS 4 provides several methods how to implement your requirement. The simplest is to fill %GOTONEXT% into the N/A text field in the Text Source editor. This will prevent sending empty text. If there's no other source in the loop, the track will stay on the display.

[JohnnyVee]

Thanks for coming back to me Jan. The text file on the desktop is still there. It only changes when its overwritten by the next track...

[Jan]

If so, turn off or increase the Default Radiotext timeout in the P164's RDS Content section.

This option is disabled by default. It is recommended to turn it on but the set delay must be longer than the longest expected display time of a single text.

[JohnnyVee]

Thanks again Jan. I'll experiment with that setting and come back to you... J

[JohnnyVee]

I do realise this is a broad question Jan, but what is the relationship between RT1 RT2 and External Radio Texts. It looks like RT1 and RT2 have to be enabled in order for the external source to work.

[Jan]

RT1 is loaded by the External text tool. RT2 is for offline operation and can be disabled.