When the weather’s bad, it’s bad for everybody … including your staff. Take the load off of those already troubled days … let SchoolMaster do the work for you!!!

Automated Internet Entry

SchoolMaster™ takes the edge off those snow days.  SchoolMaster Closing and Cancellation system uses the Internet to allow your school administrators to sign-into their uniquely coded account, put in their password and select a Status and a Comment from the simple dropdown lists built-in.  

As soon as the SchoolMaster Internet Site is updated by any “client” (school or business), this new info is downloaded into your local Comprompter Schoolmaster computer to keep both databases in sync.

 Simultaneous Local Entry

For schools, businesses, etc. who call rather than enter their own status, SchoolMaster also allows multiple news staffers to manually answer phones and enter each closing announcement in less than 10 seconds … all simultaneously with being on-air and ingesting data from the Remote Internet entry or SchoolMaster’s automated data collection.

 SchoolMaster is Secure

SchoolMaster Closing and Cancellation software is so transparent to the news operation in that most of the time they simply go about the business of news during even the roughest weather.  Schools can be closed one at a time, or at a district level, with a single entry. Entries are verified at the time of login by school/district Codes, contact names and individual passwords. 

 Here's How SchoolMaster Works:

SchoolMaster is Internet-based so you no longer have to dedicate expensive phone lines or staff time for this purpose.

 1. You enter all the Schools and Businesses into your database (Microsoft SQL).

 NOTE: If you have had a previous “closings” system with an existing list of schools, or can provide us with a simple list of schools, we may be able to import that list directly into SchoolMaster and save your staff a lot of re-typing effort!

 2. Assign each School unique Code and Password.

-          Principals and administrators access their School.

-          Special Superintendent Code allows them to close entire Districts at one time. 

3. You send each School a CD to install on their computers at School or home.

-          This program allows them to login and use your SchoolMaster System.

 4. Your CG Operator builds a Closings CG Template on your CG.

-          SchoolMaster supports most broadcast Character Generators (Chyron, Pinnacle, Inscriber, Compix, Vizrt, etc.) 

NOTE: On CG’s with DVE moves like Squeeze-back or Animations, (like DekoCast, Inca, etc.)  SchoolMaster will even perform the desired effect and display the Opening Billboard prior to starting the school closings sequence.

 5. SchoolMaster runs on a computer in your control room that has access to the Internet and is also connected via RS232 Serial Cable or Ethernet to your CG machine.

 6. When bad weather occurs, your Closing Clients login, put in their School or Business Code and Password; select from up to 99 pre-formatted STATUS messages: then up to 99 COMMENTS and press OK.

-          This whole process takes about 20 seconds.

-          If you have to do manual entry for some clients, you can change an entire group Status and/or Comment in a single keystroke.

 7. By the time you client logs off, the CG is made and ready to go to air.

-          SchoolMaster updates the list on the fly so changes are instant.

 8. Your Master Control Operator keys the graphic info over regular programming at will.

-          SchoolMaster can also provide an opening and closing billboard for sponsors if you like. 

9. SchoolMaster can publish your closings directly to your website – automatically!!!

 10. SchoolMaster Alert Beacon!!! Tells you when to activate the On-Air Closings!!!

q       Stores thousands of Schools, Businesses and Activities in its MS-SQL database.

q       Unlimited customizable Status Level (Closed, Delayed, Buses Late, etc.)

q       Unlimited customizable Comments (Teachers Report, Broken Pipes, etc.)

q       Display School, Status and up to 2 Comment Lines … plus a logo line if you wish.

q       Sorts and displays announcements however you wish ... Alphabetically within Districts, Alphabetically by School Name, or by Status.

q       Provides pre-assigned authorization codes, contact names, and validation numbers to prevent pranksters from ever gaining access to this information.

q       Groups School, Business and Public Events separately and sort them into the most logical presentation order (Schools, Businesses, Events, etc.)

q       Automatically gathers, stores and makes output info for both CG’s and Internet.

q       Using Internet data feeds, SchoolMaster is nearly 100% Automated!

q       Include “Highway Conditions” as one of your groups.

q       Automatically prepares Lower Third CG Displays with desired Transitions.

q       You design your On-Air Look, Logos, and Animation as you desire.

q       Opening/Closing “Sponsor” Billboards are built-in (Closings are a revenue center!)

q       Alert Beacon notifies Master Control that new closings are in and air-ready.

q       Master Control Room Operator simply puts updated announcements on the air.

q       INPUTS: Manual/Networked; Via Internet Login; or Internet Data Sources.

q       OUTPUTS: Character Generator, to your Internet Home Page, and a Laser Printer.

To find out more about SchoolMaster, Click Here.     

((((FAQ))))

What kind of computers does SchoolMaster require?
As a product of Comprompter, Inc., SchoolMaster requires only standard Windows PC's.

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How many computers does SchoolMaster require?

Basically 1 ... but you if you wish others in your station to access the closings data, you will want it on most of your newsroom computers. Normally, the Comprompter CG Control Software is installed on a computer in the Control Room already connected to your character generator. can.

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Do I have to have Comprompter come in to install SchoolMaster?

No ... but we strongly recommend on-site installation and training to get the most out of your investment. If you choose on-site training and installation, you will have the assurance that the system has been properly configured and is ready to run – and that your staff is ready to run it at any time of the day or night.

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What if I have questions or problems ... will Comprompter help me?

Yes. Comprompter has the industry's best record for 24/7 customer support. Telephone support, both voice and direct modem, is included in both our on-site and off-site installation plans.

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Can closings be entered or viewed on more than one computer?

Yes. Like all Comprompter products, SchoolMaster is designed to run on standard Windows-compatible networks, and any PC computer that can sign onto the network can run the SchoolMaster software.

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What kind of "network" does SchoolMaster require?

SchoolMaster is designed to operate on Windows 2000, XP or Vista networks.

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Does SchoolMaster automatically enter closings in my CG?

Yes. SchoolMaster is designed to handle CG closings entry automatically. It stores closings in its database until they are needed for air, and feeds them to the CG in real time, assuring the fastest display of closings possible.

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What kind of character generator can SchoolMaster connect to?

SchoolMaster is designed to work with a wide range of character generators. The list includes the Chyron, Deko, Vizrt, Vertigo, Compix machines, and many others.

·        Let us know what CG you have ... chances are we can provide the right software!

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Getting Closings

Can SchoolMaster read closings direct from an Internet Site?
Yes. If your school districts or state have a central site that gathers closings and cancellations, SchoolMaster can be programmed* to read those sites and automatically store them in the database and send out an Alert Beacon to alert the Operator that new closings are in and ready to air.

·        This is a “Custom” software that Comprompter can write for you at a nominal fee.

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Does SchoolMaster allow me to manually enter closings for schools, business or events that I cannot get from the Internet?

Yes. Each computer you run SchoolMaster allows you to enter closings manually.

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How do you clear out outdate closings?

SchoolMaster gives you the option to decide when you want existing closing to “expire”.

Once they have reached that Date/Time, SchoolMaster clears the Status and Comments line back to Blank automatically.

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Is there a limit to the number of schools/business SchoolMaster can handle?

SchoolMaster is designed to handle 100’s and 100’s of entries in our Microsoft SQL™ database.

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On The Air!

How many types of displays can SchoolMaster produce on my CG?
You design the CG Template in which you want SchoolMaster to insert the information … Lower-Third or Full-Screen display formats.

In addition, you can add additional (optional) CG channels or CG machines to achieve simultaneous, multiple CG output with different “branding”.

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Can I control the order in which SchoolMaster sends closings to the CG?

 

Yes … you can sort by alphabetically by Individual Names; or by Group Name then Individual Name with each group.

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Who decides what the closings look like on the air?

You do! Actually ... your CG's capabilities do. You determine and control your on-air look. Your graphics staff designs the closings CG Template that contain your custom logo’s, colors, fonts, positioning and animations. SchoolMaster calls the proper Template, fills in the data and displays the closings in Preview within a second or so.

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I want to run continuous closings overnight. Can SchoolMaster run closings by itself or does it need a person to operate it?

Yes. SchoolMaster's Automatic mode requires no human interaction. SchoolMaster will continue to read existing and new closings from the Internet Entry or Data Feed and automatically send continuous updates to your CG … totally unattended.

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Can SchoolMaster run a second CG display with continuous closings? We have an LMA for a second station in our market, and may want to put non-stop closings on the LMA at the same time we are displaying closings on our station.

Yes. For a modest additional fee, the SchoolMaster software can be configured by our technicians to accommodate more than one character generator.

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How do I get the data from SchoolMaster posted on our Web Site?

There are three methods for extracting data from SchoolMaster:

1.      SchoolMaster comes with the ability to create and HTML File that can be further processed by your webmaster before being sent to your web site.

2.      OPTION 1: SchoolMaster can produce automatically create an XML file at timed intervals for your webmaster to further enhance and send out

3.      OPTION 2: SchoolMaster can create an XSLT file that is automatically transformed into you HTML Template layout and sent to your Web Site without any human intervention.

Options 1 and 2 require a modest additional fee, for the additional data translations and auto-posting software. Call Comprompter for a quote.

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Ordering & Installation

How far ahead of my election do I need to order?
SchoolMaster orders should be placed 45 days (or more) in advance of the first election you intend to use it for. Orders and installation schedules are on a first-come, first-served basis. We will do everything we can to get your system up and running, but the more notice you give us, the better-prepared you will be on election night!

Are terms available?
Yes. Check with Comprompter ... you'll be pleased with our Purchasing and Rental Plans!

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