TUNETRACKER SYSTEM IN ACTION - TuneTracker Command Center

Importing Traffic Logs (Command Center Only)

While there are some industry standards, there is also a lot of diversity among the commercial log formats created by traffic programs. Some programs create traffic schedules separated by commas (comma-delimited), while others separate their information by columns (column-delimited). The order the data is presented in can also vary greatly from program to program. And some programs add fields of data to traffic logs that others do not.

Because of all the diversity, most traffic software companies offer to create custom filters that can be used by their customers to adjust the format of the logs to match the customers' automation system. If that is how you would like to proceed, that is perfectly acceptable. Put them in touch with us and we will provide them with the information they need. However we also offer an alternative for those who would like to take care of it themselves, possibly saving themselves some time.


SETTING UP TUNESTACKER™ FOR TRAFFIC LOGS


  1.    The first step is to know how your traffic logs are structured. Let's start with some basic fields of data that are likely to be found in a traffic log. We'll express it in a table just for illustration purposes. The chart below shows the categories of data, and a single example.

    START TIME SPOT ID / CART ID DESCRIPTION OTHER INFO LENGTH
    08:47 CI3126 Bill's Grocery Store SomethingElse 30


    Traffic logs will express that information in lines of data, broken into fields. Here are two common examples. Note in both examples we have the same basic fields of information. It's just separated differently.The first one is separated by columns (column delimited) and the other one is separated by characters such as a comma (comma delimited). 
    08:47       CI3126    Bill's Grocery Store     SomethingElse  30
    or
    08:47,CI3126,Bill's Grocery Store,SomethingElse,30
    If your layout is character-delimited, and you know the order the data is arranged in on a line, you're all set to configure the Import Settings. If your log is column-delimited, you also need to know the order of the data columns and the width of each column of data, in characters. Often you can tell by just looking at the file, which is normally a simple text document. Open it in a word processor such as StyledEdit under BeOS. If you are examining it in BeOS, don't be alarmed by what look like box-shaped characters at the end of each line. They are a Windows anomaly and TuneStacker™ will ignore them. In the case of column-width-based arrangements, just put the cursor at the very beginning of a line, then move it to the right with the right-arrow key, counting as you go, to determine the column layout.

    If you have trouble figuring out the layout of your traffic logs, contact your traffic software supplier and ask for assistance. They will do one of the following:

    •   Supply you with a specification on paper, in a text file, or in an e-mail
    •   Require you to provide TuneTracker's specification to them so they can create their own "filter." Some do this to protect proprietary information. In that case, ask them to contact us directly and we will supply them with the information they need in order to create a filter for the TuneTracker Pro System. A few traffic companies will charge for this service, but most do it at no charge.


  2.   With specifications-in-hand, launch TuneStacker™ and from the pulldown menu choose "Traffic Log Import Configuration." This is where you will tell TuneStacker™ how to interpret your traffic logs. As we get started, let's take a moment to look over the interface together and quickly cover the single-function features in the top sections:


    •   Active Configuration

      This drop-down button menu lets you choose which configuration, whether it's our default configuration or a custom one you created, will be used by TuneStacker™ when importing logs. Notice there is a default layout already in-place (conforms to Natural Log traffic logs). You can modify the default layout and save it as your own, or create a brand new one using the Add button.


    •   Modify Configurations

      This section is where you'll do all your modifications.


      •   The first window pane lets you choose which configuration you want to edit. Just click on it to activate it for editing. You can edit the default one, but we suggest you use "Add" to create and name one of your own.

      •   "Configuration Name" is a place where you can later rename any configuration, even our default one, by just typing in a new name for it.

      •   "Col. Boundaries" is where you tell TuneStacker™ whether your traffic log's data fields are arranged in columns (column width) or separated by characters (such as a semi-colon). Configurator assumes you are using column-arranged (column-delimited) traffic logs unless you specify otherwise by indicating the separator-character used in the logs, such as a comma, a semi-colon, or some other character in the "Column Width or Separator Character Used" text box.



    •   "Import Settings" is where you will be spending the most time, inputting the data that TuneStacker™ will use to interpret the contents of your traffic logs.



  3.    CONFIGURING IMPORT SETTINGS

    Actually, you've done your homework at this point and know how your logs are arranged, so the rest is a snap. We will use the same example as above, in column-delimited format, as our guide. Based on the information we have acquired about our traffic company's format, we have determined our logs are column-delimited, as follows: 
    


START TIME  SPOTID    DESCRIPTION              OTHER          LENGTH


12          10        25                       15             8
    Let's do a configuration together from start-to-finish, using the data in the example above.

    COLUMN-DELIMITED EXAMPLE


    •   Click "Add" to create a new configuration.
    •   In the Configuration Name box, type in "My New Configuration" and click OK.
    •   In the Modify Configurations pane, select "My New Configuration" in the list by clicking on it.
    •   In the Col. Boundaries dropdown button, select "Defined by Column Width."
    •   Click on "Column #1" in the Import Settings window pane.
    •   Click on the "Type" button just below, and choose the category of data. In the case of Column #1, our category is Start Time.
    •   Type-in the character width of the column, expressing it as a number of characters. In our example, the Start-Time column is 12 characters long, so type the number 12.
    •   Click on "Column #2" in the Import Settings window pane
    •   Click on the "Type" button just below, and choose the category of data. In the case of Column #2, our category is SpotID.
    •   
    •   Type-in the character width of the column, expressing it as a number of characters. In our example, the Start-Time column is 12 characters long, so type the number 10.
    •   Continue in that fashion until you have exhausted all of the columns in our example, in order. Note we have put one unneeded column in on purpose to illustrate how to tell TuneTracker to ignore a column it does not need. If you have such columns in your traffic log, use the classification "Other," which is one of your options in the Type dropdown button menu. Even though unneeded, be sure to include all the columns and their column lengths, in order.

      The fields of data needed by TuneTracker are listed in the "Type" dropdown button, and include "SpotID," "Length," "Start Time," and "Description."
    •   After inputting all the columns, click "OK" in the lower-left corner of the Traffic Log Import Configuration window to close it and automatically save your changes.
    •   Re-open the Window and activate your new configuration by selecting "My New Configuration" from the "Active Configuration" drop-down menu button at the top of the window. Once again, click "Ok" to close the window.


    If you are importing a character-separated traffic log, follow the steps above, but instead of typing in a column width in the text box, type in the separation character instead. The example below uses a semi-colon as a separator character:


    CHARACTER-DELIMITED EXAMPLE


    •   Click "Add" to create a new configuration.
    •   In the Configuration Name box, type in "My New Configuration" and click OK.
    •   In the Modify Configurations pane, select "My New Configuration" in the list by clicking on it.
    •   In the Col. Boundaries dropdown button, select "Separated by Character."
    •   Click on "Column #1" in the Import Settings window pane.
    •   Click on the "Type" button just below, and choose the category of data. In the case of Column #1, our category is Start Time.
    •   Put a semi-colon ; character in the text box labeled "Column Width, or Separator Character Used".
    •   Click on "Column #2" in the Import Settings window pane
    •   Click on the "Type" button just below, and choose the category of data. In the case of Column #2, our category is SpotID.
    •   Put a semi-colon ; character in the text box labeled "Column Width, or Separator Character Used".
    •   Continue in that fashion until you have exhausted all of the fields of data in our example, in order. Note we have put one unneeded column in on purpose to illustrate how to tell TuneTracker to ignore a column it does not need. If you have such columns in your traffic log, use the classification "Other," which is one of your options in the Type dropdown button menu. Even though unneeded, be sure to include them in the order, label them "Other" assure their separator character is specified in the text box as with the others.

      The fields of data that are needed by TuneTracker are listed in the "Type" drop-down menu button, and include "SpotID," "Length," "Start Time," and "Description."
    •   After inputting all the columns, click "OK" in the lower-left corner of the Traffic Log Import Configuration window to close it and automatically save your changes.
    •   Re-open the Window and activate your new configuration by selecting "My New Configuration" from the "Active Configuration" drop-down menu button at the top of the window. Once again, click "Ok" to close the window.


    One more thing to do. You need to put break markers into your TuneTracker master log, so TuneStacker™ knows where to "drop" the ads into your program log. Click on the link to learn how to add the markers to your log.



    Table of Contents