John Bonou, RCS GSelector Product Manager, joined us this week to review all the exciting new GSelector 5.1.2 features. Due for release around December 2025, GSelector 5.1.2 includes the innovative Metadata Importer, Browse List Comments, Library improvements, Packet settings, Goal and Editor enhancements, as well as multiple Related Link value matches. Don’t forget that all RCS product upgrades are free with an active RCS Support contract and users can schedule their upgrades via our online booking portal here: https://www.rcsworks.com/bookings/
Starting with the Metadata Importer, this is an exciting new feature that adds a new level of database manipulation. Found under Interface | Import, there’s now a dropdown Format for Metadata Importer. This will open a new window that essentially replicates the Zetta Media Importer or a typical Excel spreadsheet with column headers and unlimited rows. Just find your prepopulated Excel document and then use the column headers to match the desired field. For example, if column B is the Artist field, then right click, Modify Columns and define the second field as Artist. Once you get more comfortable with the Metadata Importer tool, programmers can save the Browse Format so that they can easily and quickly load the proper fields for insertion or changes.
The Metadata Importer is a fascinating feature because it really opens a new GSelector ability. For example, programmers with research scores outside of the integrated Mediabase, Media Monitors, Critical Mass Media and Test All Media (found under the Interface tab), now they can quickly receive their research scores in an Excel format – either CSV or a typical workbook – GSelector can read and import those column headers. Essentially, however you get the information in a spreadsheet is up to you. GSelector is going to identify a common denominator or variable, like MediaID, and then once it sees a match, GSelector will update the field(s) accordingly. Note that there is an option to Allow Creation of New Assets or only update existing assets. In addition, there’s advanced variables like Delimiters to add multiple values for scheduling attributes like Sound Code or Vocalists.
Another example would be for our S3, Schedule Subscription Service, programmers. As part of the weekly workflow, a S3 Format Captain or Publisher would construct their log and as they normally would, send the log to all Subscribers, potentially adding any new music via the S3 log. At this point, if the Subscribers had authorization to edit their own logs or they wanted to see any music changes, the Publisher could also send a spreadsheet to all the Subscribers which includes new categories, scheduling attributes, or any other desired information. Since the local Subscriber already saved their default Browse Format within the Metadata Import tool, every week the Publisher has their own stock spreadsheet to match accordingly, perhaps even originally exported via GSelector itself. This allows for an efficient and simple approach to making sure all metadata scheduling changes are replicated at the local Subscriber level. As you can see, the Metadata Import tool can be a very powerful resource for programmers who are looking to incorporate their Excel programming spreadsheets directly into GSelector.
Up next, we talked about some of the Library enhancements, including the ability to add Comments to Browse Lists. Many programmers approached us with the request to include these Comments within a Browse List for further programming. Simply right click on a row and Insert Comment. Users will see the comment to the left of the selected asset. Other Library changes include the option to add an Active Stations column header. For programmers that oversee multiple stations and want to see where that element is active, they can now right click, Modify Columns and add Active Stations wherever they can edit column headers, like the Library, Reports or Editor. In addition to Active Stations, we also created Plays in Category that can also be included in a Browse Format. Plays in Category will display the number of spins an element has played within that specific category. Note: If you change the category and return it to the previous Category, GSelector will reset the Plays in Category as that is technically a new element within the Category. While working within the Library, there’s also a new Delete dropdown so that users can highlight and delete Filters/Lists, perfect for GSelector databases with a large amount of stations and Filters/Lists. One final enhancement from the Library | Song tab, users can now link Album Art to a specific URL. As a reminder, these GSelector album art images are for local display purposes only and not for continued air chain distribution, like an HD display. That’s the purpose of RCS’s AudioDisplay.
Moving on to some programming changes, GSelector 5.1.2 now has greater Packet granularity by introducing Packet settings. Found under Setup | Packets, there’s a new Setup | Packets | Settings subtab that allows users to prepopulate Packet Name Prefixes, Short Name Prefixes, and an option to remove a packet when an element moves a category. For example, if your station included two versions of the same song – one with a new music intro and a second “regular” version, programmers can define under the Packet Settings that when that song is moved from a “New Music” category to another category, GSelector will automatically remove the Packet.
Now, let’s focus on the Goals tab. Programmers can now Filter their Rotation Rules via a Priority List. From the Rotation Rules window, if you only want to apply a value to specific a Priority List(s), simply select the desired Filter: Priority List and now it’s easier to mass change values, like using the F8 Copy shortcut. In addition, GSelector 5.1.2 now includes the ability to activate and deactivate Recycling rules. This is very helpful when programmers deviate from traditional programming, however, they would potentially reinstate the Recycling rule at a later date. Now, they can simply deactivate and reactivate the desired rule(s). While working throughout any of the demand windows, specially the Goals | Balance subtabs, GSelector can now display how your library should rotate based on a specific run date. This is especially important for programmers who are moving assets in and out of scheduled Category Groups. As an extreme example, if a gold based station wanted to remove half of their gold records, replacing them with a new set of songs, GSelector will do exactly what you asked it to do, “Show me the turnover of the current snapshot of my database.” If in two days, there’s a completely new set of projected turnovers due to this high replacement in the Category Group, then the programmer would select the date of the mass move (two days from today) and GSelector will automatically display the updated values based on the future moves. This Demand Date can also be adjusted via the Song properties window.
There’s also an update to the Related Links workflow. Now, users can select multiple values under the matching fields. For example, a programmer can select that when these multiple selected songs are scheduled, GSelector will reference a corresponding Link match. This can be a very powerful resource for those Related Link programmers who want more options when they schedule their Fly in Links or Clock Related Links.
One final administrative feature, GSelector now has an expanded read only user profile. Perfect for administrators who want specific users to view GSelector, however, they do not have any permissions to edit the highlighted window. Instead of hiding the GSelector tab or subtab altogether, now a red line will outline the restricted areas without having to hide any windows.
As GSelector continues to progress, users can reference the Release Notes for a full list of features, enhancements and fixes or once upgraded, GSelector includes a review of new features via the Help | Enhancements dropdown. These are exciting times at RCS as we continue to evolve and merge traditional radio with cloud hybrid operations. Keep it locked on our socials for updates surrounding ZettaCloud, SelectorCloud, AudioDisplay and other RCS Cloud products. Meanwhile, RCS Academy offers training and education resources that are available for you and your team to operate at your best and allow your team to focus on other daily work. There’s RCS Academies for Zetta, Zetta for Engineers, GSelector and Aquira. Looking for additional resources? We have over 150+ how to videos available on our website under the Blog and RCS Live section. If there’s a specific topic, view one of the videos and use the Seach field on the right to find videos based on specific keywords. Finally, RCS continues to hit the road, hosting training sessions and showcasing RCS Cloud. Follow us on our socials for a full list of dates.